Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-01-09

suspicious meat, beans, and potatoes
that had apparently been frozen to
death in bed
Lee. who had taken a seat oppo-
site the door, surveyed the other
guests with that quiet watchfulness
which was part Of his nature as
well as of his training. For the most
part he summed them up as being of
the average prospector type.
Among them. however, appeared to
be few of those hard-bitten charac-
ters who are to be found in every gold
rush. Most of them had been drink
ing hard, and all seemed embittered
by their experiences of the summer.
They were freely cursing their ILL
luck.
Lees attention was first drawn to
the two men who were seated oppo-
site him by the fact that they took
no part in this chorus of denunciation.
A glance showed him that they were
not prospectors, and that the under
standing between them was an init
mate one.
OuC WAS u cllOl llllNh-SCls
red-haired man, with one Of the hard
est and most repulsive faces that Lee
had ever seen. The other, apparently
his partner, was a huge half-breed
with a great muscular torso covered
with black hair, and long gorilla-like
arms.
EFF I had that guy here what started
that yarn about the gold in Stony
range" began man on Lees
right.
"Ah, for the love of Mike, cut out
that spiel, Bill p shouted another
across the table. "D'you think you're
the only real fools ben summerin' in
the ranger
"Old Pelly never found no gold mine.
He was cracked about it. Eff he had.
wouldn't others have got wise TO it,
with half the district hangin' about
the range spyin' on him."
Nobody knows what happened to
him. do rhey?"
Jest disappeared. Mebbe he had a
stroke in the woods or somethin' No
body's seen nor heard of him this good
while past"
Lee absorbed this conversation
without feeling that he had got very
far. Pelly had discovered a profile
NAUTICAL gold mine. Pelly had disap-
peared; it began to seem probable
that the report of his return was
false. If these men had been pros
pecting the range all the summer, 1t
was probable that if Pelly had re-
turned to the vicinity they would have
heard Of it. In which case someone
would have corrected the statement
that nothing was known about 1t.
While he listened Lee noticed that
the two men opposite him were like
wise taking in every word. The big
breed was obviously under the In
fiuence of liquor, and his little COM
panion was not only watching the
company but also watching him. AT
times he would turn and whisper in
his companions ear. And once, in
his close scrutiny Of the company, he
turned his gaze on Lee.
For a moment Lee felt chilled by
the eyes of the little red-haired man.
They were pale grey, CLASSY, venom
GUS. They looked like snakes eyes.
Lee. though his gaze was as steady as
the others, did not like the look Of
the little red-haired man.
The conversation drifted. BY twos
and threes the men began to make
their way back to the bar. Lee had
risen from the table and left the din
ing-room, intending to take smoke
on the stoop, when he heard femi-
nine voice, and found himself staring
in surprise at girl who had just
come in and was in conversation with
the landlord.
For this was not in the least the
type of girl whom one might look for
in such a place as Little Falls.