Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-01-30

and turned to Lee, his fat body
quivering, apparently with mirth
though his face did not relax any
thing of its solemn cynical aspect
"Stabling? You said it. Room
You en- have six foot by four Of the
parlor floor, stranger" he answered.
Pretty full, eh?"
Fuller n his full Of f1re-lOgs."
Logging crews signing up?"
'Loggin', nothin'. Towns full of
these here fool guys that's been pros
pectin' Stony range all summer. Got
cold feet all to onct and all quit to-
gether Feeling pretty sore over 1t,
guess. va amt aiming to start fer the
range yerself this time of yearT
81 guess therell be time to wash a
few pans Of dirt" answered Lee.
'Then maybe I'll board my horse here
and trap bit this winter"
He led his horse into the stable,
gave it some corn and racked out a
bale Of hay, and carried his blankets
back to the hotel parlor. where he
staked out sleeping claim upon the
| floor.
A small negro boy. carrying large
bell, came out of the kitchen and be-
gan to ring it, swaying to and fro with
cheerful grin. as if he were tied to
the clapper.
At the sound Of the cracked tones
| the men began to straggle out Of the
bar into the dining-room. where they
took their seats on long benches
either side of a long table covered
with a stained, tattered oilcloth, on
which were placed cheap knives,
forks, spoons and plates.
Next appeared a thick-set young
squaw who began to hand out por-
tions Of greasy dinner. consisting Of
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 a 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 sprospectors, and that the under
standing between them was an init
mate one.
One was short, thick-set, muscular
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 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 ~ shouted another
across the table. "D'you think you're
the only real fools ben summerin' in
the range"
"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 they"
Jest disappeared. Mebbe he had
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 probe.
matical gold mine. Pelly had disap.
peared; 1t began to seem probable
that the report of his return was
false If these men had been pros
pecting the range all the summer, II
was probable that If Pelly had re-
turned to the vicinity they would have
heard Of 1t. 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
fluence 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