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"WHAT I WANT-i TAKE " Avn ^^^^^fS^" 
 
pS?50J 
 El(55 
 
 SfoS 
 Ifot 
 
 ! » 
 
 ■atwtd Moordlng to Aot of tha Pwllameiit of 
 Oauda. In the year on* tbooMUid nine luuiaroa 
 •ad six, by tlw Pools Publuhiho Oompaiit, 
 LmraD, Toronto, at the Depnrtmant of Agrl- 
 enltnre. 
 
THIS BOOK 
 IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO 
 
 MY MOTHER 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XII. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 XXII. 
 
 Th» Bncovntbk *' 
 
 Tmi Stowaway .......,'* ' 
 
 Iw Which 0lbn«S7m Bkm . ** 
 
 Thi Killing * * ** 
 
 Whbkbin a Man AmlM . * " 
 
 And a Minb is Jvmfbd * 
 
 Thb "Bbonco Kid'." EAVB.DBOPPINO ; [ ' H 
 
 Dbxtby Mabbs a Call « 
 
 Slvicb Robbbbs 
 
 Thb Wit or an Advbntubbis '* 
 
 Whbbbin A Wbit AND A Riot Pail .' .' " [Z 
 
 COUNTBBPLOTS. . . • "O 
 
 IhWhichaMani.'po.s..„i;o;aD.v;.; Z 
 A Midnight Mbssbnobr . *! 
 
 ViGILANTB.. . . '" 
 
 Thb Dbip of Watbr in thb Dabb . „. 
 
 Whbbbin A Tbap I. Baitbd. . 'I 
 Dynaiiitb '^^ 
 
 In Which Thb.b ^^,^0* thb Sign op thb Slbd ''' 
 
 AND but Two Rbturn 
 Thb Hamiibr-Lock ...'.'.*.**'** **' 
 
 Thb Promisb op Drbams *** 
 
 300 
 
THE SPOILERS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THB BNCOVNTBB 
 
 Witt the l«bt. of Mwhored Aip,, then up .t th. 
 crenetoted mountaint, black againit the >tr H. 
 drank the cool air buriened with i^STof *e ^ 
 
 mv «;.^»™^"^'' ^ ""nnured, "and thi. i, 
 my country— my country, after aU, Dex Ifa in 
 myv«n.. thi. hunger for th. North. I^/*l*e^ 
 
 "Careful you don't buat," warned Dextry "I've 
 
 ^nd"°.i.'* f^" -^^^ •» nmmuin afc Don't 
 <«pand too strong in one .pot." He went ^k 
 
 ^^1 '^Z^'^ »' tt» «ir'. too tonic qtS^'^ 
 GadI What a «nudgel" sniffed the yoLrer man 
 You ought to be in quarantine." ' ' 
 
 Id ruther smell like a man than talk like a kid 
 
 You desecrate the hour of meditation with a1^^ 
 
I' 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 OT^nature when your ssthetics ain't honed up to the 
 beauties of good tobacco." ^ 
 
 The other laughed, inflaung his deep chest. In the 
 gloom he stretched his muscles restlLly. as tWh 
 an excess of vigor filled him. ^^ 
 
 tJ^Z ""tl^ ^°"°«^°« «Poa the dock, while before 
 them lay the Santa Maria ready for her midnieht 
 «ulmg. Behind slept Unalaska. quaint, anti^e fnd 
 Russian rustmg amid the fogs of Bering Sea. ^^ere 
 
 among the old bronze cannon, now a frenzied horde of 
 gold-seekenj paused m their rush to the new El Dorado 
 They had come like a locust cloud, thousands strong,* 
 settling on the edge of the Smoky Sea, waiting the 
 going of the ice that barred them from their Golden 
 Fleece-from Nome the new, where men found fort- 
 une in a night. 
 
 The mossy hills back of the village were ridged with 
 graves of those who had died on the out-trip the fall 
 before, when a plague had gripped the land-but 
 what of that? Gold glittered in the sands, so said 
 the survivors; therefore men came in annies. Glen- 
 ister and Dextry had left Nome the autumn previous, 
 the young man raving with fever. Now they returned 
 to their own land. 
 
 "This air whets every animal instinct in me," 
 Glemster broke out again. "Away from the cities I 
 
 f^JfoTIXmg/' "' '"' °'' "'^^^^'^ passions-the 
 "Mebbe you'll have a chance." 
 "How so?" 
 
 n,n3«"' %^ *^'. "^/^' ^ "^^^ ^^'^^o MulUns this 
 mormn. You mmd old Mexico, don't you? The 
 
 a 
 
THE ENCOUNTER 
 
 l^^s^"!^"^ °^'"y <^^^ <» Anvil C«.k 
 
 inJ 7°!* ^"^'^ '"'"° "•«* 'tin-horn' the boys wet. o^ 
 ing to lynch for claim-jumping ?" « "^y »«» go- 
 
 good t.m"?l Remember me tellin' you about , 
 "C^ done h.m once down Guadalupe way?" 
 __ Greaser shooting-scrape, wasn't it ?" ^ 
 
 fat; M^LiWn"'Jt "t^'l '"* '^ "«" "*'» «ettin' 
 P>a;^n''bith ends' ^nleZr^'M^^J"' '"' 
 di'mon's fit to handle'Jth t-tr^"- ^ ""^ '<»* 
 
 cen|^yoir'S--:t,^^^^^^^^^^ - 
 
 s;.. nritnu-t-hai'tti^'--^^^^^^^^ 
 ^f^i,^r.^tr-Mo«;-£F-^^^^^ 
 
 It ain t comin' to me.' savs I 'Tt,«*» t. 
 '"Listen here,' says he a^Lllr.' k * ' ? ^^S^^^^^'' 
 I let him run on ' ^""^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ earnest, 
 
 -HaMTelt^^i;^^ r%^^f t^? o' youm atr 
 
 run last faU, they'd c^ght to b/^ ir "^^ °^* "^« ^^^ 
 
 "•How much -U you dLn «n ^1,'^"'°'' "^^^ ^'^ ^^•' 
 
 ;;:^out four hunZitr^^^rwItT^^^^ 
 
 .ot tf i;e« ^^ a-poppii^t youVe 
 
 snake. Don't nevef W 't^T.^ ""^'^^ * '^t^^- 
 you're down an' out ' ^^* ^ ^^"P °° it or 
 
 Me.^::^Ta^Jrylr"*^*--^- We 
 ^^ What do you mean?' savs I. 
 
 cant ten you nothin' more. I'n. puttin' a 
 
m 
 
 hi' 
 
 THE SPOILBIS 
 
 string on my own neck, sayin' this much. You're a 
 square man, Bill, an' I'm a gambler, but you saved 
 my life oncet, an' I wouldn't steer you wrong. For 
 God's sake, don't let 'em jump your ground, that's all.' 
 
 '"Let who jump it? Congress has give us judges 
 an' courts an' marshals—' I begins. 
 
 '"That's jost it. How you goin' to buck that 
 hand? Them's the best cards in the deck. There's 
 a man comin' by the name of McNamara. Watch 
 hma^ clost. I can't teU you no more. But don't never 
 let 'em get a grip on your ground.* That's all he'd 
 say." 
 
 "Bahl He'scrazyl I wish somebody would try to 
 jump the Midas; we'd enjoy the exercise." 
 
 The siren of the Santa Maria interrupted, its hoarse 
 warning throbbing up the mountain. 
 
 "We'll have to get aboard," said Dextry. 
 
 " Sh-h I What's that ?" the other whispered. 
 
 At first the only sound they heard was a stir from 
 the deck of the steamer. Then from the water below 
 them came the rattle of rowlocks and a voice cautiously 
 muffled. 
 
 "StopI Stoptherel" 
 
 A skiff burst from the darkness, grounding on the 
 beach beneath. A figure scrambled out and up the 
 ladder leading to the wharf. Immediately a second 
 boat, plainly in pursuit of the first one, struck on the 
 beach behind it. 
 
 As the escaping figure mounted to their level the 
 watchers perceived with amazement that it was a 
 young woman. Breath sobbed from her lungs, and, 
 stumbling, she would have fallen but for Glenister,' 
 who ran forward and helped her to her feet. 
 
 4 
 
THE BlfCOUNTBR 
 
 "Don't let them get me," she panted. 
 
 ttie landmg ladder up which the pursuers we,^ climb- 
 
 " J>«t a mtouto-you therel Back up or I'll idcV 
 y^face m." D«try', voice was sh.^ and uTex^ 
 
 bo I jedge. ' 
 
 "She broke qu " 
 
 "Shut upl" broke in another. "Do you want to 
 advertise it ? Get out of the way, th^^e^^^a^^t,^ 
 aimb up. Thorsen." He spoke Uke a bucKte 
 andhis words stirred the bile of Dextry ' 
 
 burthToif^^"^ *^' ^°"^ ^°°'' t'yi^g to climb up, 
 but the old miner stamped on his fibers and the 
 
 mi^'Ji^h v"'.^^^'? "^*^ ^ y«"' cai^Tthe under 
 men with him to the beach in his fall 
 
 , "This way! Follow me 1" shouted 'the mate mak- 
 
 marKeo, chey 11 be here in a minute." 
 
 c , ,V ^^^' ^®* "^ 8^°^ I «^"st get aboard the 
 Santa M She's leaving now. Cc^e, S^eP 
 
 Glemster laughed, as thou.eh there were a humorous 
 touch m her remark, but did not stir. ^^^^^^ 
 
 I m gettin' awful old an' stiff to run " said Dextrv 
 Z?:ml''^ -ckinaw "but I aUoTi a?n1?^"*5d 
 for a httle diyepion m the way of a rough-house when 
 It comes nosm' around." He moved ifghtinh^S 
 
 S 
 
THE SPOILBIS 
 
 the girl could see in 1 e half-darkness that his hair 
 was silvery. 
 
 I' What do you mean» ' she questioned, sharply. 
 "You hurry along, miss; we'll toy with 'em till 
 you're aboard." They stepped across to the dock- 
 house, backing against it. The girl followed. 
 
 Again came the warning blast from the steamer, 
 and the voice of an officer: 
 "Clear away that stem linel" 
 "Oh, we'll be leftl" she breathed, and somehow it 
 struck Glenister that she feared this more than the 
 men whose approaching feet he heard. 
 ^^ " You can make it all right," he urged her, roughly. 
 "You'il :et hurt if you stay here. Run ftlong and 
 don't mind us. We've been thirty days on ship- 
 board, and were praying for something to happen." 
 His voice was boyishly glad, as if he exulted in the 
 fray that was to come; and no sooner had he spoken 
 than the sailors came out of the darkness upon them. 
 During the space of a few heart-beats there was 
 only a tangle of whirling forms with the sotind of fist 
 on flesh, then the blot split up and forms plunged out- 
 ward, faUing heavily. Again the sailors rushed, at- 
 tempting to cUnch. They massed upon Dextry only 
 to grasp empty air, for he shifted with remarkable 
 agiUty, striking bitterly, as an old wolf snaps. It was 
 bafflmg work, however, for in the darkness his blows 
 fell short or overreached. 
 
 Glenister, on the other hand, stood carelessly, beat 
 ing the men off as they came to him. He laughed 
 gloatingly, deep in his throat, as though the encounter 
 were merely some rough sport. The girl shuddered, 
 for the desperate silence of the attacking men terrified 
 
 6 
 
THB ENCOUNTER 
 
 ag^i^rS^e^^aV '^' *"' ^^ '"^ ^**^«^' --^^«^ 
 
 ^i^ ^♦K i!- ^^"i"^- ^"^^""^^y ^^ antagonist 
 grappled with him, and they fell to the floor, while a 
 
 third man shuffled about them. The girl throttled a 
 scream. 
 
 hoarsely ' Le' me fix 'im." He swung his heavy 
 shoe^nd BiU cursed with stirring eloquence. ^ 
 
 Ow! You're kickin' me! I've got 'im safe 
 enough. Tackle the big un." 
 
 Bill's aUy then started towards the others, his body 
 bent, his anns flexed yet hanging loosely. He crouch- 
 ed beside the girl ignoring her, while she heard the 
 1.^ wheezing from his lungs; then silently he 
 leaped^ Glemster had hurled a man from him, then 
 stepped back to avoid the others, when he was seizS 
 from behind and felt the man's arms wrapped about 
 ^s neck, the saUor's legs locked about his thiXs 
 ^r^""" *^\^'!'' ^""^ ^owledge of real fighting. 
 
 to L^nH-^r ^^tu^"^ ^^"'^ ^° ^^"^^^y ^"twilled L 
 to be mdistinguishable. the others holding off. For 
 
 what seemed many minutes they struggled, the young 
 
 against the wall near her and she heard her champion's 
 breath coughmg in his throat at the tightening^p of 
 
 InZ t ^ °^««^thus. A moment and Glenister 
 would be down beneath their stamping feet—thev 
 would kick his Ufe out with their hSw shoes It 
 
 Wn 1'*; *'' ""'^^'^ °' ^^*^- smTtetrVa 
 Wow m the face. Her terror feU away, her shaking 
 
 7 
 
'^i 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 .Ji^""^'* ^'"»" to her. She reached out 
 « tST^ 1^ by the hair, while her dnget,. t^ 
 
 !L fh^^,! '~'- ^' '°"° y«"«* " «»dden tenor: 
 and the others as suddenly feU back. The natt in 
 
 .tant she fdt a hand up<i he- d.o«ld« ^nHlart 
 Dextry's voice. "«»ra 
 
 1«ft"''J'^'f^ ^°/ Come on, then, or we'U get 
 
 i«H «io '^j^* "^""^^y' ^^'^^^^ ^« ^««tl^ ^w loud, 
 and, glancing down, she saw the huddled fonn of the 
 sailor whom he had fought. 
 
 1 '"^^*'«*" "gh*-*e ain't hurt. It's a Jap trick I 
 learned. Hurry upl" *' *^ 
 
 They ran swiftly down the wharf. foUowed by 
 Glenister and by the groans of the sailors ^wh<S 
 the lust for com^ at had been quenched. As th^ 
 shambled up the Santa Marians gang-plank, a strip of 
 water widened between the boat and tihe pi;r. 
 
 Close shave, that," panted Glenister. feeling his 
 throat gingerly, "but I Tiouldn't have missed it for a 
 spotted pup. ' 
 
 "I've been through b'iler explosions and snow- 
 slides, not to mention a triflin' jail-deUvery, but fer 
 real sprightly diversions I don't recall nothin' more 
 
 "^ *^° *^-" ^«t»y's enthusiasm was boylike. 
 What kmd of men are you?" the girl laughed 
 nervously, but got no answer. 
 
 They led her to their deck cabin, where they switch- 
 ed on the electric Kght, blinking at each other and at 
 tneir tmknown giiest. 
 
 They saw a graceful and altogether attractive 
 
 8 
 
 figure 
 
 III 
 
 hi 
 
TBB BNCODNTBR 
 
 r, " .^i»''<"» ""rt «nd long, tan boot.. But what 
 Glenuiterfimsawwashereye.; large and gray alm«t 
 
 snowed no sign of her recent ordeal. 
 
 fhol/'if *' ^ ^° prepared for the typo of beautv 
 that follows the frontier- h«.a«*x, ♦»,-* ocauty 
 
 ««! 1 ' ^ " ^*^ *^« calm, reposeful face atmrt « 
 note almost painfully diSmr^tfrST^ struck a 
 
 Jure adnurabon alone was patent in the older man's 
 
 'I make oration." sail! >!• «•♦»,«* . 
 Httle chap I ever foiehTov^' iJ^l^'^" *"" 8'™"* 
 Whafs the troubl^?' ^"- ""^- '"J'"' ^ white. 
 
 y-^t" he':?d:?,^r'^c'nr ' "'r '- 
 
 hel^t^^^^lt^'^'^'*"""^'™- He thought 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 "No, no! I don't want you to do that. Thty 
 multtn't see me to-night. I know I'm acting strangely 
 and all that, but it's happened so quickly I haven't 
 found myself yet. I'll tell you to-morrow, though, 
 really. Don't let any one see me or it will spoil every- 
 thing. Wait till to-morrow, please." 
 
 She was very white, and spoke with eager intensity. 
 
 "Help you? Why, sure Mike!" assured the impul- 
 sive Dextry, "an', see here, Miss — ^you take your time 
 on explanations. We don't care a cuss what you done. 
 Morakt ain't our long suit, 'cause ' there's never a law of 
 God or man runs north of Fifty-three,' as the poetry 
 man remarked, an' he couldn't have spoke truer if he'd 
 knowed what he was sayin*. Everybody is privileged 
 to ' look out ' his own game up here. A square deal an' 
 no questions asked." 
 
 She looked somewhat doubtful at this till she caught 
 the heat of Glenister's gaze. Some boldness of his look 
 brought home to her the actual situation, and a stain 
 rose in he. cheek. She noted him more carefully; 
 noted hL< heavy shoulders and ease of bearing, an ease 
 and looseness begotten of perfect muscular control. 
 Strength was equally suggested in his face, she thought, 
 for he carried a marked young countenance, with 
 thrusting chin, aggressive thatching brows, and mobile 
 mouth that whispered all the changes from strength to 
 abandon. Prominent was a look of reckless energy. 
 She considered him handsome in a heavy, virile, per- 
 haps too purely physical fashion. 
 
 "You want to stowaway?" he asked. 
 
 "I've had a right smart experience in that line," 
 said Dextry, "but I never done it by proxy. What's 
 your plan?" 
 
 lO 
 
THB BKCODRTBK 
 
 !>«• and toft. <»» »: Jef But tbqr nutuni 
 
 I getting into? Why dJ^L, w^''"^- What .„, 
 Jnght«,ed. Oh, r„^«,^7" ^ •? « me? r„ 
 •he rose wearilv Th. i """"took it." At lut 
 «t the '>^%r^J°^s:^^yP'^ ^; !S 
 Ae rtepped forth into he nSi ^"^ °"* "«' "Wht*. 
 the rail and she slipped „t^ ^'f'^ '°«n«> nea^ 
 
 The forms she had ^ I^'T?* "*' '«■=•• 
 »e««y. Instead ofpaS. ?S™"^' "*«>^« «"- 
 herhiding-plaee; tK S.l^**"'^ '^ of 
 that her «t«at;as ™t"ff*^^^*° ^k- -he saw 
 What brings her here?" rw* ** """* "otMir- 
 question of Dextrv's ■•B.i, i ^"**' '^ echoing a 
 What bnnaght "tte buch^' J?« *'^ *"«» !ttt 
 aU_ the rest ? ■• ^'^"ess, and Cherry Malotte, and 
 
 "No. no," said the old man "«!i,- • , . 
 
 "^ed you, boy. You think^^v^^P' *"» ?'"»«> 
 don't know but thev »~_r?i ,. '^ " *" alike— an' I 
 
THB SFOILBIS 
 
 f I 
 
 Indiet, A long time ago— fo Vm told. SooMtimM I 
 think I have hit diipotitioii. H« comet and whitpen 
 thing! to me in the night. Oh, he wu a devil, and I've 
 got hif blood in me — untamed and hot — I can hear him 
 laying lomething now — eomething about the ipoils of 
 war. Ha, hal Maybe he'i right. I fought for her 
 to-night — Dex — the way he uaed to fight for hia tweet- 
 hearts along the Mesdcot. She't too beautiful to be 
 good — and 'there't never a law of God or man runt 
 north of Fifty-three.'" 
 
 They moved on, hit vibrant, cynical laughter ttab- 
 bing the girl till the leaned againtt the yawl for tup- 
 port. 
 
 She held hertelf together while the blood beat thickly 
 in her ean, then fled to the cabin, hurling hertelf into 
 her berth, where the writhed tilently, beating the pillow 
 with handt into which her nailt had bitten, ttaring the 
 while into the darknett with dry and aching eyet. 
 
gtsiiig 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THl STOWAWAT 
 
 SHE awoke to the thxob of thm m,^,^ ^ 
 ^ "^^^ov^y through^ ^^^^^j^^^-^ 
 
 So thig wu Berinff ? Sh« h.^ «Sr L?^" °° **• 
 
 •«w 4 flat, nmUt main, with mL^TT" '"»*^. •!» 
 Pin« their fat bo<Ji«^ rf ^w^" "•■?"««• «»P- 
 
 •he hMM the\S7rf '"j^r^ *^ "***" '*~«. ""d 
 
 cta.°;s&d*Vb^'tr^^f r'^ *«« p««».i .m. 
 
 I ^ »»t^ WM^SlKT^ J"" '«?«»'- bound. 
 
 •nd .Mm«l oddly o»t^ oli!i'?*^* "*™^'W«'*, 
 
 eq;dp,«„t, a. did^'aSS'atSS^^of'S.I^'' '^°"'* 
 
 jaberaUy, and felt that .^ hS ^^T **" """w" 
 
I 
 
 TIB SrOILBIS 
 
 •J*jt«»d lilt. Oie iMd not nibbwl tlbowi with tik 
 world enough to find that Truth may hmlo^h^ 
 
 n«^Mjlyrit of the junior partntr. «'»»™« 
 
 h«kSLTL'~?, • »>ook WM a worn Mid bUclmMd 
 hobtw from which p^ped the butt of a Iww^S?. 
 revolver, showing evidence of many yeaie* iSSL T? 
 •poke mutely of the white-hairSTD^S?, X^ brf JL 
 W inipection was over, knocked^ Si ^^^TT^ 
 
 ^^T^^^:"^ "i^'!:^^^ ^ut^y:"'' 
 
 He II be up to a minute. How'd ye eleep r ' ^ 
 
 thinW^^wV *^i y'^'" ■*'• "«>• "^* I'v* been 
 
 *!«•♦ «r'^i ^' *^ **^** "*«» interjected, "there 
 ZL "J* •«P^*«o~,«^«i tiU you fiel U^ ^^ 
 «wm up. You wai in troubl^-that'i unforttmate- 
 
 t7at^Xii;27'''*'' "'^"''^ "^ ^-^~ ^- 
 
 "S?""*"* ' '"'''' 5"*" "•"** think—" 
 ^r» bound Jl n."S?g;!S ST' "' '°~- 
 
 "Send you back? Why, don't yoo uwv tlut tu. 
 
 I^^ t^".."'- '^^ "P*^" """Wn't turn iM^k-^ 
 co^dn-t-ta, ctgo'. too p^Hou. «d the c^pj^ 
 pay. five thou«nd . day for thi, drip. No,^^'? 
 
 «4 
 
THB STOWAWAY 
 
 whw hi* hmd wtv^dLnTI!,!??" *? <>P*> the door 
 for h. h«ri th. IW.JSS^'':,.''^* *■» taob, 
 j,^^,, womr, wbmt aU tha bfMkfait 
 
 Phi^'" "•"P-^ «» 0" »«.-"th.f. Cp. St- 
 
 Don't wonderl Whv w^** , 
 JlMt night? I Miw vm. • ^ y*^ •*»««» •ooner 
 
 jyou right iiyi^T^/,?^^^, ^'}^'' eh? sHJ 
 Iconfidentui: "I'd Bdvulv^ ♦«" "^f** *^~PP«> ^ the 
 
 hn thi. boat. I law you!Jr?'.^*J***y ~ » ^*<J lot 
 
 ^orit-they'i^aSSu^ Tf.'*^'^- ^•^ -^oS 
 inside and iiMi «h!;» Cut em out. Guea . *•« 
 
 kf^.t th. oth« li,^ """• «"w« •PP»h«. 
 well— er — he isn't un v** »» ^i •. 
 
 «?»«: "b«t«co.;,"i^i ta^..'^ ""-^ 
 I . Nonieiaej if. time fcewu d«^ » ,«. 
 race Wtt gruffly Mod Iff ^!?**'; Th^meeter'. 
 kl Open\pfor,Wt?IL"!^o "•""• D«tnrl 
 
 i ■"«• w« Sotw"/TCdoJ^"?.if'***''"««^- 
 ^ted «, inquiring gUna « wf^l. '^^ °" "^er 
 h nod. «Iiwed the boh .-H^ oo«np«nion, then, .t 
 pw the ro^ ^'*' ■°<' *"•• captain', blue bWlc 
 
 X5 *** 
 
i 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 his cap came oflf involuntarily. Thew hig courtesy 
 ^ded. however, and the smile died coldly from his face 
 His eyes narrowed, and the good-fellowship feU away' 
 leavmg hmi the stiff and formal officer 
 
 met aU of our tedy passengers. Intixxiuce me, DertiT' 
 Dextry squirmed under hi^ cynicism. ^^ 
 
 •• Whit? •'""*^'^*^'* "^^^ **"* ""^^ myself." 
 " Oh there ain't much to say. This is the lady we 
 brought aboard last night— that's aU." 
 " Who gave you permission ? " 
 "Nobody. There wasn't tim«!." 
 "There wasn't time, eh? Which one of you con- 
 
 ^fw > ^°''*^''^.^°'* °^ ^°^^^ *^ay ladi^ in your 
 cabm? Whose IS she? Quick! Answer me." lIZ. 
 nation was vibrant in his voice. 
 
 "OhI'' the girl cried— her eyes widening d?rklv 
 She stood shm and pale and sUghtly trembling 
 
 ar^e his ^^'^i ""i ^^' ^^"^'^y' *^°^h through it 
 aL he had scrupulously avoided addressing her 
 
 .n J^ ""^S^^ i"^^ *° Glenister, who had 'entered 
 and closed the door. 
 
 " Is this your work ? Is she yours ? " 
 Better hear details, captain, before you make 
 sailors last mght and we most got left doing it. It was 
 aCrd ''' *"* °^^' * "^"^"^ ^'*"*^*y' ^° ^^ ^«^P«i l^^r 
 
 He SUU addressed the men, ignoring her completely. 
 tiU, with hoarse voice, she broke in: *' /» 
 
 16 
 
 
THE STOWAWAY 
 
 You mtistn't talk about me that wav-I «*„ o 
 swer your questions. It's true— T «.« ^^ ***" 
 
 to. The sailors came after ml^i ? r*y- ^ ^^ 
 men. I had to £eT aw^ « • ^ ^°"^^* ^*^ ^^^^ 
 helped me on h«-e?lr^^.r*'^r *"^ y^""" «ends 
 
 the^saw^Se ^^1!^^!^^^ ^'^'^' ^^^« 
 me. I can't e^pUi^h^' , ^Z ^'^ '^^ Protecting 
 reach Nome on the ^^J^^Pf ^«t i* ^ for me tS 
 cret. It was im^rt^t e^l^r^'l^* ""'* "^^ ««' 
 «ncle at Seat^ at ^7 T^^^ *° °^^® °»« ^eave my 
 
 W wast^^nVie^h'oT^^^^^^^^ ^^.^n T' 
 
 ladder. She^dmywXf.r ^T" '^^ «^P'« 
 her. I cast off th J ^^ 1^ ^^^ J^«^ they seized 
 
 f« I could, but they bweiS 'o7lf^ t'^°'^ *^ ^^^ 
 lowed me." ^ wwered another boat and fol- 
 
 ^ utterly out rfptce He riTl* "?'' """""'y. 
 
 fflonw we sJkttbT^r.TV^. °°" ''"o"y- To- 
 ! ter of luck." **"'*'* "^ *«> i* is aU a mat- 
 
 «»»ef"».? ADsw«Ze" P ^* »»• did you 
 ' ^''""" •^«»<" Vou <*., to staad there 
 
I'f . 
 
 t ill 
 
 I* I: 
 
 
 THE SPOILfilS 
 
 •JkI tell me that?" «• ti.*^^ ^ 
 
 upon the othen ' *^'^ "«* P<»«<> »^ »g« 
 
 Thi. girl ha. b,,,lc^'^u'a^ir^5^"J,«'e OW,/ 
 tors bottled up the wT.. *' V? ''**'*'' ""Pee* 
 
 avoid any po«ibIe dd<iy ^^e'U^^' ^f/'^^ 
 when we get to Nome ft™.* n ■ . ''* ''*'"* "P 
 
 what this means^rinrinl^h- f"*"".''"' ^"^ «««~ 
 His eves T7™<j Bn^ng this hussy aboaid ?" 
 nis eyes burned and his voice shonir ■,i,!i »i. 
 partners stared at each other in *„' l""'' ** *»<> 
 knewthensuItoU™^l^'°J'?™j:- ^ooweUthey 
 ed troop W Not^lJ"^ '^'""'^'^ ''•^ <=«>"<»- 
 bulging Vt^-pa^.^'^^^.f'T '"^"' «">» 
 
 jammM with ^-thT^^lu^l,^ i^nL^jT- T 
 most unsanitary conditinno n^u ! °^* *^^ ^° ^^^ 
 
 hundred Pas^g^^^tr^rr^^^; ht''°'*r 
 mm and women were stow J^v like ^«i ^^'^^ 
 andahaIf-toleiahl»~»,A:«^ ******'*• Older 
 the effort rf^e^*^ T^ "'r»«"«d «% by 
 the thought ttat^^ thanselves. who held to 
 
 aboard three weeks and ^erTh^.:* I^^J^ '«*° 
 the desire to reach Nm„!!!7 v T" "^a™* with 
 pressing hordeTeUn^™'^*" "** '* '^^''^ »' «■* 
 
 ar^if tl^ lL*oL*^r "' ^'^ So'0-fren.ied 
 goal ? lie Cpi^w^'^„^*'"f 'J"^ «8ht of their 
 
 packed in thSCtoe nn'^^ J"^^ ""^^ *° «« 
 disease T «^*t ^ P™°°' submitting to the foul 
 d^ease. Lo»S they must lie thus. tiU a .LthsS,S^ 
 
 lo 
 
THE STOWAWAY 
 
 mean endless week, of Se2^J^H.™"^' *""* "'Sht 
 even be impoaable to C«e7h7 i '""'• '* »'*» 
 
 Glenist^;: of th^fZe'S ""^H'-^ ^^ °"t'y »"d 
 What wo^ld happTiThri, i^*^ *'""«'" »'«'' Srr^r 
 were as unsettled^irtU, nJl^S"' "J^ «»«««<>»» 
 held only by ph;s.'^p,S?,"f= ''''-««««, were 
 DuMg tb. long 4ter of tt^2™ *•' Pf«°««' 
 their trea!,i,re inviolate butwfrt »k ^' "* ^^ •>«'<» 
 the jewel they had fougkt ?o 'i* the warming summer 
 
 and ex^ed^to theSe^:r&T"i"^"''^«» 
 yaUey of the richest creek wh^ The Midas lay in the 
 fought and slain for^he '^1^^* "•*" ?*'' ''""""ed and 
 fruit of cheerless. barr« v^^* j! T"**- It was the 
 not g^rd it-th^y ^^,1*^'' "' " '"^ ""^"^ 
 WbSrCe *^' ^-^.^eflections. 
 
 quickly." She lSdTha„T„^*..'°"? ^ "J^hve^ 
 7<J<in't be trusted to tte In^^i*' '?^°»- "They 
 ahnost life and death A^f^ "^ '*^«. Ifs 
 need of putting me in qj^il,*^,'? y°» there is no 
 ix^^l wasn't even ^^Z% -' '"'"'* «"> »»«- 
 
 i^lateTo^ rt',tk 11^" ^'iStephens. "ra 
 What these "utdmen ^^'b^^^'^-f:^''",, God knows 
 about it. though. They-r?^^t^' 1° "^^ *^ hear 
 They're crazyl" '^ 'P* to tear you to shreds. 
 
 Glenister had beon f»,.-_i • 
 
 ° oeen thinking rapidly. 
 
 '9 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 Tw7^ ^?IJ^^ *^*' y°"'" J»ve mutiny in an hrm, 
 
 Bahl Let 'em try it. I'll put 'em doW" Th. 
 officer's square jaws cUcked ^^* 
 
 ^"iT'^ht'CSe • ^ '" «^^/ Wa- 
 nes, in l^'Z^^^Jfr^" foryourca™,,... 
 
 " Y^-'^tWw'k '^' °" »" pound hi, teeth, 
 own^^kuright wn ST'*' *°- You-a ruin your 
 job. th;fs rd^chl" "" ^°" '"P "^ '»« your 
 
 an^r" '*^'"" ""^ *• "'"^ "^ "» W 
 
 take eJery ^^t '^hT^ fa " ' '"•** 
 conaderine "I'll h— j v P»»«a for a moment, 
 
 NomTin n^edt^w^if!S*" ""««»• "We'll be in 
 
 b^ K^he^,!^!^*^'' *°' " *»<» of it- No- 
 see her g^off s^^^ ^' r «"««• Nobody wS 
 just as^i^* i!^>' " this cabin, which wiU be 
 
 other part ^e ^f T JT "^S**^ "*' '^ ""^ 
 
 -e .e. ash^rJ!'rX^^rert-S^^^^ 
 
 ao 
 
THE SrOWAWAT 
 
 lK?«*?' ^!f ^*^ **' *" '^^ I^P^^ *l>oa«i this dup 
 Vou go up forrad to your bridge, sir and foro^^^J 
 
 you st^ in to see^ld Biu'D^t;;!^^^,,^^; 
 
 We U take care of this matter aU richt u ™°™*°«^- 
 
 much to us as it does to you We'v?^;* I "**?' *' 
 
 Creek befon. the KroJ^/Zj'otll^Z''^''^ 
 
 If you make a fuss. you'U ruin us aU " ^' 
 
 down her cheel« t»,o « 4. • . ^ '^'^ rolled 
 
 I>on t feel hurt over what I said, miss Yr^ «^ 
 
 youriwUth^ '■'"° y°" K«t *o Nome, make 
 
 TC^^ rS'aCe ^' "^^ ^°- '"''• ^- 
 J^tq>ped out into the pa«age and cl«ed the door 
 
?*! 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 IN WHICH 0LBNI8TBR BRR8 
 
 don't «.uyget the f.^^™TLwt^V"T"- '« 
 none. You ««. the gambl^d^ . ^*^^ '^ »» 
 few aig, an- green v^rt^S^tw 1*°™ ~P "»* «"> 
 
 »^ybe. in the .hape of ^^S^^' ^"* -»•: «c«Pt. 
 
 !»»ti»ted me«„^.'t^;°'''k^<*.J'««riesweha"e 
 m the country we hanker fe b ' ^. » <>« third yea, 
 •can-IoM. Yes, ma'am-tt^T'^ °^'''»<»'«*hto' 
 of fn»h fruit n^r m^I*"*,;:^" "i^out a taste 
 beans. Why. I've et U^ 'Z^l ^^"Pt Pork an' 
 enwedarind. "" "" ""y «»anortarsoul has 
 
 boy^^k'tirt^e^^t^' "r" «» <'^- tb. 
 Point Barrow wha.'e^'C" fo^S^'; ""l » •»« » « 
 O" passage, I find tti«Tave „^w ?' ,^^^Ibook 
 except canned sahnon H W ♦J"^ ^}°^ *<> eat 
 «™i»e, so when 1 I^dln the sL!^ f ' *"' y^"' 
 
 tbi^ concemin- wSSV/^toin-'^^J^^^st of 
 
 9a 
 
in WHICH GLBRISTBR BRKS 
 
 htige pot-Iatch tST«« i^ on'.Prepare for the 
 
 » later yeaVS^'tt!.^, Z^ ^* T t°' "'»"' 
 with bated breath ^ *~™* »"»" »Pe«k 
 
 «»"^«Vf„i;!^7.^^";'-*J''P0*a„.b,a„ 
 the waiter h«Tw ^^iTf '!'^'^ •»^°''- When 
 ^tt'e. coMIy S tSSTtg^tS^^l-;; •«"'. then, 
 castic accents: ««»•«»« visages, aa saymsar- 
 
 "ock- When I have d^?Z worn TJT"^ *° 
 ohve .eeds an' peelia'. aU ^^' Jj^f •«?« «n' 
 uhment, stick toothpicks iST'^^^ .^^? ."' "°"'- 
 •em what other inSti^L. 1 " '"'*° o^e™! 
 place." »na«nitie8 occur to me, I leave the 
 
 chaX^dtylntel^S"^^" the stern.^,. 
 
 out and the ship lay d^d^ tH 7^ *1 '*=°°<' '^K»'t 
 them was a flatf aZ^^l^ . ce-pack. AU about 
 « the deep twiBgh?^^M„ft;'?"~' «»'» ^'tled 
 
 the light laited. fcSw th^l. "T5f "^ «>«»«« 
 they closed, th«lSt<5v S5? ° k""* ™*'' «« 
 worming out into leagu^of oL^ *"*• "PP*""*!: 
 into the shifting labS ZllZ^' "«^ «^P'"W 
 ress perilous '^^ *^ <'«''™«s rendered pipg! 
 
 <«^°S?C\^.tr:h^.-««»' of wata. hud- 
 
 in the sunlight ?,,TXw^'"' "?* "''«» S'^^t^-ing 
 
 while away » aU^^'^e^/**' "^ Pl^asant^ 
 
 4<"riers tney had seen the smoke of 
 
 »3 
 
,li 
 
 THB SroiLBIS 
 
 o»«r lUpi toito, through the b»r)> «. 
 
 °M ™« to trte W^*^!^^ h-td .AM the 
 duloMM: then die hid W htaTr^" ?* *•"*«• »< 
 
 wondered .t thSrV^SSLSHT ','^' *^- ""d •»>• 
 identity .nd her .:SS^* "'CT " """^ 
 ttar olence u indiffermcT^t ^r ^•° «»>»t™*d 
 Northmen were offe,^?* tt-^""^ **** *<»• 
 camaratUru. ^ '"' *« *'^>«t evidence of 
 
 tW» -"^^dS^ri 5?»Vf fS^S"" «»'P'J»«>t th«, 
 «»t high«rt^ in oSSwS^ '^*'.. ^* *«*<"«» 
 Jf *oald be me«u,^'4'Sri;»".*' belief that 
 
 country where a man iTTm.; ^ " ^«*'» ^ee 
 •wd i, new and Ze ^ ,?^' "''*"»8 ""ore. Our 
 m have been^^ °" *»"••"* *<> the fa»t. H 
 leave behin7S.e^^ S f,^*?'v^^= « ""^ 
 
 I»« and rtill heS^to ^"^^ "J^"* '^^ "<»» to 
 expljun«l to C.ptaSltSh^'^j?^" th«. *. ^.d 
 "« things continue as «^t^." T.."^ '^•' to 
 an, 80 Httle that die wiTt U W,? V^ '»*• '^ 
 
 In the short time ^ J^?^ *? **" *bem. 
 S^wn to like T^tTlS^T',^^' «>• girl h«l 
 
IN WaiCB GLBRISTBR BKKS 
 
 "y ol tlut Mene the graw hot, then cold— hot .ifh 
 
 h*lte^ ^J""*-., ^* ^^ »' •"• »« •>» «>*^ 
 rag Where men ipoke of ftrange women with ♦«. 
 
