White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-07-25

There came the flip of horse hoof
outside, click of hoofs on stone,
sound of some one dismounting with
a creak of saddle. Then, lines in
hand a man entered the big, high
rooted, barn or building. In appear
ance he reminded John of Whitman.
He had a big, soft SLOUGH hat on his
head, troubled eyes, and great beard
sweeping over his broad chest.
Hello, Dad" said Nancy.
Hello, Nancy" said the big beard
ed man, and brushed kiss on her
forehead as she stood 1.-THE to meet
him after three skips in his direction.
He glared at John, then saw the Wolf
er but the latter was in the blue
shadow of the interior of the barn.
"How do, Tom?" said Dewar, COM
ing forward.
20 it's you, Walt. WE'LL well!"
and Tom James extended a hand. To
Fiske's mind there were both pleasure
and doubt in his manner. The infer
ence of it was that his liking for Walt
Qiking was evidently was of the kind
called sneaking-a 'sneaking regard
a liking against himself. Jack had
the impression then that this DeWar,
this Walt the Wolfer, was a man with
a reputation, of sorts
"Ill go rustic some supper for you,
Dad" said Nancy, and went dancing
away.
Her father glanced after her, then
hanging up his saddle lifted down a
sack of oats and poured on the ground
about hatful on four different parts
Of the floor. The three packhorses,
and his saddle horse Immediately be-
gan to MUNICH.
Guess that's ALL" he said, fiicking
his hands together. "They drank at
the creek, l guess-the packhorses
That stuff will be all right there.
Nothing they can nose about. They
know their places before the rack for
the night. Well go over. And how
goes all with you, Waltz"
20 pretty good" said the Wolfer as
they clustered outside while James
affixed the door bar. 1--WE been pack.
ing for a bunch of government cartog.
raphers. They started up from the
Big Prairie side, but latterly it was a
better proposition to pack from JEFF
ferry. Finished that job just three
weeks ago."
and you kept hanging around a
darned mining center like Jeffrey for
three weeks!" calculated James
What possessed you?"
can interest l have in mining
claim"
"a what?"
20 it amt mine yet. It's deat
, mans"
James shot him a look somewhat
worried, doubtful.
yep. He was found in the hills by
a man in what the doctor once called
a moribund state. met the man tina
picked him up-and that maybe
nocked him down for all know-ant
he told us all where his prospect is.
"He did! Any DEFENDANTS"
mo. Nobody at all"
Its practically yours, them"
"Yes," slowly. tits Bunt's ant
nine"
Blunt? Bunt Bradley"
Dewar nodded.
you're still around with him
them"
81 am, and object to him as nue.
as you do; but he has some goo
streaks. He's all right helping wit
the packing work"
20 yes. Who was the other man?
"Thats the trouble. The othe
man was Larry Shanks."
"That-" James said no more.
CAS- you say. That! l said t
him" (Walt seemed to forget John
presence. He halted on the patti
crossing to the log hoteD II said
him; 'Shanks,' 1 said, you went bac
on me over the Duck Creek hold-ul
You got Bunt and me three years fo
it, and you got clear" John started
astounded at this news) and 20
amt going to get any Of this prospec
That's how we get back on you!'"
So there John had the whole trut
suddenly regarding the position b.
tween Walt and Blunt and Shanks-
which Prop Donovan did not know.
And what did he say?"
HE told me bygone was by'
gone. And told him he might cour
himself lucky if 1 didn't shoot him II
for what he'd done and run tn
chances of stretching hemp, or sittin
in the permanent crimp chair. H
ad the gall to say we could go share!
He'd picked the fellow up first, h
said. / told him there was no share
in it, and that it was mine - an