The Dolores star., 1924-11-14
Casting Lots
for the Rajah,
the Big Prize
BY AUGUSTUS sHERwIN
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w 'V4'' Western Newspaper rnlonI

"7'' '''hlhE loaded reyolycrs
on great HAT rock at the word on.
D"rkeu, bully and former lender a.
uhe group, spoke the word
Don't get rilcd, Glib" snoke hot,
Dan Perkins. You've had tho rrn 9 ~
he camp white We were working Yo,r
hat we disband fairness and eoni,, is
the rule The majority saws equal Al.
vision on the crumbs of spllnts As
TO the Raiah that goes by lot"
mat Niger in On the deal. too.
suppose growled Glib.
Didn't the niger find M" cha,
tenged Dan, coolly.
Bad Glib was silent. but he dor,ad O.
farming glance Of enmIty at the u,la
drinking native who was the cool; of
he camp.
see mere proceeded Dan. "you
">sed Us into cutting away from a
ma where !ater comers found ten for
uhes. Then you got your dander M
nd nigh well killed old Dinah, the
mother of Ramon here. the niger =.
you call him. Clyde Burridge defend.
ed her and-well, you found your
place"
Bad Glib WINGED. A flashing culver
crossed the face Of the native but
was instantly repressed.
You drove the woman into the will
Nerness 10 die and sent BurrIdge on
me same route. II didn't please us,
nut you was sworn boss. You amt
now. The pact is broken when we
stop work. That was the bargain. So
the majority rules"
And the majority" plped in Biz
Ben Boulder. the giant of the camp
votes for an even division on the
chicken feed and draw lots on the
Rajah"
As Ben spoke he threw across the
rock chamois bag and, lifting one
end. tipped out into the sunlight u
thousand prlsmatic sparkles of radi.
ance. Then he selected a dull. vel
lowed lump from the mass.
Two hundred carats, If anything -
he eloated, gloatingly twisting the big
diamond between forefnger and
thumb. MARK some chips one tu
twelve, some of you. Leave one blank.
throw them in the bag, and here's to
the lucky man ~
Line up. mem" ordered Dan, Jan.
Cling the gambling worries. Bad Gih
drew l3 and cursed viclously. Five
others followed. 1t came the turn OF
Ramon. With his usual Difference and
tlmidlty he approached the bag. put in
his hand and drew out-blank
Dan grasped hand of the aston
shed but delighted Ramon in homes
congratulatIon and placed the wonder
ful gem in the palm of the other.
Ramon sought Big Ben at dusk. H
led him aside Bad Glib, watching hi
every movement. was glowering n
him.
You are my friend" spoke the M
tive to Ben. "Llsten-it Is fate. The
man who drove my mother TO starva
tion. death, and my only friend, Bur
ridge. after her, will never allow me
10 get to Cape Wold with my treas
ure."
Give him the slip, Ramon advised
Ben bluiily.
81 cannot hope It," asserted Ramon
dolefully. my friend, see-l must
carry 1t about with me dare not
hide it, for he's watching me-"
Ramon drew out chamois bag and
shook it. The eyes of the observing
Glib shone like two living Goals of fire
"If you would do something fol
me-" suggested Ramon plalntively
See, friend" and he held up q
kpobbed club. All of the camp knew
OF this souvenir of the father of ka
mon. who had been a native cher. II
was war club. sacredly treasured D!
the son.
"You will reach Cape Void in safe
tv" Ramon resumed "lf perclianct
Rurridge has reached there, or my
mother or you find only those OF III!
kin, give them this family memehto,
"sure, | WILL" acquIesced Ben, Will
ingly. but casually. Don't give up
Ramon. Light out
That night Ramon stole away IRON
the camps. Within an hour BAD Gi'
was also missing. Big Ben shook hi'
head gravely.
A month later to day Ben arrive.
at Cane Void. A surprise greeted
him for he found Burridge there aht
In the same little hotel, being nurset
under his direction, the mother OF Ra
mon.
Rurridge told vivid story OF ho"
be had come across the outcast WON
an in the wilderness. The next morn
ine he gave the war club to the s'e'
woman. ,,,o,oton
A week later, worn to skeie.'a, II
with wild eyes and mixed emotions " "
excitement and delight, Ramon III
rived on the scene. ,,u
When he learned of all that Bur
RIDGE had done for his mother he iair
,v yroyeled at his feet in paroA!sn Oh
NJ extrayagant gratitude. l..
"The war club-it is SAFER ne ~ ~
ouired In culver Of suspense anu ca
.your mother has it, e1pla'he'