 "~f«nce Md hinted tho. of own^AipTrhn hi I. 
 
 '"nd'onie and uncoMdou. of it^i .,.vL„ ■!! ? 
 
 «»t; but here he «emed'SS^fnto^*th' 
 «^>«>t8l. chilling potentialities. Vm. wShlrf^ 
 
 .w« jf"sr,^'^dS?'^[^^-*s^ '*'^' 
 
 -that .^.p^dtr'Tt^e-L'tt ^ti! 
 "new m ngid resistance. ^ menta. 
 
 •"^^fco^hTLSr™""". "»"«»«»• Olenister 
 
 «»P^Spo2.VTi:^^»f ^°-*^ ^*» 
 .4"t::S^S l-^!^of the midnight sun or the 
 
 -£^s::^-.t^eir.:rtrr?^-- 
 
 ^^'te^-J^^-i-^-^HeNonh. 
 
 WeU,here.t«. I have it from the Up, of a great 
 
 'S 
 
'i- 
 
 THB $^0li2u$ 
 
 htttter of the TaiumM, Ha toM u . 
 
 « JU th. North wmXI-i^"' *"" «««t.S^^ 
 of thM* wu Itiic,, the Jm^^ii /*•. •*•*« hunter 
 • »oo«, tin it feu eX^'^if^- H. couM foC 
 ««j; belt. .«rf, f~m^c£U^/^r "'' •» »»«» 
 which If deadly wicked .ITa " "^ Jwown bear 
 
 'One winter a terrible #-•"*' <^<Jevili. 
 Tanana VaUey Th^!I^ ]**»*«• "ettled over th» 
 
 dog. grew gaunt and W&'l* ^.^ 1!^ «irt!^n^ 
 the women became hoCtevlS T^^' *^* ^^^ cried? 
 ^ " Then it was that It^lT^. •?'^ P««^»l». ' 
 
 the saw-tooth r^ge wWoh'?^**' ^ «^ hunting over 
 -^W. TheytriSrSdl^i^C'^heedgere 
 tani death because a padT^m: •*^«^ »t was cerw 
 ^er than the moose"^^ tST I^"" T^** ^^ves. 
 ct^° ^1 '^^'^ these moiSS^ ^ ^* ^^' ^« 
 chase. Always, on clear 3rf^\?""^«^ "*<«y in 
 the flashing of the m^bSS« Z^*"' J^^ ^e ieen 
 hungry sides, and altWh ^^ JT *^«^ «^««n^ 
 the passes in other ye^thT^^ ^""*«" had c^ged 
 I«^k slew them. ^^' ^^^ "«^«" nrtumed, ^^ 
 
 " Nothing could deter Itifea »,« 
 h« way up through the ral^' T^^ «° he threaded 
 
IN WHICH 6LBNISTBH BKHS 
 
 hMVMit were ablMe with ihif ting itreiflaen that need 
 *ad writhed back and forth in wild revel. Liitening, 
 he heard the hiet and whine of dry enow under the feet 
 of the pack, and a dinant noiM ae of ruihing windi 
 although the air was deathly atill. 
 
 "With daylight, he proceeded through the range, 
 till he came out above a magnificent valley. Deecend- 
 
 ?«**** •^OP** *»• entered a foreit of towering tpruce, 
 while on all tides the enow wae trampled with tracki 
 ai wide at a tnow-thoe. There came to him a noite 
 which, at he proceeded, increated till it filled the woodt. 
 It wat a frightful din, at though a thoutand wolvet were 
 ho^g with the madnett of the kill. Cautioutly 
 creeping nearer, he found a monttrout white animal 
 ftruggling beneath a tpruce which had fallen upon it 
 m euch fathion at to pinion it tecurely. 
 
 "All brave men are tender-hearted, to Itika tet to 
 work with hit axe and cleared away the burden, regard- 
 T*^** Pwil to himtelf . When he had releated it, 
 the beatt Arote and inttead of running away addretted 
 him m the moet polite and polithed Indian, without a 
 trace of accent. 
 
 " 'You have taved my life. Now, what can I do for 
 
 "•I want to hunt in thit valley. My people are 
 starving,' said Itika. at which the wolf wat greatly 
 Si thTkm "* "^^^ up the rett of the pack to help 
 
 " Alwaye thereafter when Itika came to the valley 
 of the Yukon the giant drove hunted with him. To 
 this day they run through the mountains on cold, clear 
 nights, m a multitude, while the Ught of the moon 
 flickers from their white sides, flashing up into the sky 
 * 97 
 
TM tfOilBMg 
 
 fnd with the UghVof iJS!?*"* f»««fy. toothtohT 
 
 Wliat A queer im0m^Av>u ™** ^'olvee." 
 ♦•."k* the North." ™™"y- ""^ Wwt I m, going 
 
 ^?«pK JS;.*"-^ '^. "-.hough H 
 
 You «i, M ^SSli*' 5^ «»t **» in the fl«t -I 
 tlM. North." "''•* yw <*<«•• thi.. YoumiStT!; 
 
 Mdheudgee^h^^ J»w 4^ thet n«w ^^ 
 « when ooee youVeWtX^*,?*^' "««« midnight 
 
 the whoh white, -tent wS?dtu^«r' l*«^ 
 *™ "» »W runaen rin»- «,2^ Jomping fa hanwe. 
 
 i 
 
 
IH WIICH GLBNISTBK BRKS 
 
 •Y^* tuggwtod to BM tvwyUiiac unknown and 
 waird— hairy maitodoni, goldan river ban, lavagv Ind- 
 iani with bone arrow -heads and seal -akin trouien. 
 When I left college I came at fast at ever I coukl— the 
 adventure. I tuppoie. . . . 
 
 "The Uw was considered my destiny. How the 
 shades of old Choate and Webster and Patrick Henry 
 
 must have wailed when I fonwoie it. I'll bet Black- 
 stone tore his whiskers." 
 
 " I think you would have made a success," said the 
 girl, but he laughed. 
 
 " Well, anyhow, I stepped out, leaving the way to 
 the United States Supreme bench unobstructed, and 
 came North. I found it was where I belonged. I fitted 
 ^- I'm not contented— don't think that. I'mambi- 
 toous, but I prefer these surroundings to the others— 
 thatsaU. I'm realising my desires. I've made a for- 
 tuM-now ru see what else the world has." 
 
 He suddenly turned to her. " Sec here," he abrupt- 
 ly questioned, " what's your name ? " 
 
 She started, and glanced towards where Dextry had 
 
 •tood, only to find that the old fiontienman had sUooed 
 away during the tale. •"FP«« 
 
 '• Helen Chester," she replied. 
 
 " Helen Chester," he repeated, musingly. " What a 
 pretty name! It seems almost a pity to chanse it— 
 to marry, as you will." -««a» »v— 
 
 "I am not going to Nome to get married." 
 He glanced at her quickly. 
 
 " Then you won't like this country. You are two 
 
 I^ «1.*^ ?"•• *"f/^^* "^'^^ ^^ chaperons. 
 It 8 a man s country yet. 
 
 99 
 
TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 " I don't IM why it ira't a woman-i countrv taa 
 Surely we can take apart in taming it. Y^^^ 
 
 from the coast to the mines in a few weelo. t^u 
 sWp b^k there has the wi,e and ^iJt^'fi^J^J 
 
 f7^^=caiK:4rjSlf 
 
 ahead of schedule. " * o" see 1 am not far 
 
 " What part are you going to take in ♦».,•- * 
 process?" he asked. "" **"' **™»»8: 
 
 She paused long before replying, and when sh« Ai^ 
 her answer sounded like a jest "^ 
 
 a horfe of shysters! iS SSdof tawt'SS'l "f 
 
 -and^ntr-^-'-^n: 
 sheb^ke'^"' """^ «°' *■"* *"* ~"«g« never wiU." 
 
 whetted for ^tL:l ^TZrTZ rich'2''- '''^ 
 don't think them's any truth iZ. Z ^ot ct^^^S' •■ ' 
 
 30 
 
IN WHICH QLBIflSTBK BKXS 
 
 ••The law is the foundation- -t here can't be any 
 S^ '^ **' ^^*" '" "°*^'''^ ' ^ °^ ^^* 
 
 •• There isn't half the disorder you chink there is. 
 There weren t any crimes in this country till the tender- 
 feet arrived. We didn't know what a thief was If 
 you came to a cabin you walked in without knocking. 
 The owner filled up the coffee-pot and sliced into the 
 bacon; then when he'd started your meal, he shook 
 hands and asked your name. It was just the same 
 whether lus cache was full or whether he'd packed his 
 few pounds of food two hundred miles on his back. 
 That was hospitality to make your Southern article 
 look pretty small. If there was no one at home you 
 ate what you needed. There was but one unpardon- 
 able breach of etiquette-to fail to leave dry kindlings. 
 I m afraid of the transitory stage we're coming t<>- 
 that epoch of chaos between the death of the old and 
 the birth of the new. Frankly, I like the old way best. 
 I love the hcense of it. I love to wrestle with nature • 
 to snatch, and guard, and fight for what I have. I've 
 been beyond the law for years and I want to stay there, 
 
 oUhe m^tSt ^* '* ""^ ^^""^^ *° ^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 His large hands, as ne gripped the bulwark, were 
 tense and corded, while his rich voice issued softly from 
 his chest with the hint of power unlimited behind it 
 He stood over her. tall, virile, and magnetic. She saw 
 now why he had so joyously hailed the fight of the 
 previous night; to one of his kind it was as salt air 
 to the nostnls. Unconsciously she approached him 
 drawn by the spell of his strength. 
 " My pleasures are violent and my hate is mighty 
 
 31 
 
1' 111 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 1 1 1 
 
 THB SPOILfiKS 
 
 bitter in my mouth wk«* t 
 
 It up. •■ °«» we. «nd I m too nlfidi to give 
 
 touched her warn, Cd n«7f^ '^^ "'^- doing «,, 
 
 She was staringuT^t h?^ "'J* *« «"• 
 the faint odorZ, C^f """"^tedly. » cIo« that 
 
 s.on was simply ^.ofZ^^^^""-. Her«cp,es. 
 type, so diilerent from ^^A^hZ^^^'^ « *^ 
 man's eyes were hot and bL?^^..'".?'"- ^ut the 
 and be felt only her tJ.,?* u • ^ '""* the sight of her 
 the brush <^C%^ZsT^^ " the*dim°^^:: 
 beneath his. The tSlTfJ^ri .' T"' «"t ht,d 
 
 over him-mastered h"m. ^°^ "^ '» "«8«» 
 
 What I want— I tak« •• »,. 
 
 denly he reached forth and '^T**^' ""^ *''«' ™<1- 
 crushedhertohin, IdLinfi,' ^'^ ''«' '° his anns 
 the lips. For ar43hf i"'*'^' """^'y' *"« «^' 
 against hi, breast "hMsVel-'L^*^"^ '"•'^tunnej 
 all her foree, struikhtalSu" w'''' '"» ■"•»• ^^th 
 
 It was as though shTt^i * '***• 
 movement he fo4d her^^^n * '^'- ^i* <»• 
 her terrified eyes- then h^i?^ J^'' '•<'«• soiling into 
 her again and^^i^^ tt"* ^J^ i™"- he W^ 
 -and released bT '^ ' '°°''*''- *"* *y«. the hS 
 
 y?"l" she i^iS^ht ti"' ^ « I ever stop kaiin, 
 with passion. ** ""»"8 thick and hoaref 
 
 ca^^'S^^riarh^Tfi^--^ towards her 
 W that her kne^ ^^^4^^ w"^"" *" "■" 
 
 3a 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 THB KILLING 
 
 FOR four days the Santa Maria felt blindly through 
 the white fields, drifting north with the spring tide 
 that sets through Behring Strait, till, on the morning 
 Of the fifth, open water showed to the east. Creeping 
 through, she broke out into the last stage of the long 
 race, amid the cheers of her weary passengers; and the 
 dull jar of her engines made welcome music to the girl 
 m the deck state-room. 
 
 Soon they picked up a mountainous coast which rose 
 steadily mto majestic, barren ranges, stiU white with 
 the melting snows; and at ten in the evening und-r a 
 golden sunset, amid screaming whistles, they anchored 
 in the roadstead of Nome. Before the rumble of her 
 chams had ceased or the echo from the fleet's salute 
 had died from the shoreward hills, the ship was sur- 
 round«i by a swarm of tiny craft clamoring about her 
 iron sides while an officer in cap and gilt climbed the 
 bridge and greeted Captain Stephens. Tugs with trail- 
 mg lighters cwcled discreetly about, awaiting the com- 
 pletion of certam formaHties. These over, the uni- 
 formed gentleman dropped back into his skiff and 
 rowed away. 
 
 •• A clean biU of health, captain." he shouted, salut- 
 mg the commander. 
 
 33 
 
»«■ •roasts 
 
 teamer from all quarten '""*•■'''». boarffag the 
 
 who had been an intent^tnii „^.l'" *"» °' ^e^ry. 
 ""bending dignity, ^pt^„ s^f "", "«*»*»?• W.Th 
 droop slowly, wl^,; a Wfaf *S„T '*'''" '^* «y«M 
 ha f««. Sin.ultaneou3l7"rd!^ ^^""^ '^^"y O"" 
 from the bridge, the ^w b^k?i""f """T* <»<» fc»t 
 
 "!f ^! 'T™ "<» *« cla^^o/doTwr'? "'"• *"• 
 . we re here. Miss Stowawav •• .?^^, *"'*' »«»«• 
 ;ng the girl's cabin " ThJ'^' ""^ ^^lenister, enter- 
 it's time for you to see rt. '^*^'' P"'*' «s and 
 wonderful sight" "° ^^ '"^ <^ty- Come, it*,, 
 
 sc^e on7he*aft'»^e*r A""!:? "^ «'one aince the 
 she had managedThat he s'h^^ " '«"°'^"8 Glenister 
 cept in Dextr,^ jj^^ ^fhlf? *T «* ''«' ex- 
 been courteous anT^^sid^W '';,'"^ "*'"■"« 
 emotions that were hidSJn ^tWn ^! '*" *"" 'eap»g 
 I«.ve the ship, to fly froTthTs^l,^.?"" '°"8e^ tl 
 Thoughts of him madX l^Sf" "' 5" Pe«»»8Bty. 
 was near she could not hato h.^^ i,*""?, 5^** """en he 
 powered her, he would not Tht^'r"^-''* »^er- 
 to her slights. This v^ o„.?-f**^' ""f ?"<» "o heed 
 wriKngly and «nq„e,tS;,^f .«?»ded ''«' how 
 sailors from the Ohio ati !? J^! **'' '°"8ht off the 
 he would do so aVata 1^ ^ *""" ""er. She knew 
 bitter to one whoT.^i/r,lr~; "pO,;* i, hard to U 
 
 though he has offended-Tart^i," "j '" y°"' even 
 ma^etism that sweep, y^^^lf^ "^ be has the 
 
 There's no dange? IT^Z^^J^ "°?""^- 
 
 "» seen, he continued. 
 o4 
 
T8B KILLINO 
 
 acid'^S^:'"'' "'• °"^**''" *"• ''^y -0 with 
 
 Sl^J^n^' ^"- ^""""P''^ '" He moved away 
 She followed a step, staring at Helen. ^" 
 
 .^^ Are you go,ng asho« to-night or wait fo, „on.. 
 
 girih^^'ut^^.-^^Vke^h:"':;:.'^'? "■■^« *° »•-« 
 
 " Who is she?" aA^M^'A ! "'^""^ °" '«•" 
 She's an old cat " *"* companies. , 
 
 sh^^"'Th%f "^f ^ l*','^"''- *"! ^ cried out. 
 
 nish^'copper^wMeTaTsidl' ::a^-d1wa"'r 'T 
 and rumble of macliii,.™^ .»„ 7^ . *"* '*"* ™«Ie 
 
 cargoes out up^ tS^^ ^^"""^ '*« •>«'«''ing 
 
 wheeler,, and d^«&e«SL^^: *"^' ^'™- 
 fat. walrus-hide boats 2l""at^riike'"hZ°°"if' 
 legged water-bugs. An enHlA«« o * ri ^ ' °^^°y" 
 
 sTo^A^m1e"i'^f,^?P«"'-^ 
 
I' m 
 
 i 
 
 THB SPOllBIS 
 
 o' new white canvae iTI *i ? ** '^'^ •^ made 
 sweUed from thwe to t^v tT!!^ '*«, P0P«l*ticml^ 
 d««i in a slender. iinZS^ SrT^' ? ««^ w^ 
 milet. because oni; Se 2l>h %*'i'^ *»>• «>«st for 
 found. Motmting^tolSe^^S^lf^^^^^Pii^ 
 deep in moM and wa^ „d T,^«^^' ?"* •*°'^ W 
 tracks, found a hog ^Ztg'S^J^'i^ '^^ «"ne 
 the town doubled daily in 5;!^, "'"*^- therefore, as 
 string of dominoes. Ti th« ^' ^.^^'^ ^^^^^ ^ a 
 Penny River wm1'io„ *^,?°7 'fT ^ape NomTt^ 
 ow rays of the abtic s^u^tli^ 7 ""' l^*^ ^ the 
 tropic islaro*. ^^* '*^ ^^amy breakew on a 
 
 " That's Anvil Crm^u 
 
 a (t.p in the buttrej^^i^" ^f '" "« "*"*•<« 
 the coast. " It's the ma^^^""™* back from 
 You-U see gold by the mS ,^'' '? *« world, 
 nuggets. Oh, I'm ri«i *„ .^' »"'' bfllocks of 
 That stretch oi l^Lchfa f^. ^ •"*• ^*^ « life 
 «?"«» with qo^" ?bf "^f gold. These hills *• 
 
 tl.ingIm»stdo^hr^*?«^'- "I have some- ~ 
 know these things."^ " ""^ *•»*• I can learn to 
 
 Securing a small boat ♦!,. 
 partners plyi„g their t^Zj'^iT^ "''°'»' 'he 
 Having arrived BvedaysS^ T '^^ questions 
 "formation and voIun?^°S.''* ^ '?'°*°« with 
 
THB KILLING 
 
 STdI^- '<»<«em« tun with which he (Cu«d 
 •■ *^^' *° "^ o™ otter exclution. 
 
 SS^-,., «'•»<»»«»» up it wouJd butt «»««;: 
 The beach they neared wa* waUed and crawd^ .„ 
 
 ^su^r'rb^^S2"''•"^'•^-^-• 
 
 «urf or sS in^. "Plashed through the tapping 
 el^rifylS^' S^*^ *"* ^"^^ with a magnetic. 
 
 plaint unspeakabfe ' '"*' "^'y- *» « «»»- 
 
 ;; Any tajuble doin'?" inquired the old man 
 
 ^ y°" *~«"t I • the other cried, colloqu^r .. The« 
 was a massacree in the Northen. last^ht^' 
 
 37 
 
m 
 
 "■ 9f0llMM$ 
 
 "Oambiin'row?" 
 ■ctor." AM th«r ^' ^ ^o^ him. H«'. • k ^ 
 
 '^'.«., /o^'L^ir iSx ".^"S..'^'^- •»" «>i ^ 
 
 pI«n«tioii. "« ». out thqr volunteered aoex- 
 
 i"/t!?™Sf h'S.'ta^I^.^^fd 'nto tu^oi,. Dodg. 
 "hf- te.t. .tood w5l to ^,"S« »"* '?to fenceSZ 
 P«f. Here «,d there wuf''"^"'''""" occu- 
 jealouely by its omlTJ^^ ' Y"^* •!>« guarded 
 
 Where do you want ^o^"!^^^^^^ 
 
 "le North. He had com- t^l^- ?"^ ""e women of 
 « girl driven by iomT^f J^ ""^ """"^ 'hat here wm 
 repellent to h.r'^ T. Sf^SfT "*° " ^^"^ 
 dence awoke only adnU^l 1 "?*"«• *«• mdepen- 
 but to inflame him th" mo^ "'^^ ""-ese »e^^ 
 was lost in a remart»hu^' . °«hcacy. in GlenistM^ 
 «"»Id. laugh at W Sa^^/2^«!, »' P-^Po*. He 
 '^a.n utt^ly i^^-ft^^Je under her abuse, and 
 
 ,She ^tended both hands. 
 
 done-y^n"^ tTl fCr^V" "»* y°« have 
 Dextry eaaed Hn«L* ,t ^'y- Good-byel" 
 
 ■y ga«d doubtfully at his own han^Urh and 
 
THB CILLIRe 
 
 rnhfi^' "*■ *^«. *«• •• !«• irouM iMvt hMdled « 
 
 "We ain't goin' to torn you adrift tUi-a-wav 
 Whatever y<mr de.tia.tion ta. well ..e you to tt.'^^' 
 
 .. i^!"*"? "'' '"""' =•" "•• —o^ him. 
 lady^t knl^nT' ''''"f^ *" ""* *° <"'^*« • 
 
 & S. ul^ei.^ *° '"' "'• '*™''- »' ^"» 
 
 ?*. *? *• b»ggage, Dex. Meet me at the Second C1m» 
 m half an hour «.d we'll run out to the Mid^ fht' 
 
 her, and emerged upon the main thoroughfare which 
 ran parallel to the shore. "»«™«re, wmcfc 
 
 «,M J^J^*^ °' '^'P^^ »*««. twirted between 
 Mhd rows rf canva. and half^rected frame buildinm 
 
 ^sr'bi^r''Tt''"°'»'*^- There SS: 
 
 lootong block, which aapired to the ditzy height of 
 three .tones, some Aeathed in corrugated iron Mh^ 
 gleammg and galvaniied. Lawy^^"°3;^*'^ 
 .unreyor.'.w«e in the upper window.. mW^ 
 thronged with men from every land-HeleT OesZ 
 heard more dialects than .he coild count. Zp^^ 
 
 ^•ST l*^"*?"*™*' P^'^'^ <»P» i^ part M^ 
 ^th the tan of the tropic, rubbed elbow, w^h yeUo^ 
 
 haired Norsemen, and near her a carefuUy gSd 
 Frenchman with riding-breeche. and mon<Jle*^ 
 P«>tom.me with a skin-clad Eekimo. To her Irft wm 
 her riSf ^ »«. aliye with ship, of every claT ^ 
 her nght towered timberlew mountains nnn*onl«l 
 unexplored, forbidding, and desolate^the™ mJ^ 
 
 39 
 
1 ! 
 
 • ! 
 
 THE SPOILBIS 
 
 inliM with tomr n. ^ .. 
 
 ««M 1.. kwSTo.^^3J:^jr*» «" lih «rf th, 
 
 touried m.„, in .hirt^^ ' ^^'^ "Wte-hai^i 
 ^' wT; .. ••"dcng-feet. opened 
 
 IjPt loow. .„d hi, wC^'*"? ."'' Wood.hot! h^ 
 t'oned Gl^teT" """'^ "^^ "in" I left?" ,„„ 
 
 ,o'*°''^«'t«l the girl. 
 
THB KILLIRO 
 
 c^''^!^^*^ •»» b-M- mf" -W hT «oort 
 
 He m»de to cron the thmbold botpiteblv but 
 it^^^ ™? 01«riw,r gathered him up «d bo^ 
 
 ret* JX."'"*' """ °'^'" ""^ *■" J^""* ~°- 
 m,'.'J^'^"'"''*"'"**«''»'<»'l*red. "Oh.wdI 
 
 J'J!"' .T 2."**r'*"" •^'' Glwiirtw. with equal -•«. 
 Z^ Jiw** "TIP"**- »• wouldn't kn^ wh.^ 
 youjw talkmg about, and in the Kcond plaee-I 
 
 ^^»i. ?••*«"'"«•'' to talk bu«ae«'i^ 
 «^ *«>— we", to lee you alone." 
 But I mat see him," she insisted " If. .h.> 
 
 "^^.l"!^.- Youdon'tundJSSSd." •""* 
 i understand more than he cooM. He's in no rm. 
 
 around to-morrow when he's sober " 
 
 ^t me«w so much." breathed the girl. "The 
 
 ment.nd anxiety were consuming her^ ""^^ ^''^^r>oinf 
 
 Well, I suppose I'U have to wait, but I don't know 
 
 where to go-some hotel, I suppose.'' ' ' ""^ * ^"^ 
 
 4X 
 
r t 
 
 M 
 
 II 
 
 TU •roiiBit 
 
 w.. .bo». to „y . lov. « ^ '? »*?»• 'or mon^. I 
 
 fnendt here-no women » Ti.il' "•"• J^ »<> othw 
 
 • Pl«c. for yo,,. TCi , S^/*? """ >•« «»• And 
 you In." "»v. » wroj ,fc^ ^^ ^11 ^^ 
 
 8h« nMM at thii w«. .1. 
 with tbi. mw, f,vo«", s21 ^ T*-*° *•'* *». 
 the .hip. but di«nWh.t sS^i' " '"""•fngto 
 hU »id. but b. WMh.lf.«; d!^'?,?"^'' to 'I'cUn, 
 "o .ttention to her b^nnV^^J^,'*?^ •«<" P^ 
 
 It WM then thet iSm rEZ!^ •**. '""o""! him. 
 tr.g«Iy of the h^nZ^fS^^r^ "" «« 
 better the mu. whom the di.Hl,^ J' "^ *<> "»<>» 
 h.d been thrown to fTtefuUy 5^"'' T**"" "''<« "he 
 •t the .pell of thi. Z^Z- but 7r^ V? ^ *"'«'«> 
 that .trength and KcMto^'rnr k,!^ ''•^ "« learned 
 corollarie.. "^^ '"°°<' •»<» violenoe a. 
 
 Enterging from the doorwav at .fc.. « 
 they drifted .lowly aIongth?w.U ^ f"?? "* *•» »«». 
 Beside, the univer«| SSili^'iL*'*'""' *■» «"««» 
 ho,v and exhilarat~n totrf;^ S? '•,"?''t.r «,d 
 th ' oyi,h multitude wanned!^' iJ* •»*'"»i«»m of 
 get into tbi. .pirit-to^ o^J?f • ^ S*'' wi'hed to 
 from the babble at thl el^' *"""■■ ''^ "Menly 
 not long nor loud on^^t:^^?/!^"''"* -ote! 
 h«r.h with the metallic qu.HLZ?!;'*"**.''"''* "»<» 
 
 Helen glanced over W-h^..^ '^ P"**"". 
 •mile, of the throng W^^!'*^ ^ «"" that the 
 b^t on tome Ken'W*^, "?..«»» *t. eye. we,,' 
 
 " Come away from here." 
 
 42 
 
TIB IILLIN8 
 
 With tlM qtdclnned ey« of txptrimco h$ ionukw 
 troublt and tritd to drag her on, but the shook off hit 
 gntp impatiently, and, turning, gated abeorbed at the 
 ipectacle which unfolded ittelf before her. Although 
 not comprehending the play of eventt, the felt vaguely 
 the quick approach of tome critit, yet wat unpnpared 
 for the twiftnett with which it came. 
 
 Her eyet had leaped to the figuret of two men in the 
 •trtet from whom the rett had teparated like oil from 
 water. One wat tlim and well dratted; the other 
 bulky, mackinawed, and lowering of feature. It wat 
 the tmaller who tpoke, and for a moment the mit- 
 judged hit bloodthot eyet and twaying carriage to be 
 the retult of alcohol, until she taw that he wat racked 
 with fury. 
 
 " Make good. I teU you, quick! Give me that biU of 
 tale, you .'* 
 
 The unkempt man twung on hit heel with a growl 
 and walked away, hit coune leading him towardt Glen- 
 itter and the girl. With two ttridet he wat abreatt of 
 them; then, detecting the flathing movement of the 
 other, he whirled like a wUd animal. Hit voice had the 
 tnarl of a beatt in it. 
 " Ye had to have it, didn't ye ? WeU, thetel " 
 The actiont of both men were quick at light, yet to 
 the girl't tout tentet they teemed theatrical and delib- 
 erate. Into her mind wat teared forever the memory 
 of that tecond, at though the thutter of a camera had 
 tnapped, impretting upon her brain the tcene, tharp 
 clear-cut, and vivid. The thaggy back of the large 
 xnan almott bruthing her, the rage - drunken, white- 
 thirted man m the derby hat, the crowd sweeping back- 
 ward like ruthet before a blast, men with armt flexed 
 ♦ 43 
 
THE SPOUBIS 
 
 »!• weight f<«i„g h^X;Jt,<*«fk "Winat W w 
 '"» arms about W ki.^'"*" **• nnallest Jm^^' 
 
 ^n half round „ though to^,*»P '" '^apon H 
 IJJ^wancedtoWrTht^ASj *»"t«, ""«» thickly 
 
 Hehe>dh«eou«etoth.doon^,'Jj?»J 
 
THB KILLING 
 
 quitfetd, then m he turned he coughed bestially, epit- 
 txng out* mouthful of blood. His knees wavered. He 
 vanished within the portals and, in the sickly silence 
 that fell, they heard his hob-nailed boots dumping 
 slowly up the stairs. 
 
 Noise awoke and rioted down the thoroughfare. 
 Men rushed forth from every quarter, and the ghastly 
 object m the dirt was hidden by a seething mass of 
 miners. 
 
 Glenistcr raised the girl, but her head rolled limply 
 and she would have slipped to her knees again had he 
 not placed his arm about her waist. Her eyes were 
 stanng and horror-filled. 
 
 " Don't be frightened," said he, smiling at her re- 
 assunngly ; but his own lips shook and the sweat stood 
 
 2\l 2r "^ ^^' ^"^^ ****y ^ ^t^ been close to 
 death. There came a surge and swirl through the 
 crowd, and Dextry swooped upon them like a hawk 
 
 Be ye hurt? Holy Mackinawl When I see 'em 
 blaze away I yells at ye fit to bust my throat. I shore 
 
 ^u!? wr"" "^"J/r"- ^*^°"«^ ^ *^'* ^y b«t this 
 toUm was a sight for sore eyes-so neat an' genteel- 
 
 stiU, as a rule, m these street brawls it's the iSnocSus 
 &^s '^** ^""^"^ "^^ *~^^ *° ^^^ 
 
 "Look at this." said Glenister. Breast-high in the 
 wall agamst which they had crouched, not tt^^ fc«t 
 apart, were bullet holes. 
 
 "Them's the first two he unhitched," Dextry re- 
 s^ef ^.^S^tL^ W ' *°""^ *^^ obiect'S^the 
 
 r^edhi^Totrri^r^r^"^'^^"^^"^- 
 
 Even to the girl it was patent that, had she not been 
 
 45 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 Come awav quick " •*!« ^ ^ • 
 «nto a near-by'storT »i,i^ P*°*«^' *n<^ they led h^ 
 
 , . "fe. MiM." he Mid " V™L ""^ °' "''"key. 
 cheech.Ico.- r„ ^^^- ^"^ tough go f^a 
 
 ^QT Half an hour he taJit^^ ♦* i. 
 
 '•y. of foreign thin^^ mZ L**'' •*" ^ ">J»»fc.I 
 
 partners arose to eo am. J^ quieted. Then th. 
 
 for W to ,top*Zh thl'^"^^**^*"""" .nS^ 
 
 «« of the night, she w^^no? ' °^'»°* '"^ the 
 
 I can 't go to berf Di , 
 
 "«T~»- f««to^if^:S1„^%V~"e»er I'm too 
 
 --3"hruS*a^'S:fS??i--»-eap„r- 
 Here s a oair nf i,«i« ■'^ ***• 
 
 >?o„»-corjth''jf-*^r„^'-ot,. Yo„p„, 
 things complete. An' m t^ '"'* 5'°"'' nMd off rf 
 get back you'll mato tb" Z^^T" ^'"^' "•>« m 
 "^tless as a riot, or Se wti^f*" °' '""^ J'« «em „ 
 ""Wy leap, fr4, rngto^' * "^'^'''"■g^t^ic" 
 lew enough. Con.eon|"^^'""'~»«"'t""t's«,t. 
 
 «*b™k4t:^, t''he?ffi.l«*'*>8 Sea, they 
 » the soft fresh t^'Xe^l *"f '^ »»kWe? 
 draught and a myriad of ~^i T ***^ Kke a coS 
 
THB XILLI1I6 
 
 board, the dewy freshness livened them magically, 
 cleansing from tiieir memories the recent tragedy, so 
 that the girl became herself again. 
 
 " Where are we going?" she asked, at the end of an 
 hour, pausing for breath. 
 
 " Why, to the Midas, of course," they said ; and one 
 of them vowed recklessly, as he drank in the beauty of 
 her clear eyes and the grace of her slender, panting 
 form, that he would gladly give his share of all its riches 
 to tmdo what he had done one night on the Santa 
 Maria, 
 
II 
 
 V Hi 
 
 • 1 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 »« *^*' APPEARS 
 
 '^as the nineteenffci Progress of the Pa,, w ^ 
 •"Wrily ofXZ,*"'^'' '" «>• ship to'"/'*" «*«»8 
 
 "Tiafs his ^ece " „ „ "^''*"* 
 
 "* tie first bo»t ' ""^ SO"* one -ct. 
 
 tte «mb of ttr^'"«*"'««>ev^^'^':?'' •??" 
 
WHfiKBIlf A MAN AFPBAKS 
 
 with keen* clote-fet eyes, and that indefinable easy 
 movement and polished bearing that oome from confi- 
 dence, health, and travel. Unlike the others, he did 
 not dally on the beach nor display much interest in 
 his surroundings; but, with purposeful frown strode 
 through the press, up into the heart of the city. His 
 companion was Struve's partner, Dunham, a middle- 
 aged, pompous man. They went directly to the offices 
 of Dunham & Struve, where they found the white- 
 haired junior partner. 
 
 "Mighty glad to meet you, Mr. McNamara," said 
 Struve. "Yournameisahousehold wordinmy part 
 of the country. My people were mixed up in Dakota 
 politics somewhat, so I've always had a great admira- 
 tion for you and I'm glad you've come to Alaska. This 
 is a big country and we need big men." 
 
 "Did you have any troub.j?" Dunham inquired 
 when the three had adjourned to a private room. 
 T "J"*"^^?'" **»^ Struve, ruefully; "weU, I wonder if 
 I d^. Miss Chester brought me your instructions 
 O. K. and I got busy right off. But, tell m. his— 
 how did you get the girl to act as messenger?" 
 
 "There was no one else to send," answered Mc- 
 Namara. " Dunham intended saiUng on the first boat 
 but he was detained in Washington with me, and the 
 Judge had to wait for us at Seattle. We were afraid 
 to trust a stranger for fear he might get curious and 
 examme the papers. That would have meant— " He 
 moved his hand eloquently. 
 
 S^ve nodded. "I see. * Does she know what was 
 m the documents ? 
 
 "Decidedly not. Women and business don't mix 
 I hope you didn't tell her anything." 
 
 49 
 
THB SfOILBtS 
 
 owners 20 ai,„„;« ? ^"** course do vaJf^ ^^ 
 « go giinnmg for you ? " ^^'^ 'o^ow when 
 
 .*^«> did that?'' 
 r^ and nearly hamme^'* T" ''j'»8 back^*^ 
 
WHBKBIN A HAN APFBARS 
 
 gentle-mannered old cannibal roamed the streets with 
 a cannon in his hand, breathing fire and pestilence.*' 
 
 "Anybody else act up?" queried Dunham. 
 
 "No; all the rest are Swedes and they haven't got 
 the nerve to fight. They couldn't lick a spoon if they 
 tried. These other men are different, though. There 
 are two of them, the old one and a young fellow. I'm 
 a little afraid to mix it up with them, and if their 
 claim wasn't the best in the district, I'd say let it 
 alone." 
 
 " ru attend to that," said McNamara. 
 
 Struve resumed: 
 
 "Yes, gentlemen, I've been worldng pretty hard and 
 also pretty much in the dark so far. I'm groping for 
 light. When Miss Chester brought in the papers I got 
 busy instanter. I clouded the title to the richest 
 placers in the region, but I'm blamed if I quite see the 
 use of it. We'd be thrown out of any court in the land 
 if we took them to law. What's the game— black- 
 mail?" 
 
 " Humph ! " ejaculated McNamara. " What do vou 
 take me for?" 
 
 "Well, it does seem small for Alec McNamara, but 
 I can't see what else you're up to." 
 
 "Within a week I'll be running every good mine in 
 the Nome district." 
 
 McNamara's voice was calm but decisive, his glance 
 keen and alert, while about him clung such a breath of 
 power and confidence that it compelled belief even in 
 the face of this astoimding speech. 
 
 In spite of himself, Wilton Struve, lawyer, rake, and 
 gentlemanly adventurer, felt his heart leap at what the 
 other's daring impUed. The proposition was utterly 
 
^M SFOJLfit^ 
 
 m 
 
 north, b«cV-rf w * ^^VgeFt ichfttnTrv 
 
 ''»?'?■ Strove ,?L^J«n»»PM«JJel lit, ^•J'^'«y*« 
 
 ..^; J«nt you to be utiSJiV^y^ «««oS^ 
 
 2« »cl>eme (w^!^'^ '^«' yon^L "'^ "«- 
 W«hiagton ^ ^-Z "« tW o7^^^ ««««<I 
 
 ri* *"^my"::5^;?'»^X^'i?^H 
 
 »y Pj«?.th2 ."-^ - .- ft^^tTu* « N-ad^ 
 'f *he listeners ,.».? '^PtdJy outlinarft • ^O'^ever, 
 
 Jewess foce of StruvT^ ^° ^'^ «nd 
 5a 
 
WHBKBIll A XAN AFFBAM 
 
 "By heavenil you're a wondtrl" ht critd. at the 
 doee, " and I'm with you body and loal. It'i danger- 
 oue-ihat't why I Uke it." 
 
