Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1943-01-21
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By VIC YARDMAN
Associated Newspapers.
WNU Features.


value of the find. It was a placer
pocket and would probably net
total take of between $40, 900 and
$4,000.
Sid filed his pipe and sat down
to mediate. He was an old hand
at prospecting. He knew there
was little likelihood of locating
the original source of the depos-
it. The thing to do, of course,
was to get Duke Brandon, his
partner, clean out the placer,
and hit for Big Rock settlement
before the snow came.
Or was it? Sid sucked on his pipe,
and his eyes grew crafty. Into
his mind there came a picture of
pockskinned, thin-lipped Duke Bran
don. Why should he share this find
with Duke? A man with $40, 900
could retire and live for the rest of
his days in comfort. A man with
only half that amount would have to
scrimp. What did Duke Brandon
mean to him, anyhow? They had
met for the first time in Black Wolf
two months ago. Both were looking
for a grubstake. They had agreed
to pool their resources and set out
together on a share-and-share alike
basis.
Duke Brandon was in a surly mood
that night. He had had no luck.
The food supply was getting low.
Snow would come soon. Why not
quit now while their chances of get
ting out were good?
''Wait a week." Sid urged. might
as well make sure we amt
missin' anything while we're here"
So Duke was prevailed upon. The
next morning they started out again
IN opposite directions. Sid went
south, circled west and came out
on his placer claim. Working fever
ishly he PANIED handful of gold
and carried it up stream a half
mile, caching it beneath a large
moss-covered rock.
The next day and the next and the
next it was the same. Duke became
more disgruntled. He decided to re-
main only one more day.
The next morning Duke headed
north. Toward noon he swung west
and south. At midafternoon he came
to a moss-covered rock lying near
the shore of what was to him an
explored tributary. He sat down to
smoke and rest, and as he sat there
the slanting rays of the sun fell upon
dull, yellow piece of metal. Duke
blinked, then leaned forward. He
picked up the piece of metal and
saw beyond it small opening be-
meath the rock.
Duke BrandOn'S eyes grew
wide. He looked about him like
a man who is afraid that prying
eyes have discovered him at
some nefarious occupation. He
knelt and reached into the hole
and took out handful of gold.
Sid Condor had stood in the bed
of the stream when caching his
placer gold, so there were no foot
prints nor other signs to indicate his
having been there.
Evil thoughts ran through Dukes
mind. There must be $4,000 worth
of metal in the cache. Half of that
was his, according to the unwritten
law. The other half-but what could
a man do with mere SIS 1000. Who
was this Sid Condor, anyhow? A
backyard at heart, no doubt. One
who cared not at all for him or any
one else. 1t would be simple, so
simple, to remove this fortune to
another cache.
Duke took a small sack from his
pocket and filed it with the dull,
yellow dust. His breathing was
heavy as he knelt there. His eyes
glowed feverishly. He knotted the
sack together and rose from his
hees-and stopped dead still.
Sid Condor was standing not
fifteen feet away. Sid's left
hand contained sack similar to
the one in Dukes. 1t was not
full, but the bulge was evidence
enough as to its contents.
The two men stared at each other.
Significance of the meaning of the
situation dawned slowly into their
sluggish brains.
Sid COndon's lips fattened
against his teeth. His eyes mar
r0wed to Sits.
$50" he cried hoarsely. $50!
This is how it is! Partners, eh?"
"Partners," Duke Brandon
echoed. "Partners!" he repeat
ed in ugly sc0rn. "You louse!"
Sid Condor laughed harshly, wick
edly. He was bigger than the other
man, and he felt confident.
With the speed of snake his hand
flashed to his hip where hung the
revolver in its holster. His hand
closed over the butt and pulled it
forth. His finger contracted on the
trigger and flame belched from its
muzzle.
Sid Condor saw his partners body
jerk convulsively, and he knew he
had scored hit; knew it only dimly
though, for the sound of his own
gun had come from a great distance,
and there was a drumming and
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