The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-16

thought of him beforei Surely If any
one knew of the girls whereabouts. IL
would be he. ] determined | would
ask him at once.
So | hastily finished my coffee and
inquired of the waiter where ! might
find the Klondike king.
"Oh, Black Jack" he said: well, at
the Green Bay Tree, or the Tivoli, or
the Monte Carlo. But there's big
poker game on and he's liable to be
in it"
Once more l paraded the seething
street. Women were everywhere,
smoking cigarettes. laughing, chatting.
strolling in and out of the wide-open
saloons. A Iibertine spirit was in the
air, madcap freedom, an effluence of
disdainful sin.
| found myself by the stockade that
surrounded the police reservation.
One of the censtables, a tall. slim Eng
lishman with refined manner, proved
to me friend In need
"Yes." he said. In answer to my
query, 81 think can find your man.
He's downtown somewhere with some
of the big sporting guns. Come on,
we'll run him to earth"
After short walk he pushed his
way through crowded doorway and
| followed. 1t was the ordinary type
of combined saloon and gambling joint.
In a corner, presiding over stud
poker game. / was surprised to see
Mosher.
My companion pointed to an inner
room with a closed door.
The Klondike kings are in there,
hard at it There's Black Jack and
Saltwater Willie and Claude Terry
and Charlie Haw."
Eagerly looked in. All but Locasto
were medium-sized men. Saltwater
Willie was in evening dress Haw was
a sandy-haired man with shifty. I'M
easy eyes; Terry of a bulldog type,
stocky and powerful But ii was Lo-
casio who gripped and riveted my at
tention.
He was a massive man, heavy of
limb and brutal in strength. There
was a great spread to his shoulders
and d conscious power in his every
movement he had a square. heavy
chin. grim. sneering mouth. falcon
nose. black eyes that were as cold as
the water in a deserted shaft His
hair was raven dark, and his skin
betrayed the Mexican strain in his
blood. Above the others he lowered.
strikingly masterful, and | felt some
how the power that emanated from
the man, the brute force. the remorse-
less purpose.
Then the waiter returned with q
tray Of drinks and the door was closed.
We'll. you've seen him now" said
my friend. Your only plan. if you
want to speak 70 him, is to wait till
the game breaks up. By-by."
Oh. the WEAKNESS of that waitingi
1t was in the young morn when the
game broke up. The inner door opened
and Black Jack appeared.
In a moment l had followed and
overtaken him.
MIR. Locasto."
He turned and gave me stare from
his UrOOding eyes.
Jack LOcasto's my name" be an
swered carelessly.
| walked alongside him.
"Well. SIR" | said, my names Mel
drum. Athol Meldrum."
"Oh, | don't care what the devil
your name is" he broke in petulantly
Don't bother me just now. I'm tired
What do you want work."
NO" ! said, 81 just want a scrap
of information. came into the coun-
try with some Jews by the name of
WinkIestein- I've lost track of them
and ! think you may be able TO tell me
where they are"
He was all attention now. He
turned half round and scrutinized me
with deliberate intensity. Then, like
a flash, his rough manner changed.
His eyes were bland. his voice smooth
as cream.
"Winklestein," be echoed reflective
ly. "Winklestein; seems to me | do
remember the name. hut for the life
VI IIic Cdu ESCdli "uGTG. was IUGT6
girl with them?"
yes" said eagerly, "a young girl"
"a young girl, ah ~ He seemed to
reflect hard again. We'll. my friend,
I'm afraid can't help you. | remem-
Der noticing the party on the way in,
but what became of them can't
think. Well, goodnight, or good-morn-
ing rather. This is my hotel"
He had half entered when he paused
and turned TO me. His face was ur-
bane, his vbice suave to sweetness;
but il seemed to me there was a sub
tie mOckery in his tone.
Il say. if | should hear anything of
them, I'll let you know. Your name?
AthOl MeIdrum-all right, I'll let you
know. Good-by."
He was gone and | had failed.
cursed myself for fool. The man had
baffied me. Nay, even | had hurt my
self by giving him an inkIing of my
search. Berna seemed further away
from me than ever. Home | went,
discouraged and despairfuL
Then / began to argue with myself.
He must know where they were, and
if he really had designs on the girl
and was keeping her in hiding my in
rerview with him would alarm him
He would take the first opportunity
of warning the Winklesteins When
would he do it? That very night in
all likelihood. So | reasoned; and ]
resolved TO watch.
| stationed myself in saloon from
where could command a view of his
hutel. and there | waited. I was be-
ginning to think he must have evaded
me. when suddenly coming forth alone
from the hotel ! saw my man
A.,