 "Dangerotti?" McNamara ihrugged hit shoulders. 
 "Bahl Where is the danger? We've got the law— 
 or rather, we an the law. Now, let's get to work." 
 
 It seemed that the Boss of North Dakota was no 
 sluggard. He discarded coat and waistcoat and tack- 
 led the documents which Struve laid before him, going 
 through them like a whirlwind. Gradually he infected 
 the others with his energy, and soon behind the locked 
 doors of Dunham & Struve there were only haste and 
 fever and plot and intrigue. 
 
 As Helen Chester led the Judge towards the flam- 
 boyant, three-storied hotel she prattled to him light- 
 heartedly. The fascination of a new land already held 
 her fast, and now she felt, in addition, security and 
 relief. Glenister saw them from a distance and strode 
 forward to greet them. 
 
 He beheld a man of perhaps threescore years, benign 
 of aspect save for the eyes, which were neither dear 
 nor steady, but had the trick of looking past one. 
 Glenister thought the mouth, too, rather weak and 
 vacillating; but the clean-shaven face was dignified 
 by learning and acumen and was wrinkled in pleasant 
 fashion. 
 
 "My niece has just told me of your service to her," 
 the old gentleman began. " I am happy to know you, 
 sir." 
 
 "Besides being a brave knight and assisting ladies 
 in distress, Mr. Glenister is a very great and wonderful 
 man." Helen explained, lightly. " He owns the Midas." 
 
 S3 
 
f '■ ! ■ 
 
 TM SfOIiBlt 
 
 "No. Well Lm- Havtyou 
 
 tofl>.hoSr"f^,St1- ^»--' you wane Wit* 
 
 "fe^y" 1"';v- ^ ^-^ -y. *?•' 
 
 *;^ Wm .^^ilT^i *? °- i»m^ U we d« v 
 «d US one ni»k? ; • "^ Wlow named rJii * °oo*t 
 
 °'"^*''*- Violence.!^,,. 
 
 54 
 
WMMIH A HAN APPBARS 
 
 "Sural Why not? It hat werittd all right btrtto- 
 
 " But, my dear tir, thoM days are gone. Thf law it 
 here and it it the duty of every one to abide by it." 
 
 " Well, periiape it ii ; but in thia country we consider 
 a man's mine as sacred as his family. We didn't know 
 what a lock and key were in the early times and we 
 didn't have any troubles except famine and hardship. 
 It's different now, though. Why, there have been 
 more claims jumped around here this spring than in the 
 whole length and history of the Yukon." 
 
 They had reached the hotel, and Glenlster paused, 
 turning to the girl as the Judge entered. When she 
 started to follow, he detained her. 
 
 "I came down from the hills on purpose to see you. 
 It has been a long week—" 
 
 " Don't talk that way," she interrupted, coldly. " I 
 don't care to hear it." 
 
 "See here— what makes you shut me out and wrap 
 yourself up in your haughtiness ? I'm sorry for what 
 I did that night — I've told you so repeatedly. I've 
 wrung my soul for that act till there's nothing left but 
 repentance." 
 
 "It is not that," she said, slowly. "I have been 
 thinking it over during the past month, and*now that 
 I have gained an insight into this life I see that it wasn't 
 an unnatural thing for you to do. It's terrible to think 
 of, but it's true. I don't mean that it was pardonable," 
 she continued, quickly, "for it wasn't, and I hate you 
 when I think about it, but I suppose I put myself into 
 a position to invite such actions. No; I'm sufficiently 
 broad-minded not to blame you unreasonably, and I 
 think I could like you in spite of it, just for what you 
 
 SS 
 
w 
 
 ■:i m 
 
 ^■« •roaii. 
 
 ''' 'et them reiil^iH^?**' ***<>««*. if ym^ ^"^ 
 »• wy better w? '^ *>' ^t. » it iS i T^^ '^ 
 Witt jfate^.*- »-« th« sL^^J^ 
 
 .o»%jn"'" ^ "^ -id ••*. I 
 
 TO It. Yon ,„ , ^^w". ««*ld.'<bttt 
 to driak to l!^ **" • club h!^ *•* "^xw. Md 
 
 *•• tun c«aie u'STt''''' *'»» he mn«i^ ? ««»". 
 
 "^tter. aid S?'^ ** *^ f*«>^^^^V^' ^ •*« • 
 WJiere^Don r"^ • «oM coin m^ *"'"«* "»• 
 
 "*** "<*• by, t«Jldn,eJ^]^ i«w» to , 
 56 '• TheMpect 
 
Wnftim A HAIf AFFIAM 
 
 of tht ttraagw cfaaUtoftd iiotiot, lor 1m flood high abov* 
 hit compinkmt with • ptcaUar graoo of atUttido in plit . 
 of th« Awkwardiiiti common in men of groftt ttAtmc. 
 Among thoM who wtr^ UtUning intontly to the man's 
 cartfitUy modnlatod toam, Oloniitor rtoogniiad Mex- 
 ico Ifttllina, the OK-gnmbler who had given Oextry the 
 warning at Unalaika. Aa he further atodied the Uaten- 
 ing group, a drunken man staggered uncertainly throiivh 
 the wide doors of the saloon and, gaining sight of the 
 tall stranger, blinked, then approached him, spei^g 
 with a toud voice: 
 
 ** WeU, if 'tain't ole Alee McNamarat How do. ye 
 olepiratel" 
 
 McNamara nodded and turned his back coolly upon 
 the new-comer. 
 
 " Don't turn your dorul fin to me; I wan' to talk to 
 ye." 
 
 McNamara continued his cahn discourse till he re- 
 ceived a vicious whack on the shoulder; then he turned 
 for a moment to interrupt his assailant's garrulous pro- 
 fanity: 
 " Don't bother me. I am engaged." 
 **Yewon' talktome, eh? WeU. I'm goin* to talk 
 toivM.see? I guess you'd listen if I told these people 
 all I know about you. Turn around here." 
 
 His voice was menacing and attracted general notice. 
 Observing this, McNamara addressed him, his words 
 dropping clear, concise, and cold: 
 
 " Don't talk to me. You are a drunken nuisance. 
 Go away before something happens to you." 
 
 Again he turned away, but the drunken man seised 
 and whirled him about, repeating his abuse, encouraged 
 by this apparent patience. 
 
 57 
 
mi 
 
 If III 
 
 "B Sf OILBIS 
 
 mmMm 
 
 »'«» of oncer M-if^ " Movements lJt»?- '^ •» 
 A dozen wiliw tho«afc ' ^^'^PPeared. ^*^' 
 
 " 1^ .fate? '^*"'«' of ^^V:*"^^*' 
 
 «yi There's a «a»» in this h«^ 
 
 ^8 ^"" "e« camp/" 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 AND A ICINB 18 JT71IPBD 
 
 WHO'S your new shift boss?" Glenister inqtiired 
 of his partner, a few days later, indicating a 
 man in the cut below, busied in setting a line of sluices 
 
 " That's old • Slapjack' Simms, friend of mine from 
 up Dawson way." 
 
 Glenister laughed ii; loderately, for the object was 
 unusually tall and loose-jointed, and wore a soiled suit 
 of yellow mackinaw. He had laid off his coat, and now 
 the baggy, bilious trousers hung precariously from his 
 wigular shoulders by suspenders of alarming frailty. 
 His legs were lost in gum boots, also loose and cavern- 
 ous, and his entire costume looked relaxed and flap- 
 ping, so that he gave the impression of being able to 
 shake himself out of his raiment, and to rise like a 
 burlesque Aphrodite. His face was overgrown with a 
 gmsled tangle that looked as though it had been 
 trimmed with button -hole scissors, while above the 
 brush heap grandly soared a shiny, dome-like head. 
 
 " Has he always been bald?" 
 
 "Nawl He ain't bald at aU. He shaves his nob. 
 In the early days he wore a long flowin' mane which 
 was inhabited by crickets, ttee-toads, and such fauna. 
 It got to be a hobby with him finally, so that he growed 
 •up^Btitious about goin' uncurried, and would back 
 » 59 
 
THB SFOlLflls 
 
 ?-Ich with Ung^^diel^fch 'o°2- "ykpoKS 
 •n himtelf without it w„ C w J*" f^"'**" keep 
 new ooted out through hL^****- ^^PPitabte- 
 
 Stmnw. an- ha. kept hi. h^ !?° ."^""^ " Slap.«:k 
 
 "«* of w.te4, the tWcte o/r?'"" ?" ""^'y '^* th^ 
 »nd the heaving line of rf,„ m ** °' ""o^es abreast 
 
 the tail race, in an atnv»rf, ^ »pladied Oumuth 
 r-thebigwhit.^rwtStt'w^'^ P™'^ 
 
 J«t-:?e^?„tt1^f«X;t?tt,^l£' 
 
 p«^;--'^"-°»uSa^va€ 
 
 gulch was dotted with t^i^Zfu"^"' »"<> "^low the 
 
 ^ ine two partneri as they 
 
AND A MIIIB IS JUMFBD 
 
 looked on this scene. To wrest from reluctant earth 
 her richest treasures, to add to the wealth of the world, 
 to create— here was satisfaction. 
 
 " We ain't robbin' no widders an* orphans doin' it, 
 neither," Dextry suddenly remarked, expressing his 
 partner's feelings closely. They looked at each other 
 and smiled with that rare understanding that exceeds 
 words. 
 
 Descending into the cut, the old man filled a gold- 
 pan with dirt taken from under the feet of the workers, 
 and washed it in a puddle, while the other watched his 
 dexterous whirling motions. When he had finished, 
 they poked the stream of yellow grains into a pile, then, 
 with heads together, guessed its weight, laughing again 
 delightedly, in perfect harmony and contentment. 
 
 " I've been waitin' a turrible time fer this day," said 
 the elder. •• I've suffered the plagues of prospectin' 
 from the Mevicos to the Circle, an' yet I don't begretch 
 it none, now that I've struck pay." 
 
 While they spoke, two miners struggled with a 
 bowlder they had unearthed, and having scraped and 
 washed it carefully, staggered back to place it on the 
 cleaned bed-rock behind. One of them slipped, and 
 it crashed against a brace which held the sluices in 
 place. These boxes stand more than a man's height 
 above the bed-rock, resting on supporting posts and 
 running full of water. Should a sluice fall, the rush- 
 ing rtream carries out the gold which has lodged in the 
 riffles and floods the bed-rock, raising havoc. Too late 
 the partners saw the string of boxes sway and bend at 
 the joint. Then, before they could reach the threat- 
 ened spot to support it, Slapjack Simms, with a shriek, 
 plunged flapping down into the cut and seised the flume. 
 
 6z 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 n 
 
 H«» gnat h^ght (tocxl hi- • 
 
 the joint lwdooen«?^?"'«°*l«tea<> aw ft»^ 
 
 ™» ear ached under it .. """V 'n such volum* t-h.^ 
 
 •rfgravel." ^ '*^- ««« blasted boot, i, fm, 
 
 ^ He seated himself .„^ ♦ 
 
 boot came away^th" *1d^"' « h" foot till the 
 o' emptying the ,ccumU^^» *""''• ""«>. ^st^ 
 
AND A VINE IS JUNFBft 
 
 the stream that had emerged from the crack in the 
 sluices had carried with it pebbles, sand, and all the 
 concentration of the riffles at this point. Standing 
 directly beneath the cataract, most of it had dived 
 fairly into his inviting waistband, following down the 
 lines of least resistance into his boot-legs and boiling 
 out at the knees. 
 
 " Wash that," he said. " You're apt to get a pros- 
 pect." 
 
 With artful passes Dextry settled it in the pan bot- 
 tom and washed away the gravel, leaving a yellow, 
 glittering pile which raised a yell from the men who had 
 lingered curiously. 
 
 'He pans forty dollars to the boot-leg," one 
 shouted. 
 
 *• How much do you run to the foot, Slapjack?" 
 
 " He's a reg'lar free-milling ledge." 
 
 " No, he ain't— he's too thin. He's nothing but a 
 stringer, but he'll pay to work." 
 
 The old miner grinned toothlessly. 
 
 *' Gentlemen, there ain't no better way to save fine 
 gold than with imdercurrents an' blanket riffles. I'll 
 have to wash these garments of mine an' clean up the 
 soapsuds 'cause there's a htmdred dollars in gold-dust 
 clingin* to my person this minute." He went drip- 
 ping up the bank, while the men returned to their work 
 singing. 
 
 After lunch Dextry saddled his bronco. 
 
 *• I'm goin* to town for a pair of gold-scales, but I'll 
 be back by supper, then we'll clean up between shifts. 
 She'd ought to give us a thousand oimces, the way that 
 ground prospects." He loped down the gulch, while 
 hit partner returned to the pit, the flashing shovel 
 
 63 
 
li *« 
 
 'I' i '( 
 
 THB SPOlLfiKs 
 
 ' i jij 
 
 »"'. b, nw among th«^'E«.'*' °'^*" *« 
 — McNamara— the nuu, ofTiY ^ ^ *•" Northern 
 
 titte1?'«,2'^iS?^ "''^« come out to «. .bo„, «„ 
 "What about it?" 
 
 pauaS*"' " "^^ ^^'^^^J •bout a month ago." H, 
 ;;Yc» What of that?" 
 .. ;^;»"o^*y ha. commenced suit " 
 The ground belonw *« t\1 1 
 cove,^ it. we ojSnS^t ut> ^''. "^ *°^ "*•• ^^ <i«- 
 law and we'« go'^^glo hcJd it^' ve co„,p„ed with the 
 wch conviction and heat ^ to nonS ""f*" '^^ ^^h 
 Namam, who had sat hL^ol ^^^^"f ^*™^*' ^"t Mc 
 •wered ; ^^ '^ *°^ «Iently until now, an^ 
 
 " Certainly, sir* if vn«,. ♦:*! • 
 tect«J. but the ta;&^^;» i';"^ yo" will be p„,. 
 to let it tiUce it. coune. Tw,?^'^*"/ ""'ve got 
 none whateve^-but bn«fl^ °.° ""^ »' violence- 
 GiUIowy ha. conS^^*f^'> '".'««o» « thi,: Mr. 
 h" enjoined you frS^^S^!*?"'"'""' *•»<=<«« 
 f» receiver to operate thT^^' ""^ "T "PPointed me 
 It'? « «t~orfi^ p*™' "»*" the ~it i, «ttled 
 
 » ~ riiort that it wouidVunlSt^-^Ji*^-. P'" ««<» 
 tf the daim Uy idle an .^^*°«'« "Shtfal owner 
 
 »™iei--«), to avoid that, I've 
 
AMD A HIMB IS JUMPBD 
 
 been imt in charge, with inrtructioM to operate it «&d 
 preJve the proceeds lubjert to the court'! order. Mr 
 Voorheei here ii the United States Manhal. He wiU 
 
 •erve the papen." . ^ . . 
 
 Gleniiter threw up his hand in a gesture of restraint. 
 
 "Holdonl Do you mean to teU me that any court 
 would recognise such a daim as Galloway's ?" 
 
 " The Uw recognises everything. If his grounds are 
 no good, so much the better for you." 
 
 " You can't put in a receiver without notice to us. 
 Why, good Lord! we never heard of a suit being com- 
 menced. We've never even been served with a sum- 
 mons and we haven't had a chance to argue in our own 
 
 defence." ^ 
 
 " I have Just said that this is a remarkable sUte of 
 affairs and unusual action had to be taken," McNamara 
 replied, but the young miner grew excited. 
 
 •• Look here— this gold won't get away. It's safe m 
 the ground. We'U knock off work and let the claim 
 Ue idle till the thing is settled. You can't reaUy expect 
 us to surrender possession of our mine on tl» mere alle- 
 gation of some unknown man. That's ridiculous. We 
 won't do it. Why, you'U have to let t» argue our case, 
 at least, before you try to put vm off." 
 
 Voorhees shook his head. "We'll have to foUow 
 instructions. The thing for you to do is to appear 
 before the court to-morrow and have the receiver dis- 
 missed. If your title is as good as you say it is, you 
 won't have any trouble." 
 
 "You'iB not the only ones to suffer," added Mc- 
 Namara. •• We've taken possession of all the mines 
 below here." He nodded down the gulch. " I'm an 
 officer of the court and under bond — " 
 
 6$ 
 
»« SFORBtS 
 
 "How much?" V 
 
 ":J». to foU^!"' °'««*" *- «I*Uy d.b.tin, wh., 
 
 J*"." A™v:2S:«*^ «f «," Worn J„d^ s««. 
 fl|« going on withVSlS^ "'SL"""*? o* *• ^. 
 
 *»» « right««, i it ^ JSl*' «» »h«T«»&; 
 
 *.U»d till iTl^cktr^;. "••"»««> lowfyTS 
 
 '•ftp Within and rallv hi. kTI ? ' ^"•" ■• he ttarted ♦,> 
 
 3!5\J° ** "«•"«• Whyb. th- . ''°"« ">»* they 
 »M on the mine, below hL„J?S "'*''"»'«? xS 
 tj»g«)tiadwiacapawr«fl°?"'°~~- The title to 
 De, need have no Sni^™"*?!?'?'' *"»* »« "d 
 "t people nowadays W^TL ^™^ ""o "ot rob hon- 
 the girl;, ,0^, wS; 'tJ:,'2^^-»d, »o«over. p^h^ 
 rf hm, jf he gave „p tK foh« ' «»«« think mo« 
 <>'--'. «»ed .e,i,tan°^^''£^Sr«^3lS- 
 
AND ▲ HINB IS JITHFBft 
 
 would not pteaae her. She had laid he wu toe violent, 
 •0 he would ihow her he could ley his levagery egide. 
 She might smile on him approvingly, and that waa 
 worth taking a chance for — anyway it would mean but 
 a few days' delay in the mine's run. As he reasoned he 
 heard a low voice speaking within the open door. It 
 was Slapjack Sinmis. 
 
 " Step aside, lad. I've got the big un covered." 
 
 Glenister saw the men on horseback snatch at their 
 holsters, and, just in time, leaped at his foreman, for 
 the old man had moved out into the open, a Winchester 
 at shoulder, his cheek cuddling the stock, his eyes cold 
 and narrow. The young man flung the barrel up and 
 wrenched the weapon from his hands. 
 
 " None of that, Hank!" he cried, sharply. *' 111 say 
 when to shoot." He turned to look into the nmssles 
 of guns held in the hands of every horseman— every 
 horseman save one, for Alec McNamara sat unmoved, 
 his handsome features, nonchalant and amused, nod- 
 ding approval. It was at him that Hank's weapon had 
 been levelled. 
 
 " This is bad enough at the best. Don't let's make 
 it any worse," said he. 
 
 Slapjack inhaled deeply, spat with disgust, and 
 looked over his boss incredtdously. 
 
 " Well, of all the different lands of damn fools," he 
 snorted, " you are the kindest." He marched past the 
 marshal and his deputies down to the cut, put on his 
 coat, and vanished down the trail towards town, not 
 deigning a backward glance either at the mine or at the 
 man unfit to fight for. 
 

 IT! 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 •x^ker tt of th. biUlrt^'^ "**' '"^ " <'*P"y <rf th. 
 
 K-nTtea';^ rf"b^: t^ ^ «^. the h.U h«. 
 
 tempting W'lSJtS'oSlSr^' • «'«^ 
 «tage. They piav-d . ^ir , • '* ^"^ «oved to th« 
 
TBB ••BIOMCO Kli'S" ■AYBSBIOPPllia 
 
 th« df iotfi, until aU joined tt tht top not* in a yell, 
 white the drummer fired a .44 Colt into a box o( wet 
 eawdttst betide hie chair— all in time, all in the iwinf 
 ing spirit of the tune. 
 
 The men, who were moetly young, danced like coltege 
 boys, white the women, who were all young and good 
 dencen, floated through the meaeuree with the eaie of 
 rose-teavee on a eummer etreem. Facet were flushed, 
 eyee were bright, and but rarely a voice tounded that 
 wat not glad. Mott of the loita came from the men, 
 and although one caught, here and there, a hint of hag- 
 gard linet about the girliih facee, and glimpaed occa- 
 sional eyet that did not tmile, yet at a whote the aoene 
 wat one of genuine enjosrment. 
 
 Suddenly the mutic ceated and the couples crowd- 
 ed to the bar. The women took harmleat drinkt; 
 the men, mostly whitkey. Harely wat the choice of 
 poutions criticised, though occasionally some ruddy 
 eschewer of sobriety insisted that hte lady ** take the 
 same," avowing that " hootch," having been demon- 
 strated beneficial in his case, was good for her also. 
 Invariably the lady accepted without dispute, and 
 invariably the man ^iled to note her glance at the bar- 
 tender, or the silent substitution by that capabte per- 
 son of ginger-ate for whiskey or of plain water for gin. 
 In turn, the mixers collected one dollar from each man, 
 flipping to the girl a metal percenti^e-check which she 
 added to her store. In the curtained boxes overhead, 
 men bought bottles with foil about the corks, and then 
 subterfuge on the lady's part was idte,but, on the other 
 hand, she was able to pocket for each bottte a check 
 redeemabte at five dollars. 
 
 A stranger, straight from the East, would have re- 
 
 69 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 I m i 
 
 of th. „«, rsr;J^ SrS.m'* ^'"'^ «"»«»- 
 h- ^!" !S*„*^£?"'?-«»" ««>«. w«, b., 
 
 '«o tay .oot. tS tISS '" ''"!• ">•••" •boot tht 
 »•••, of home, of wm»L w?*.. ^°*5^ **'^««* of butj. 
 
 o« tb. North hU STtSLL V"^ '^^ "y^ 
 
 »W.tilyofthi„g,"h^*^4^,;j''-. •"<« ibv tp?!. 
 with tfanph diflldmc. tlMMrtJ!!«. !rJ? ''°' " «eomit«d 
 Plithment. ^"""•*'»^»*ori«ofth.irMeom. 
 
 imtnm in movement ISl ♦ ^ "" »* *'^. 
 •nd loown ai .uZfji. *° "°"*' "» of voice 
 O-It the W^"^*^*""?* women. Hetad 
 
 wondered inwnrdl^ ' **"** "^ fcJ«d. they 
 
 8.«.Td' :JS:'vi/„!L' "^ "^ *»-«''*. f«» Sw«J. 
 
 •»<> be WMT^ienS^'??.'''''*^^ »'>'•'''>» «wS! 
 tbe king end wUh i^T.? '""""• * Jew „t Vt 
 
 "-ex. H'-'vent^.tj/lSti^^^ 
 
TIB -llOHCO Kir%" 1ATB81I0PFIHG 
 
 ttm, wWto <nstrid«i to thi mimbj ol f<mr or ftvt «Jt 
 
 toiiUmdic«Ilyw«th«n.UUtt. The gi«iMPrw di«c^ 
 
 to Slow; conMqiwntly tho lookout. «»«?} ^» ™~ 
 Jwt. WM teaning forwMd. chin in hMid. white tho f«mp 
 
 WM hwlgwl about by ••£«- on-lbokwi. 
 
 Faro it a clotwl book to mort p«>pto. for iu totrtca- 
 
 ciei ara confuting. Lucky it he who ha«j nwer pefw 
 
 aeveted in tolving itt mytteriet nor tfecalatcd upon 
 
 the "lyttemt" of beating it. From '.i.osc v.io t .ive 
 
 teamed it. the game demandt practico aexvrity. aua 
 
 coolneit. The dealer mutt run the ctrrU wa ch the 
 
 many thifting beU. handte the neatly piled cnecU. 
 
 fisuie. lightning-Uke. the profiu ar 1 loss* s. U v .«^ his 
 
 unerring, clock Uke regularity in thit that hiui v. m th« 
 
 Kid hU reputation. Thit night hit powers svcre t cd. 
 
 He dealt tUently. tcowlingly, hit kmg wl.ito Ixngen 
 
 nervoutly caretping the cardt. 
 
 Thit preoccupation prevented hit noticing the ruette 
 and ttir of a new-comer who had crowded up behtod 
 him. until he caught the wondering glancet of thote in 
 front and taw that the Itraelite wat ttaring pait hmi, 
 hit money forgotten, hit eyet beady and •h«2»°» J»*" 
 like teeth thowing in a grin of admiration. Swede Sam 
 
 glared from under hit unkempt thock and felt uncer- 
 tainly towardt the open collar of hit flannel thirt where 
 a kerchief thould have been. The men who were ttMid- 
 ing gated at the new-comer, tome with turprite, otheft 
 with a half tmile of recognition. 
 
 Bronco glanced quickly over hit thoulder, and at he 
 did to the breath caught in his throat— but for only 
 an instent. A girt stood so close beside him that the 
 lace of her gown brushed his sleeve. He was thuflaing 
 at the moment and dropped a card, then nodded to her. 
 
 7« 
 
!:' U 
 
 h ;! 
 
 ^n S?OILB«S 
 
 one did not An*«f»^ 
 ■■ ■•'•<«»••• " Wbl^^:^y ewtfaued to look « ♦.. 
 
 iong want, all w«iit a: i "'^'nded butt and h.-«- ^ 
 to«h VJ.*"*' ""<' her miUa^^ '^ «»»">ed low 
 
 " •• I'tf' f„ C!;hl?n ^"^ "^'""^o. th. lookout 
 
 oetter not It*« i, _j 
 her voice wm imp,ij^,''j;;1»^" "id the Kid, but 
 
 t««;l»d in her ti^S^^j'^" -"led in hi. cfc.f, 
 
 7a 
 
 i;;r: 
 
TBI "BIOMCO KIB'S" BAYBSDROPPIMG 
 
 t« < 
 
 ' Throw him out, Bronco," the Mid, and h«r tones 
 held the hardness of a mistress to her slave. 
 
 «• That's all right," the Kid reasstued the lookout. 
 " She's a better dealer than I am. This is Cherry 
 Malotte." 
 
 Without noticing the starss this evoked, the girl 
 commenced. Her hands, beautifully soft and white, 
 flashed over the board. She dealt rapidly, unfalter- 
 ingly, with the finish of one bred to the cards, handling 
 chips and coppers with the peculiar mannerisms that 
 spring from long practice. It was seen that she never 
 looked at her check -rack, but, when a bet required 
 paying, picked up a stack without turning her head; 
 and they saw further that she never reached twice, nor 
 took a large pile and sized it up against its mate, re- 
 moving the extra disks, as is the custom. When she 
 stretched forth her hand she grasped the right num- 
 ber unerringly. This is considered the acme of pro- 
 fessional finish, and the Bronco Kid smiled delight- 
 edly as he saw the wonder spread from the lookout 
 to the spectators and heard the speech of the men 
 who stood on chairs and tables for sight of the woman 
 dealer. 
 
 For twenty minutes she continued, until the place 
 became congested, and never once did the lookout 
 detect an error. 
 
 While she was busy, Glenister entered the front-door 
 and pushed his way back towards the theatre. He was 
 worried and distrait, his manner perturbed and unnat- 
 uml. Silently and without apparent notice he passed 
 friends who greeted him. 
 
 " What ails Glenister to-night?" asked a by-stander. 
 •• He acts funny." 
 
I I'm 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 "d questioned him. *" ^- ^ 'topped . wSi 
 
 
 A moment later Gl«H,t-*-l "• 
 
 of the bo, door «d thf ^^ ^f^""" «>7 th. c^k 
 
 Go out, pleaee," heMS^-5 '^'«» »Wt.. 
 want conjp^y ,. ' J^^C^^*"^' "^^-t 
 
 g fl had come forward and I.mI !^ "*• <**»«J. for the 
 ">» cheek,. ° •»"* '"<» >>«• two hot hand, u,^ 
 
 about yourself. Ut me ^'TJ^/^ Now. telf,^ 
 
 She pulled him towardslh.Ti.^"*' ^"»^^^ " 
 •devouring him hung^ly ^,L tr'^^^^ "P^aM. 
 
 7^ *^*' languorout •yet. 
 
 li! 
 
WELL, SHE SAID, " KISS ME I' 
 
I 
 
 * 
 
 llll 
 
 L. 
 
TIB ««BBORCO KII'S" BATBSBIOPPIMQ 
 
 le held to Ills coat kpeli, ttanding doM beiido him, 
 w»nn bmth beating up into hit face. 
 
 •• Well." she said, *' Idss mel'* 
 
 He took her wristo in his and loosed her hold, then 
 [looked down on her gravely and said: 
 
 *• No— that's aU over. I told yo* so when I left 
 [Dawson«" 
 
 " All over! Oh no, it isn't, boy. You think so, but 
 it isn't— it can't be. I k)ve yon tarn much to let you 
 
 " Hushl" said he. **Tlw« are people in the next 
 box." 
 
 " I don't caret Let them hear," she cried, with 
 feminine recklessness. " I'm proud of my Icrmm for yoo. 
 ni tell it to them— to the whole world." 
 
 " Now. see here, little girl," he said, q«ietly, " we 
 had a long talk in Dawson and agreed that it was 
 best to divide our ways. I was mad ovtt you once, 
 as a good many other men have been, but I came to 
 my senses. Nothing could ever remit from it, and I 
 told you so." 
 
 *' Yes. yes — I know. I thoi^fht I could giv« you 
 up, tat I didn't realise till you had gcme how I wasted 
 you. Oil, it's been a torture to me every day for the 
 past tw» years." There was no semblance now to the 
 cold creature she had appeared upon entering the 
 gambling - hall. She spoke rapidly, her whole body 
 tease with emotion, her voice i^ken with passkm. 
 " I've seen men and men and men, and they've k>ved 
 me, but I never cared for anybody in the world till I 
 saw you. They ran after me, but you were cold. You 
 made me come to you. Perhaps that was it. Anyhow, 
 I cant stand it. I'll give up everything — I'll do any- 
 
 • 71 
 
M 
 
 TM SPOILBIS 
 
 17^^ 7^^^^ Oi>. I've lort my prid^'m 
 '?;1~* '«>*-*>«* I can't help it." ^ P«»-i m 
 
 I m tony you feel this way," Mid Gleiii«t«. •• u 
 i«j2^«y fault, and it in't of ^V Se " ^^* '* 
 »» an instant she stood quiverinff whik thm UmK4, 
 <1W out of her face; then, wiSi a S2LZS!;. u ^** 
 .be smiled tiU the dimplei U^heStSScflS 
 ««k upon . seat bende him and puuS Se^ 
 curtains, shutting out the sight betoST ^^^ '^ 
 
 •nd^dlS it~*?T '^rX* ^ ^^ to her chedt 
 •uu cuaaiea tt. I m glad to see you iust thm •..^^ 
 
 "^y?" «m't keep me fmm layiogZi^ ^ 
 
 With hi. other h«d he smoothed h« hair while -„ 
 
 know, to him »d ben..Sw lightoeTrtl^t 
 
 "Bah! You know what to do Ym> ««»«'«. • i 
 ■^mt'.^, five fing^ ,„ y^ ^~^,.' • »«». 
 
 «^ to^'" Llr* '?L:'^ '^♦^ ""* I- 
 
 in a rec^iVArlTK- ^\ ^^^ jumped us and put 
 dA ^ITr^ "^ man-by the name of McNamanl 
 
 man Jeamed of it he nearly went cra«v W- fc-T 
 ^^ Not he. .«d the girl. " I know him «d he kno« 
 
 y«r m Nome-Bill Wheeton-and we've tried to have 
 
 7« 
 
THB ••BIOMCO IirS" BAVBSIIOPPINQ 
 
 the l^iu]lctioll ramoved. We'vt oflmd bond in any 
 turn, but the Judge rrfuMi to accept it. We've enued 
 for.leeve to appeal, but he won't give us the right. Th« 
 more I look into it the wone it teems, for the court 
 waw t convened in accordance with law, we weien't 
 noUfied to appear in our own behalf, we weren't al- 
 towed a chance to argue our own caie— nothing. They 
 •unply flapped on a receiver,and now they refuse to al- 
 tow us radress. Prom a legal stand-point, it's appalling. 
 I m told; but what's to be done? What's theiame? 
 That s the thing. What are they up to? I'm neariy 
 out of my mind, for it's aU my fault. I didn't think h 
 meant any thing like this or I'd have made a fi^ht for 
 posseseton and stood them oflf at least. As it is, my 
 partner's sore and he's gone to drinking— first time in 
 twelve years. He says I gave the claim away, and now 
 ** ! V^JZ ^T.*^ *^ Almighty to get it back. If he 
 geta tvm be 11 dnve a four-horse wagon into some church, 
 or go up and pick the Judge to pieces with his fingers 
 to see what makes him go itmnd." 
 
 " What 've they got against you and Dextry— some 
 grudge ? " she questioned. 
 
 "No, no? We're not the only ones in trouble: 
 
 »^ ve jumped the rest of the good mines and put this 
 McNamara in as receiver on all of them, but that's 
 small comfort. The Swedes are crasy; they've hired 
 aU the lawyers in town, and are murdering more good 
 
 Amencan language than would fill Bering Strait. Dex 
 IS m favor of getting our friends together and throwing 
 the recewrer off. He wants to kill somebody, but we 
 cantdoAat. They Ve got the sokiiers to fall back on. 
 we ve been warned that the troops are instructed to 
 enforce the court's action. I dcm't know what the plot 
 
 n 
 
I i 
 
 TBB SPOIIBIS 
 
 The girl? What girl? WhoiiAe?" 
 •» the CM might iT^H^ ^"^' '"^"'- '"»^. 
 
 1 oe girt I intend to inmmr"i.ji..M < . . 
 »wr between the eye.^^^' ''••^•»»<>»>y.Ioolda« 
 
 the^SiSST iSd'SS;^*tt^?f*' *° ''^* "«•«•«> 
 «>« the Mon» rt^^TiS"..'^' ""'• •«• "I" felt 
 better. H^ZmJ^^u **•«>"•' 't left her the 
 b«. •■owever"^.':^?:*'*;.*'^?^"' the remark on 
 
 opened Md theh^of thX^i v-^"* "* ** •»» 
 retirri inrtently ^1,^^^ '"^ •'"*^' «•» 
 
 every .nch of them-noted the^^JTSS^^^ 
 
 7* 
 
TM «BIORCO Ill's- BATBSaiOPPine 
 
 Ut Mn had 
 
 t*M^ poi« of the wora«n-,rt,a, 
 ««^t pm ol Ghniiter'i .pe«*. 
 
 .|«-'T1JL![!"\"^ *"•" •^ Ch«ny. quietly -l 
 oon t knaw who the ii but I »»••« •'''•""»'/• * 
 ^^ t. •"• »• o»« 1 won t let jrou many 
 
 She rote and imoothed her lUrtt. 
 It • time nioe people were goiiw now" Shtmmuiu 
 WW. a .nyer at hemlf. "xJK^i thZT^L 
 
 TLT!L^ ground «v.gely th«>«ih the toblccS 
 
ni 
 
 
 >*r M 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 OBXTKT MAKIt A CAtt 
 
 1 Cbetter. and rarely did a fair day oan witlwZ 
 
 r« u *^^«*?'**»ff We, along it. edge, the ihiM^ 
 
 iJrfi^S^"^ ^u w V? • ^onr pulled high up on the 
 ^^' ^wif r*" the bright .unriiine, and rtarii^ at Se 
 
 Sl^iS hll r "*' r^*«*»«« wrinkled h^ hf^ 
 jrae wind had blown for lome daya tili the ocean be«t 
 
 ^ !^,«»« -^-"ow bar. aS now leTJScSS.* 
 qmeter longriioremen were launching their craftpw! 
 Ptnng to resume their traffic. * ^ 
 
 ftte^t nUrfwtune come to her. and although .he ImS 
 h«^ no hint of fraud, die began to reaS^thS thS 
 ime involved in a .eriou. tangle. To the quwtioS 
 
 ttat th«r diffictdty arose from a technicality ^tS 
 mining laws which another man had h^-n sh«i«? 
 enough to profit by. It was a compHcatS V«"^ 
 
 W« ^?K ^"*r «"*; She had undertaken to r^iS 
 him of ^e service these men had done her. but with 
 
 to influence his judicial attitude, and she must not«- 
 
 80 
 
 !( I 
 i 1 II 
 
MZTIT HAKBS A CALL 
 
 dMvor to jmjiadiot him in Um diMhwn of hit dutr 
 
 •^ M'-iod«ti», but it lUl M«i6d fonrign wdS^ 
 
 the Anvil Cn»k mine., dit understood nSuiing wd 
 cared leee. particuUriy m a new intereet had but re- 
 
 ^^^L^]^^^ "'*' •" ^*^* *° the form of a 
 
 of ?l.^t.J?r7**ii"*^' hUf-concealed admiration 
 V ]^?l!^***i***' '*P^*y increaMd untU hat attentions 
 
 had become of a Angularly poeitive and retittleit char* 
 acter. 
 
