The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-05-20
Jimmy Moon hiccoughed.

Jimmy Moon hiccoughed.
"God!' he exclaimed, looking al
the outlines of the log-cabin bed
house, with its bear-tallow candle
Pickering behind a mosquito-net
window.
Hammond slapped him on the
shoulder.
Get to bed. Timmyi" he COM
manded. You've had long day"
Then~fonely, puzzled, a bit. de-
pressed. he went onward toward his
dark cabin, where snored McKen-
zie Joe. This night of nights had
not turned out at all the way he
had hoped for it.
Morning, however, brought
spirit of gayety; everybody had
been tired and excited the night be-
fore, Hammond told himself. New
ertheless, on his way from break
fast, he could not help turning to-
ward the cabin-store of Jeanne Tow
ers; nor could he conceal certain
expression of concern as she be-
q
sprightly conversation about Ham,
mond's guests. Then she turned to
the subject Of Jimmy Moons air.
plane.
Its changed the whole camp!"
she exclaimed, rearranging a few
containers of dried food on the al
most empty shelves. "Everybody's
been asking me when intended to
lay In new stock"
Buy me some tobacco that isn't
halt hay when you do" Hammond
ordered, with a grin. That's Nc
Kennels I've been using-he could
smoke moose hide"
Jeanne got out pencil and q
sheet of paper; already there was
the beginning Of quite a list.
II can't get it for a week or SC"
she said. .Mr. Moon is booked UP
until then. was up early--but the
Slumgullion people and the flop
house and the hotel we're already
ahead of me-"
Whats a week." asked Ham
mond. You'll be the merchant
queen of Sapphire lake first thing
we know"
I'm afraid I'm getting as bad as
you prospectors, came with an un-
easy laugh. 1--WE been wishing for
another mining rush."
"Why?"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Oh, don't know--the excite
ment, I guess, the thrill OF going
somewhere" Then, I'm sorry.
That doesn't sound grateful
but this camp hasn't really got
ten started" Quickly he asked,
Jeanne, what's bothering your"
Spring, maybe"
"Sure?"
She fenced. What e1se7"
who was that man in the restau-
rant last night?"
.Oh, thattn she exclaimed, with
a smile that for the moment dis
armed him. 1T was all too silly.
could have sworn / knew hirn--a
boy I'd gone to school with up in
back home!"
ut was mistake them"
s'Oh, yes. I'd looked up hurried
ly--it was just like seeing a ghost.
Did you hear me? I almost
shrieked. The poor fellow must
have thought I'd gone crazy. I did
feel like an idint -
Hammond agreed that 1t was in
deed silly feeling. Soon he went
onward, again to take the trail up
to the cottage. But he carried with
him an uneasy presentiment that
Jeanne Towers had not told the
truth.
Kay was waiting for him, as well
groomed as If she had come from
beauty parlor. Hammond watched
the sun play on her hatless head,
as with her mother, they went down
the trail. Then at last, on the banks
of Loon creek, the man pointed out
the claim which he had saved for
her, a stretch of gravel extending
along the stream near where up
turned stones and earth told OF the
workings held by Mckenzie Joe and
himself.
II got them as near mine as
could" he announced.
And is this a claim?" asked
Kay. why, it's just the bank of
the stream"
Look" Hammond answered. All
along the creek were evidences of
labor. Here and there, disregard
ing the high water, men labored
at the shoveling of earth into long,
wooden sluice boxes which, picking
W, the water from fiume running
from higher point in the stream,
carried it downward on slow de-
cline.
"You just wash it through and it
becomes gold?" Kay said curious
ly. Isn't that cute?"
at looks like day laborer's job
to me-" her mother reflected.
A shout answered her, from up
stream, where the raw-boned Oh
son and two partners were work
ing. Instantly labor stopped else
where. Necks craned. Heads APP
peared above the higher portions OF
n. Il a -