The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-05-27

Will tic Hlotot cut OH dropped
downward to the surface of the
moonlit Sapphire and the nicely of
a safe landing.
"Timmy's taking chances" said
Hammond.
"Oh, he's gone mad with little
money"
well, don't we all?"
81 suppose so-although it's been
so long since I've seen any"
This was different Kay, strange
ly frank, calmly bringing up a sub
iect which Hammond had been re-
luctant even to mention.
Il want to talk about that" he
said at last.
And | still want to talk about
YOU" she countered. about your
plans"
He was silent moment. Then:
did I build too pretty q picture
down there in Scatter"
Don't be silly, I'm thinking of
you. Has everything turned out the
way you wanted it,"
"Of course" he answered, with
a little surprise. Naturally we're
not making lot out of those Loon
creek placers."
but you've got some other
claims, worth lot more"
"Yes-if we can only find the
gold"
That's what you mentioned last
night"
Yes"
where are they?"
1.-THE claims? Back on the flats,
away from Moose river
"But how would you go about
finding gold away off there?"
A long period of silence followed.
I don't know how Joe will feel
about me telling that" came f.
nally.
But you're just telling me-"
Eyes, that's true. II the theory
ever got out this camp would go
crazy stalking claims
And you're afraid I might pub
fish it," she asked, with queer
little laugh.
"Oh, Kayl OF course not. Every
thing I've got is yours-even my
thoughts
She pressed his arm.
You're awfully sweet, do you
know it,"
I'm crazy about you'll know
that" he said, with short laugh.
II can say the same to you. And
oh, Jack, I want you to strike it
rich--richer than any other man on
earthl"
He looked out over the shadoWy
valley.
Somewhere over there" he said
throatily, lis enough gold to make
us all millionaires dozen times
over. Tons OF gold, Kay-the de-
posts of thousands of years, just
waiting for someone to come along
and wash it out of the gravel
but where?" she insisted. He
ran hand across his forehead. A
long moment passed. Jack Ham
mond was struggling with his prom
ises to Joe. Then suddenly the Sc
cret flooded forth, the belief that
somewhere, far in the past, Moose
river had run in a different and
long abandoned bed, there to de-
post alluvial gold, washed down
from the hills by thousands Of fresh
cts and spring floods.
''Once we find that old river
bed" he said. But where will you
find it,"
That's the problem. There's
nothing to indicate where 1t might
be. We're sure it's there, some
where. But that's all we know"
"Then it's like looking for the
proverbial needle
Just about" Jack agreed. Wen
just have to keep on putting down
test holes; one of them may turn
out"
Isn't that rather silly"
Hammond shrugged his shoulders.
All we can do is follow Joe's
hunches--as to where he thinks that
river should have run. OF course,
other persons might 60 at 1t scien-
tifically."
And find what they were looking
for"
Perhaps"
"Then why don't your"
"You don't know Joe's breed.
They distrust scientists. Any old
prospector will tell you that an engi-
neer or geologist can ruin the finest
mine ever discovered. Oh, they're
funny!"
Kay tossed her head.
II can't see anything funny about
it. Why should you give up every
thing in life just because your part
ner is--what do you call it
bushed?"
sBut he's my partner, Kayl We've
fought the North together"
That's carrying chivalry too far.
You'd both be better off with sci
entific help"
"Of course we would, Kay. But
| couldn't sell Joe that idea in a
month OF new moons. And he'd
rave il he found out that I went
IA Wy n