 Of one like Alec McNamara couM but flatter any girt. 
 In hit pretence. Helen felt hertelf rebelling at hit tuit 
 yet at d^ce teparated them the thought ever mor^ 
 kmdlyofit. ThittUte of mind contratted oddly with 
 hjT feelingt towardt the other man the had met. for in 
 ^counljy there were but two. When Glenitter wat 
 
 with her the taw hit love lying nakedly in hit eyet and 
 It ttcerctMd tome tpell which drew her to him in tpite 
 of herself, but when he had gone, back came the dit- 
 tetttt. the terror of the brute the felt wat there be- 
 
 T^ !t *"\ J"** ^* •ppealed to her while pretent. 
 the other pled ttrongett whUe away. Now the wat at- 
 tempting to analyse her feelingt and face the future 
 tquarely. for the realised that her affaire neared a critit. 
 and this too, not a month after meeting the men. She 
 jnondwed if the would come to love her uncle't friend. 
 She did not know. Of the other she wat ture-«he 
 never could. «— »«• 
 
 •i 
 
matoeort mmuition im cnait 
 
 (ANSI and SO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 1.0 
 
 1.1 
 
 Itt 
 
 u 
 
 124 
 
 lU 
 
 m 
 
 |4J 
 
 v& 
 
 12S lu 
 
 |U |j6 
 
 ^ 
 
 >^1PPLIED HVMGE Inc 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 653 East IMn StrMt 
 
 ^S J^!»lri."rjf^ '*«» us* 
 
 (7«e) 4aa-0300-Phonr 
 (7I«) 2*8 -9069 -Fa. 
 
h 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 1. t « 
 
 i ; 
 I . 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 Uusied with these reflections, she noticed the familiar 
 
 kfmn?Lr7>r"'^'""^ ^^"^^"^^^y- «« ^^ ^ot un. 
 w^i' T r^ ^'' ^''' ^""^^ ^*' *^« impression of pro- 
 ^JJ ^s!^«P\^f .ness Spying her, he approached and 
 seated himself m the sand against the boat whUe at 
 her greeting he broke into talk as if he was netful only 
 of her riend y presence to stir his confidential choi^ 
 mto active vibration. "«*«» 
 
 r^llZ^'-^ in turrible shape, miss," he said. "Our 
 oLt^f'J""l?f^-T Son^^b^^y run in and talked the boy 
 out of It while I was gone, and now we can't get 'em 
 
 all brought m this summer. I've been drunk-thafs 
 what makes me look so ornery." 
 
 He said the last, not in the spirit of apology for 
 rarely does your frontiersman consider that his self- 
 indulgences require palliation, but rather after the 
 manner of one purveying news of mild interest, as he 
 would mform you that his surcingle had broken ir that 
 he had witnessed a lynching. 
 
 "What made them jump your claim?" 
 "I don't know. I don't know nothin' about it be- 
 cause, as I remarked previous. I 'ain't follered the'tot- 
 term footsteps of the law none too close. Nor do I 
 
 ?^rA^\ "'""P^^ ^^^^^ °"* °^ *^^ g^"^e fer a spell, 
 and lets the youngster have his fling; then if he can't 
 
 ""'r^'T^ la '^'^ *'^ '^^^ ^"^ '°-h ^* ^or h4 
 Its like the time I was ranchin' with an English- 
 
 tortune of bein a younger son, whatever that is and 
 ^grubstaked to a ranch by his people back home. 
 Havin acquired an intimate knowledge of the West by 
 readm Bret Harte. and havin' assim'lated the secrets 
 
 83 
 
OBXTRT MAKES A CALL 
 
 of ranchin* by correspondence school, he is fitted 
 ample, to teach us natives a thing or two—and he does 
 it. I am workin' his outfit as foreman, and it don't 
 take long to show me that he's a good-hearted feller, in 
 spite of his ridin'-bloomers an' pinochle eye-glass. He 
 ain't never had no actual experience, but he's got a 
 Henry Thompson Seton book that tells him aU about 
 ever3rthing from field-mice to gorrillys. 
 
 "We're troubled a heap with coyotes them days, 
 and finally this party sends home for some Rooshian 
 wolf-hounds. I'm fer pizenin' a sheep carcass, but he 
 says: 
 
 •••No, no, me deah man; that's not sportsman-like; 
 we hunt em. Ay, hunt 'em I Only fawncy the sport 
 we 11 have, ridin' to hounds!' 
 
 '"We will not,' says I. ' I ain't goin' to do no Simon 
 Legree stunts. It ain't man's size. Bein' English, you 
 don t count, but I'm growed up.' 
 
 "Nothin' would do him but those Uncle Tom's Cabin 
 dogs, however, and he had 'em imported clean from 
 Berkshire or Sibeery or thereabouts, four of 'em, great 
 big, blue ones. They was as handsome and imposin' as 
 a set of solid-gold teeth, but somehow they didn't seem 
 to savvy our play none. One day the cook rolled a 
 rain bar'l down-hill from the kitchen, and when them 
 blooded critters saw it comin' they throwed down their 
 tails and tore out like rabbits. After that I couldn't 
 see no good in 'em with a spy-glass. 
 
 •'•They 'ain't got no grit. What makes you think 
 they can fight?' I asked one day. 
 
 r n 'u^'^^i*' ' ^^^^ H'Anglish. 'My deah man, they're 
 full-blooded. Cost seventy pun each. They're dread- 
 ful creatures when they're roused— they'll tear a wolf 
 
 83 
 
 m 
 
 J 
 
i) 
 
 i i 
 
 * ; ! 
 
 Oh I Rully, 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 to pieces like a rag~ldll bears-anything. 
 perfectly dreadful r 
 
 thlTf V^* '^*!?'* * ""^^ ^**^ *^*t ^« ^«nt over to 
 the east line with me to mend a barb wire. I had mv 
 
 ?rn?*S u* *''^®.* *"^ '^^'^ ^**P^««- About a mUe 
 from the house we jumped up a little brown bear that 
 scampered off when he seen us, but bein' agin' a bluff 
 where he couldn't get away, he climbed a cotton-wood 
 
 AngJ«h was simply frothin' with excitement. 
 
 '. . _^hat a misfortunel Neyther gun nor hounds.' 
 
 T .J- ^u ^*^^ ^''^ ^^^ P^««y to him,' says 
 
 I. while you run back and get a Winchester and th«n 
 ferocious bull-dogs.' 
 
 Wolf-hounds,' says he, with dignity, ' full-blooded 
 
 JToT ^ r" rT^ ^^.'y'" '""^ **^^ P^' ^^t ""'b 
 
 foHhem ^* *° **' ^""^ '* '" ^® ^'^ P'*^*^^ 
 
 •"They may be good renders. ' says I, 'but don't for- 
 git the gun. 
 
 " W«". I throwed sticks at the critter when he tried 
 to unclimb the tree, till finally the boss got back with 
 his dogs. They set up an awful holler when they see 
 
 ^l rfn'T^f * °°® ^^^^'^ ^^^'' ^"^«"«1' I reckon-and 
 the little feller crawled up in some forks and watched 
 
 things, cautious, while they leaped about, bayin' most 
 fierce and blood-curdlin*. 
 
 !i ! p ° V°" ^°*°' ^ ^^* ^^ ^°^« ?' says I. 
 
 1 IJ shoot him in the lower jaw,' says the Britisher 
 so he cawn t bite the dogs. It '11 give 'em cawnfidence.' 
 He takes aim at Mr. Bear's chin and misses it three 
 times runmn', he's that excited. 
 
 dnihu *^- ^"""^ H'Anglish.' says I. • He 'ain't got no 
 double chins. How many shells left in your gun ?' 
 
DEXTRY MAKES A CALL 
 
 «• 
 
 When he looks he finds there's only one 
 
 more, for 
 he hadn't stopped to V\ the magazine, so I cautions 
 him. 
 
 '* ' You're shootin* too low. Raise her.' 
 
 " He raised her all right, and caught Mr. Bruin in the 
 snout. What followed thereafter was most too quick 
 to notice, for the poor bear let out a bawl, dropped off 
 his limb into the midst of them ragin', tur'ble, seventy- 
 pun hounds, an' hugged 'em to death, one after another, 
 like he was doin' a system of health exercises. He took 
 'em to his boosum as if he'd just got back off a long 
 trip, then, droppin' the last one, he made at that 
 younger son an' put r, gold fillin' in his leg. Yes, sir; 
 most chewed it off. H'Anglish let out a Siberian-wolf 
 holler hisself , an' I had to step in with the hatchet and 
 kill the brute though I was most dead from laughin'. 
 
 "That's how it is with me an* Glenister," the old man 
 concluded. "When he gets tired experimentin' with 
 this new law game of hisn, I'll step in an' do business 
 on a common-sense basis." 
 
 "You talk as if you wouldn't get fair play," said 
 Helen. 
 
 " We won't," said he, with conviction. " I look on 
 all lawyers with suspicion, even to old bald-face — your 
 uncle, askin' your pardon an' gettin' it. bein' as I'm a 
 friend an' he ain't no real relation of yours, anyhow. 
 No, sir; they're all crooked." 
 
 Dextry held the Western distrust of the legal profes- 
 sion — comprehensive, unreasoning, deep. 
 
 "Is the old man all the kin you've got?" he ques- 
 tioned, when she refused to discuss the matter. 
 
 "He is — in a way. I have a brother, or I hope I 
 have, somewhere. He ran away when we were both 
 
 8S 
 
TBfi SPOILBIS 
 
 little tads and I haven't sMm hi^ • 
 Wm. indirectly, .rsfa^v-t^^^"*' ' ^"^ "»"» 
 the big ™,h i; the Sfto w ^T ''«^'f""e 
 home. When father died I wi» . ,?" "•^*'" '««» 
 
 cruel to hide f~m me tKl ?o^ ?i'"'~*''*'- "«'» 
 two left and I've loved Wm Itt*"^" "« «»'/ ^ 
 
 over the heavi„g'^„"':;~„«»y '^"'^ '"""'y <»•» 
 
 of Jon'e; tt" "rr It JS'l "t"" ' "•"■• "'- 
 the thought that lay uZZ^t H- " •":'^'"« *» 
 we'd be up against itT^fi,?^? ° *"' '"'"'^' <»«» 
 couldn-t haV.'aZLi\7^, ' -« --^"'t- The W 
 
 proceedings, because thev^eS iJ^^ r" 
 
 "^- ''I* brandied peaches an' siZndersWns™ """ 
 
 Weve got a feTer ^mTi 7"*^ ''^''^ "P there. 
 
 Steal it'? Welt trdirTltTan-rrr; '* "o"- 
 without a stick of <.■•—*• iT- f" * ™*t her open 
 
 in five ma« an°the^ «„.7?"='l''°'"<' '°«^e everyb^ 
 heavy, n"; ft-s salr the '"fh^" »« iKxiily-shT's to^ 
 
 tH. receiverU X^^t'hlng^" j?^^'^!" ^ -" 
 
 through tt d^Tdrf^'f "r"^"''^ "- -p 
 
 main, muddy thoroZfal rf tir''*' "'?** *° "^e 
 
 p-anued and <^r..^J'j:z:i:^:^u^y^'^ 
 
It 
 g 
 
 n 
 
 e 
 s 
 
 B 
 
 / 
 
 MXTIT MAKES A CALL 
 
 «t.-ntly. and no foot-pas Jngere™enw.Th™K;Lw '°°" 
 ventured off the pJta thSI^I^ hoSe'T/h*:^'' 
 nJl ? ».'P'"hing team, Dextry pull^ his cZ' 
 
 Although It was late in the afternoon the Bronco Kid 
 
 had she dared WW *° P^*" '" ^°^ carefully 
 
 f^r fi^* 1 ?' , * ^^^'^ companion moved forward At 
 the first look the Bronco Kid had broW^n «ff •' i^ 
 
 87 
 
THB SfOILBiS 
 
 
 twwn the building,. tumTLlte^T ^"""^ ^• 
 •e«ped from bouS to wS ^Sz^.^ '""* »*"•*. 
 of w.ter till to rewhedZ Z^Jr* *'T«'' P""''*'" 
 mud from hi, rto« ,JS dSi,w!,!^1. St-^Ping the 
 
 fairviewof them Htr«.^V2 *^ «""•"*■• 8»™«I a 
 face and figu„ then JX^J'^'P' "'" »' *"» 8^''» 
 his direction, he ,toX aw^ ^ *^, "-eye. in 
 ever, at a distance, till he saw thl » ,'°"°''«'. how- 
 on up to the big hotel h! .J V 5"" '"''• >»•'. then 
 
 i.t./hewasdSfkSrgt'L''^,Zi:"^ * ■"•'-"o^ 
 an acquaintance who tJ2t^IL°u^ bar-room with 
 tails behind the hote° ^^ *° "^ mechanical de- 
 ^^. Who's the girl I saw come in just now?" he in- 
 
 "I guess you mean the Judge's niece " 
 witea^^* ■■" *■» O-' -f^«l tone, that go 
 
 ."What's her name?" 
 ^.^Cbester. I think. Why? Look good to you 
 
 ba^KSs'™*^' h"f &^ -- »«" ««"■ the 
 continued, with a ,^do„,',""* " ««l<«iMcence and 
 while he adjust^^" •"!,!'«?«'»* his own "flection 
 
 can^avej/ I've'^t'S ^^^ /JeU. she 
 
 an ifttio^ t^aTst^a^'u':^^ ^^ '^'- '"^^'^'^ ^^th 
 Then, as he went ^^ttt ^^nt^"" "'' "-""S- 
 
 88 
 
•BXHT NAKBS A CALl 
 
 ;- d^hevelled. .„d hi. .y„ .C^ehttcn^'^l^' 
 ^m^t d-youthink they'v. don. nowr'h. cri«i.„ ' 
 
 monly/^'"" ^"'^'^ °P^ *^« »*f« and taken our 
 "What I" 
 
 wJohhfhaStlt'LSGi!,? -M"*' *"• <^^' 
 fo^ott«. in thi.'r^l^Si^r"' '^^ '•' '"^' 
 
 Yes, by Heaven, they've swinA^ ««« ^ 
 tents, took, team,, books^ h^sT^^S^, ^°^~^ 
 property-everythingl TheTihrew T.hn " "^^"^ 
 took the whole works iVr.! "1 L"* I""°" °' ""^ 
 
 I went out to'tr^ J^dTh 'r^^LTL' *''"^- 
 near the workings. They've mt^™?, • * T «° 
 Creek guarded t?e same ^^AfnVSar rii":" 
 let us come around even wh.„ A ■ ^"'"^ *° 
 
 told me so this ^ngr "''"" '^^ ''*" "P- They 
 
 '■ But look here," demanded Dextrv shan Iv •• »h 
 money in that safe belongs to us Skt', ^in * 
 brought in from the StatS Tte court ■finT'^ "* 
 
 take m not killing the fet man ^hat it^ ^n"^; 
 
 89 
 
! I' 
 
 THB SPOI'.BIS 
 
 g«n)e. The Swed«t ■!» in the teme at^o?Thi u . 
 order hu left them groggy." ""•'"•*<»• Thletaet 
 
 •• I^"''* »»dent«.d it yet." uid Dextiy. 
 Why, It I thu w»y. The Judge h»» inued wh.t h. 
 
 thing on the claim»-tente, tools, etoree. and iMfJn.1 
 property of .11 kind.. It wm i„,^ uS ntoht^SZ^ 
 notice to our «de. «, Wheeton «y.. ."d th!y Jl^^t 
 this moming e«ly. I went out to Ue McS^ „d 
 
 .h:wrm:ttrnewt,r"' '"'"'• ^''*'»»'>« 
 
 n,.^'el'".!?/ri'"'i V* ""^ ^^ ^"^ penny of thi, 
 "e^ rf that I -.^•r.lr ' *^"^ *~' °" «'•<='»'«'• I» 
 
 -Nofg^nrt^e'Si??rr.*s::°f"^' 
 
 y.u won-t ,et u, .ee the c.eaf-IX!„ ou^ o^S 
 
 " • I'm an officer of the court and under hn»A * .-:j 
 he. and «,e ,»iU„g triump, i„ hi,".y«"t'5e'r ^i^' 
 
 And you re going too far. You play^ me for.Toi 
 marshal the prosecuting attorney-^vervbodv Vp* 
 
 ^ers^ii- Ckii--^' -- -- - 
 
 99 
 
MXT«Y MAIBS A CALL 
 
 « 1 '*! ^"** " Mexico Mullins saic] •• n . 
 
 there', a deal on of some Wnd i'« f- T'^^^''^^! 
 hotel an' call on the Judge mv^if r^ ^^l" "P *^ -^e 
 J' 11 nor thi, McNamara dtW ; n *'"^ "«^«'' -«« 
 
 attempted to take hi. nam! h„ I " ' '?"»• A boy 
 •«"« of the neck a^dZTbi^l^""^ '"'" "^ «>. 
 
 «J- Hearing voics he iJ^Ji^"* *" •""■ **•" *«ct. 
 •waiting a sl^JZl w:,,^!'""" *"" *"«'• ''"'-* 
 
 r^^JXX^I^ - ?"• -'"' "-"' '•"•. 
 
 •t on both side,. TW men were tX"" °'^«^ '""^ 
 one gray-haired, smooth ^. */"^« earnestly— 
 
 the miner knew that before Wn, ^" *"' «'"><» 
 
 come to see. and that ^^ityZT^}^. "^ "• ^ 
 one. the big man who .w .^..- ^*^ *° "'*«' with but 
 
 engaged, sir. WiU v^!^n ■ •^"^«*' "^'"y b<«ily 
 
 Dextiy looked W? **!'" ™ ''»« "> hour?" 
 
 then tuSeThfa baS r'h- '^'"'j^ f"™ ^^^ ^ foot 
 
 Neither he nor^Mctan^^^^p,-' M^ *'"' ^^■ 
 
 busy and e„ch instinctivelvTi^;.?. . ?*" *y«* "ere 
 
 " What do you wlntJ-l,^ ""'^ ''*'* "as a foe. 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 I ii 
 
 here. I reckon, if your Uttle French poodld— «h?" in* 
 diCtecing Stillman. 
 
 " What do you mean?" «aid McNamara, while the 
 Judge murmured indignantly. 
 
 " Jutt what I fay. However, that ain't what I want 
 to talk about. I don't Uke no stock in luch truck at 
 judges an' lawyers an' orders of court. They ain't in- 
 tended to be took serious. They're all right for chil- 
 dren an' Easterners an' non compos mentis people, I 
 s'pose. but I've always been my own judge, jury, an* 
 hangman, an' I aim to continue workin' my legislatif, 
 executif, an' judicial duties to the end of the string. 
 You 1c k out! My pardner is young an' seems to like 
 the idee of lettin' somebody else run his business, so 
 I'm goin' to give him rein and let him amuse himself 
 for a while with your dinky little writs an' receiverships. 
 But don't go too far— you can rob the Swedes, 'cause 
 Swedes ain't entitled to have no money, an' some other 
 crook would get it if you didn't, but don't play me an' 
 Glenister fer Scandinavians. It's a mistake. We're 
 white men, an' I'm apt to come romancin' up here with 
 one of these an' bust you so you won't hold together 
 durin* the ceremonies." 
 
 With his last words he made the slightest shifting 
 movement, only a lifting shrug of thv^ shoulder, yet in 
 his palm lay a six-shooter. He had slipped it from his 
 trousers band with the ease of long practice and abso- 
 lute surety. Judge Stillman gasped and backed against 
 the desk, but McNamara idly swung hi', leg as he sat 
 jidewise on the table. His only sign of interest was a 
 quickening of the eyes, a fact of which Dextry made 
 mental note. 
 
 Yes," said the miner, disregarding the alarm of the 
 
 9« 
 
 *4 
 
MXTIT KAKBS A CALL 
 
 n^rC'l!'V"^ ""^ **>» ««*rt « your vett-pocket 
 
 ^ lepkcd bu weapon wd, turning. wlW out the 
 
/'■^ 
 
 ll 
 
 
 11 
 
 !l 
 
 V 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 SLUICE ROBBERS 
 
 later. when McNamara jamped our safe h« 
 put us down and out. There's no Le Kg ta thS 
 court any longer, for the Judge won't let us work Te 
 ground ourselves, even if we give bond, and he won't 
 grant an appeal. He says his orders arei't app^^ 
 We ought to send Wheaton out to 'Frisco^have 
 him take the case to the higher courts. Maybe he ca^ 
 get a writ of supersedeas." /"<= ne can 
 
 "I don't rec'nize the name, but if it's as bad as it 
 sounds It's sure horrible. Ain't there no cure f^ Hi" 
 It simply means that the upper court would take 
 the case away from this one." 
 
 "Well, let's send him out quick. Every day means 
 
 "Yes. but Where's the money to do it with' Mc- 
 Namara has ours. My God I What a mess we're inl 
 h^ 5:°^\r-«. •>«". Dex! There's a conspiracy 
 here. I m beginning to see it now that it's too late 
 This man is looting our c-ountry under color rf law 
 and figures on gutting all the mines before we cm 
 throw hm, off. That's his game. He'll work *^^ 
 
 94 
 

 SLUICE KOBBERS 
 
 WM Z becot'e of t^^'j:' «--" only Icnows 
 men behind him in order TS^' rx"^ "^"^* have big 
 
 struck pay I don't aim ?„ T^'^ ^*'^^ "°'' *hat I've 
 can't wi„^,ut ac^rdi™ to W r" ".^.'» ^^^ton 
 accoidin' to justice." ' ' "" 8°™ '<> Proceed 
 
 the°:^t4-X' wl^°tt?,lt'''''*"^ "^ '"""'*«• 
 counsel for the .SeandLavSL fe "'«?'"'^ "'* *« 
 trying every possible n-^ftT: ■ ^"^"^ ^nd pleaded 
 mificein21rcnf4?e™f^°Sf' ^"/l "nprofessionl 
 the court, while hou/^ tW h, A° "'"'"'^ ™Ws of 
 suspicious of some sinister „?. """^ """^ strongly 
 
 ful -ndei^tandi^g bT4 o PtheTr' '"■'''^«"' P""^^ 
 njechanism of justice Thevhl/f8\a„d 'h" entire 
 
 of men who battle for li e Tnd^^°"^''* '^'h ^e fury 
 hnes of Stillman's vacillaw fe S°T *° ''ate the 
 d'Strict-attomey, and X ZvK *' *« '''"^'er of the 
 clerks, for it se^^tJthatthr^^''^ confidence of the 
 like toys, at the dTct*:^ of A^ T^"^ "echanicaUy, 
 ^hen they had ceas^ bLte^^ «f »!«». At last 
 were too confused with iechnir=. I ^l^austed, they 
 thing except the fact «,»!,• ?' ^^^"^ *° grasp any. 
 their clainfs weret' S w:^:^^ tlT"'"' '^^' *« 
 as a crowning defeat, theJSll fh*?!/T™'''' ^^' 
 move his court to St Mid.ad?S,H\ ^^J-x^ge would 
 he returned, a month later " "° <=**« "ntil 
 
 •ayt^"^;^ r/;?p":d'&^'- '-^'^ -" "e could 
 no npped the placers open with double 
 
t . w 
 
 THE SPOILEIS 
 
 shifts. Every day a stream of yellow dust poured into 
 the bank and was locked in his vaults, while S^o^^l! 
 
 eS r ° t?""P?^ *° ^^*°^^ '^' clean-ups^ere 
 Sithfnc^X.1'''.^^^'- ?^ P^"*i^^" had worked 
 I?tPr o^^ ^ swiftness and system, and a fortnight 
 after landmg he had made good his boast to Struve 
 and was m charge of every good claim in the district' 
 
 ^^Trr.r'' °"'''^' '^^^ ^PP^^^^ ^^^^^d and de-' 
 nied, and the court gone for thirty days leaving him 
 
 most of his victims, who were slow-witted Swedes 
 grasping neither the purport nor the magnitude of hfs 
 oi«ration and as to those litigants who were discen^! 
 
 s to'Shwan 4nr""'*'' "" *™'*^ *° ">« °^-- 
 
 The two partners had come to feel that they were " 
 beating against a wall, and bad also come squ Jelyl^ 
 face the proposition that they were withourfundl 
 wherewith to continue their battle. It was madZ- 
 
 at .v^' ?,! "i''^ ^"""^ °"* ™«°y ""nces of gold 
 at evenr shift; and more maddening to realize the re- 
 
 ZtM,"'""?*^ in crippling them by his t^ft of t^e 
 go d in their safe. That had been his crowning st«x>ke 
 
 vou ^Inv"" ^** r"*^ '""<=''•" ^"i Glenistef . " Dn 
 you thmk we can borrow ? " 
 
 in Ifa^'skaT' ^' ' '°^^^ ^''''"^' " ^°^^' ^°°'* ^^°^ "^^^^^^ 
 They relapsed into a moody silence 
 
 MidL'^'thLM"'' *^^' °''''^^°' *^^*'^ ^°^^^^°' °n the 
 Midas, the old man resumed . "He came in town fer 
 
 a pair of gum boots, an' he says they've run into^fS 
 
 nch ground-so rich that they have to clean up e^!^ 
 
 96 
 
SLUICE KOBBEKS 
 
 cTX'^d"^'^ °^^'* ^'^^^ ^°- °« '— the riffles 
 
 "Think of itr Glenister growled " Tf ^« i, ^ 
 a^pan o|_o„e o£ those Oean VwelouH^ield ^^e^n" 
 
 pressed but erowinrZ n '"'"•*"«> ""th a sup- 
 cautiously: ^ ' ^^"'"^ '<"'='•«' h^ voice 
 
 "They'd nev^^ruTge°'^„'"t'S T '"%.*'«>''ght. 
 ^u.d„. find a better exSe^o^;:::ttlwt^„d ": 
 
 on ttidl^l^^r fi°2th''''""- J'"^ "«*- <^- 
 
 hangnails. I'm g^o^^' old ' ^l '" '?''* *>'""' "^ 
 another strike T^to h.- ■ T" ' ''^""' "^^e 
 
 that's abouIiVa'L^S-r^,,^-'-^ -p. 
 
 97 
 
A- 
 
 I* t 
 
 TBB SPOILERS 
 
 satisfaction of one kind or another. It 'II be a fight in 
 the open, under the stars, with the clean, wet moss to 
 he down on, and not a scrappin'-match of freak phrases 
 and law-books inside of a stinkin' court-room The 
 cards IS shuffled and in the box, pardner, and the game 
 IS started. If we're due to win, we'll win. If we're 
 due to lose we'll lose. These things is all figgered out 
 a thousand years back. Come on. boy. Are you 
 game? ' ^ 
 
 "Am I game?" Glenister's nostrils dilated and his 
 voice rose a tone. "Am I game? I'm with you till 
 the big cash-m. and Lord have mercy on any man that 
 blocks our game ^to-night. " 
 
 "We'll need another hand to help us," said Dextry. 
 Who can we get ?" 
 
 At that moment, as though in answer, the door 
 opened with the scant ceremony that friends of the 
 frontier are wont to observe, admitting the attenuated, 
 flapping dome-crowned figure of Slapjack Simms. and 
 Dextry fell upon him with the hunger of a wolf. 
 
 It was midnight and over the dark walls of the vallev 
 peered a multitude of stars, while away on the southern 
 horizon there glowed a subdued effulgence as though 
 from hidden fires beneath the Gold God's caldron or 
 as though the phosphorescence of Bering had spread up- 
 ward into the skies. Although each night grew longer 
 It was not yet necessary to light the men at work in 
 the cuts. There were perhaps two hours in which it 
 was difficult to see at a distance, but the dawn came 
 early, hence no provision had been made for torches 
 
 Five minutes before the hour the night-shift boss 
 lowered the gates in the dam, and. as the rush from the 
 
 98 
 
 fl 
 
SLUICE KOBBfiKS 
 
 road wound alone the «-av«.l nf *i,^ k **PP^7^- -ihe 
 proximity to the flumef Hoi ^T ^"^ ^^^'^ ^^ 
 
 Without waiting a «ptX^ ^^clLtupt::^^' '""^■ 
 
 IV^thout wa^ing^h^ellattaL^^^^^^ ^^^ 
 
 the ferocty of an ani„,al and struck the ot2ra1«SS 
 
 99 
 
ill 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 Iffi^, ' "^^r* ?• "P"'*"' ««» '""' hand and ^7 
 t^. "fh *2* '"*° *"' "«"'*• At the same momm 
 two other figure, rounded the bend below a^X 
 
 Si'f Tl-'y :«« n-ounted and leadtag a th?rf 
 raddle-horse, as well as other pack-animals. ReaS 
 the workings, they dismounted. Then began a MraZ 
 procedure for one man dambered upon tKutS 
 '^ai a p,ck. npped out the riffles. This was a^tte; 
 
 {1^^\^ *'" '^'^'' *»• »^«"8 a shovel, he^anl 
 ferred the concentrates which lay in the bottom of the 
 boxes into canvas sacks which hii, companion hdd aI 
 each bag was filled, it was tied and dum^ fal th' 
 «.t. They treated but four boxes in thi"C eavJn^ 
 
 SLwI'^""*""'^ "' ^"^ «'"»« nntouchKi;';§ 
 Creek gold is coarse and the heart of the cl^un TJL 
 
 ttey la^ed then, upon the pack-animals, then moun^^ 
 ^anTe^a^^e fi"'^' /T^ ■"omentl^i^'^ »^ 
 
 towards the creS T^ ^ ??' ^J^ perfunctorily 
 ine creek. The watchman detached himsetf 
 xoo 
 
 
 lliii 
 
SLUICE KOBBfiKS 
 
 rZ'I^'^'^u <**«^Pt»» °f Anvil Creek'8 riche, had 
 fired Helen Chester with the desire to witness a dean 
 up » they had ridden out from town in tiSeTor ,up«r 
 at the claim. She had not known whither he 1^ h^ 
 
 only understanding that provision for her entertatom^t 
 would be made with the superintendent's wSuZ 
 recogn,«„g the Midas, she had endeavored to qu«S 
 
 hThal f ^^" '^""'^ ^^ *«*" dispossessLTa^S 
 he had answered, as it seemed, straight Ind true. 
 
 cJmLT /"M" I'^P*"*' ^ »»id-another man 
 claimed ,t-and while the litigation pended he wm H 
 charge for the court, to see that neither party relTyi^ 
 2<«y- He spoke adroitly, and it satisfi^ wTl^^ 
 the proposition resolved into such simplicity 
 She had come prepared to spend the night and wit- 
 
 toe most of hjs opportunity. He showed her over the 
 
 t^ W^« ?'T"« *''* "^5^ ^"g' tha' ''ere strange 
 to her. Not only was he in himself a fascinating S 
 to any woman, but wherever he went men regS 
 hjm deferentiaUy. and nothing affects a wo,^?^ 
 
 ^d^» tv evening with her. talking of hS^earl? JI™ 
 
 ^il ^^ ^* "^ "*<"' " *« West, his sto^ 
 tnatdung the picturesqueness of her canvas-walled 
 
 C2 "r"- *'«\™«'' f'-'-hings of Iwnr sLI 
 
 raconteur, he had woven a spell of words about the 
 
 loi 
 
 3 J 
 
 i{ 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ii 
 
TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 «tfl, leaving her in a itst. «» . . 
 
 when at l^l.towariJ ^^jX r"'**"^ ind^tisha 
 
 ♦ont. She knew to whTZi ./.J! "*"«' «<> W« oto 
 
 y« knew not what herlLw^ l^J.^T""''*- '^ 
 
 t«m came which lay behfedTJ^ 4^ ""^ "" «J«««- 
 
 the wonderful attrition of th^!;. * "f^f the felt 
 
 wme distrust of him whfih T"" '°"' »*'« there was 
 
 Again her thought, "v^"*"' "^^ »°* '""^ 
 
 o". and she compa,^^ ^^"*?'' *'» '«>?««- 
 
 that ,h"t];^w r.1.S:::l:tr, "g,"* -hift a* their n^ 
 
 •nto the cool ni^ht. aTd tckidl^!?* "*']'"<'' ""PI^ 
 the roar of the c^k P«ked her way down towid, 
 
 to bed." she thouri^ gh. . "f."* °' "' "><» S 
 watchman and m^deforhfa. H*"" *"' ^^^ »' tS 
 «ted in her approach wat^kin^l,"*"*^ <^'"y »ter! 
 "ost as thou^^ta^J"*"^ *•' ^fJ; closely, al- 
 there were so few wom^'out w ^"^^^ because 
 «>un of the lateness o" the^2' V PT^Wy on ac 
 tionsi This was the Ia!,^„«-^' •*''»y with conven- 
 ^id talk to C n/"! '"?«"" "^-d Impulse. X 
 f bout his face ^d n^ttd :^i?\>^ ""* '»°'» oIo«^ 
 »terhadbeeninhem^h^fJ^'^"'P- Glen- 
 now noted that here 31i!f if °°??°* '^<»' ""1 she 
 square shottlden ^^!fjff"'f '"* *■>« "me great 
 a start that thtC J^ L'"*" "^^ ^ saw*^th 
 
 phester and seemeS tTtltcI^- "%'=*^«' » W«- 
 mdecision. "**<'" 1"' carefuUy, yet with ■ 
 
 «s^him" s:;"r r *° 'r «•» «•'««. she 
 
 I03 
 
 !;!ii 
 
m 
 n 
 d 
 
 SLUICfi KOBBBRS 
 
 " Yau-m. I-m the wetchmaii." 
 
 y^w"^^"'*^ "^"n " '«»k below Mid WM 
 v«««ely surpriMd, not ao much at their preMmce a> m 
 
 Sfn! fi f* ^^^ °P®"^ ^«' n»o«th to speak whTn 
 from the rank grass under her feet came a S wWch 
 
 whichmen werehS bXv.» *• ''•'i»« "id» into 
 
 time ^^""^ °'°*°«^. ^o»- the third 
 
 "^JHiat is that?" she said. 
 
 ^ the double CiSc o?S ^l^'!' «-e ti™ she 
 
 ««ni, * **^® **^y chances. Miss " 
 
 Oh. you are stealing the gold-" 
 
 103 
 
jifc 
 
 
 m 
 
 THB SfOILfilS 
 
 Then he tpoke: ^^ "* *'°'^ '"*" lo«d«d. 
 
 t-'yoS^p..!^' "'«' *<> «»o with you. but I g«« r« 
 "Wh«tl"ihe,i^. 
 
 "Oh 
 
 stand 
 
 ^. don't you ^r .hTJ^j:*^.^ * * 
 right hj till y^ve iSSe^r ^^^y* 
 
 •cream. 
 
 which he dipped hTh^ ^ tw ?^ •PP~lingIy. ,t 
 
 th».^a"yJSsvSe''b^'r ,^;i' ^ •^"^ *- 
 
 e«d till th, ^heiT '«*^^? ^f i "i!P/°- "*- 
 bank, ran to the C8v.l^« ''•P^ <*»*» the 
 
 the three U.^ d tSfrt^ ST.IL't^^* •""* 
 mg tip the trail around thT.!,^ * ^' ^""PP*"'- 
 the blow, of their qZ. „ S!?^^. ^ "»«<» 
 hones. ^ " "^ whipped the pack- 
 
 mi^e'^LZ^Jlt*J^?~ *• <^'' »»'«> - 
 had paused at thTtoid fc ,'* '^' »' *"» thrae 
 for « they gaUopU^VSLTl^^ ""* ««»''• 
 broken sentence, ft was ZtT, ^ }*" '<=™P "f « 
 ing through the rat^ rfh"f ^^ '~^- '<»"<»- 
 "Helen": and 3^ UaU of k^'l^^ "'" ""^ 
 alarm, but rather he^T! • " ''"' ""t voice the 
 
 the «;ange ^ta^i ^S, '^^ru^^'l'T' ''S"^ "''' 
 outlines of her captor wfthl,^;!,, ^'^ '*^'*^ the 
 Her fright dis8ppe«^^?„w ^^'* "' P«pl«dty. 
 «citeJLt. " iK^t ^^; «^ Plac, to intenie 
 
 « it */•• she ori^ ^l^ '*r*?'* y«* I wonder 
 "SO- Oh. I wonder if it could bet" 
 104 "" 
 
 ' ' II: 
 
 l> I II 
 
SLUICfi tOBBBRS 
 
 and rumpled hair. ' ^^'^ ^^'^^^^ ^V^* 
 
 A hnM '"* ,~i^"^ " •^'^ "^^^ breathlessly. " Quick! 
 Ahold-upl The watchman is hurti" ^^ 
 
 pa^ S.^ t^J,'!?^'.?^"^^^!*^^^^ *"^ *^« ««« poured out 
 past her, whUe the day shift came tumblineforth fmm 
 
 Where? Who did it? Where did they go?" 
 McNamara appeared among them, fierci «,d ««, 
 tnandmg. seeming to grasp the situktion in^fti^' 
 without explanation from her intuitively. 
 
 hoi;S:"'(^SckT ^^•""-•-^^own. Get out the 
 
 hi^' "^SJen ^r*^ ' k"" ^ *^" '^^' ^^ «*!»«" joined 
 W ;. ! ^r^'"*^' ^® ^^^«*^ his long arm up the va^ 
 tey towards the mountains. "Divide into ^ds j 
 five and cover the hillsl Run down to Dtecover^ 
 on^of you, and telephone to town for Voorhe^ «?i 
 
 As they made ready to ride away, the girl oried- 
 
 los 
 
TIB sroiiBis 
 
 into tb* gloom. ^^' ^ *** <»»•><»<«• rede twmy 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 W» »«T or AM AOVtHTUMM 
 
 Uto^'X^JSLlST- iW. put other cmp, 
 »» the right Md uJj^Th^r;"*^- «•« tb.nSk 
 
 the low Muldle. They had «fH„JS'*"'*'y ""^ over 
 
 might pan unnoticed S.»?^ • '" °"'«' ♦'"•t they 
 J-.JW their wI^^ho^'^„»* ^"^ """y *^ 
 pool, icottred the gJeiTSint L "^"J^ ' '•"P"'"* 
 »«* they could. STeS^" *^«i:; '"""« - 
 "rfpunuit, but. as the m^^ *tnmed for wmnd. 
 th. ten«on t^ .oSeXlS^ ""* ■"»• «»».' 
 ««y- A. the momi„7Kght^ti^5?"^«~<» «»•««: 
 """■eapped .uaunit of T «T^*'*>' ""^ the 
 ">d, removing two «ddl« hid^f ' ^* P""*^ '««''>. 
 Stapjacle left «,e otbm £1, .l*"^ "^"8 ""e rock, 
 the Dry Creek Trail fL.!? ^^ "^* «««thward dorra 
 .hifti7pa;r"S^,^^^ "«•• th. partn^ 
 »»>" to the reaaininTidd^n- overloaded pack- 
 fWward along the b^c^r^fjf-^ ""'' "»»'»"«' 
 "8 the five hwses ""'' °' "^ on foot, lead- 
 
 £^J^*::^„^ tt'S Si''??;;-" «^." -d 
 
 -"^tofol.rthe'Strieg.r-^S^^ 
 
i I; 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 paint on my face makes me smell like a minstrel man 
 
 H f ^® 'l^®* ^^^ ^""y P"»« notices to-morrow." 
 I w der what Helen was doing there," Glenister 
 answert . irrelevantly, for he had been more shaken bv 
 ."s encounter with her than at his part in the rest of 
 the enterprise, and his mind, which should have been 
 busied with the flight, held nothing but pictures of her 
 as she stood m the r.alf darkness under the fear of his 
 
 ruffian was!" He quailed at the thought. 
 ''Say, Dex, I am going to marry that girl." 
 "I dunno if you be or not," said Dextrv "RAf*-^ 
 
 watch McNamai»a." « ^^extry. Better 
 
 "What!" The younger man stopped and stared. 
 wp-«t do you mean ?" 
 
