Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-10-22
Anything good today?"

The geologist shook his head. Then
as Hammond approached:
"Can't expect much yet. We're still
twenty or twenty-five feet above
where the stuff ought to be-"
Hammond laughed.
cts got to turn out"
GLOW can it help turning out " Ken
ming asked. "That river ran over here
somewhere. Unless" he added, "it
defied every rule of geology and
swung under the bench land where I
filed that worthless bunch Of claims"
"You've never pulled those out"
Hammond suggested. "You said some
thing about it when we signed up our
agreement-about having to take out
eight acres for that English syndi-
cate"
Kenning nodded thoughtfully.
"I've got to be getting at that. Had
a letter from them yesterday. I
should have decided it over before. But
oh, I 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 evenings, to be with Kay
and her mother. And the worlmen
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 stable amounts. At least,
he said nothing about it except now
and then to explain his haggardness
by good-naturedly cursing himself for
being a fool about roulette.
"Know what think I'd better dog"
Kenning asked suddenly. "That bench
lands no good. Both of us know that.
But I never take chances. think
I'll pull off a couple 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 laugh
ed 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 head
ed slowly back toward his 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 a run. He
never before had received summons
like this.
Kay was in the living room, walk
ing about, her hands clasped tightly
before her. From distance came the
faint drone of an airplane.
you're late" she said.
81 came as quickly as I could. I
was at the upper workings. What's
happened?"
She gave 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.
eyes, she's gone with Olson. He
sol dout this afternoon, to a 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 wanted Olson and his
nuggets ever since she saw him. So
they're gone. Timmy's flying them
to Wrangell."
Another month went by, blazing hot
day, deepening into chill nights, with
the dusk creeping over the valley more
swiftly with each passing 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 pass
ed and the sun blazed anew. Then,
one day, shortly after the lunch hour,
workman came running down Loon
Creek, shouting for Jack Hammond.
"Mr. Kenning wants you up there
at the bench shaft" he exclaimed.
"He's found something"
Hammond hesitated only long
enough to summon Kay. Then with
her breathless beside him, they hur-