The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-11-10

HIS opportunity came that night
when one Of Tho younger Mounted
Police officers paused 10 exchange
greetings with him, Lieutenant
Rock was a familiar figure ON the
streets ~ Dawson and ON the trails
nearby a tall. outstanding Canadian
. With record for uufaillng good
humor and relentless efficiency, tie
nodded az PierCr's casual reference
10 the coming dance az Headquar,
ters
/ Great sport" said he. ITS
about the only chance NC fellows
have 10 play"
When no invitation 60 share in
tho treat WAS forthcoming Pierce
told of meeting most attractive
/ gih that afternoon, and. having OBJ,
tanned his hearers interest, ho De.
serihod the youthful goddess OF tho
SHOWS with more than necessary
enthusiasm lilo become aware OF
peculiar expression upon Rocks
/ face.
Yes. know her we'll" tho lat
ter said, quietly "pyou mean TO
say she invited YOU 20 tho hallF'
III wasn't exactly an invita-,
. ton"
OBI l see, Well" Rock shook
his head positively there's moth,
ing doing. old man, II isn't your
kind ot a party Understand
don't understand Pierce con.
feSsed IN genuine surprise"
The officer eyed him with cool.
disconcertlng dtreetness. I'VE draw
the lines pretty close have 20 IN a
camp like this. No oitense, trust"
With a smile and careless wave
OF tho hand he moved on, leaving |
Pierce to stare after him until no
was swallowed up by the crowd In /
tho gambling room,
4 blow in the face would not /
have amazed Pierce Phillips more. !
nor would Il have more greatly an
gered him. So he was ostraoizcd.
These men who treated him with
such apparent Eood.feliowship really
desplsed him; In their eyes he was
a renegade: they considered him un
~ 10 know their women. II was
incredible
He was in no mood 10 calmly
withstand another shock. especially
when that shock was administered
by Joe MeCaskey. OF all persons.
nevertheless, Il came close upon
nx.tHs
Pierce had not seen either bro
thor since their departure for Hun
ker Creek. therefore Jos's black
visage lecring thru the window OF
the cashiers cage was an unwel.
come surprise.
Hello. Phillips How arc you
making IT. the man inquired.
IAN right"
Despite this gTuffness. Joe's grin
widened There was nothing OF
pleasure a; the meeting. nor OF
friendliness behind II. however. on
the contrary. II masked both malice
and triumph. rs was plain when
| he asked.
did you hear about our striker
What strike
why. It's all over town! Frank
and hit pay in our fret shaft
three feet OF 2O.cent dirt"
'Roally7" Pierce could not re-
strain a movement OF surprise.
Joe nodded and chuckied. mean.
while keeping his malignant gaze
focused upon tho younger mans
face. IT'S big. We came 10 town
70 buy grub and a dog team and
TO hire a crew OF hands. We've
got credit at the \. c. company up
to $4,000"
There was a brief pause which
Pierce broke by inauirinE. as casu'
! ally as he could:
did Tom and Jerry have any
luck?"
Sure thing They've hit it. tho
same as us. You tossed off a home.
stake. kid. Don't believe IL. eh?
Wen. here's tho proof-coarse gold
from Hunker." with an osteutious
flourish the speaker flung down n
halffilled poke. together with
bar check Cash mo In. and don't
let any OF ., stick TO your fingers"
Pierce was impclled to hurl tho
gold sack at Joe's head, but he re.
strained himself. His hands were
shaky, however and when he un-
| tied the thongs he was mortified at
| splitting some Of the precious yellow
particles. Modification changed to
anger when the owner cried, sharp.
-:
Hey! Got cashiers ague, have
you? Just cut out the sleisht. of.
hand.'
Pierce smothsred retort. silently
he brushed the dust back into tho
blower and Get the weights upon his
scales.
When Pierce went Oft shift he
looked up Lars Anderson and re.
ceiyed confirmation of the Hunker
I strike. Lars was in a boisterous
mood and eager TO share his tri.
umph.
Toward the close Of the show
Laure found him braced against
the bar; the face he turned upon
her was cold, repellent. When she
urged him to take her TO supper no
shook his head.
Whats the natter" she in.
quircd.
big Lars never told you bunker
was low grade" he declared.
The girl flushed; she tossed her
dark head dcnantly. well. what
OF III"
simply this--Tom aud Jerry and
the McCaskeys have struck rich
pay"
Indeed"
You lied 10 me"
impatiently no flung her or and
STROBE out OF the theater.
Laure was staring blindly after
] him when Jnn MpC'a alev ,notrn a..