 "Go on. Don't stop the horses. I ain't blind I 
 km put two an' two together." 
 
 •'You'll never put those two together. Nonsense! 
 Why, the man s a rascal. I wouldn't let him have her. 
 Besides, it couldn't be. She'll find him out. I love 
 her so much that-oh. my feelings are too big to talk 
 aDout. He moved his hands eloquently. " You can't 
 understand." ^ loucant 
 
 "Um-m! I s'pose not," grunted Dextry, but his 
 eyes were level and held the light of the past 
 
 i3® TZ}^ ^ ''^''^^'" *^® °^^ ™a° continued, after 
 a little ; T U put m with you on that ; but he's a hand- 
 some devil, and, as for manners, he makes you look like 
 a logger. He's a brave man, too. Them three quali- 
 ties are trump-cards and warranted to take most any 
 queen m the human deck-red, white, or yellow." 
 
 If he dares," growled Glenister. while his thick 
 brows came forward and ugly lines hardened in his face 
 
 xo8 
 
E 
 
 IHB WII OF AM 4»VB»TU«ESS 
 
 filed out across thr^lH^t ^ "" "'""« R'^er and 
 rocker. This thev set «« ♦».? ^ willows, was a 
 
 din fro™ the'«^.^'c:?;fS;.'';r:^^!r'^*^^ 
 
 speed, for there was seriou, JL T? '^* "'"<»' 
 was wonderful, this tr^^^Tof Jhflh' f '"^"y- I' 
 the days of '4,. and the m?n workX?^ ^""""* '"~ 
 and hands a-tremble. The »Xw« ^ '""""S '^^ 
 "gged. yellow lumps, t" C ^.^T,; *'"' """^ 
 «?een. rolled in the hopper wWte if-' **""!" *e 
 with its weight. In the!;,., t^ *P™"* "^U'ed 
 vided there grew a ellS^n^T "•"/" ^^'^ •>«<» P'o- 
 
 Shortly. b^ div:4enrrof t« P :' "1' '="' 8°« 
 noticed into town Md inf„^w . Pa«"ers rode un- 
 «P news. whileX terfv stiinL**"*? ■»»* °f «>* hold- 
 fasts. Far out in tSad L^^l^^htT *t '"^- 
 smoke pouring from her stalk A ^^'^•"'"- "lack 
 from Its last trip to her ^ "" returning 
 
 a=^ quitnSThet ih"^ ""'^ ^°^ *» fe beach 
 
 "No., if s S.Tate to'fe^Xr*:.''^ ■"»"*• 
 on Its way back," they Sfo™^1^~*', *"* *«»der is 
 to go to the 'ouWe- vou-n^ ?""• " y^" "ant 
 
 That only meanr^otterwe^k ani ^t '°' *' «««*• 
 now." "Jomer week, and— there she blows 
 
 st^i^f^J^^%t^«'^w'* the velvet from the 
 well blast. '''"^'=^« a slow, throbbing, fare- 
 
 want the hghtest -^'on^-bet ^^-^-X 
 
THE SPOILBIS 
 
 OMsmen in the crowd. I'U be back in five minutes 
 Ws a hundred doUars in it for you if we ca^^St 
 
 !^S;«^^ u^^^I" ""^ '°°"°« luxuriously when 
 wrenched from his bed by a dishevelled man who shoS 
 ^ mto wakefulness and into a portion of his clothes, 
 ^th a Storm of excited instructions. The lawyer had 
 neither time nor opportunity for expostulation, for 
 Glenister snatched a valise and swept into it a litt^ of 
 documents from the table. 
 
 "Huny up, n?an," he yelled, as the lawyer dived 
 
 fZf .V^ u* ^'' °.^"^ ^^ * rabbit-like hunt for 
 Items My Heaven^ Are you dead? Wake upl 
 The ship s leaving." With sleep still in his eyes Whea- 
 ton was dragged down the street to the beach, where a 
 knot had assembled to witness the race. As they 
 tiunbled into the skiff, willing hands ran it out into the 
 surf on the crest of a roller. A few lifting heaves and 
 they were over the bar with the men at the oars bend- 
 mg the white ash at every swing. 
 
 "I guess I didn't forget anything," gasped Wheaton 
 as he put on his coat. "I got ready yesterday, but I 
 couldn t find you last night, so I thought the deal was 
 
 Glenister stripped off his coat and, facing the bow 
 push^ upon the oars at every stroke, thus adding his 
 strength to that of the oarsmen. They crept rapidly 
 out from the beach, eating up the two mile^ tha? lay 
 towards the ship. He urged the men with aU his power 
 till the sweat soaked through their clothes and, under 
 their clinging shirts, the muscles stood out like iron 
 They had covered half the distance when Wheaton 
 
 xzo 
 

 THB WIT OF AK ABVBNTUBBSS 
 
 ottered a crjr and Glenister desisted f.^ I. • 
 
 •c««e. The /?.»«*, ,33 ttv.'^ft^h.s work with 
 
 thSr^ S$:f •a^-'J"' ^-^m^' Shouted at 
 into the arToS^' T^ « bo? t-hook. stuck it 
 the men redoubW S e^^'" p ^'^ °" "«'' "«'« 
 they hung in suspense wJtSS,". 1°^^"^ '"°"*°*» 
 gathered speed andthin ^L^ ""* "** huU as it 
 their effortTnXttea "*7,'«* about to cease 
 the next momWa short t^f Z"™" '""histle and 
 them. Gleniste^US ,^e!^ If ^cognition reached 
 grinned at Wheats *"" '"" ■"« hrow and 
 
 theX w'^^d'es^hi'Sr ^^ '^^ '"«'^"« "-'o' 
 into the lawyer'^hSd * "^"'y ''•'<*''^» «<* 
 
 "There's money to win the fieht Bill T^ ... 
 how much, hut ifs enough, g^ '.^L IT '^^ 
 
 cU;tSrle^"?3^''>i['»«'°P\«P which Wheaton 
 sent it aft^ ' '^'"« ** 8"Psack to its end, they 
 
 on"tL:CS!'""*^U^Lr rned at the officer 
 muffled clangin theTJ^ business." He heart a 
 
 pen«sfo„or.^Te"Sp^id*^t'"^«"^'- 
 >and1n^'^^<J^f,Sf «P *'^-- «- 
 for him beside her It hi?„*° ''™' *"«* »«<»« --oom 
 call him to her sidTbefore 1,S ^ ^ "^"""^ *° 
 the abashment, or perha~ „w='^'?^^ ^familiar was 
 the young man to si^k CkW ""^'^' *""" '^^ 
 sigh of relief. She not«i^h.? f 1"™ ^"^ »** a 
 audacity was gon^ fC1^s*;!;.'°' ** ^' «"«- *he 
 
THB SPOILERS 
 
 mil 
 
 i! 
 
 mn 
 
 "I watched your race," she began. "It was very 
 exciting and I cheered for you." 
 
 He smiled quietly. 
 
 " What made you k6ep on after the ship started ? I 
 should have given up-— and cried." 
 
 "I never give up anything that I want," he said. 
 
 "Have you never been forced to? Then it is be- 
 cause you are a man. Women have to sacrifice a 
 great deal." 
 
 Helen expected him to continue to the effect that he 
 would never give her up— it was in accordance with his 
 earlier presumption— but he was silent; and she was 
 not sure that she liked him as well thus as when he over- 
 whelmed her with the boldness of his suit. For Glen- 
 ister it was delightful, after the perils of the night, to 
 rest in the calm of her presence and to feel dumbly that 
 she was near. She saw him secretly caress a fold of 
 her dress. 
 
 If only she had not the memory of that one night on 
 the ship. "Still, he is trying to make amends in the 
 best way he can," she thought. "Though, of course, no 
 woman could care for a man who would do such a 
 thing." Yet she thrilled at the thought of how he had 
 thrust his body between her and danger; how, but for 
 his quick, insistent action, she would have failed in 
 escaping from the pest ship, failed in her mission, and 
 met death on the night of her landing. She owed him 
 much. 
 
 "Did you hear what happened to the good ship 
 Ohio f" she asked. 
 
 "No; I've been too busy to inquire. I was told the 
 health officers quarantined her when she arrived, that's 
 all." 
 
 zia 
 
THE WIT OP AN ADVENTURESS 
 
 Shi h^«! K^ "lu* *** ^^^ ^*^*"^ ^'^^ every one aboard 
 
 -t ^eTaX^rrrerr ^ ^^"^ "^^ ^^ ->^ 
 ;^at a disappointment for the poor devils on herl" 
 
 ^'ae sill whit!i" '"" " ^^ ^^^ "P y-' P'^«^ 
 
 T r«?i^ ^°'* "^^ *^^* ^®^*«^e I asked you to-because 
 Iwked you to put aside the old ways?" A wave^ 
 compassion sw^nt over her. 
 
 but-^*'°^^'" ""* ^«^«'«i- "It didn't come easy, 
 
 ««^ ?f iLf Yr * ^"^^""^ wouldn't do anything wrong 
 and Mr. McNamara is an honorable man '' ^' 
 
 could int'iSi ^r^'i' ^r *° 'P^^^' ^"<= refrained. He 
 could not teU her what he felt certain of. She believed 
 
 L f' T ^ °^ ^^ ^" ^^^ ""^^«'s friends-and i wS 
 
 as^yoV^id ••''^S^^ r'^J."^' °f^^ y°^ ^^ "o* --ted 
 The^law was such a confusing, intricate, perplexing 
 
 "I spent last night at the Midas," she told him 
 . and rode back early this morning. That was a d^' 
 rng hold-up. wasn't it ? " *^*'" 
 
 "What hold-up?" 
 
 "S^JI'J'^''^'''* yo" ^«a«l the news?" 
 N(». h. answered, steadily. "I just got up" 
 
 "J 
 
 Hi 
 
 1 
 
■;H 
 
 ri 
 
 !!' 
 
 THB SFOILfilS 
 
 "Your claim was robbed Thr** «,-.- 
 w»j:hman a, midnight ^^ cZ^ Z^C.^^" *' 
 H,s simulation of excited «itoni,hmenV wl. perfect 
 
 noted with approval that he did not l<i* h« in th! 
 S^Na^^ad ^•corte-l^K-'r ^"^^ 
 
 a^To^:.%7e:^"---^^-«."«rs 
 th;d?j,"^^L''i;^;r^t'b''r '^■"'■^ 
 
 «.«.dn-t give the aS! I^r^^^h^:^";;^:^;^' 
 He was a roost gallant darky." Prevented. 
 
 ''What did ydu do when they left?" 
 
 Namara and hi, men right after the,?do^'4e^i,5^ " 
 D<mn tae gulchi" spoke Glenister. offCtS^" 
 
 stream?" sr"^- , ^^ ^o" *»'' they^t „^ 
 he^/ped his' Z"^1"n"? T"'' " "^ "-• "^ 
 directio'n. bat I T«Tthe.^°ri,ht'.P°?!/'^^ » «>at 
 ^^hUn her glanc^, ,„, ^e ^the .I'^'.^Z.^^ 
 
 had'^Lr *o7uS"rr*?C' «°*»*--'"'ythe„ 
 must know eve^S r^° ** ""*'* suspect-she 
 
 distinctlv " <i»i*» f«M 1,- V , "°«'^*- 1 saw the men 
 1 could S'enS; 'thl'SJ:-''''"" *^^ "P"**^' "«^ 
 
 114 
 
 ! 
 
THB WIT OF m ABVBHTOtBSS 
 
 nou"^. '**'*" "«*"««■ «' >«» night." he an- 
 ','^°^<Jo you know?" 
 
 up. That's whvw«!^. '*°''" *^^ «^^ «8tead of 
 " Well J.1I ^ • f ^?* *^*y ^ easily." 
 
 anyhow-llefs ^^ih T" rJ^° '1?"'^.''" "^^^°«1 "P. 
 turned back thrblankets e^Zn^ /'^ '^' ^^^^^ 
 sacks, wet and heavy Vh^rh^t'^I /u''' "^"x^^^'^^ 
 "There m»o* u' v ^® ^^d thrown them 
 
 flung opt rrrL'?""'* ^""^^ «>« "«<» "» 
 Dextry had discarfi^ .^ } . '"-scooter that 
 
 "iSn-t shit w?" S^ThV:!** *"*'""• 
 
 ly- , "My. but yo„>; n^tlr "~"''' """*"*"- 
 
 and;trh^T^4'S, J„' - ««e„r Malotte; 
 
 her cheeks, the men LwT- h=,? k * ^^"^ ~'°" » 
 did not giie a,^ tw » ''*'.'»«° ranning. She 
 
 locked thHoor^hik tte w,?r*'°°- •"■* ^'°^ «'«• 
 her: '* *^* """^^ "=«»« tumbling from 
 
 quid'^TWre a„T- ''°y*-y°"'d better duck out 
 " What!" ™^ "P """^ °°»'" 
 
 "Who?" 
 
 IIS 
 
 y 
 
1'^ 
 
 ) 
 
 'I 
 
 Ih'l 
 
 i 
 
 THfi SFOILfilS 
 
 the „„d. Say, b«, Tm . Sh"l " '^ >»» «>n>^ 
 nothin '• '^^^ w«nuiwly. "We ain't dm 
 
 last night. H.« they^'^°ow.' Sh. 'Jtl,"'"*^ 
 wndow. the men pt^rinTo^L. ?"" .*"*><» to th, 
 "P tU narrow wUkZ^'^" ^' *<»«>der. Cominj 
 «nd three othere ^ *^ •»" Voorhee.. UcNanura 
 
 P'anking had 'an u„oLt™cS' vtrVlif^ '' "^ *"» 
 Escape was impossible f^th.hTTi'' *^' Premises, 
 the anklenleep^ddte .rf^fc. *''' ''°°' '^ »»» ^to 
 »ow apparent th«Ta2c?h ^ C ""i.*'' ""» '» »« 
 w» app^hing („,n^ ^ "'«' "-J* « circuit and 
 
 'MyGodI They'U seaiv-h .1 , 
 »nd the men took^g^i'^^^' "*'' ^"tT'. 
 
 Then in a flash GleSs^-^ v*^'" ^^- 
 and seised the "doWmI. "'^'^ **"' *>» blankets 
 In another i^T^-r^TrZ':7T "^"^ ^ 
 desperately the candid C"e!s oTt? .^ ""* '^~'» 
 they lived and slept in Nothf, "'••'"'• «»m that 
 was tolly to think of ii. ^Twir'^'l ''""^"'•- "' 
 
you. I 
 
 through 
 tped her 
 
 Dextiy, 
 ^'t dona 
 
 race 80 
 :>ecau8e 
 obbery 
 to the 
 ^mtng 
 unara, 
 
 1 back 
 >y the 
 mises. 
 t into 
 it was 
 t and 
 
 xtiy. 
 
 ikets 
 
 oom. 
 
 aced 
 
 that 
 
 i; it 
 
 ead, 
 
 pur- 
 
 Vas 
 ool. 
 
 I 
 
 ■■" '■ """r;-..~u-.'.v.™v.-""- — . 
 
THB WIT OP All ▲BTBIITUIBSS 
 
 I ractoii w«U iboot it out here. W« ihould hm 
 ciK*«l that gold lomewhere." ^^ 
 
 H» ipttn the cylinder of hit blackened Colt, while hii 
 »ce grew hard end vulture-like. «»«•«■ 
 
 Meanwhile, Cherry lfak>tte watched the hunted k>ok 
 
 d^^l^^u* ""Jl* *^y- The Pa-«» wa. at the 
 fS!I^ 'SL"*^*^- The three inside itood rigid and 
 ■trained. Then Gleniiter towed his burden on the 
 
 ^Gomto the back room. Cherry; there's going to be 
 
 "Who;s there?" inquired Dextry through the door. 
 
 SS^iTw ®**l**«»^y'^thout a word, the girl glided 
 to the hot-blast heater, now cold and empty, which 
 stood in a comer of the room. These stovM, used 
 ^y in the North, a« v rtical iron cylindS; faS 
 wluch co^ IS poured from oove. She lifted the lid 
 tod peered in to find it a quarter fuU of dead ashes 
 ^ turned with sinning eyes and parted Up. to Glen^ 
 irter. He caught the hint, and in an instant the four 
 sacks were dropped softly into the feathery bottom 
 tod^ ashes raked over. The daring mimiu^wwas 
 ^c»st as quick as the flash of woman's wit that 
 ^mpted It, and was carried through while the answer 
 
 £^^* question was stiU unspoken. 
 
 ^ Glenister opened the door carelessly and ad- 
 mitted the group of men. /•"«•« 
 
 $1 
 
 u 
 
 What are you looking for?" 
 Gold-dust from Anvil Cieek. 
 
 t$ 
 
TBB SFOILfilS 
 
 with indif .J^t «tr rLi^,'^- .T*" *•*«'»«« »h«a 
 
 he Iwd bw ,oZd bJ^fc. ^r I* ««»•• though 
 • contwnpfiou. ilencS"*^ '*^"' ^ P~<»ved 
 
 PMioiM Mopped, thro SJ^!^'*!/""' '»• »*» com- 
 Vooriieei Ufted the Ud and o^^J V'S'"- ■** ^ 
 
 "Don'tl Don'tr X^fl k "**" °•'^■ 
 "»"• "Keep COOL Wn^„^ •?P~' «> the oU 
 mort through." ''"" " •* "ony. Dex-they'w lU- 
 
 The officer had not .nnn .... 
 
 PW. but double.? herSSic"^?;r^l!?°° I^-y'. 
 violence. McNanuua TwtT S,^ ""^^ "«" <" 
 bock room at thrt^n^;^*^' «'<"«*««. from the 
 
 Voorhee.. dufe. «t uncomfortably „pon him at 
 
m 
 
 y 
 
 b 
 
 1 
 c 
 
 THB WIT OF AN AiYBNTUIBSS 
 
 ^bejt, jnd, looldng »t the imouldering eyei of the two 
 ho^jjrfiold who- member, itched to .hoot hiTiTJS 
 
 '^It^^.i^^l^r:^ the politician only 
 pMtner: * **"** dir»ctly to the 
 
 «|1W^ hi. guari,. „d tb. group fitad Wk klonj 
 
 "S«y. you're a jewel, Cherry. You've uved u. 
 troe. You ought Voorhee. jSt in time Uyh^ 
 hit my p.I.te when he looked into thet ttUe but^ 
 2«t ,in««t I w«,.ed to laugh .t Dexi^*.' Z^ 
 
 ImpuWvely Gl«nirt«- hid hi. hwd. upon her .houl- 
 den. At hi. look and touch her throat .welled h., 
 
 S^ 'u!?^. •'y « ^•H' flood of n<reet womanlineMT 
 ?» "^h«» «ke a little maid and laughedTS' 
 b~l»n laugh: then pulling her»U together. thJiJ^,' 
 ^i'ZT' *-*» ""^ v°*" -d her cheek."^ 
 
 »™i-n*? 7^"°'* *™»* "• •* *"*. eh' Some day 
 you 11 find that your old friend, ate the bert, after ^" 
 And a. dM, left them .he added, mockmgly: 
 
i ! 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 tamty. this impotent walung'^^h ,1"-, ?" "■"»'- 
 ■naddening to one of his soWt H ^ '""''»• "«» 
 self to no fixed duty fo, ,iS "* <'°""'' apPly him- 
 on bin. fiercely and hi ^^'^.""'"'"ongprey^ 
 vicinity of the'MiSaf gaz """1 i^T" "a-nW^S 
 hungrily for such scrkHf „el °? *'*^- S^Ping 
 ?•"• McNan,ara allo^ L!!? *' '''anced to reach 
 ■ons so the partners WbTv° "?" *"" ">« "in- 
 Pened on their property eTenrh?^"'' "' ""*« hap- 
 law it was being work^ for^i,."''^''' '""^«'- "^ion of 
 No steps reeard^o ; I ***"■ Protection. 
 
 allowed. LdXtriaj;::!'/' *-* «— 
 
 the receiver had becom, .„ i"^^" Stiilman and 
 
 there were uneasy mutterinfr'^i'^^^S-i^d that 
 quarte... Yet, afthough "he o2- -^T '" ""ny 
 
 vrtually absorbed all the ricL'ii "'"■''*' "^ "ow 
 tnct and worked them thro^.rl- P^P^^ies in the dis- 
 
 of Nome as a whole Sdnotf " 'l"*"''Ss. the people 
 «.. scheme nor t^' s;^t::{'^J^^^^^^^'of 
 
WHBRBIK A WHIT A«B A r,ot PAIL 
 
 antearpa^LSTuT^ trel"„TT ""^ ''^--' 
 Do«i>ion -»^ ^ ^® loreign to his pepoerv di<5 
 
 shortly resolvini itse«Tn.n t ? ""°'" »?P«a'-ed, 
 theoffi'„g, and tU*:;" W e^:^tir„. .''* '"^"' "•- 
 
 drownd mToXnaWe." "^ ^e'laTdl™ 1°°^'' '" 
 his impatience. "" ''^"ds upon 
 
 yef It'LtedX' "f^ '°"''" *° *"« "-'Cher, and 
 
 whatever was't:.!:;^ ^^ puTfci^li':. tV 
 
 grante/:lfat"the« tl^M .feTh'e s'<::^ " fT.^ *'"'^" '"' 
 No one supposed for ^n tas Lf f w ?^ *''* "'""^Sle. 
 part with ?h'e treasJrpe^Sf *' "" •""^' """"^ 
 
 tow°n ^^rai^^ a-Sat* t: t:!^^ tT .1 *"'' 
 her, wH^eupon the id,e poputt^ sSe^d "^Jl^ 
 
 lat 
 
TBB SPOILEIS 
 
 JShe-n n„ke it to the .„rf all right, but th» ,.tch 
 
 as the skiff came Jhin?Kl„h "^'' ™" «"»«8''. 
 was caught. * ttirough the breakers she 
 
 Wheaton crouched in the «.„ J^f '"''' "8"" °^ »«' 
 with their oare A» tl, T^'**™'»"°"fo'«'>t 
 
 though the ^iTzoneo&r^'^f '"u""**^ '^^ 
 of the sea behind th^~?* t??** """'«' «»« <>"« 
 
 The crowd aTtt su^s Srg™a''°;h '"T "''"''• 
 ered. sucked back ,nf„!S, "°"*~- The boat wav- 
 
 with\ crS, 41 dZe .'n^X'r^'^ "'"'• »<> 
 mained nothing but a s^VI.W « ^ .f*""- '^^^ "' 
 
 life-boat emerled bottom up' l^d'^tT^'.^n^" '"^ 
 gratings, and gear '^' * '^''^le of oars, 
 
 pou""ed'??^^bi"cl°u^S t^r- kTI *"' "-' ">"- 
 
 came the soi^d :' Stag' ^^^''a'Tj'.r'- ^^^ 
 swarmed in waist-deen »r,H 1 " ^ "■*" « 8™"? 
 
 from his mane and grtl?tC'J"'K ''"^'l*'" ""t" 
 A step farther dow"treb^l"tt\^"V'' 5*^ "™«- 
 a limp form which the Me^lt to ^^e^*"^!" "^^ 
 second sailor hi-i >i^»io »„iw . *"• ^* ^as the 
 
 wale. Now";^';:r{^ jj;::«"» " "- °' *« ^- 
 
 Hn?aW Ws'tPa'dTe'td^ j^' 'Tl""*' " "--8- 
 Bad reached thrwred; onlv I "^"^ ^"'*«' «'~« ^ 
 
 -ten. He Had-retVutTgiri^tr 
 
 T33 
 
 ..ii 
 
WHBMIN A WRIT AHD A R,OT FAIL 
 
 he was hurled high up on rtt h v^"' '"'" '''"' ""d 
 gered dizzily back to^he st^^l* *f "• "« 'tag- 
 wave Ufted the aosized I« ^^f ' ."''*" suddenly a 
 from beneath shom^t™ oTm" T^"*^ '*• '"'d out 
 •ng the life-ropes. The-^^,.^u^- «^"'^y <^'»teh. 
 breathless. "'^ ''""S''t him in choking and 
 
 "It's a°l'rigCt,''GlSer'"'f kl'" ^^^''^ •>-««■ 
 «> I took a long chance „,;i,il "''*' "^^'V "eant 
 orfeal he had undergone had K. ' l"^" "^^ *«^fic 
 hU legs wabbled uSainlv Ift'^ '"'" *° "« "?'• 
 but for the young man wh^ 'tf \* """'d have faUw 
 
 waist and Jhinf u*"pTn'tol°etr " "" '"'°"' ''» 
 
 ^J'-^^^r^erdtS t •-???--- "^ 
 That takes the « Sn rt"„?K°'''.J'"^S* Stillman. 
 and directs McNamara to t^™ ^ '.I**"*' altogether, 
 the gold he's got What H„ T ** ^'^<^ and aU 
 better than I expect^ ■• " ^°" *'""'' °^ *"" I did 
 
 and his peaceful yieSn^ t ^'? .^" T"*'''^ "»« "^er 
 had proven the belter^ul T ^^^. ''°™ '"^*: 
 prophesied. He couM T^^^. ' *"' ^ *« P'l had 
 The mine was hls^gil/ He ' °"?J,'""' ='*»° ^ands. 
 te'Kng her once mo^^histvr^d I? '1"' "'' '^*' 
 
 -^?^ntr.th^L^f3-— ^^^^^^ 
 
 S^ven hun. his -ove fX wt^^S^n." ^^H- 
 
 III 
 
m 
 
 m 
 m 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 absorbing. He would bid her be patient tiU she saw 
 he had mastered himself, tiU he could come with his 
 soul in harness. 
 
 "I am glad I didn't fight when they jumped us " he 
 said. "Now we'll get our property back and all the 
 money they took out— that is, if McNamara hasn't 
 salted it." 
 
 "Yes; all that's necessary is to file the documents 
 then serve the Judge and McNamara. You'll be back 
 on Anvil Creek to-morrow." 
 
 Having placed their documents on record at the 
 cwirt-house, the two men continued to McNamara's 
 oflSce. He met them with courtesy. 
 
 "I heard you had a narrow escape this momine. Mr 
 Wheaton. Too bad I What can I do for you?" 
 
 The lawyer rapidly outlined his position and stated 
 in conclusion: 
 
 " I filed certified copies of these orders with the clerk 
 of tne court ten minutes ago, and now I make formal 
 demand upon you to turn over the Midas to Messrs 
 Glenister and Dextry, and also to return all the gold- 
 dust in your safe-deposit boxes in accordance with this 
 writ. He handed his documents to McNamara. who 
 tossed them on his desk without examination. 
 
 "Well," said the politician, quietly, "I won't do it " 
 Had he been slapped in the face the attorney would 
 not have been more astonished. 
 "Why— you— " 
 
 .. n ^ r*u* ^°.'*' ^ '^^^'" McNamara repeated, sharply. 
 
 Don t think for a minute that I haven't gone into this 
 fight armed for everything. Writs of supersedeas! 
 oah ! He snapped his fingers. 
 
 •' We'll see whether you'll obey or not," said Wheaton ; 
 
 124 
 
^HBMIK A WWI A»» A WOT PAIl 
 
 J^ When he .^ a..ni,ter were ontside he contin. 
 
 McN^-^i "er „r it't" t:Se„r:i ^-^ »^'- 
 somltht^V"" *"•" -'<^ G'^-i'ter. "He'. „p u. 
 
 with him. Both Z ;'^e iJ,':'Si?""''«=Na^»" 
 m StiUman's appearancr n^*°"°?.*^ *' *« "change 
 weak face had shrunk and I^Jl^ *•! '"* "<»'«' Ws 
 betrayed in everyone and IT^^"' ^'«i«ation was 
 of furtively watcWnrMcNLara-f,.^"?."''^ ** '""''' 
 It seemed that the dm* hf i *ghtest movement, 
 him. ""* P"» be played sat heavily upon 
 
 alt^Utra?:™",tJi*«P-^^^^^ 
 
 ""f J of it. At last he said • "*"" ""«'* "«»^ 
 
 of the^TocJmenLT ^°'«<J '» do«bt the authenticity 
 
 ceJi.^^^^^*""' "*■»'" Wheaton cried "T^ . 
 certmed copies of orders f^r^m , They're 
 
 They grant the aooea^ t^i ^.°'"' ^"P*""' court 
 take the case out oTyl'hfnn^'l"*^"'^ "» ""d 
 ttey oMer this man to su^^j^ ^^f ''''• '^^^-'"'d 
 thmg connected with it Not • """* *"<* ^^O'- 
 enforce these orders " ' '"■' ""^ want you to 
 
 ^Stmman glanced at the silent man in the window and 
 
 "VouwilUf course.p™ceed regularly and make ap- 
 
 o 
 
THE SPOILBIS 
 
 plication in court in the proper way, but I tell you a«w 
 that I won't do anything in the matter." 
 
 Wheaton stared at him fixedly until the old maa 
 snapped out: 
 
 " You say they are certified copies. How do I know 
 they are.> The signatures may all be false. Maybe 
 you signed them yourself." 
 
 The lawyer grew very white at this and stammered 
 until Glenister drew him out of the room. 
 
 "Come, come," he said, "we'll carry this thing 
 through in open court. Maybe his nerve will go back 
 on him then. McNamara has him hypnotized, but he 
 won't dare refuse to obey the orders of the Circuit Court 
 of Appeals." 
 
 " He won't, eh ? » Well, what do you think he's doing 
 nght now?" said Wheaton. "I must think. This is 
 the boldest game I ever played /.:. They told me things 
 while I was m 'Frisco which I couldn't believe, but I guess 
 they're true. Judges don't disobey the orders of their 
 courts of appeal unless there is power back of them " 
 
 They proceeded to the attorney's office, but had not 
 been there long before Slapjack Simms burst in upon 
 them. *^ 
 
 "Hell to pay!" he panted. "McNamara's taking 
 your dust out of the bank." 
 
 I'What's that?" they cried. 
 
 " I goes into the bank just now for an assay on some 
 quartz samples. The assayer is busy, and I walk back 
 into his room, and while I'm there in trots McNamara 
 in a hurry. He don't see me, as I'm inside the private 
 office, and I overhear him tell them to get his dust out 
 of the vault quick." 
 
 "We've got to stop that," said Glenister. "If he 
 
 136 
 
WHBMIH A WRIT ahd * „oj p^,^ 
 
 What -U b4om. of lr'^"e'^' '^T' '"'^' '^^ 
 
 did his work vnTexn^f^- '°<»«-i°™ted Slapjack 
 fact that the S^Jl;^'*^^"'" '""enced by the 
 two entered the bmk^ ol T!? l""" ''«''» « the 
 something unusuri and ^^^ ""^ '°"°'"»»' ««»« 
 filledrapidly Zth.^/ V 'P*" *'*''™ the doo« 
 
 their w^k 'ihell^'n'^J'Thf 1"^' '^^'^^ 
 clanged to, and theTash^ l^d S! »fesleposit vault 
 
 Is McNamara in there ? " "«=«""?• 
 
 sir •''' H.^,^J l^^' ^"°^" Morehouse to lie "Yes 
 Mr. He spoke hesitatingly, iu a voice full ^f\u i ' 
 
 ""Weljit:?* ':«''^^°''- ^at'ol t"?"^"' 
 
 we Z^Zll "fX' Te "C r ''"' °' °- »«' 
 hide in there Uke a dog " ^ "°"' '~* ^^-J =« 
 
 r:*L^^^^*^-«°^«>-ow?:^w^'i:n^:•"Ce 
 to t|s"lT:?'th"e'go^l::y"^ -- - ^--'^-d 
 
 Then he's taken it already." 
 
if ,■ 
 
 I IHi 
 
 THE SPOILBIS 
 
 "No. he hasn't." 
 
 The receiver's course had been quickly chosen «t 
 the interruption. It was not wise t3 angw thwHi^ 
 toomuch. Although he had planned toTtthe^o^e^ 
 into h,s own possession, he now thought it bSt to 
 leave it here for the present. He could^come uJk I? 
 any time when they were off guard and get it Beyond 
 
 It ^"^l ;^fr* ^^^"^ ^' '"^ l*y three huSr^ 
 thou«ind dolla«-weighed. sacked, sialed. a.d ^a^ 
 to move out of the custody of this Virginian ^ 
 confidence he had tried so fruitlessly to ^n 
 
 As McNamara looked into the angry eves of th* 
 lean-faced men beyond the grating. ^fdHh: Z 
 
 thought. He had not planned on a resistance «! 
 strong and swift l^ut he would meet it. ^knew th^ 
 
 was their leader. He saw further that the man's ha- 
 
 knew that back of it was something more than love for 
 
 you saw me with a lady ? " ^ ' 
 
 ~^lr''* uT' 'S?""* ''* "^'^ a "Joo"- behind him 
 Z^Z' "*'«" Chester. " You'd better not walk out 
 m^ me, Mm Chester. This man might-weU. you're 
 «fer here you know. Vou'U pardon me for e^ing 
 you. He hoped he could incite the young man to 
 some rash act or word in the presence of the^I and 
 counted on the conspicuous heroism of his o™ Ci 
 t.on. facmg the mob single-handed, one agS^X^ 
 
 128 ^' 
 
WHBMIH A WWT A»D a „ot PAIt 
 
 »i»'^,°."^"t!:'^4?t':?T^i *T"^- «p»" whom 
 
 young lS"y~.'„;rryWoi.„""/ •""■'* "»' »"» 
 
 right to leave S~ unnTe.^ '^T": ^* ' ""v the 
 c«n dtiKn." With thLt h!^~ 5\"«''* °' •" Amen- 
 
 •»«d. "Out Tm^ w.yl"T .'r"°'u''~"« ■"» 
 opened the »te anH iii„v ''™'' Morehouie 
 
 mob. * ' ""* M=Nam.ra .trode dirough tto 
 
 - foe. yet':;:''oS7:rorwo*';:x' :' "''"?■ 
 
 arm. are raised on high and in J,K~ ■ ' ■"'" ^^"^ 
 light of fearlessneM Mo^ve?^-*'''T"*'""«^«> 
 c^wd thu, than a ,ingIeX"a,;' " "*" '» "» « 
 
 |;e^~ r~ ^ttofaV^^ -/^^^^^^^^ -•»!; ♦'^ 
 
 t%?r^ntt t« ^r£r ' ---^' 
 
 feU away before hir^i^ i X^' ^,,^ fo,«aw. the men 
 him. gm, in hand. It to, nL^„ tw ^V'*"" '"'*''*<' 
 •niner wa, beside himseTjith „. '* "" '^'''^ted 
 came within an armCf^L w ^^"^- ^'-^Namaia 
 topped and theZ, s^ J2 ^ Pf,"''"?- Th™ he 
 white the girl behin^thtSC'^aMtr'i '":" °*''"' 
 "g m the stillness. Glenfatef ,.^t^ ..• 'l**'* ^^'"^• 
 tainly, then let it fa 1 S^lw^v^ '"' ^"^ ""cer- 
 
 «ide K, that the other ^h!S "'' ^^^- »"^ »t«PPed 
 street. '^ '^''«' ?»»» "d out into the 
 
 Wheaton addressed the banker: 
 Mr. Morehouse, we've got orders and writs of one 
 
I' 
 
 1 1! 
 
 '•ill 
 
 II 
 
 !l 
 
 TBfi SPOILBIS 
 
 Wnd Of taother from the Circuit Court of Appeab tt 
 He shoved the papers towards the other. " Wa'«i nAf 
 
 « .^»ood to tria. Th.. gold beioni'to «.?„"■;:; 
 
 I c«n t help you." be laid. " Thew docunienti ... 
 »« 'T*i*? »•• They™ i„«d to Mr K,;^! 
 •nd Judge Stillnun. If the Circuit Court of aSSSS 
 
 wiie I II have to keep thu dust heie till ifi drawn out 
 by order of the court that gave it to me tS?! Z, 
 way ;t wa. put in bere.and that', the way iflTte tll^ 
 
 "We want it now." 
 
 •' Th!!l' Lfm ♦ l!* "^y »y«P«thies influence me." 
 
 .i.k nn* r """"^ °^ '* everywhere else and we're 
 sick of It. Come on, men." 
 
