The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-07-08

cts got to turn out. I"


ology and swung under the bench
land where | filed that worthless
bunch of claims"
you've never pulled those out, :"
Hammond suggested. you said
something about it when we signed
up our agreement-about having to
take out eight acres for that Eng
lish syndicate"
Kenning nodded thoughtfully.
1--WE got to be getting at that.
Had a letter from them yesterday.
/ should have decided it over be-
fore. But oh, don't know, when
I get home at night"
Hammond said nothing. Bruce,
he knew, was seldom home, at least
until late. His cabin rarely bore
evidences Of his presence when
Jack went up on the hill, of eve
nings, to be with Kay and her moth
er. And the worknen talked daily
Of what Kenning had done over at
Whoopee, at the roulette wheel.
Jack gave it little attention; he
felt that Bruce's winnings or losings
could not be for sizeable amounts.
At least, he said nothing about it,
except now and then to explain his
haggardness by good naturally
cursing himself for being fool
about roulette.
Know what I think I'd better
do7" Kenning asked suddenly.
THAT bench lands no good. Both
OF us know that. But I never take
chances. I think I'll pull off cou-
pie of men from this work here
and put down test pit Just to be
sure. Then, when it's done, I'll
draw out that acreage and get rid
of that English syndicate. Send
'em what they're looking for"
he laughed abruptly Something
we don't want"
Hammond laughed with him.
Put down test pit and then
We'll be sure Of it." he answered,
and headed slowly back toward
camp. But within sight of his cabin,
he began to hurry. Mrs Carewe.
the Joyce maid, was there. Kay
had sent her to bring him up the
hill. Hammond finished the ascent
of the trail on run. He never
before had received a summons
like this.
Kay was in the living room, walk
ing about, her hands clasped tight
" before her. From a distance
came the faint drone of an air
plane.
You're late" she said.
II came as quickly as I could. I
was at the upper workings. What's
happened"
She gave a brittle laugh.
WELL" came abruptly, I'm
alone.
Where's your mother?"
That's it."
''You don't mean"
They're in that airplane, bound
for Wrangell"
She's gone with Olson"
The girl laughed again. that
queer, thin-drawn laugh
Yes, she's gone with Olson. He
sold out this afternoon, to bunch
from up the creek. / tried to get
hold of you--thought maybe you
could argue with her. But it
wouldn't have helped. She's want
ed Olson and his nuggets ever since
she saw him. So they're gone. Tim
my's flying them to Wrangell."
Another month went by, blazing
hot days, deepening into chill nights,
with the dusk creeping over the
valley more swiftly with each pass
ing day. The bears had left the
rock slides; berries were gone and
leaves withered. The little town
became more careful of sparks.
Autumnal dryness was upon the
North, growing more and more
brittle and menacing each day. With
every cloud, miners turned their
eyes skyward in search of evidences
of the first snoWstorm. But the
clouds passed and the sun, blazed
anew. Then, one day, shortly aft
err the lunch hour, workman came
running down Loon Creek, shout
ing for Jack Hammond.
"Mr. Kenning wants you up there
at the bench shaft" he exclaimed.
Hes found something"
Hammond hesitated only long
enough to summon Kay. Then
with her GREATNESS beside him, they
hurried to the upper diggings. Ken
ming nervously impatient, await
ed them.
Don't ask me why it happened"
he said bluntly. Its against ev-
erything / figured. It's just
there-that's ALL
He extended his clutched hands,
opening them. Kay gave half
scream and moved forward, Ham
mond close behind her. The mans
palms were heaped with yellow
gold; the wet sand of deep gravel
still chung to the hulking nuggets.
THE gravel's choked with theml"
Kenning said, in a queer voice.
Hammond stared at the yellow
wealth.
but how did it get there?Away
over on this bench land-this has
been solid earth for