 ••Dln't"L^*'!^'":*" °^ y°"'" «^«J Morehouse. 
 ^Don t lay a hand on that gate. Boys, pick y^r 
 
 He calM this last to his clerks, at the same instant 
 
 S^tf*; T^? ««aye>- brought into view a shot-gun 
 while the cashier and clerks armed themselves. It wm' 
 evident that the deposits of the Alaska Bank w^" 
 abundantly safeguarded. 
 "I don't aim to have any trouble with you-all " con- 
 
 Gi«i:tr.^edTtw *"' '''^ °' '•"^»°«- "« 
 
 130 
 
 iiiii 
 
WHBMIH A W«IT ARb * „ot ,4,1 
 
 would not Mkri " "^^ " '" "''»«'« "»* he 
 
 haired banlww,^. h- 1^'^ ?"••*= *•» »">*«•■ 
 
 with Kt jaw, MiTf,^!^ ''^'^y' "•"•b'owMd ien. 
 ScndfaavTi^ fath^bZ '•«•• •»'l/«"ow-h.i«d 
 
 by repeated La~ ^ „ "^ '* "'•''' *»"'. Koaded 
 
 heard . command yiL,h.T' "•. ^"""'""y Helen 
 of m«i. wSroverTehli.T,'"''^''' '"'''' *"»P 
 glint of rifle ba^b ! fi?^of m" "^^ j""' "" »•» 
 
 the entrance. ™»gniy tHrough the crowd at 
 
 -it^-r '^^ ^h«"rt^a,r"£- ^^ 
 
 atth. cost of n,«ch conMS^raUon " "^ ~°" «">' 
 
 WhItS;ih'i!L''^l"*' " '^*'' °"' °»° «"<«ere." Mid 
 "r " ' '^'J" "*•* outside. 
 
 Ay, said Glenister, darkly. "W.'vo ♦«••.< *fc 1 
 
 X'To'^ S^Te^f.'' to%„t!^-r 'K.' 
 
II 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 CODNTBRPLOTI 
 
 «t Appe,!,. burkS^i"'^."*'?" .»"•«,««(» Court 
 'or Olden directine ih. 1-2, *' *PP''«««'on wu nude 
 which would^v?~f^°'*^"'?'""'.wriu-SeM 
 
 h«J returned from the moun^.„. l"^' ^"fy- »ho 
 
 *'^a';:^«»f,«>therdt"s.ir„T°*- '^ 
 
 wh.l\;:X',i£'^^~^' fi.'.t bette/when I know 
 that outfit." *'•«*»«». J ffl going to spy on 
 
 out .nything we don't knc I/ready ■■' "•" * '^* 
 
 Nama™ bad hi. offi4 HeZS V!° ''''•«^» "<=- 
 on the top floor.«,d^th the htf„'?^ ' *>^^ ««« 
 through the celling tato the feft!5",P"'""-"«» 
 thence to the roof fhroueh /hf/ i. '"' '°"°'' ••" »•/ 
 
 «- -« but mt,e s^p::^^!;^j:--^^; 
 
COONTBIPLOTS 
 
 w«» oiubted, without d^v!^ . • rj'''- '^'"» •» 
 
 tiouily in through Xfowiin. i '*■ "• "^ "»' 
 joiff «,|«j3h,*'^;j!°'"f- •»<» ow upon . floor of 
 
 locating McNami™ wSL L ^•" '" * «•"<"•■ •"<«. 
 lying (Ut on tCta^h.^^' ""■? P^P-ho'* "O th.t by 
 able portiOT of tbT,^™ k!""'? «"»»•'«> • coiuid.^ 
 
 i«n, eraeiging in th« .tni^r . *•» patience of an Ind- 
 
 to tend Whwo^ ororTir- •"! '* ''•'* **" "^^ed 
 ci«» on the mura trinT.K™^"''' "T " *° ^^ P™"- 
 contempt of%m.rt «rt > *° T""** I»«»edingi for 
 
 "..the lawyer ,«4g1Z^. "^ "" »»d««-PUc to 
 
 bepu^^alS'tte^v: 'r "'/°" ^ •'•y- Wheaton." he 
 VW-U bTw^ . 5^°" " «'*'« ««* *o the State. 
 ^ u be arrested tomorrow morning before biwS^ 
 
 ,''*""t«ll What for?" 
 I don't just lemember what th. ,.«•-.. • v • 
 or mayhem, or attainder of1r,l.L "-^'S'^y. 
 
 anyway, thev'U pet »™,? .°V f°°' °"" soniething— 
 
 < tL'Kr tKr.^:^tx,'" "»^ A- 
 
 to cause trouble and the oliyZ't^'^.^t^^'' 
 
 ^33 
 
THE SPOILBKS 
 
 
 U 
 
 thlt'f"" .^1''".'''°' They'll watch every lighter 
 
 "Yes— but how?" 
 
 "I tell you they'U search the Santa Maria fmn, 
 stem to ste™." protested the lawyer, but D^x^td 
 
 "Better do as he says. His schemes are good on*., " 
 
 ti^l^JT" "o"' *■" °^ prospector had begun at 
 
 were m„m„g „„i,i,y. and at last he found 7he^ he 
 wanted playing " Black Ian], " +1,^ « t ^^ '*® 
 
 oJJ^^''' *^®'^'' °"^y ^''^ *^^"SS about you that's anv 
 good-your silence and your seamanshio (>fS! ^^ 
 
 you're a disreppitable.dLlJrs^t'^* ^''""^'''' 
 The sailor grinned. 
 
 It It s a fight, lemme get my hat." *"nnan. 
 
 I want you to wake up your fireman o„^ x. 
 
 the bndge. You're chartered for twenty-f,^^ 
 and— remember, not a word." ^^' 
 
 '34 
 
COUNTERPLOTS 
 
 "I'm onl Compared to me the Spinks of Egyp' is 
 as talkative as a phonograph." 
 
 The old man next turned his steps to the Northern 
 Theatre. The performance was still in progress, and 
 he located the man he was hunting without difficulty. 
 
 Ascending the stairs, he knocked at the door of one 
 of the boxes and called for Captain Stephens. 
 
 "I'm glad I found you, Cap," said he. "It saved 
 me a tnp out to your ship in the dark." 
 
 "What's the matter?" 
 
 Dextry drew him to an isolated comer. "Me an' 
 my partner want to send a man to the States with 
 you." 
 
 "All right." 
 
 "Well— er—here's the point," hesitated the miner, 
 who rebelled at asking favors. " He's our law sharp, an' 
 the McNamara outfit is tryin' to put the steel on him " 
 
 " I don't understand." 
 
 "Why, they've swore out a warrant an* aim to 
 guard the shore to-morrow. We want you to " 
 
 "Mr. Dextry, I'm not looking for trouble. I get 
 enough in my own business." 
 
 "But, see here," argued the other, "we've got to 
 send him out so he can make a pow-wow to the big 
 legal smoke in 'Frisco. We've been cold-decked with 
 a bum judge. They've got us into a comer an' over 
 the ropes." 
 
 "I'm sorry I can't help you, Dextry, but I got mixed 
 ^P./° o^e o^ your scrapes and that's plenty." 
 
 "'This ain't no stowaway. There's no danger to 
 you began Dextry, but the officer interrupted him: 
 There's no need of arguing. I won't do it." 
 "Oh, you won't, eh?" said the old man, beginninf 
 
 US 
 
s r, 
 
 IHi 
 
 f!»i 
 
 THB SPOILEIS 
 
 ntl'^EvV^^' "^^;y°«li»t«» torn. for. m«. 
 tite. Everybody m camp knows that me an' the Idd 
 
 to us. Now. this lawyer party must jret awavtn n?^ 
 or these grafters will hitchTe ho^' to ^^t^e 
 phony charge so he can't get to the upper wurt ^n 
 be him to the bini^age for ninety dayl^ R^'iJiK^ 
 the States though. 7n' he's goK-y^^l^^oS 
 I m ta km' to you-man to man. If you ^^ LTe 
 
 ^;i^^n??'u'out' '"'*' .inspecto^h^e's a fSen^To 
 mme— an 1 u put a cnmp in you an' vour st»tmhn.« 
 I don't want to do that-tt 4't my^i^l^*^^^ 
 no means-but this bet goes through as sS ^ ? 
 never belched up a secret before. Nolir- I^ th. 
 human huntin'-case watd.. an' 1 won^ ^« m?fa« 
 unl^ you press me. But if I should. yo\S ^ aTt 
 
 ^J^,\ ^,* °''*""»«J his directions to the sailor who 
 
 dotff^hrLr* *^' ''"-^- ^»^"^ 
 
 "I never had a man talk to me Uke that before ri, 
 -«e.-er. You've taken advantage of meV,^ Sd^ 
 the ^cumstances I can't refuse. I'll do tothwf 
 not beca.ue of your threat, but because I hewd atout 
 your trouble over theMidas^and because ll^'tXto 
 admmng your blamed insolence." He wei^^c^ It 
 
 Dextiy returned to Wheaton's office. As he ncare^ 
 rt^he passed a lounging figure in an adjacSt d^t! 
 
 "The place is watched." he announced as he entered 
 Have you got a backdoor.^ GoodI Leaveyo^^t 
 bunung and we'll go out that way." Th^^pTj 
 
 136 
 
COUNTERPLOTS 
 
 quietly into an in cy, torturus passage which led back 
 towards Second street. Floundering through alleys 
 and over garbage heaps, by circuitous routes, they 
 reached the bridge, where, in the swift stream beneath 
 they saw the lights from Mac's tug. * 
 
 Steam was up, and when the Captain had let them 
 aboard Dextry gave him instructions, to which he 
 nodded acquiescence. They bade the lawyer adieu 
 and the little craft slipped its moorings, danced dowxl 
 the current, across the bar, and was swaUowed up in 
 the darkness to seaward. 
 
 "I'U put out Wheaton's light so they'U think he's 
 gone to bed." 
 
 "Yes, and at dayUght I'll take your place in Mc- 
 Namara s loft," said Glenister. " There will be doings 
 to-morrow when they don't find him." 
 
 They returned by the way they had come to the 
 lawyer s room, extinguished his Hght, wer t to their 
 own cabin and to bed. At dawn Glenister arose and 
 sought his place above McNamara's office. 
 
 I '^ ^® stretched at length on a single plank with eye 
 glued to a crack is not a comfortable position, and the 
 watcher thought the hours of the next day would never 
 end. As they dragged wearily past, his bones began 
 to ache beyond endurance, yet owing to the flimsy 
 structure of the building he dared not move while the 
 room below was tenanted. In fact, he would not have 
 stured had he dared, so intense was his interest in the 
 scenes being enacted beneath him. 
 
 First had come the marshal, who reported his failure 
 to find Wheaton. 
 
 "He left his room some time last night. My men 
 
 foUowed him in and saw a light in his window until 
 
 137 
 
Ill,; 
 
 . / 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 two o'clock this morning. At seven o'clock we broke 
 in and he was gone." 
 
 oK!!^?i!"V'*''*f?*^^"*^°'°"'P'*n- Send deputies 
 aboard the Santa Maria; search her from keel to top- 
 mast, and have them watch the beach close or he'U put 
 off in a small boat You look over the passengers ^at 
 go aboard youwelf. Don't trust any of your men for 
 that because he may try to slip through disguised. 
 He s liable to make up like a woman. You understend- 
 there s only one ship in port, and-he mustn't get away." 
 He won t said Voorhees, with conviction, and the 
 hstener overhead smiled grimly to himself, for at that 
 momwit, twenty miles offshore, lay Mac's little tui? 
 hove to m the trapk of the outgoing steamship, andl 
 her tiny cabm sat Bill Wheaton eating breakfast 
 
 As the morning wore by with no news of the lawyer. 
 ^^^!^'''f^;'''^^^^Srey,, At noon the mardial 
 
 Ih!^ T^ \'^°? *^^* *^^ passengers were aU 
 aboard and the ship about to clear 
 
 theSar^' He's sHpped through you," Storied 
 
 "No, he hasn't. He may be hidden aboard some- 
 where among the coal-bunkers, but I think he's stiU 
 ashore and aiming to make a quick run just before she 
 sails. He hasn't left the beach since daylight, that's 
 sure. I m going out to the ship now with four men 
 
 can bet he s lying out somewhere in town and we'U get 
 ^Jater. I ve stationed men along the shore for two 
 
 'F«•i^°'V^f ^ ^'"^ ^^* ^"^^y. If he should reach 
 Fnsco- Tell your men I'll give five hundred dollars 
 to the one that finds him." 
 
 I3« 
 
COUNTBIPLOTS 
 
 Thi^ hours later Voorhees returned. 
 
 She sailed without him." 
 The politician cursed "I Ann*4- u^v .. — 
 tricked you. I knowT did " ' *^'^* •*• »« 
 
 tie didn t get away," said M< .Vamara " w«'« • 
 
 and ht a cigarette with wavering hand. ^ 
 
 s'po^we'u l^f- °' " ''^'- ^'' •*• M-' D- you 
 
 more is ^. I^d7 If ^f/r t*^^'"^' '"°8- ''"* 
 »^p;ace o. Sti,r/ »tlSot;rztri;:^S 
 
 nie^is. ri:S7:™rUofy:S*Lt.*;C"fr!?' 
 Without her eh? %h^:> J • • .,•; ^^* d we do 
 
 sudden tighie:^;o?:ve:;s mr^Jtj 
 
 that man-s Hquo..sodde„?ps to "peak^^^'f ?f ,* ""^ 
 
 She s a brave little woman all right ImtwU 
 she worked Glenister and his fcSl partn^ ?t f T 
 nerve to bring in those instruction: of~'a.on::^' 
 
 " ^9. 
 
 I 
 
1 '« ^:''ii 
 
 THB SPOILBRS 
 
 if it hadn't been for her we'd never have won Uke thii 
 It makes me laugh to think of those two men stowine 
 her away in their state-room while they slept between 
 decks with the sheep, and her with the papers in her 
 bosom all the time. Then, when we got ready to do 
 business, why, she up and talks them into giving us 
 possession of their mine without a fight. That's what 
 1 call reciprocating a man's affection." 
 
 Glenister's nails cut into his flesh, while his face went 
 livid at the MTords. He could not grasp it at once. It 
 made him c»ick-physically sick-and for many mo- 
 ments he strove blindly to beat back the hideous sus- 
 picion, the horror, that the lawyer had aroused His 
 was not a doubting disposition, and to him the girl had 
 seemed as one pure, mysterious, apart, angelically in- 
 capable of deceit. He had loved her, feeling that some 
 day she would return his affection without fail In her 
 great unclouded eyes he had found no lurking-place for 
 doubleHiealing. Now-GodI It couldn't be that all 
 the time she had known t 
 
 He had lost a part of the lawyer's speech, but peered 
 through his observation-hole again. 
 
 McNamara was at the window gazing out into the 
 dark street, his back towards the lawyer, who lolled in 
 the chair, babbling garrulously of the girt. Glenister 
 ground his teeth— a frenzy possessed him to loose his 
 anger, to rip through the frail ceiling with naked hands 
 and fall vindictively upon the two men. 
 
 "She looked good to me the first time I saw her " 
 continued Struve. He paused, and when he spoke 
 again a change had coarsened his features. " Say I'm 
 crazy about her. Mac. I tell you, I'm crazy-and she 
 likes me—I know she does— or, anyway, she would—" 
 
 140 
 
COUNTERPLOTS 
 
 "Do you mean that you're in love with h#r>" ..i,^ 
 
 u"JT.V^^ ^<>^'^thout sStfS^iSrLaSn!:* 
 It seemed that uff^o ;^A:a^ -"mmu^ ma position. 
 
 *Ithoueh wh<S4 th^i,^K5r"^* was in his question, 
 
 allyh,, eyes rolled farther and f^Cbti tilfj?"' 
 
 limply upon hi! fa^ T„°!^^' "^ «> *« •»* fell 
 i-8 With a wate^bucke?' WiST^I^tT ^„-ST; 
 
II 
 
 Ah 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 wiconscious wretch upon his back, then drenched him. 
 Replacing the pail, he seated himself, lit a dgar, and 
 watched the return of Ufe into his victim. He made 
 no move, even to drag him from the pool in which he 
 lay. 
 
 Strove groaned and shuddered, twisted to his side 
 and at last sat up weakly. In his eyes there was now 
 a great terror, while in place of his drankenness was 
 only fear and faintness— abject fear of the great buU 
 that sat and smoked and stared at him so fishily. He 
 felt uncertainly of his throat, and groaned again 
 
 '•Why did you do that ?" he whispered ; but the other 
 made no sign. I^e tried to rise, but his knees relaxed • 
 he staggered and fell. At last he gained his feet and 
 made for the door; then, when his hand was on the 
 knob, McNamara spoke through his teeth, without re- 
 movmg his cigar. 
 
 •'Don't ever talk about her again. She is goin* to 
 marry me." * ^ 
 
 When he was alone he looked curiously .p at the 
 ceihng over his head. "The rats are thick in this 
 shack, he mused. "Seems to me I heard a whole 
 swarm of them." 
 
 A few moments later a figure crept through the hole 
 in the roof of the house next door and thence down into 
 the street. A block ahead was the slow-moving form 
 of Attorney Strove. Had a stranger met them both 
 fte would not have known which of the two bad felt at 
 his throat the clutch of a strangler, for each was drawn 
 and haggard and swayed as he went. 
 
 Glenister unconsciously turned towards his cabin 
 but at leaving the lighted streets the thought of iti 
 darkness and silence made him shudder. Not now! 
 
 14a 
 
COUNTBIPLOTS 
 
 h^la^^ He diu^^ot be alone. Dextr^ould 
 
 ^ l«ht and turmoil. He Ucked hi. Up. and found 
 that they were cracked and dry. 
 
 At rare intervals during the past yean he had stag- 
 gw»d m from a long march where, for houn, he had 
 
 clumsy w^th fatigue, his garments wet and stiff, his 
 mmd s ack and sullen At such extreme seal's he 
 had felt a consuming thirst, a thirst which burned and 
 
 JJ^t'^afhi^^^f '^r'^ *^^~ ^*^ ^' '•-^Wy 
 Not a thirst for water, nor a thirst which eaten snow 
 
 could quench, but a savage yearning of his whole ex- 
 hausted system for some stimulant, for some coursing 
 fi«y fluid that would bum and strangle. At^Z 
 ^key-for bnmdy! Remembering these occasional 
 ferocious desires, he had become charitable to such un- 
 fortunates as were too weak to withstand similar temp- 
 tations. •«"**/ 
 
 Now with a shock he caught himself in the grip of a 
 thirst as msistcnt as though the cold bore down and 
 
 SI 7**^^ °^ "^^^ ^«*^ «»'«» wrapped him 
 about. It was no foolish wish to drown his thoughts 
 
 thiTBtl Thiretl-a crymg. trembling, physical lust to 
 qwmch the fires that burned inside. He remembered 
 that It had been more than a year since he had tasted 
 whiskey Now the fever of the past few hours had 
 parched his every tissue. 
 
 ♦t.:^ ^® ®l^^^ '"^ ^^'^S^h the crowd at the Northern. 
 «1^ °«* 1^ «ade room at the bar. for they recogi 
 nized the hunger that peers thus from men's facS. 
 
 »43 
 
THB SPOILBI$ 
 
 Their manner recalled Glenister to hii mum. »^a v 
 wrenched hin-elf away. TTJ^ZTZ'^t^ 
 ■now-baaked road.hotwo. He wcniW nTrtSd^Sd 
 •oak himwilf . .hottlder to .houMer with ttevj^ ^ 
 
 S2idariil?^/Sf^*"**- The man on hi. right 
 ^wed a gla«. and the young man strangled a mad- 
 new to tear it from hie haadt. Inrtead he htm4^ 
 back to the theatre and up to a boTxSuJSf liT^ 
 the curtaina. «« »P «> a box. where he drew 
 
 itto^"f^'"5!l!^'*'*^^"y'*«*^^»i*^- "Bring 
 it to me fart. Don't you hear? Whitkeyl" 
 
 wi^tewr^?''"'*^^'***'*^*'- SheanjeeaS 
 ?m? h»». entenng without ceremony. 
 
 What s the matter, boy?" .he questioned. 
 uirV ^ »™ 8l*d you came. Talk to me." 
 
 la J^ '.^mv°iir ''"^ r"-'*^^**" «m*rk.." she 
 "t*"*?* . , . y °°° * yo" *»^^ «• to .pring some i?ood 
 ongmalpto.? You look Uke the fiJS toTiSx^J 
 go.a.-you-pleaM. What', up?" "™° «> * "'•^•y 
 
 ente4d**llr^ to bin, for a moment until the waiter 
 
 tne gias. from the tray and poured the whiskey on the 
 floor. Glemeter wa. on hi. feet and had to by 2e 
 
 "What do you mean?" he «dd. roughly, 
 drink" ^ ^' ^'' "^ cried, "and you don't 
 
 ••Of couree it', whiskey. Bring me another" hm 
 shouted at the attendant. K ™ anotner. he 
 
 "What's the matter?" Cherry insisted. "I never 
 saw you act so. You know y^^don't dSk. llZ% 
 
 144 
 
COUNTBIPLOTS 
 
 ri 
 
 '•I 
 
 
 waich the boy bad returned. 
 
 -«.y. b„?L otb:.i^p.7S:.^jL"^!;.7rSi 
 
 T. pk-'^^li*;^" -ou^-'" eood .t w. c. 
 
 thr««^lw ^ * •*""« *"°^'' *» hMdle your own 
 
 It urktrtiX" "• "^"^ • """•»*• *^ "» 
 
 -fci u""' t»o lemonades," he said, and with a lan.h 
 
 :^:t^^. ' «"' «-^ «"<>**• i.^- f^' 
 
 ^<m're too good. m«. to drink. Now, tell me ril 
 
 --^wi. •uu me to let them jump ouf claim. She 
 »4« 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 When the had pled with him for hiniMlf a m«m^* 
 before Cherry Malotte wm genuine andS SHTw 
 as he spoke thus of the other wom«« - u ^ 
 
 .1, . .u'"'" ""'"»'>«'• when I warned you and D«t» 
 
 handle, the Judge.T S? l^iw.'.V^.'T I^" 
 woman lied easily. fl„„tly. and th™"^ tSeved 2^ 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 in Sr^""* °««'« t^ think you had ten thousand 
 
 "I don't know." 
 •^I do. Dextry told her." 
 I'm an''*"" arose. "That's all I want to hear now 
 
 ngfit like this before and it hu«s. You see, I've been 
 
 Z46 
 
COUNTBIPLOTS 
 
 ^C^J^d^hlie't^i:: - H. for ^ w« 
 thA im/i^/ "H*"'/ witn tne ea^ierness of one who sees 
 
 the Bronco Kid beckoning to her nor the man with Wm 
 Er'SL^'i'Jr^i:!,^!? '"-^ alon^TdltiSS 
 
 " N^.Td ^Vk^* ?*"u^"^ ^ " *^« new-comer inq«i,;d. 
 
 No I d rather look on. I feel sociable Yo^ 
 
 a ^,ety man, Mr. Champian. Don't y^toow^^ 
 
 thing of uiterest? Scandal or the Uke ?" """^ ^y 
 
 for Sr ) **? ^^i^ ^?' ^y ^'« »tt«d« to aU that 
 for the family. But I know there's lots of it I?. 
 
 P^^^ l^ y^"^^^ "^^ ^*^'* »U eqwal. north of 
 Fifty-three. I never heard the like." 
 
 miidi??„t;Ltr "' •^"*"^^" ^^^ ««»-. 
 
 ChZ^' '^^ ^ ^"^"^ ""^ *^^* the Judge's niece, Miss 
 
 lowi!!^ w°"® ^"™^ abruptly, while the Kid slowly 
 
 •• Wk • ***® inquired. 
 
 «j*w?-^'r*,f^"^ **^® compromised herself pretty badlv 
 
 spnng. Mighty brazen, according to my wife. Mrs 
 
 M7 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 Sty ^kS*""" *^ "~ •"'"«• "^ •^« ~» i^- 
 
 Ahl Glenister had toM her onlv haU th. ..i. 
 thoughttheprL Th. truth w« b^ i^S *^.SS 
 
 look up *" " <*^ *>»» »>"> xwmd cauMd the girf to 
 What ails you? A^yr!^v,» M ""^ /»<• ^^' 
 
 Do >w« love that girl, too? Whv .w. «^ 
 man in town cra«y.» ^' "** * «*»* ^^^T 
 
 She wrung her hinds, which is a bad siim in a. r*noKu 
 
 ••lf!l^ "t .^''"M ~»'<» kiU him for thati" 
 ^^ could I." «id th. Kid. and Wt h^^^mt 
 
 i i^i 
 

 i 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 IN WHICH A MAN 18 P08SE8SBD OF A DBVIL 
 
 FOR a long time Cherry Malotte sat qmetly think- 
 ing, removed by her mental stress to such an in- 
 toite distance from the music and turmoil beneath that 
 she was conscious of it only as a formless -lamor. She 
 had tipp^ a chair back against the doo , wedging it 
 beneath the taob so that she might be saved from in! 
 terruption. then flung herself into another seat and 
 stared unseemgly As she sat thus, and thought, and 
 schemed, harsh and hateful lines seemed to eat into her 
 tace. Now and then she moaned impatiently, as thoueh 
 fearing lest the strategy she was plotting ^ght prove 
 futile: then she would rise and pL her^nar^w qlT^! 
 u JzV^ unconscious of time, and had spent per- 
 haps two hours thus, when amid the buzz of talk in the 
 next compartment she heard a name which caused her 
 to start, listen, then drop her preoccupation like a 
 
 s:n^*':ilriLrvTs..^^^^^ ^-^^■ 
 
 in v^- ° •''^' ^7 *°y?hing Uke it smce McMaster's Night 
 
 .Xw^T ^u^' ^^"^^^ y^ ^°- He's right- 
 " K f ri ^ *P^ ^'" ^^^ °*^«»' feP^ed, doubtfuUy 
 inXl^eT'^^^'^"'^^'^- I--«''«taked'aZ; 
 
 "Then lend me the money, m pay it back in an 
 
 149 
 
li B 
 
 it 
 
 If. 
 
 ! -h 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 hour, but for Heaven's sake be quick. I tell vou i,.'. 
 « nght as a golden punea. It'sVe l„ciyn& u' 
 
 oets. In fifteen nunutes more we can't eet close 
 «ough to a table to send in our money witL f me^ 
 *"ri7-r'^ sport in camp will be here." 
 
 a tii, ♦w\''°"-? ^^•" *■" **«»"> ««» "plied, in 
 a^tone that ri.owed a t«ce of hi. companionTexdt" 
 
 wit^^?t*t 'f ^»>W. the girl learned, and 
 
 «l^e^h^ Sl±,",*° ''""' *"* ^^^ J'O" ««"« and 
 exate the greed of every gambler in camp Newsof 
 
 lus wmnings had'gone out into the stre^i the!^ 
 
 ^t«es on the adversity of their feUows. Those who 
 h^^nomoney to stake we« borrowing. Hke the m^ 
 
 ae left her retreat, and. descending the stain was 
 
 S^W^^ '*""?'•''«''*• Thedanc^hallZ^r 
 of ^ but the musiaans. who blew and fiddled lusSy 
 »"» ^deavor to draw ftom the rapidly swS 
 »owd that thronged the gambUng-room^dsSf 
 to the door. The press was thickest about Tuhle 
 
 thTln """ °* «" P*^*^ °" "^'^ «"» tables alaS 
 S^r^;. * "" "°» '"ddenly. foUowed by ut^ 
 sUence; then came the clink and rattle of sUver A 
 
 "•^do*:! 't"°:r^ "^^ •*» UughtL^ftali^ 
 
 ;^^ . P"* field or the favorite. He's made eigh- 
 t^straight pass«. Get your money on the to!> 
 There ensued another breathless instant wherein she 
 
 ISO 
 
A >AN IS POSSESSED OP A DEVIL 
 
 «oove the others and pushed out thromrh th« rin. .» *i, 
 
 lar teble they had quitted, the dealer was putting aX 
 h,s dice, and there was not a coin in his rLk mS 
 
 ••nin^Lir ^'°^^ ^.* "*P «^«'" Mullins told her- 
 m^teen passes without losing the bones." 
 now much did he win?" 
 
 bettfnt* ^^fl^'i' "^"u""""^ ^^"^^^ ^«t ^t'« the people 
 betting with him that does the damage! They're 
 
 c^anTthl 'T I ^ Jack bank-roll first. $4,000. then 
 cleaned the Tub.' By that time the tin horns b«ran 
 to come m. It's the greatest r.nl ever s^T ^ 
 • Did you get in?" 
 
 but^b^k-rVlJ'J'.'^T *** ^ "*'*' P'«y '"'ythmg 
 U^^-M-IUet'.^e^*' "^ ^"^ *^ ««'• th« '"^ 
 
 evL''»h^°rr! °'. *' '^""^ ^'^ *° infect the girl 
 even though she looked on from the outside. The « 
 
 Tt^l 1°"^- ^^I'-Oden h-»h, the tensity of ne^e" 
 ^™shSl''f.! """■*?'• AstrangerirfttheS^.^ 
 Wki^/%! ™ * "~u "T **«^ "^ Mexico stoS 
 and^Ll. '" '^' ""* »°dy. with shifting glance 
 
 ^siik^'S^u^his d^r s^' ■•!' *-* V~ 
 
 He darted totals ^iti'^L^'uZ^. ]^hS 
 little animal, unnaturally excited '"gitened 
 
 . v'*"*?,*''*t isn't so bad for three betsi" He shook 
 a sheaf of bank-notes at them. «e shook 
 
I- 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 '•T!Z 1°°'* ^°" •^*'" '"l"^ Muffin.. 
 I a^ too wue. Hal I know when "quit H« 
 
 «^p^r»- ^.s?s„;s. -. to 
 rarro^xr-^-^^^f-"^"""^^^ 
 
 wrav in f^L-I^ . ^ ®*^ ^^"^ clamorously fieht hii 
 
 Vermont desperadoes that ne^Ld f^^. ,f *''*°' 
 
 •^eJ'^'°*r '°- -°'" ^^hi^ t ^e ■ ' "" 
 There are plenty of his sort hi^ " ♦». • » 
 
 markrf; "hi, «.»! would fit ^a^'.t^.?^' Jjf 
 S^m"T ,^ »-*«"•« back"" w^^W ^ 
 
 rette, seemingly obliviouQ^ M,^ ^^ ^^ ^8^*" 
 
 htuS-4r- "^^ — -- - ^a^ ^. 
 
 ^y aren't you d«Uing bank? I«,-t thli" 
 
 your 
 
 i|a 
 
 ii' 
 
A lAK IS FOSSBSSBD OF ▲ DBVIL 
 
 "Iqtaitlaitnight." 
 
 "vr.^otl'tir'l''*^"'^^'- Lucky for vo«/' 
 tdngr "'*''*''"' T^«« »t s >wr money he's win- 
 
 Sh^io*l!?* '**!*"' * tJ»o«sand a minute." 
 the sound toM tho* ♦!,« *."""^ers. At that mstant 
 wo qmeuy, that his hand and voice wi^.- ♦«« * y^ 
 
 twitter and quit his stool Th^ « a departing 
 
 headed for tSe cro^^it^ e o^S'e^'.^^ ''^ 
 
 ^-nefa^^'sSi/^^^r J'' IT'^^^^'C 
 lidded eyes th«eTl^ *J^^' ""!'* '"'* »' "^ '•«»^- 
 forwart, he seST" ™,»'««««"">'« rage. Steppi^ " 
 
 about viol^t^ "' *°"°~* "^ "d »P«» hto 
 
 " Where are you going ? " 
 
 goT^nT^i: w"^ *° '^='- " - """^ht we'd 
 
 ve;;t°rhe';ti^:itC'hin," r ^ '"^ «■»"« *» 
 
 they did noJleC ^ t?. / ^ *! ""«i«ans, and 
 their duties however the^"' */'' ""^ "''"""i 
 
■Jl 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 her «,d «id. ••Ifet;".^'^Pr^- .H« t»™e<l to 
 
 "l^Z'f' '""' ~"''* "" Glenister." 
 " Don't you love " 
 
 . "Toby. I waSt youV^,^e Z hT "^ f'"' 
 ister begin, to p|ay fl^ rn*,!^? ""T! "*«' ^^l^- 
 
 , '.'I never deaft a S^k^^^'t th"'''' •^'" 
 daimed the Kid, "birtru 'U^^lw *^ '""P-" «" 
 I'll kill himi rn lue . 'Lh ..if- "1" *^"'«''* <"• 
 to explain my ^ '„ ^''■*f,' ~«' And I w«.t 
 you'll queer m b^Hn^^VL''"" "^ *^« "P" 
 ^ He rapidly «hear,^hK'a,^T.°° *' '"^•" 
 to a layman would have beM.^^„.li " f^"" »*"<* 
 
 them by certain ah„«t ^S^^f ,^7;"""*^*^'^ 
 finger, or change, in the a^^^il- *'ting, of the 
 M to thwart tocoveT ^.S"!"-.'^,''?^' " »%»>t 
 by and followed hi,^ery wtrf^^H *".*'" «*" '*^ 
 
 dnTer^a, S S^wtr^ ^H *" ^ ' ""^ 
 code of the "inade life " T?W t ^' ^•' «" *« 
 page, and die memwSed mmv 1- JT" fU a, an open 
 the ,ign, by whil^ "^'^ ^'^^ *<» did To*^ 
 what card he had mxLl^^Jlu T^'°^ *° «8°»» 
 In faro it i, cust^^TiT, ^* °'' ""O •>«<*• 
 the oppo^te .de of Kr^^^^^J:'^;™ 
 
lit 
 to 
 f" 
 
 f J 
 
 4 "AH IS POSSBSSBB OP A DBVIt 
 
 button opponte . «^i^\,*''^'''"™'" «>w>ve, • 
 
 «hi-.. i»^ tLT^:t^ r* "? "" '"*" -' 
 
 what ipot. havebeeTnlfv^ • ' **""■ "V *«« 
 Hi. dtttie.. thoirSnSu'^tL r «~ «iU » the boK. 
 
 en not taUy with the caM. in th!^ ""* "*""*■ 
 *im," aU bets on ♦h- ♦!?. . ""* o" the "la»t 
 
 hon«tIyd«S? Sot tw!i "t '*r'r* ™'<>- '«T>» 
 but it i. intSiHiS X^* *" f l"""""? ««»«». 
 the game i, c«»kJSltTfa^ f"f .""Z?^- ^« 
 of generation, of ca^^w ;hl.T °' *''* '»8*'"^ty 
 • multitude of devS; t^ ,Mr.''T "^ *^»>'«d 
 P«ting. TheM M«^ r , ^'""* *° *«*<* the unmu- 
 the iStiatri ^yl^^^-^"]; ""k*" that n«Xt 
 
 *t -^« fo^ ^ dSTv^^tuta^"'^ 0^ 
 Instead of usini? a famiiio/- 
 
 ;n«dle-teU." rZ^T^^^^H^' '^ *• 
 dealer', thumb, thus BgnalwS. „ '' ^''" *• 
 
 "sand-tell." In oth« i^ detennmed to um the 
 ".traight box." bSf fd^STrf t,"^ ™P'<'5' « 
 which had bei roughenrf tLT*'- ""^ "'" "t 
 that, by I-WX^t^n^riT* "«"*'''• " 
 earf. the one beneath woiSdhrtiw ™ *<?> <» «po6ed 
 and thu. enable hta tTdS ?^^f '"'^'r "^ove. 
 occasion demanded ^k ^?.r """"'*''»'« the 
 enable him to deteci t^L^J* ""* '°"" '"'ewiM 
 <^ by the fatotet ^^w ""T" °' • -""ked 
 In this iianipulationT^lT^""'* "'*" '" <'«>t- 
 
 rr'"^°"^-^«p-=^a-^:S 
 
 *5 
 
( ,' 
 
 if p 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 *Ii*t, when the deck was {orcmA n^^u 
 
 of the box. «,«, wo^ b^^^T^ »»•,•"• 
 
 money. It i,. of coune. WUI tt^f ^I- ^°' *^ 
 CMe-keeper be able to Tt^J;-* .r^^ *?' confederate 
 fectly fa^~ to mo^eX^l^- ^•^«*''' •«" per- 
 ".pind, else t™„Sni*:^"f/J?°y """^ *" «"- 
 the hand when the cZ^J^::^:'^'^^'^ "' 
 
 w^S^fchty^Sr^' ^'^^ 
 the roulette. wheel ^?^ formed her way towardi 
 
 but could nor^n^h^?* *° '"** °'«»i«". 
 The men wouM*^t ^'^ilf"'? "' *"" ««"«1 
 w« glued upon Se^JTL '?''?• »^«y "X* 
 in its row, of «r^btack -S^ '^^■*'"' '""«' 
 hind it untU the crZi«. h",' K f '*" P""^ •>«- 
 ball. «,d »i(^L?TIZ^f^'^l "r'^'mtbe 
 forwari again inch b^ t^^ ^.*^«y P7«d 
 <vory. drunk with it. -^-iT- ""?. by the aong of the 
 of akncT^ '** ""^P' """Jdeaed by the breath 
 
 Cherry gathered that Glenister was rtill —•—• , 
 a glimpse of the whefi-^-iTt,^ ^ wmmng, for 
 
 those,AeadshowJSSfeh^**° *' *°"'''«» of 
 ^ Plainly it was but a „ *^':?•'?*n'y°•'*°"*• 
 backed out and tookhtr^^^.°*.J°T*^' «> ** 
 whe« the Bronco^d was^^X^' *?' '^*""« 
 colorless mask of ini^t^' ,"" *«» >«« its 
 moved slowly wiLthf^^l ^ '""^ *"*« bands 
 lute maste,?^ rf tis l^S"*^ ""* ^k<med abso- 
 crap dealer Vk^i^^'eas^* ""'"W. ^b. «c- 
 
 IS6 
 
ide 
 
 Jie 
 
 ed 
 
 ch 
 
 of 
 
 lis 
 
 te 
 
 r- 
 
 p- 
 
 )£ 
 
 T 
 
 8 
 
 A mil IS FOSSBSSBD OP A DB?IL 
 
 •nd •urrounded her, Glenister among the othoT^ H« 
 J^" >!*«>•««» -he knew. In^cT^f^eiJi 
 
 SS^^T "^^ ^^"^ ^« ^ »^* her. hi. U^^ 
 flushed and recklew, hi. coUar wa. open AoX^ 
 
 hSTl^ ^'^i'^?^ ««^J^. while t^t o^aSe 
 ^JT*^? ^ ^ !»« wa. again the violent? T 
 
 I^^;^^**''*"^**'^*^"*^^'- Hi..elf.re.t;iSt 
 and dignity were gone. He had tried the new w^ 
 
 and they were not for him. He dipped back^^ 
 past swallowed him. *^^^ ' •^ "^ 
 
 rel^v -T^^if^*^ ^* ^*^ •^*»* •<>»• cental 
 
 ^aiL He" WW ^"J^> *^ ^°«^^ '^'^ ^ 
 agam He had been mdifferent whether he won or 
 
 lost so assumed a reckless disregard for the la^ Z 
 probability thinking that he w?uld rfiortl/ lolTtb! 
 
 w^t mlr r.' *'"*.^ home."*&'SS n^ 
 want It ^en his luck remained the same, he raiMd 
 the stakes, but it did not change-he could not^ 
 Before he realized it. other men were betting^^S ^' 
 jumated purely by greed and cra^T^tS s^' 
 Fu^one. then another joined tiU giTaL^g'L?^ 
 
 :L^tru2.m^.-^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^^t^'^ ^"* -- increases S: 
 He paid no attention to Cherry as he took his seat 
 
 Hehadeyesfornothingbutthe"i;yKmt."lhe^S 
 her hands and prayed for his ruin ciencned 
 
 '•What's your limit, Kid?" he inquired. 
 
 One hundred, and two," the Kid answered, which 
 
 m the vernacular means that any sum up to $aU rJJ^y 
 
 157 ^ 
 
9! I 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 with imujHiae-SS^' ^L'TiSL*"** ^^^ ^ 
 
 A# *uL *^** "* witcii, for now ouna thm <*n.JIt «1!j: 
 w the evening. ?•«> i> */« «*k J^^ cmdml test 
 
 ^^* time Glenirter won etetdily till th«. c««. . 
 n«»n«nt when nuuiv Mt^v* #»/ ^ui^ t ^^" *•"*• • 
 
 the next momenth. hT «.!fu?!jf^''««P*' •«« 
 
 P^ no •ttmtion. At thT^S ?? u „ "? P'*'^ 
 "inniagi were iUgbtlyVuv^l "^ •» how the 
 Gfcmirter «id, ^uV^lZ^ *?* ''°^" "*» 
 
 thelfaU?' "»^ *^ proprietor. "We'll double 
 
 «««ne«. while, to idd tm,^/" the crowd'. 
 c«ne w™„g twice i^u^J^T^'^'T 
 would have bet heavilv nn^T*? .'"^""t thoie who 
 money given WkS.^ ^.J^ turn h«l their 
 
 to his shoulder In th- .J«!-?^ ?* crowded dose 
 "«iaer. m the same way the owner of the 
 
 »S8 
 
A NAN IS FOSSfiSSBD OP A »BVIL 
 
 tofiU the m^^.v^^^ ^«»W ^'oJ««fT 
 
 ble of the trick H. 7I„m ^^J^r PW««»t capa. 
 
 Th!v h!i "«'<>«««*te confederate. ^ ^^ 
 
 tw bruth up your plumet." ^ ^' ^^^^^ ** *^- 
 
 In ipite of hit anger the Bronco Kid smiled H«««, 
 
 with glee in vean to «?«- u ^*7^ ««d recount 
 
 Toby glanced inquirinfflv at ♦»»- ^^unouciciea. 
 Cherry'! reawurinff look f „^ !LlL^**v''^** ^^^^J** 
 
 miJce no erron-the d^^Sr i^^ t^ v^ ^^^ 
 were sharpened by hate~it .hL!j •' ^ ^ "^^ 
 Glenister Mcaoed d Jl!!!^ ! .*^ "* ^ '•<»• M 
 ca^i^*^',^*^ *<>^^^^^ it would be be- 
 faU. ''°^** ***** accomplish his down- 
 
 In the mind of the new caup v— v^ ^t 
 one thought^Roy „L?^ hwl^^ '^V" "^"^ ^^* 
 race, ruin, ridicule were toTTv' "??^***<^°' da- 
 downed, diicredi^ ZI^ J^ ^ ^' " ^« "^^owld be 
 
 he wouldt^^er «'hfh"d irth^ V'^"' P^^^P*' 
 He was sHpping awa^f«f« i? " *v? ^^-^"^^ ^X*- 
 

 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 •timiilat«l Bronco tiU hit teiiMt. too, gi«w ihmrper. 
 hit obwrvAUon more acute and lightning-Uke. Glen- 
 »t©r fwore beneath hit breath that the carda were be- 
 witclwd. He waa like a drunken man. now aa truly 
 fatwdcated as though the fumes of wine had befogged 
 Us bram. He swayed in his seat, the veins of his neck 
 ttuckened and throbbed, his features were congested. 
 After a while he spoke. 
 
 "I want a bigger limit. Is this some boy's game? 
 Throw her open." » 
 
 The gambler shot a triumphant glance at the girl 
 «nd acquiesced. "AU right, the limit is the blue sky. 
 We your checks to the roof-pole." He began to 
 shufRe. 
 
 Within the crowded circle the air was hot and fetid 
 vnth the breath of men. The sweat trickled down 
 GlmistM^s brown skin, dripping from hts jaw unno- 
 ticed. He arose and ripped off his coat, while those 
 standing behind shifted and scuffed their feet impa- 
 tiently. Besides Roy, there were but three men play- 
 mg. They were the ones who had won heaviest at 
 first. Now that luck was against them they were 
 k>ath to quit. 
 
 Cherry was annoyed by stertorous breathing at 
 her shoulder, and glanced back to find the little man 
 who had been so excited earlier in the evening. His 
 mouth was agape, his eyes wide, the muscles about his 
 hps twitching. He had lost back, long since, the hun- 
 dreds he had won and more besides. She searched the 
 figures walling her about and saw no women. They 
 had been crowded out long since. It seemed as though 
 the table formed the bottom of a sloping pit of human 
 faces— eager, tense, staring. It was well she was here, 
 
 z6o 
 
 :i ; 
 
A MAH IS POSSBSSBD OP A DBYIL 
 
 ■he thought, ebe this t«sk might fail. She would help 
 to blAst Glenister, desoUte him, humiliate him. Ah. 
 but wouldn't thel 
 
 Roy bet lioo on the "popuUr" card. On the third 
 turn he loit. He bet laoo next and lott. He tet out a 
 •tack of I400 and lott for the third time. Fortune had 
 turned her face. He ground hii teeth and doubled 
 until the stakes grew enormous, while the dealer dealt 
 monotonously. The spoto flashed and disappeand 
 taking with them wager after wager. Glenister became 
 conscious of a raging, red fury which he had hard shift 
 to master. It was not his money— what if he did lose ? 
 He wouM stay until he won. He would win. This 
 hick would not, could not, last—and yet with diaboUc 
 persistence he continued to choose the losing cards 
 The other men fared better till he yielded to their judg^ 
 ment, when the dealer took their money also. 
 
 Strange to say, the fickle goddess had really shifted 
 her banner at last, and the Bronco Kid was dealing 
 •traight faro now. He was too good a player to force 
 a winning hand, and Glenister's ill-fortune became as 
 phenomenal as his winning had been. The girl who 
 figured in this drama was keyed to the highest tension 
 her eyes now on her counters, now searching the profile 
 of her victim. Glenister continued to lose and- lose 
 and lose, while the girl gloated over his swift-coming 
 rum. When at long intervals he won a bet she shrank 
 and shivered for fear he might escape. If only he 
 would nsk It aU-«verything he had. He would have 
 to come to her then! 
 
 The end was closer than she reaUzed. The throng 
 hung breathless upon each move of the players, whUe 
 there was no sound but the noise of shifting chips and 
 
 z6x 
 
Ill .1 
 
 ]i t 
 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 between his teeth rZs^Z*^' **** "8^»«' clenched 
 •poke or couched a b/v«J; "atues. When a man 
 
 w«d tm they .^^ rtelS^,*^ **f» 'M" *"«» f<i' 
 oo the lale aTZ^'u /■. Heplaceda-'copper" 
 
 «« .like thi^t iSL,t .loi^e" '1?J«^'' '»<'«» • 
 one's grandchUdren—ti,.* V^ /^*" was a tate for 
 
 aar' roads'?-'- 
 
 •he felt it If t,- vl^ ^7 , *°" ^- ^« ^ould quit- 
 life hinged on this w^?^ °* happmess. of love, of 
 
 leaned back he sS JLJ T f"^' ?"" " GlLster 
 out of the^x AUfc ^ ^^'y P^^^ the top card 
 
 »^ life, hi ^t«yt^^So?J: *"" '"*"• •"«»•»* t^f 
 
 . e Detrayed no trra»r. Hi, gesture displayed 
 
 ',>,ij 
 
ed 
 ne 
 in 
 a- 
 
 c- 
 
 i- 
 
 A MAN IS POSSfiSSBD OP A DBVIL 
 
 Tll'S!L°l'^°**^^' ^^ ^^* *^^<* t»re.thed heavily 
 ^ kuy had not won. Would it lose? EverTea^ 
 wa. welded to the tiny nickelled box. IfthefS^^aM 
 ^rio^dT ^^! ~rP°^' the heavS:74r^ 
 d^^ 7h^ f ? been lost: if it still remained hid^ 
 den^n^the next turn, the money would be safe for a 
 
 hi.®m«Jj5' ""^^^ ^.*"^ °' *»>• ^le^Je*- «oved back- 
 ^n^M ^"^r iT**"^ *^« "^« °^ diamonds: it sHd 
 t^^iT*, °K *^' ^T' ""^ *^^"^ ^ its place f row^^ 
 If^f °u ''^'- -^t last the silence was broken, 
 no ^r t/^"** ^*"«^^"^' ^"t »" their laughter was 
 ?L^ 5 Z^ '"^'^ "^e the sound of choki^^ 
 
 S^mfin J*S f ^'' ~*^^^ ^°th and slid the stack 
 Th/^ I *^^ ^"^^^^ *t his waist without counting 
 Ld ^"^?P"' P^^ * '^^^""^ han^ over heTf^* 
 thl ^hf° »t came away she saw blcxxi on her fin^ 
 
 ^•111^ t^ hand out if you-U Irt m. b« th. 'fin- 
 
 "Certainly," replied the dealer. 
 
 wilTc^S thT? '^^T*! l^^' P"^"^« it ««^ that he 
 «ie v^ili * t°*°"°t of his ^ager without producing 
 the vwible stakes, and the dealer may accent or ^ul 
 
 nl2f *? '^ ^"'^^"^ °^ *^« betto^r-r^sCibtr 
 
 North^ '/?u ""^ "?" '^i*"^ » ?^»«bling debVin the 
 
 North and thousands may go with a nod of the h^ 
 
 though never a cent be on the board ^ 
 
 There were stiU a few cards in the box. and the dealer 
 
 X63 
 
Ill 
 i 
 
 if ill 
 
 I .li 
 III 
 
 ,. 
 
 I ' i) 
 
 THB SFOILBIS 
 
 turned them, paying the thi«e men who olaved n^ 
 mer took no part, but s&t bulked ov^ Kd o?^' 
 
 toeether in «,kTu^^ "*® denomination coming 
 wgezaer, m which event r'aolit«" ;♦ ;» n ^7^» 
 dealer tak^ hou «.i, ^ ^ ^ ** ^ called) the 
 
 ««Mrr taices Half the money. The stakM w^./ i ^? 
 at last and the deal aboi,/i,^ ^ne m^ „^^^ ^^ 
 
 t^ubled ^e, upon- the n^.,^",^,JS't™S; 
 "Counting bank rolls, fixtures, and all about . h™, 
 
 chooST«rL"'°nr- There w«, three ca^to 
 
 ev» v^^hrri"* ""'^ ^"""y "•"<>«*• divined 
 
 tms. It was not gameness," nor altogether a 
 
 i«4 
 
A MAR IS FOSSBSSBD OP A DBYIL 
 
 tntttiA ftiilybomneas which would not let him quit. 
 It WM tomethtng deeper. He was desolate and his 
 heart was gone. Helen was lost to him — ^worse yet, 
 was unworthy, and she was all he cared for. What did 
 he want of the Mklas with its lawsuits, its intrigues, 
 •nd its trickery ? He was sick of it all— of the whole 
 game — ^and wanted to get away. If he won, very well. 
 If he lost, the land of the Aurora would know him no 
 
 When he p«t his proposition, the Bronco Kid drop- 
 ped has eyes as though debating. The girl saw that he 
 studied the cards in his box intently and that his fin- 
 gers caressed the top one ever so softly during the 
 instant the eyes of the rest were on Glenister. The 
 dealer looked up at last, and Cherry saw the gleam of 
 triumph in his eye; he could not mask it from her, 
 though his answering words were hesitating. She knew 
 by the look that Gleni^cr was a pauper. 
 
 "Con»e on," insieted Roy, hoarsely. "Turn the 
 cards." 
 "You're on!" 
 
 The girl felt that she was fainting. She wanted to 
 scream. The triumph of this moment stifled her — or 
 was it triumph, after all ? She heard the breath of the 
 little man behind her rattle as though he were being 
 throttled, and saw the lookout pass a shaking harid to 
 his chia, then wet his parched lips. She saw the man 
 she had helped to ruin bend forward, his lean face 
 strained and hard, an odd look of pain and weariness 
 in his eyes. She never forgot that look. The crowd 
 was frozen in various attitudes of eagerness, although 
 it had not yet recovered from the suspense of the last 
 great wager. It knew the Midas and what it meant 
 
 165 
 
I! Hi 
 
 THB SFOILBIS 
 
 
 ?»WW. and it ««„15*J^. « »ove. sj. one 
 
 J»^y Mid leered at the ^t Zl^' ?' ""eritoted pur- 
 fW*^ and beaithit w'fS." *^ *'«MPoeZ. 
 ^on th.t other wa^er ^fl^SLT «- king h«i 
 
 d« crash. Chel>rv M.i JT^ ^ «>»ttered by a nd- 
 
 :That bet i. or^Tietl'21"^ '^ ««* clear: 
 Glenister half rose ov.^- ** ''^«>n?J" 
 
 l»«»d«. tense and talon-like f h J^l' .!f *^ ^"^ ^w«derful 
 
 « though i^hing °^ thL^^^ forwwd 
 
 away They worlLl «d \^'.^ »^,l»«<i hatched 
 
 though in dumb fury ^ J^,*^^ ,^^ t««bfed a. 
 
 c oth table-cover, m^^ T.^*^ ^^o the oil. 
 
 h« eyes bla«d at her^X^w """"i^^^ »^^ 
 
 •dly, bracing hen«lf wrar f^*K '^'IJ ^^^ affi^^- 
 
 Mffls. ■^•^^ "^«» the uble with ^ 
 
 R«Mon came slowly back to ni— • . 
 standing with it. HeJ^L^ Gi«u»ter. aad undet^ 
 
 "«-•• He could i«d1^^ 1*'!'*^ ^~« a nig^ 
 look of bAd hate^thl J^ ^^^"^^ ^^« »««^^ 
 Ws ana. ^^6^6^^''^;^^-^ on the table 
 woman, who shraak l^Jl^J^?'^ ** ^^ <^owering 
 «na]ce. She triS^o^k Tut '*.\!!?^^* ^^^^ 
 dealer came to hiaadf^d J^* if^°^- '^^^^^ the 
 teeth one wofd:^^ ' ^ "^"^ ^*"hly thro,^ j^ 
 
 i6# 
 
A NAlf IS POSSBSSBD OP A DBVIL 
 
 "Chmtl" 
 
 He raised his fist and struck the Uble so violently 
 that chips and coppers leaped and rolled, and Cheiri^ 
 closed her eye. to lose sight of his awful grimaci 
 Glenister looked down on him and said- ^^ 
 
 "I think I understand; but the money was youn 
 anyhow so I don't mind." His meaning n^ Vuto* 
 The Kid suddenly jerked open the drawer before Wm.* 
 but Glenater clenched his right hand and leaned for- 
 ward. The miner could have killed him with a btow 
 
 Kid checked himself, while his face began to twitch as 
 though the nerves underlying it had broken bondage 
 and were dancing in a wild, ungovernable orgy. 
 
 Yo« have taught me a lesson," was all that Glen- 
 ister and . and with that he pushed through the crowd 
 and out mto the cool night air. Overhead the arctic 
 stairs imked at hun. and the sea smells struck him, 
 H^ f^ i"^ A. he went homeward he heard the 
 
 It^^*'!?'^^^*^^*^^"-^***- It hew the 
 mystery mkJ sadness of the JJorth. He paused and 
 
 ^ his tli^k n-t^ he«i. Stood for'ir^g tT^ 
 girtHienng hsm.elf together. Stalling so. he made cer- 
 ta.n covena-nts with hi««lf. a«.d vowed solemnly never 
 to touch another card. 
 
 At the same moment Cherry Malotte came hurrying 
 toher cott^e door, fleeing as thot^ from pursuit^ 
 ^r* ^i^^^'^»^t«l spot. She paused before 
 ei^ng and flung her arms outward into the dark in 
 a wi*e gesture of despair. 
 
 '•Why did I do it? Oh! why did I do it? I can't 
 un^Mstand myself." "n.r icant 
 
 i 
 
f! 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 A mONIOHT IIB88BNOBR 
 
 t»n Which it i. oTStTto ^i^U^ -"^ '"'%- 
 
 ".thLvsn: hi^?.'- *"'-=^* I "o„id much 
 
 tively gaunt. Why— vou'r.^/ growmg posi- 
 
 oM man." She iSe W,^ *^ "'*' ''""^^ ""» »» 
 table and WMt ^^1,^^'* Jl *"* '»~«««- 
 with affection. ' »°°°*'^ 1»» »ilve«d head 
 
 wh«: tt'X^S'at'w^ r^ i* *" >"• '"edc. 
 gave way to a^mife "^ '^''•'"»"y »' ••t.^ 
 
 t..at^'a„'°'^ij':i?^-''!r^»^f ■>«- ->'. 
 
 and rm too far along.^ J^r,^' ^ -; 
 
A aiBNIGBT IIBSSBNGBK 
 
 On. WOU& think S.t .^atfertLh" *'' *""«• 
 
 g.as.anditswa.ul^^'.tll^i^^-'^PoU.hed 
 . rai-road in , ^,, -^tr^XTZZX 
 
 169 
 
I ; 
 
 ; !' f i 
 
 I'U 
 
 M 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 ^Idn't they have lymphony orchattrat tad Look 
 
 " v^*T ^?*5!" • 'P^~^^^ dtnctr," the Mid. 
 You thaU be my judge and jury. I'U tin this 
 card at oftwi ai I dare without the certainty of violence 
 at the hand, of theM young men, and the net of the 
 time lU tmoke m the lobby. I don't care to dance 
 with any one but you." ^^ 
 
 After the fint waits he left her surrounded by part- 
 ners and made his way out of the ballroom. This was 
 His first relaxation since hmding in the North. It was 
 well not to become a dull boy, he mused, and as he 
 chewed his agar he pictured with an odd thriU, quite 
 unusual with him. that slender, gray^ed girl. With 
 her coiled mass of hair, her ivory shoulders, and merry 
 wnUe. He saw her float past to the measure of a twi 
 •tep. and cAught himself resenting the thought of an- 
 other mans enjoyment of the girl's charms even for 
 an instant. 
 
 "Hold on. Alec," he muttered. "You're too old a 
 
 u v*2^***7^***^" However, he was waiting for 
 iier before the time for their next dance. She seemed 
 to have lost a part of her gayety. 
 "What's the matter? Aren't you enjoying your- 
 
 "Oh, yes!" she returned, brightly. "I'm havina a 
 delightful time." «»viiig » 
 
 When he came for his third dance, the was more 
 dtstrattg than ever. As he led her to a seat they 
 passed fi. group of women, among whom were Mrs. 
 Champian and othere whom he knew to be wives of 
 men prominent in the town. He had seen some of 
 them at tea in Judge Stillman's house, and therefore 
 
 170 
 
A >IIHI6RT >BSSBII6BR 
 
 «^L^^ of m«. h. could cop. with. bufS; 
 
 •"J:^ "'.r^r »«• out of hi. wato. "• 
 
 your *^°" '^'•' ""• *'»y «»ff«»«w 
 
 b«i" tli^l'T"'"^ ** *•• » '«'• •PO'- to th«». 
 "Cut yoKf" he exclaimed. 
 
 bi«h "it !!!lI'**.*r"^J*'- *"' •>» l»M her he«l 
 wS hJ.!??^." **""«'' •" t^ »<»»«> in Nome 
 
 r^nTuHS^^^uis^*-*— "«^-^ 
 
 «.7r''f?' "? *'" "»*•" •■» "M. proudly. "I ,l,.ii 
 
 Mce whom be might question. Most of ^e m^« 
 Nome either hated or feai«l hiJ^v^^ v -^ "* 
 
 .huh^thou^ht -.ti'sr^.^dtd-r iS: 
 
 you to be." «uw»tanar i m blunt, and I want 
 
 ••All right." 
 
 "««• 1 ve seen her there. To-night she refuses to 
 
t 
 
 : fl 
 
 ' \l\ I 
 
 m 
 
 TRB SPOILBIS 
 
 "How •hould I kooir?" 
 
 iJi'Si^tS; lis* »«« to ««- out." 
 
 «x« that goes M SuJ^' i!^ ?m>to«-<amp ■well.. 
 
 inrS SX'S r»SS' •*.T' '^ '» '^ "»*««- 
 tteiTutTlv «d .?^ "■" *"»«^» the convw,. 
 
 ofl^TS^w"' '5°"* '* *" • «~«»' "»y. but 
 t«^i^»'«°'°'^»-«*thin«,. Yo„.^'C 
 
 "Goon." 
 
 M«. CIuoiii?U'^i^t".^ti^* young Gieni^. 
 him-I ehSod «v_^^i •tate-room to thero-eiw- 
 
 girl CM do wtatYh. p£L."^ S ' a"""*™!' ' 
 
 ^*b«.. »n„ truth in th. .to.y.too!'^;^^^ 
 
 though W „ elucidation o? tl^^t 'S 
 
 i7a 
 
A maiiieaT mbssbmobr 
 
 "•.^«1 .- * ' ^'"•'ying toward! Um. 
 xouve changed your mind?" ^^ 
 
 better than to ountinn w T . • •"•* ■» knew 
 
 tbe Hght in tl^in^plrter sZT^'v""* *"'»«" »P 
 .chair. ..orming l^^":;^ fJ^V: STr" 
 Her eyes were starry with tear. «/ - \ "* '**'y- 
 
 •gainit the mantel watcWna T^'IS:*^- ^* ^••"^J 
 •moke. ' ^»*«'»»°« l>«r through bis cigar 
 
 bit her lip ••\Sl,ft^!^L "*'/°*^« <^»"«ht and Shi 
 and faced them. Ol,w7i. ^ *° *<*• "omen 
 
 "I shall have to k*II rt«^.n '"'"'T*' ''»*• 
 flecl*.g hi, cig„ a^^'i't'thT^ar* """• "^ •^• 
 
 -S^r'i ' "" **r '*'■" »»^ 'o<"»0 .t him 
 vieniscer, of course If T h^A *.u *. 7 "• 
 
 would ever „«;h X I'd hatf .t??,*' *' **°^ 
 ago." / ". »a nave shut him up fong 
 
 "It didn't come from him." ,he cried, hot with in- 
 
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 11 
 
 .'I 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 dignation. "He's a gentleman. It's that cat, Mrs. 
 Champian." 
 
 He shrugged his shoulders the slightest bit, but it 
 was eloquent, and she noted it. "Oh, I don't mean 
 that he did it intentionally — ^he's too decent a chap for 
 that — but anybody's tongue will wag to a beautiful 
 girl! My lady Malotte is a jealous trick." 
 
 "Malotte! Who is she?" Helen questioned, curi- 
 ously. 
 
 He seemed surprised. "I thought every one knew 
 who she is. It's just as well that you don't." 
 
 "I am sure" Mr. Glenister would not talk of me." 
 There was a pause. "Who is Miss Malotte?" 
 
 He studied for a moment, while she watched him. 
 What a splendid figure he made in his evening clothes! 
 The cosey room with its shaded lights enhanced his size 
 and strength and rugged outlines. In his eyes was that 
 admiration which women live for. He lifted his bold, 
 handsome face and met her gaze. 
 
 "I had rather leave that for you to find out, for I'm 
 not much at scandal. I have something more impor- 
 tant to tell you. It's the most important thing I have 
 ever said to you, Helen." It was the first time he had 
 used that name, and she began to tremble, while her 
 eyes sought the door in a panic. She had expected 
 this moment, and yet was not ready. 
 
 "Not to-night — don't say it now," she managed to 
 articulate. 
 
 "Yes, this is a good time. If you can't answer, I'll 
 come back to-morrow. I want you to be my wife. I 
 want to give you everything the world offers, and I 
 want to make you happy, girl. There'll be no gossip 
 hereafter — I'll shield you from everything tmpleasant, 
 
 174 
 
 ■Hi : 
 
t\ 
 
 A MIDNIGHT MESSENGER 
 
 and if there is anything you want in life, I'll lay it at 
 your feet. I can do it." He lifted his massive arms, 
 and in the set of his strong, square face was the promise 
 that she should have whatever she craved if mortal 
 man could give it to her— love, protection, position, 
 adoration. 
 
 She stammered uncertainly till the humiliation and 
 chagrin she had suffered this night swept over her 
 again. This town— this crude, half-bom mining-camp 
 — had turned against her, misjudged her cruelly. The 
 women were envious, clacking scandal-mongers, all of 
 them, who would ostracize her and make her life in 
 the Northland a misery, make her an outcast with 
 nothing to sustain her but her own solitary pride. 
 She could picture her future clearly, pitilessly, and see 
 herself standing alone, vilified, harassed in a thousand 
 cutting ways, yet unable to run away, or to explain. 
 She would have to stay and face it, for her life was 
 bound up here during the next few years or so, or as 
 long as her uncle remained a judge. This man would 
 free her. He loved her; he offered her everything. 
 He was bigger than all the rest combined. They were 
 bis playthings, and they knew it. She was not sure 
 that she loved him, but his magnetism was overpower- 
 ing, and her admiration intense. No other man she 
 had ever known compared with him, except Glenister— 
 Bah! The beast! He had insulted her at first; he 
 wronged her now. 
 
 "Will you be my wife, Helen?" the man repeated 
 softly. 
 
 She dropped her head, and he strode forward to 
 take her in his arms, then stopped, listening. Some 
 one ran up on the porch and hammered loudly at the 
 
 I7S 
 
■ W fi- 
 i m 
 i 1 
 
 ^ f 
 ■ 1* 
 
 It ' 
 
 j 
 
 
 , i 
 ii' 
 
 ■ 6 
 
 
 |! i 
 
 m 
 
 
 If 
 
 IS ^J 
 
 
 
 
 mI^ 
 
 
 Ml 
 
 r 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 door. McNamara scowled, walked into the hall and 
 flung the portal open, disclosing Struve. ' ""^ 
 
 Th«rll ?; S^""^'^' ^^^" ^°°^^"« a» over for you 
 Jnf! .1^ ^ f ^"'^ .^° P^y ' " ««^«" sighed with rehef 
 and gathered up her cloak, while the hum of their 
 
 ofTm/r''^ '". ^"^^^^-^^^y- She was g^en plenty 
 of time to regam her composure before they appeared 
 
 •• You^et f T. *° '^r^^'^' ""^ ^ '"^^ ^° -t °n<^e. " 
 rat«: if ^* "^y ^® *°° ^ate now. The news 
 
 we"'.Y::;;rie'"* '.r;'"'* ^"^ y-^'"" 
 
 otruve. Your horse is saddled at the office B»tf., 
 not wait to change your clothes." ^ 
 
 eh? Tw'r iT^'^'lr''" «°"" '^*'' »"«''ty deputies, 
 eh?^Thats good. You stay here and find out all 
 
 "I telephoned out to the Creek for the boys to arm 
 themselv«, and throw out pickets. If you hu,^ Z 
 
 ^What » the trouble?" Miss Chester inquired, anx- 
 
 "There's a plot on to attack the mines to-ni»ht " 
 ^swered the lawyer. "The other side are tr^Sg*^ 
 SOK them, and there's apt to be a fight." ^ 
 
 ••ThTrwSt'^o.S'sh:^*"*'"^-" ^-^ "*^^- ^^"-^ 
 
 That's just why I must go," said McNamara " I'll 
 come back in the morning, though, and ?d1Se to sel 
 you alone. Good-night!" The^ was a strange „ew 
 hght m hjs eyes as he left her. For one unve^^d i^ 
 woman s ways he played the game surprisingly well 
 
 176 
 
A MIDNIGHT MBSSBNGBR 
 
 Thank you, Mr. 
 
 ri '^^^'"m^J'''^®'' "*« to-morrow. 
 Glenister," he said to himself 
 
 work for weeks and ho^ * 7 " ^*^ ^«en at 
 
 that VignaTe^T/.^' fo^Jd^hevI ^."^ 
 enough to make them thinir »r-' ^^ ^'^ '»«««1 
 
 ..ai|to.„ighl';^''ar£rd'^^^^^^^^ 
 ••"ur '^'zi r 'Thfotr""- "r-'o-'^- 
 
 H!^rsc^~~ tf gt^^LX^t^! 
 
 iinea tae scheme— I mean when the trouble beean " 
 She wrung her hands "tk.*'. _•. ^ °fsan. 
 
 before we left &attfe Th»,- ,, T*'** ,"""='* ^^"^ 
 rIM ■•« kJ • '**'"*• That s why I took the risks I 
 aid m bnngmg you those papers I tl,™,„i,l 
 them in time to avoid all thS^ "^''* y°" ^"^ 
 
 Struve laughed a bit, eying her c«4ousIy. 
 ^^^ Uncle Arthur know about this?" she con- 
 
 ne^Tht^"ll^:X"rn.-. ^"-^ ^ *- 
 smiM^'^J'^hofetehrthtvLd?" ** "''^" 
 
 "We think it is o,x:^^Tcz7::^:'^::, 
 she^wr^Ltrnir -* ^-^^ crow/t^^^.^::^: 
 
 .o:tv^.^^"'rh:rtCirstt: ^tS 
 
 were constantly happening which^how^' the.e^S 
 
K- t" 
 
 ■f 
 
 s 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 more back of this great, fierce struggle than she knew 
 It was impossible that injustice had been donHhe 
 
 was puzzlmg. When she strove to foUow it up her 
 acquaintances adroitly changed the subject. She wL 
 
 Lldti°^'!f'^l^"- The three local newspaper u^ 
 held the court. She read them carefully, and wm mo«» 
 
 at sea than ever. There was a disturbing mfdl^^^n^ 
 of alarm and unrest that caused her to feel ii^^e 
 as though standing on hollow ground. "^^ur®. 
 
 n^i^f' t^^ whole disturbance is caused by those two 
 Only for them we'd be all i.jht." 
 
 "Who is Miss Malotte?" 
 
 m^LT^^' ST^^^'- '"^^« handsomest woman 
 m the North, and the most dangerous." 
 
 In what way ? Who is she ? " 
 
 f tv.3!i?*"^ *"" '*^ ^^"^ °' ^^^ «h« is-she»8 different 
 fmm other women. She came to Dawson in the e^y 
 
 thvT;l?l'''°''^7' ^' ^°^ ^^^^ whence oJ 
 why. and we never found out. We woke up one mom- 
 
 3 !n ^'^''t '^' ™- ^y '^^^^^ ^« were'^a^rieSoS, 
 and in a week we were most of us drivelling idiots. It 
 rmght have been the mystery or. perhaps, the competi- 
 make a hllf v ' ^^^ '?'^"" ^ dance-hall girl could 
 Zlr^r.TT^y^J'' * "^^^^ °^ "^a'^ a millionaire 
 ZLT^a' ^* '^' "'^"' ^°*^^'^- She toiled not! 
 
 fn on ^ V^^ 'P'*' °° *^^ ^^'^^^^ fl°««. yet Solomon 
 m all his glory would have looked like a tramp be^de 
 
 "You say she is dangerous?" 
 
 of 'oTL^nrrT? *^ ^""^ nobleman, in the winter 
 vlllow h • ; i th^^k-fine family and all that-big. 
 yeUow-haired boy. He wanted to marry her. but a 
 
 178 
 
A mONIGHT MBSSBNGBR 
 
 faro-dealer shot him Tho« 4.u 
 n.ou«t«, polic! thTfin^J^ffitlnT. ''°''' "' *■» 
 w« cashiered. She knew he w^ * '*""*• "e 
 
 but .he didn't seem to 1~ T/'u* *° •"' '" her. 
 Yet, with it all.ThTis th^tr?'' *""* ""* "fers. 
 
 th. most tender-h^^rted XTT ^f^"" '"«' 
 •stew bum' on the y^^^L "^'7\'''* ■•" 'ed every 
 
 prospector in .het^n:';^"',!',^^ » J"»»^ 
 for she has grubstaked do«nsT h^ 'T ''^*"- 
 nbly in love with her mvs«If v.. T. i "** ''°'- 
 
 ..Ty^atdoyoumean?" 
 
 withtu?v'y. a'rd"c:rg I'atk'Th^ *° """» " — 
 spring break-up. I WM„'t ,L T' ^"S"" ■" the 
 Glenister got her asho« .^ \"' '"'* " ^«"' *«» 
 would tackle the ^ Th^t°'' "^"^ ''°^y «"»e 
 
 down-strean, "thii^JiLTo- ..'''"''*^ ^"^ ■""*» 
 ."What happened thenr ^°"' ^' ™»«eeded." 
 
 "AnS 'if" '" '?.* ""h hi", of course." 
 .ouJU^---f^-ad^as.^ 
 
 ««. brhet:rw"i^ri d.^^;.te?^j'r - 
 i-ir:v:Sed'Twtrr ••H -^y^^" 
 
 saying her." ®- ^^® P*^^ ^m back for 
 
 "1 haven't heard about it." 
 
 seen that 'turn,' for they sav th. ^^ *° ^*^® 
 
 terrific. She was keeping^^L and T.T"*. ^^ 
 
 slammed her case-keeopr cW ' / J^ ** *^® ^^ish 
 
 cr case jceeper shut and declared the bet 
 
 179 
 
 ;l: 
 
 ii\ 
 
THB SPOILfilS 
 
 M I 
 
 ^l^''^pSt, W "^d* i: "■■•*»'"• 0* ««« they 
 
 • -^C^r^;:;; s-h"^ -^« ^U «, G,«u.t. . 
 
 ureses I Ugh I I h^t^W'^' ''*'"*"'»• '"vent: 
 ever come here?" *' ' *«*» iti Why did I 
 
 They ^e all^t al^wt £?»!!! T''^ "•» """fy. 
 women like you that t.^ ,f '" *■"' y"'- But it fa 
 You can help „s a lot " Sh! 1°? "*«'• >«»» Helen 
 was looking at her inj «m^il"L°°* «''• *>•« "ay he 
 "P-staire ani asleep ""'"'^'ed that her uncle was 
 
 1 am' y^\Tr^T *° «^"^ «»« »«". f- if, Ute and 
 
 Wmo«:':heet:;2ilfeVr'«. ». after letting 
 wearily up to her ^Z^ 'gt ^'* ""^ t"«8«'» herseK 
 ments and threw ovS her h- t. *^ ""* <»»ter ga^ 
 rf -"any flounces a^.^^ildeS,.'"™"*" " "'K^S^ 
 As she took down her ha^wS'^r*;'"^ '~»^«»- 
 M^otte returned to her tom^,"' ^* '*°'y °' ^heny 
 had saved her life also at n^*"^^'^- «» G'e-isS 
 ve^r gallant cavalier he w^ It ^' "T"" ^»t a 
 hear a coat of mZ^^^'J° ^ »»'»' He should 
 and a fainting m^en"T^°°'.*° *™ed knight 
 handsome onL^sCld b^Z'L^''' » distreT 
 
 I&, ^*^ °° his shield. 
 
A maMIGBT aBSSBNGBIt 
 
 death dragging at hta hee" *'^?iafa !tmn?'''V^''' 
 he had At thi. she hli..i,2i """a ''"""S embrace 
 that while .he wi m,^t^ and reahzed with a shock 
 
 fighting '>.»d't:h.„'"di:"t"hVd*'aVtaS:o7a'' "«'' ^ 
 gorge with the man she w« going to^al^ '"°^*«^- 
 
 and the s ck old man «tl^ ^ *^® *'«8«^y abroad 
 
 thought, a, she unchain^^^'^o^'" "^^.m.™, d,e 
 
 sw^ngtd:':rn"fthe'c:!;d/1 back amazed while it 
 teredinthe4ht.ir "^^V^"' <«'ke'ed and sput- 
 and deterainrf hts Uft lvT**"*°°^ there, grim 
 
 "I don't understand." 
 
 i8i 
 
 111 
 
lu 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 color OM o« of her fi, ^°" her bown. .„d th, 
 they both looked up to^Td« tS""* ".°'" •'»^« 
 pvertheb.ni.ter. JUhZCS^^^,,'^^''' 
 •nj-gown and now miooed «???? ^^" " • <"«"- 
 
 •yot were widewfth ^ ^k"" ?'" "' P"**y •"<> hie 
 'rom rieep. Ii^Ut^^"l ^"^ «"<> "wollen 
 ^p^^ r up. moved m « vain endeavor to 
 
 It I 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 VIOILANTBt 
 
 0?.!^J^L'^ "* "P^* «" «•» Northern. 
 
 mamiold experiences .eemed distent and unreal At 
 breakfast he wm ashamed to tell Dextry TtU mm^ 
 bling debauch, for he had dealt treach«2usly ^tMh^ 
 old man m rfaiking haKof the mine. evenTh^h the? 
 bad agreed that either might do as he chose^th l2 
 totewst. regardless of the other. It all seemrf Uke a 
 nightmare, those tense momenu when he lay above the 
 receiver-, office and felt his belief in the ine w^ 
 
 t^t t '^'^ r"*'""- «■"•««»''»« I'M for ptay 
 that poTOSsed him later. This lapse was the last stand 
 of hts old, untamed instincts. ThVemben of revouln 
 him were dead. Ho felt that he would neveT^ 
 
 ^t r hS^t^"""' *•»» "^ «-"- -« ~- 
 
 Dextry spoke. "We had a meeting of the 'Stran- 
 glers- last night." He always spoke of the VigiuS^ 
 m that way, because of his early Western training. 
 What was done?" * 
 
 ••They decided to act quick and do any odd jobs 
 of lynchm', claim- jumpin'. or such as needs doin' 
 
 183 
 
ll 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 MM- 
 
 bunch wii.'s^ u:s'^;'^L^::^«*r''' *• 
 
 *•>• nwp next." ^^ * «»"«*'U wipe them off 
 
 ;;'«*^ bound to come to thi,." 
 
 "Good Ho2T '^'' »» «w minee." '"' 
 
 only tek«> mi JuhZ ^^ """'*' down.wd 
 
 th«t it would «*S mlL^ "^ •"«'' " "Proor 
 
 »"» to .tep in; heTTu^MI^" l"" «°^«"- 
 •o?«hin« With the Cl"cmuSu,^".?^*~ *" "» 
 
 cu/o^ *c,rS*„o"'J^™;„ il^'^'r? «*<»•* «« '«" 
 
 I)e8..hooter-^. 1??!! ° ""wouM for • boy with . 
 «n' clean out t^bZh ift *'^' "'"^ better go in 
 "A doctor? What for?" ^•*^°«*o»"-" 
 
 medical purposes " ^ ^ **' "^^^X ««ed for 
 
 not^!:t^T;o7vrblenlS^^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^'^^ ^--I 
 that is, hard for^ou!^ ^ ^"^^^ ^^"^ <>' J^te- 
 
 The old man shook his head "v«„. 
 It am't hard for me " ^°" '® mistaken. 
 
▼IGILAlfTfiS 
 
 to ipMlc With him «nh!S h *" »''"'««» •"• detii; 
 ,.Iv. known th»t for . long time." 
 
 through her IV. got^aTn^ ^^ ""'. *» "''»• •»<« 
 h.v.«-t .pott«J thein' Jr The^r i^,*""-' »«» ' 
 nvet' men mottlv_r.mn.».. / ^ °^ onee— 'up. 
 
 growing cIoM and desperate To ' 'J"* Jf"™ »•« 
 which nt on the ouS. of th. ? .^ '''* "•>"' 
 followed one of the plank walk! IT' *" °«»»"ily 
 the confusion of tenu m.Zt ^'"^ """""^ through 
 l-ck of the two p^c • T^°r?' •■«»»«'«'» lytag 
 Th» part of the d?y wi. „^ ?.^"« *"?• "««■• '"« 
 Mock., for in the rariyTSh 1 fil""* '" "ctangular 
 whatever pieces of grTnd th.v /"'"i''' ^ '^'^ 
 erected thereon some S^d of t^L """^ """"^ "-l 
 their titles. There 4u ff, J •^'''^■"«» to make good 
 cabins, and sheds ^^^^^^^ t"""" '""'"« <" ^^ 
 quite unlighted. aS?^. u "? "?» "««*» and 
 portion of the town fooM Vh" J *J""« "^ illuminated 
 
 Glenister knew his r™^? ""' ^"'»«' intensified, 
 walked it birndfold^ "Zrinr" *""* "• ~"" "^ve 
 house this evening he relf^h* 'f°^" "^ ">« ware- 
 
 185 
 
I |! I 
 
 
 
 
 i > 
 
 I i 
 ' i 
 
 III,;, I 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 the waU at his elbow and saw th« ««.«,- 
 revolver-shot. The man hVl u?^ ®P^ ^^ a 
 
 building and wJsocbL that itT'^-S^- ^^^"^ *^« 
 miss. Glenister fell Wit ul^^^ 
 
 thought flashed over W^ Vom" '' ''^l ^"^ '^^ 
 shot me." ^' ^^Namara's thugs have 
 
 His assailant leaped out from hi« hiA: 
 
 had startled him so that he had bs^W^K*. ''*'""^' 
 upon the wet boards and f^.i? ''2>''"«^«' '"PPed 
 
 r5fh:^,:siHr^.r^t:2 
 
 game is that far aloL w ' Jl ^ *• "**" '"'* ">« 
 we-n go to the mrt^th theJ^ T u """« "''«' 
 the aige on us no:! T^f^^^ti ^^IT^Z?"' 
 you away ? I don't believe it's thV™ If I """"S 
 is, you'd better be caref^^ you'U ^g^^^. ""^^^ '* 
 
 buppose we come home together aff«i. ^t,- » t> 
 suggested, and they arranged fo do .n t '•'' ^°5^ 
 danger lurked in the d^S^corners an^ '^^' 
 
 some such lonelv soot fhJ!^l, . *^** '* ^^s in 
 again. rH.Xle:^c:^l t'^j;:^^^^'^^^ 
 on near,ng their cabin one night the ^ef^' 
 
 io6 
 
VIGILANTES 
 
 though «»,e oneC st^ at^f °' *f "»<i™. « 
 
 for hta, then became friXt^ at tltTwlT ""*"« 
 proachine. Dextrv hoH -~. u °* '"^ figures ap- 
 
 Glenister was7m »e hL°. .''^'^ !'• "owever. and 
 
 him the uncanny~g tK™'"i*r"*<"°8'^* 
 scrupulous force was bent nn l !■ ''^♦'""ined, un- 
 tem.«edtogonrhe^l:^«.<'«*™=«<»- «* "- 
 
 bu^e^T;Sg the^n-'orrl """^ '"'^ «■"» "« 
 o'clock. The oMmtaerhu^t^^^h •"=*"•* '" «•»»' *»■> 
 
 »g. Kt a cigamte S^d defpl^ ^? ~" '5'°" 'P"''- 
 of smoke, began : "^^P'y - then, amid mouthfub 
 
 repeated." '^ ' "'' «"np''ment I don't aim to ha" 
 Glenister questioned him eagerly 
 
 yonder, a man h?pM oTt an th"' 'T'^'-P''* ^"^ 
 m nose. He was JSck^r th , T*^ * 8**' ""der 
 my skelp into tK w4l w!!^''i' ""<» »«" "owed 
 then be dropped his^Jee^ ani^id' "'^ "'^ ' '«' 
 
 ::c^^d~s:e w"h: z.^r'^ ^ ^^^■" 
 
 Sure. Guess." 
 "I can't." 
 ;;it was the Bronco Kid." 
 
 after^el" '"'^''''''^ ^^^-^*-- "^o you think he', 
 
 "He ain't afternobodvekp ««» * i 
 -» sot nothin . to do wi^^ tC^T^^^i::^^^. 
 
 187 
 
' I 
 
 II 
 
 ;& 
 
 m 
 
 
 !:|Hk 
 
 i; 'i. 
 
 ■ 
 
 1; 
 
 ]Hi ' 
 
 
 THE SPOILBIS ' 
 
 «™^^ H.'. too game for that. Th««-, ««, «h„ 
 
 nilJ^arr N^nSr """■ °«»^ "-O -»^ of th. 
 ^_^^ «UB any lavors, Glemster remarked, cyni- 
 
 gambler." ^ *=""'" '«><=«> hire than that 
 
 had vanished c^mS^frZ v't*" ^~*' "^^ *"• ^^ 
 in his gambling-hSl at V,ii^ ' ''*"?*'• «« '« »»» 
 
 of the dance at th"ho "l wK'^r °^ l^' '^"^"^ 
 Of the Vigilantes. who'i^SX""^*""^™' 
 •'^t*J^i^g1^** «--«-«'"■ 
 
 Something iC>^r^^hl^r^i* *' ^"^ °'^~''- 
 you knew aboS^ ' *^°^- ^ ™PPosed. of coune. 
 
 P^bablyT^eir" rH'^'" '^ ^'^- "I«'» 
 
 Togelrthe7^the"„?:er":^h:^*r-" . 
 part of town and knocked «V^^.^ ?* *'*^*«»**^ 
 
 lighted warehouse fc^k^bv . v tf 1* '*^«' """ 
 
 buading faced tte^tw^^'','~*^'*°<=«- The 
 
 three sfdes ^yZ'':^^rj^Z^--^ot^ 
 
 "^theTxr:^*St?ir''r '-^^ ^-^ 
 
 i8q 
 
VIGILANTES 
 
 the rear room, where they wer« A^mi** a 
 compartment had been fitt^ * 1"'*^*^ *«*«' This 
 of perishable eoods durinl iT VJ"^ ^^^ ^*"n storage 
 without windo^'^aTe f^^^^ 7''''^^'' «"<^' ^l 
 gatherings. *° ''*®*^ P^*c« for clandestine 
 
 Glenister was astonished fn fi«^ 
 organization pr«ent, Sing ^^,^'2:^".°' *^ 
 posed to have gone home .n if "*''?'''• "''om he sup- 
 discussion had'b:^i";^"'j»!!'»- Evidently'; 
 presiding, and the boxes w°^;i: ? '='>«'™«n was 
 been shoved back airaW «,? " « t '"''*' °^ 80ods had 
 were ranged the tCo« J^" i^Tr"."- ^-^hese 
 their serious faci S^ " 5 *''* "Stranglers." 
 lanterns. A ceS ^^«^ • ?P*-'**"'>' ^y »o«terrf 
 ister-s entrant? the eSan''''*^ *''?" "^ ^I^ 
 
 was but momenta,^'! howeTef oTen^'^'T!^- I* 
 that tragedy was inth,7wV' ■ °!«"»*er himself felt 
 
 attit„des%nd^^kX " ilv J^ "^^^ " "" "»'' 
 He was about to quStiel ^'^'*'^«* '«<=«• 
 the presiding ^^ZZZ"'"' ""* *° "^ """• 
 
 o-c.l'"tT5:rm:!;:;rtrv!^'^'''.-««™atone 
 
 do anyth.„g to sc^e'tCteCa^" "°* *° *»"' " 
 
 ».srri^ou;"^,r%'t;i'%?»^- » ^ 
 
 tor business. howev^aTd I wfntt'w' ?^°"'^ "™* 
 ask what is on foot ?" to be m it. May I 
 
 mod^:::'"„lL,s?r^rset:' "^^. ^ ^^ ^^ 
 
 and act ouieklv w. i. . ''*''* decided to act 
 
 source anTnow we^ «^^*''\*'"***' ^"^ '*««««- 
 robber, in ou° own way ^w! ^^"^ °"' *» «««« »« 
 
 ^-. divide into thrgrot':?S?e^r.f« tS 
 
 189 
 
) ! 
 
 ;|H|; 
 
 
 JiB; 
 
 ;,! 
 
 • JffKiF ' 
 
 1 
 
 I ; 1(1 m^ if [ 
 
 ll 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 
 f s^flHK 
 
 
 31 ^^^^H^BV t 
 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 from this meeting intitu; j,y -i""" "^ ^ "" <»»'"«» 
 
 spokesman for thei^ri[-,,.«;«,i..^» ""^^^ " 
 "W?'^„^ ***?•" '"'' *°«' a^-nd the room 
 
 est. Now tte^tn'^?" ?'™. *?"* y°" partner's inter- 
 
 affair, o7theS.tr^e » "''• '^*^^' " ** 
 and we thought Srsim;>t.Y " ^"^^ *" ^° J'"**'*. 
 
 this mattersrs^^raara^dZ^c" 
 
 m every quarter " «^T«.5ion ana hard feeling 
 
 eh? Well, you we^^^h"* T^flS^k" y'vt ^-^^ 
 ed about my feeHngs for Miss Chesi^^Let ^.1^11 m 
 
VIGILANTES 
 
 jv«.^tf he r.^Sar No rirf %""-«"- ""c'e. 
 for violence of that K,rt-we°il »L ^.? "" > ""* "°" 
 
 Mafial" "sassmation and the tactics of the 
 
 One of th^ sT^kT ^' ** "^^^ '°"™''«<1 grudgingly. 
 
 to be the lastTne to objtt'' *" """^ '^°" "^"t 
 .tS.S''o.S''the.W^ r*" ';""?• D^'^mination was 
 
 but Stt.L'risnT "famara deserves lynching, 
 one laughed de^elv-3^L M""', °^^ '"'"'"-sonfe 
 house. He's an !h?hr- 5 *''*" ^ * '"»»"> m the 
 and you Zmu^, to J, w r* *° 1^^''^ "P°«^ 
 ««« foUow this <Zi t^L tl "tf ^V*^- " y°" 
 alone." " '*"" *"* "'■"ere. but leave him 
 
 1^ e^°l"he°t^^^^^ "^^^« — ^ P-^ed by 
 
 spoke. We re going to distribute our 
 
 191 ^ 
 
!"M 
 
 f. ' I 
 
 THE SPOILBIS 
 
 favon «quU." said . man as he left. They w^ «rtu. 
 «ri by what they called justice, «,d he coid Z ^^y 
 thra. The hfe and welfare of the North were in their 
 hMd., « they thought, and the™ w«i not one to b^^ 
 
 i^«snr "°'"°"' *■" ''»^' •-» "« »» 
 
 milJ*' *°° J"* '*" ^"'*" discussion, and let me re- 
 mnd you of your promise. You're bound byTven^ 
 obhgat,™, that exists for an honorable man-" ^ 
 th. „il; ''°°,* "^'J' «•»* ru give the snap away I " said 
 ^^f^.""* ' '"° ^o" "«'"" -* '° »»- Still- 
 He followed out into the night to find that Dextty 
 W d«appea,ed, evidently wishing to avoid aigumen? 
 
 "^t du^g the past few days, and indicaiions of 
 
 t^S^ff ™2^'"°'*""^'«''t^- He was of an in- 
 tolerant, vrndicfave nature that would go to any len^ 
 
 forv«jgeance Retribution was part of his ^^^ 
 
 to i^^J^l u "^V"* y°™8 "»» '°°1'«1 't W' watch, 
 to find that he had but an hour to determine his course 
 Instmct prompted him to join his friends and to^ 
 the score w,th the men who had injured him so tot^l^ 
 for. measured by standards of the frontier, they we^ 
 pre.tesw.th their lives forfeit. Yet, he could nofcZ^ 
 t^«noetksstep. If only the VigUantes would be c^- 
 ^ n^^^^ exampl^but he knew they would 
 Cd tJSoM ^ r*"' 0* » "Ob is easy to whet and 
 h^ l^f iu' ""=N«n'^ ™«I'l resist, as would Voor- 
 h^!? ., • d'^<=t-''«omey, then there would be 
 bloodshed, not, chaos. The soldiers would be called 
 out and martial Uw declared, the street, would b^ 
 
VIGILANTES 
 
 sldnnish- grounds. The Vigilantes would m«f ♦>, 
 
 wh.t w<Jjd happ^ SZSe^;'' "" «*' °f the ring. „d 
 
 with himself. He felt th.tK. v • ' ""* "«»«'«<» 
 
 tween hi, loyalty to I v^utrJS"?-^^'' •*- 
 science. The mrl wm Z,,^ ""*.'"' ""^ «»- 
 •he bad 8=hM,Kh tCn f *^ «»»8' h* ""oned- 
 love, and shHi^^SgX^he^nT '"».»'"?»«•' •>» 
 whom he hated vrith fMaWcL fiT °'^" u ' ''°"'' 
 think of her in this hoT? ai ^th.T'Vu''"'*' "• 
 have looked with jealo", ey« „^n ^L • ^k*"* ^"^ 
 the Vigilantes, but thLchS^S th^tK ^ "^'" *° '*»<' 
 -whatwasitj Notc^wa^.S^Snorla^^cTNo"'^™ 
 Jl^K '««'PbIe. it was none ihe C Ck^ a, W ' 
 fn^ds had shown him an hour since ' " ^" 
 
 tie sbpped out into the nieht Th. ™«k • i . 
 
 away down the street, he returned to ?he front T IS^ 
 W and, mooting the steps, knock^ sh^l°' ^ 
 
 The girl's hair lay upon her neck and shoulder, in 
 
 '93 
 
m 
 
 It 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 «™WKng With the pallor oMto^y""'" "^ °«^'y 
 
 «. «>«ly strained by the ev" ^M tt ^ w«k 7^' 
 
 co»f°4h me"^. '"'''^ "'"' y°»- J"*' IT", and 
 ;; Whatoutrage is this. Mr. Glenister?- 
 
 to »v:^^'^c^ort:'"4r^'•s'.''■^~™ 
 
 patiently. "^ ^8^- «• >Poke im- 
 
 .yes™^G^i^t"-sa„"'S*htt';t'^'^ "" 
 
 "I don't understand tlS«,^SvT^*°° °**"~- 
 
 madi" wailed thejudee "yIT ,7' ^^ '"•"* *» 
 
 Mr. Glenister, a.,d teU V«rhe^ toT ""'^ *°. **" J"'' 
 
 •■Hold on,^^'i^^,-r^~ -^^ 
 
 194 
 
" SHE STEPPED BACK AGAINST THE WA,X. HER WONDROUS 
 DEEP. GRAY EYES WIDE AND TROUBLED .T'"''^*^"^' 
 
I< I 
 
TI6ILANTBS 
 
 wlli!:::*^.^ •« cut; »nd I won-t notify Voor- 
 
 a^*^ *•****« ^' *»»«»»"• I came trhelp y^ 
 jnd^if^ycm w«.t to -cap. you'U .top l^Zi 
 
 t«^/°"} l«ow what to do," wid StiUman, to« bv 
 
 terror and indecision. "You wouldn't huriar^M 
 
 man, would you? Wait! I'll hl^l^ • ."* ***** 
 
 n« m^^^M^ 7^ 1 11 oe down m a minute." 
 
 He tcrambled up the .tair., tripping on Trobe 
 
 Qhl^l^ ^"*'^* ^'***^' You mustn't run awav'* 
 
 ^ ^/;^?""^h'^""^ii- "You :'o::,d??i 
 
 ««, would you? Thi» u our house. You ni>na«.f 
 Ltt^^f""* *!•• dignity of th. gove.Zn"'^ 
 
 Th":^™'^:; ™L^ith^- "rir^"'"- 
 
 «t Norn.. You do» Wi ArTh^'^i.'^Si.^ 
 ^X^^' «^ to wip. out McNSnll?.'',^^ 
 
 ••hlw°'l''°"..'°' '"*'■ «^ intentions," die said 
 
 but we have done nothing to run away f,^ wl 
 
 W.U get ready to meet these cowards. Yiu hS^b«tt« 
 
 go or they will find you here " "O" I>«<1 better 
 
 ^th men felt the impossibility of thwarting W 
 Pausing at the top. she turned and looked do^ ''''• 
 ^e^^a^re g^teful for your efforts Just the 'same. 
 
 " Oh, I'm not going," said the young man. " If you 
 
 I9S 
 
 I 
 
-«#i 
 
 lii 
 
 ^M SPOILBis 
 
 ffck ru do the lama M u 
 
 r°*f have to ,,^ J^^J»»j^^^ ht uw tut hj 
 
 *«•»" the hbdUmI o^ u 
 
 ^^»-T.^.rc: •^s.'' ->- «.».»,.. 
 
 »^ "«y «jch the g,ST "•*""•*«•«• th«i 
 Me did u djncted uinn. k„ . 
 
 *««t the sweet icsr f «/ v ^* OMide etch ofth«* 
 
 •f^. fo,»« that Zwu «^k"?°* "^ «««*^ 
 «*•» h« loved her tiSt «^ !f ^."^ '• '<"»« el] «Z 
 
 *nd he stooped to catch her w? *^*** *^^a«l« Wm 
 tunes her breath t^Jll whispered words. At ^h 
 
 Closed hi. i^t^l^fy" ZT^ ^» cheek,td"Se 
 
 Y^ Out m the night a wolf. 
 
▼I6ILANTBS 
 
 dof Middcned th« air, then came the eound of othen 
 wranjhng and taarling in • new-by corral. Thii ii a 
 ^len land and no cockcrow breaks the midnight 
 5^1,. V. •?■»*«>»« enhanced the Judge'i perturba- 
 S^1"h^ chattering teeth «>ttndil Uke SZS. 
 MOW and then he groaned. 
 
 TTie watchm had loet track of time when their 
 S^hi^ ** ^^ ^^"^ materialiiing out of 
 
 h.l'J^*!r ~"*'" ^"■P««l Gleniiter, forcing her 
 bwk from the aperture; but the would not be denied 
 and returned to hit tide. 
 
 M the forenaoit figurei reached the gate, Roy leaned 
 forth Md tpoke, not loudly, but in tones that sliced 
 
 *'*!J2*? ***• "^T*' •^•'P' *^^*^' •«<* ^*ho«t warning. 
 
 Halt! Don't come inside the fence." There was 
 
 an mstants confusion; then, before the men beneath 
 
 "TW. ^p**" ^^ "" *'^? •^***°' ^« continued: 
 This IS Roy Glenister talking. I told you not to 
 
 molest these people and I warn you again. We're 
 ready for you." ^ -• 
 
 ^e leader spoke. "You're a traitor, Glenister." 
 
 fii:\iT''!^- "P^'^^P* I *m. You betrayed me 
 &Bt, though; and, traitor or not. you can't come into 
 this house." 
 
 There was a murmur at this, and some one said: 
 Miss Chester is safe. AU we want is the Judge. 
 We won t hang him, not if he'U wear this suit we 
 brought along. He needn't be afraid. Tar is good for 
 the skin." 
 
 "Oh, my GodI" groaned the Umb of the law. 
 Suddenly a man came running down the planked 
 pavement and into the group. 
 
 »97 
 
 - * r 
 
 (J 
 
i I 
 
 THB SFOILBas 
 
 then the leader growteTJv »°»*"' » 'ilence, and 
 ™»h the hou«, C " He „• IS"?'- "*="«*' °« "d 
 «n the vrindow ^^This k v^** "" ''°'« *° the man 
 t.«.coat." His folto4 1°," '^"'-5'°'' "l"™^ 
 Wt, vaulted the fenc^^d ^^"^^^ *° ^^^t and 
 the walls. The c&?'ea-ct 1?*^?' '."*° *•■* shelter of 
 »«??ed through th.r^^lafZ'"'' ^"=''«*'«' 
 on him. He wondered !fh.,i'? ^**' 'tood out 
 could «a.Iy fi„ or^^^r"»° *"" ^- « he 
 mu«:les would nit witter^,S "f "'""Jered -f his 
 obeyed his command P"*'y" before they 
 
 Helen crowdeH noo* v 
 opening, calledloudi? W v?"' '^""» "»" out of the 
 „ " WaitI Wait a mom«t Th"°^'"« *" and true? 
 Mr- Glenistcr didnwrihl S.?""*"''''^ *» say. 
 were going to attack ThTJ;!^' J^''*'' "nought you 
 there befo,* nM^nTTJ^^ '° '"^^ ^^^ ou? 
 really They left houn ae^ ^n"^ J"*" ">* truth, 
 
 »he had made, and they reX.ize^ hT. *''* ^"^ ='«» 
 
 There were uncertai ^rf • ""^ '° » °>an. 
 ?»n raised his voS LTb *""«' '^'°' «" a new 
 Dextry. ''°"*- ^°* ^oy and Helen recognS 
 
 p>^K:^:.rrrt Z'^'T'^'^^'^-f^- 
 
 has to do what he's toTd Ind rl , ""'f"t.''P y°"d*' 
 to-one midnight work Iwl- .^ *^ '" *■>« twenty- 
 some whisperings. Xn th? S!S 'r'"" Y"""* ''^e 
 
 you thi| time. Judge, but you've 
 
 ^!i■ 
 
VIGILANTES 
 
 gone far enough. We'll give you another chance, then. 
 It you don t make good. we'U stretch you to a lampi 
 post. Take this as a warning." ^ 
 
 ^I— s-shall do my d-d-duty." said the Judge. 
 
 The men disappeared into the darkness, and when 
 they had gone Glenister closed the window, pulled down 
 the shades, and lighted a lamp. He knew by how nar- 
 row a margm a tragedy had been averted. If he had 
 fired on these men his shot would have kindled a feud 
 which would have consumed every vestige of the court 
 crowd and himself among them. He would have fallen 
 under a false banner, and his life would not have 
 reached to the next sunset. Perhaps it was forfeit 
 now-he could not tell. The Vigilantes would probably 
 look upon his part as traitorous; and, at the very least, 
 he had cut himself off from their support, the only sup- 
 port the Northland offered him. Henceforth he was a 
 renegade, a pariah, hated aUke by both factions. Ke 
 purposely avoided sight of StiUman and turned his back 
 when the Judge extended his hand with expressions of 
 gratitude. His work was done and he wished to leave 
 this house. Helen followed him down to the door and 
 as he opened it, laid her hand upon his sleeve 
 
 "Words are feeble things, and I can never make 
 amends for all you've done for us." 
 ^ "For usr cried Roy, with a* break in his voice. 
 Do you think I sacrificed my honor, betrayed my 
 
 . ".^'n.v'"®'^ ""y ^^* ^°P«' ostracized myself, for 
 us T This IS the last time I'll trouble you. Perhaps 
 the last time I'll see you. No matter what else you've 
 done however, you've taught me a lesson, and I thank 
 you for It. I have found myself at last. I'm not an 
 Itskimo any longer— I'm a man!" 
 
 199 
 
!i|. 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 **«» to me that n^ m. J.f " I w«.t to, „d it 
 «upid. I guew; but w<S^t ^ ""''? '*• I"" '-7 
 •nd tell it to n,;?" '^ * ^ou come l»ck to^orow 
 
 McNamara and hi. ,?, ni frfl^ ^J ""^ "^ "V P«T>fe. 
 fnend of their,." h"^° r^^» »* ""e, and Tm no 
 she said, softly: "" '''"^ t*' »*«!» before 
 
 Sh'^^*TtL'^"essyo„-«e„,,. 
 
 jnd for a long i^l^t^'Zl^ ".'^'^''''^ ««•• 
 he were a child. She tmSlw^* •""" though 
 the things which lay ' ZS!^»''*°^''"*'«°° him aboSt 
 tWs night had half U^w'L " °^0 '»«J »hich 
 Stated at the mention ofrnto^ t^T^ ^"^ -»<» 
 l>«>de his bed till he dozJd ^ff ^ T""«- ^he sat 
 wl»t lay behind the hiate^ef^'^"^« *° "'^"'ver 
 "fd body matched in aS<rfute ,« ^' "^ ^ '"^ 
 of the day's exdtemenVZ^ ST^f- '^'" ««« 
 oo»ld barely creep to htt^?l,?u '*l*°«th tiU she 
 and ^fehed-toHi,^ toXT^ • """ *« ""'ed 
 finaUy. with one i<TrZ^m^^^, ^"^ «-»'« 
 obUvion took her. A sen3^„ °" «»nplete 
 
 alm^s^^ " ^^^HhT^'^C^ralZ'-^* 
 
 i,:.- 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 IN WHICH THE TRUT i BEGINS TO BAM ITtELF 
 
 IIwIS tTS^Z? u M^* °'^* ^*y ^^«^ Helen 
 fV!^i!i, ^ *^** McNamara had ridden in from 
 
 He had asked for her, but on hearing the tale of the 
 night's adventure would not allow her%o be ^st^b^ 
 
 MtkolTt *^' {^^^' '"' ^°"« '^^y together 
 
 Although herjudgment approved the step she had 
 
 contemplated the night before, still the girf now feS 
 
 a strange reluctance to meet McNamara. It is true 
 
 that she knew no ill of him. except that impUed in t^e 
 
 aw^.w °^ '''*^^ embittered men; and she was 
 ^"^.^^^^T^^^^^ong and aggressive character makes 
 ^TZT. "*"* PJ°P^rtion to the quaUties which lend 
 him greatness. Nevertheless, she was aware of an 
 
 who so confidently believed that she would marry ^ 
 did not dommate her consciousness. 
 
 She had ridden much of late, taking long, soUtarv 
 gallops beside the shimmering sea that she loved 2 
 
 t^^H^^'^^' °^ ^^'^^ ^^t«« ^^ S^nted the flash of 
 shovel blades^ This morning her hoi^e was W. w 
 
 l^kt?!S^r^V*^- I°^«- early rambles she his 
 iooked timidly wkance at the .ough men she met tiU 
 
 aoi 
 
'. i 
 
 
 
 1 ) T^^ 
 
 1 '' I 
 
 
 1 \l 
 
 1 
 .1 1 
 
 1 'r.>i 
 
 
 
 mm 
 
 iM: 
 
 ifl 
 
 
 .>;™^^ 
 
 
 ity 
 
 i ^ 
 
 cflH 
 
 '■' 
 
 m 
 
 THE SPOILfilS 
 
 ?^ ^^el^'^tl -P~* «" court-,. 
 
 bred, although!?^ critf»r*" °'**° ~"«g«- 
 
 So she was glad riii^ consideration for a woman, 
 the fine f!td^ Zp^ tvtT *" *"" *° "«' '^'h 
 wide spaces. The^ZLSl k T "^^^ "■«» '«» 
 own. °* '^'"™c« t>«**> 8 chivalry aU iu 
 
 4'C'to7dT^/°o,'::^%^"'«" ?b".d. though 
 
 city, explaining thaHL hS weft^Tff "J """»«* *« 
 the thick-coated sha^ "I ?***'*' t^^erfully 
 land of the do^^d wlSLj'^^'~*»- This i, the 
 bor and sbiv^CA^^ " '™'**' ^ '°* « to la- 
 
 ^wsfa,and.?^S'^ti;:s:rrt''' "•^•'^''*'- 
 co^^5J^,^rrtfiiS7»^»''- ^ ""^^^ 
 
 ing any of tihe wom» she^2 t '^ *° r™"^ "cet- 
 memoryof theniXw^ knew, because of that vivid 
 
 Looking up, she not*»H fi,o* j* , ^^ behind her. 
 
 ter and thS ;t o^^l'" V°"«>y- ""^ q«ar- 
 distance awav A fV»!^ /*?* '** " "onian some 
 c«md-mZ'^p,ln4"<;^"fe' on the shouts re- 
 ed. Glancine back ,1,. .. ' ""* " ^^'l^ct sound- 
 bearing a smf^gi^vT^riT"^'" running, one 
 snarling hubbub Stto^'^^ T*' T"' ^"'' ** 
 curiosity became So^r for ^L tj^'f^ '^' P"-''* 
 dogs made a suddenrt^wf \ *.'**^' o"* of the 
 P»upof animab^^^^'^'' *1"°: subdued 
 
 K^o'-sr^ooti^tT ^^^^--^^^^^ 
 
 -•.thes^^-^-^ted^-eawo^. 
 
 303 
 
 IHJ 
 
THB TRUTH BEGINS TO BAKB ITSBLP 
 
 trotted, the motion flecking foam and slaver The 
 creature had scattered the pack, and now, swiit, men- 
 acmg, relentless, was coming towards Helen There 
 was no shelter near, no fence, no house, save the distant 
 
 w«t tI ""^'"^ *^/ ""^^^^ ^°"^" ^^ making her 
 way. The men, too far away to protect her, shouted 
 hoarse wammgs. "««« 
 
 Helen d^'' not scream nor hesitate--she turned and 
 ran, terror-stricken, towards the distant cottage. She 
 was blind with fright and felt an utter certainty that 
 the dog would attack her before she could reach safety 
 
 y?"iif '^ "?" *,^® '^'^''^ P^"^^ °^ ^^ pads close up 
 behmd her; her knees weakened; the sheltering door 
 was yet some yards away. But a horse, tethered near 
 
 i.!7 t; ""^^'^ *"^ '''°'*^ ^ *^« flyi"? pair drew 
 near. The mad creature swerved, leaped at the horse's 
 
 legs, and snapped in fury. Badly frightened at this 
 
 attack, the horse lunged at his halter, broke it and 
 
 galloped away; but the delay had served for Helen 
 
 *Tlf°t. ^'''*' *° '^^^^ *^^ ^°°^- She wrenched at 
 the knob. It was locked. As she turned hopelessly 
 away she saw that the other woman was directly be- 
 hind her, and was. in her turn, awaiting the mad ani- 
 W ''^^*' ^""^ "^^y' * ^'^y revolver in her 
 
 Tu ^'l??* ' " ^^'^^^^ Helen. " Why don't you shoot ? " 
 The httle gun spoke, and the dog spun around, snarling 
 and yelpmg. The woman fired several times more be- 
 
 "Li .!^i '*'"' ^"^ *^^^ remarked, calmly, as she 
 broke the weapon and ejected the shells: 
 
 The calibre is too small to be good for much." 
 Helen sank down upon the steps. 
 »4 ao3 
 
= 1 1: 
 
 ■i i i- 
 
 I 
 
 ■ 1- 
 
 TRB SFOILfilS 
 
 " How well you shoot I " she ga»nmA w^ 
 turned to Helen "" *°* wonum 
 
 tWng, that ^L wTt^.^*tiT*y- 'T*-^' 
 The hostess had steiW bS^rf ""^ ''°™- 
 
 « ^stant and w.^'T^^r hHoTr-n^ 
 
 one kind won^rNo^. ^*^ '"" *°"^ *^ 
 w«IJ°"''* T'' 8°°'*'" *e answered: "but I'm .II 
 
 Ty:.7^.i:v^'i'j:r^- > - -de*:!! 
 
 ^ Motion as sr^iaced^^'t^^ ^r^K 
 
 904 
 
THB TIOTH BBGtNS TO BAIB ITSBLP 
 
 "Oh— !'• Helen exclaimed, then paused as it flashed 
 over her who this girl was. She looked Terqu^u^ 
 
 fuf;!? ♦h / ""f ""^^^^ '^^''' *^« woman beauti: 
 ful with that smile. The revelation came with a shock 
 
 " tJ* T^' ^'^'"'^ *° "^^ ^«' confusion. ' 
 
 «v J^f ? ^°^'? "'"'''^ ^°'' y^ Wndncss. I'm quite 
 myself now and I must go." ^ 
 
 Her chwige of face could not escape the quick oer- 
 Srr ^'Cest^h"'^ experiencTin the's'K 
 m/rtS' f w u.?*^"''* "''°*^'' C^«"y Malotte had 
 rn^fiu'''*' h''°"^^"* ^^"^«« in other woi^ 
 
 '^^,^^\'^^'^''^^^^^^^orstoiall ShebetmyS 
 
 ^rtTfi^^'?'' r' * ^^^'^"^ °^ *!»« eyes and a 
 certam fixity of smile as she answered : ^^ *°" * 
 
 Sh. n^li/'^.r'^^ '**y ^°*^^ y°^ ^'^ «sted. Miss-" 
 She paused with out-stretched hand. 
 
 «5«ii^ . ''•. ^y ^*°^e is Helen Chester. I'm Judge 
 
 C^ mT!; ^^'^ *^" °*^«^' ^ embarrassS 
 
 She?^ghfjC^,.^^''"^'-^^^--^«^y-'" 
 
 wav "I'l!*"' • ? ^°'* ^f ^°^- " ^'"^ «°"y you feel that 
 way. she said. oooUy. " I appreciate yoi service to 
 um ? °^°^®^ towards the door. 
 Wait a moment. I want to talk to you." Then 
 ^O^r l^^ °? ^^' *^" ^°°^ ^^t O'^t. bitter^: 
 
 uSl'Mrl^ ^T^^ ^ ^^^ y°^ *«^ comn^tting L 
 unpardonable sm by talking to me. but no one wiU Ji 
 
 you. and in your code the crime lies in bei^g S^o^t^ 
 
Iff 
 
 1 
 
 ■ 
 
 'li 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 : ] 
 
 t 
 1 
 
 THfe' SPOILBIS 
 
 however, that. b2 uTtr V V^l""' J'"" *» ""O". 
 I'm loyal to thMTtUtlito mf ^ ^i*? *'^ y°"' 'o^ 
 ttends." * '"" "•• ""<J I don't betray my 
 
 coldly"""'* ^"^^ *° "»<>"»t«0 you," ..id Helen. 
 
 Of':^t-,Zr'AL W 'or"T t-^" '»■»->"• 
 She rtepped ta tont rf h!i^^ ?" * P'*'' '» »** me." 
 
 »8ain«^d<^r wMe w J"'*"'- f!»=^ ''" back 
 ing. •• The little swtil^H^ '?' "**" ""' "'<«k- 
 to a privilege. I ,S^ l^L^':"" J"?' '«"' entitle, me 
 t««e of it to t^II vTw'k J^ " ^'""^ *° *»•«> «dvan. 
 fuUyrudeof me!i,n^ rt?''1i^'^:~^."»»'' «*»• D«»d- 
 «ooks. and I adX thL wX " " 7"" » ««• lot of 
 of the dirty wo7k but .t ^ '"^ "" •*»"« y<>" "hare 
 
 i^^upe^irt^^^rS'Ss'^^T *« -<>«•- 
 Let me out I" 
 
 never, deliberately. t.X^*a"lr?"y'. «»<« I 
 hw money." ^^*^ * "**" » hie just for 
 
 ^ortheU. r'^hf^c^.rxCtTa^;' 
 
 3o6 
 
 
THE TIUTH BBGINS TO BAIB ITSBLP 
 
 \na\Zr^' y°^'" P*^°" *^» "**»« ^»t of feel- 
 fag-profeMional p,quc. I'm jealous of your ability, 
 that s all. However, now that you realize we're in fil 
 
 ^JZ .'°"'* *?' '°^ ^" -« he'aTter" "she 
 
 «,??*" 7?.i^ bewildered and humiliated to make 
 t^elLT h°.V?H ^»<^i°"^^"<l incohei^it attack except 
 the fact that Cherry Malotte accused her of a part in 
 thw conspiracy which every one seemed to believe ex- 
 Mted. Here agam was that hint of corruption which 
 shejmcountered on all sides. This might be merely a 
 womw 8 jealousy-and yet she said Struve had told 
 ^ M »^"Vu-:*^»t a bottle of wine and a pretty face 
 would make the lawyer disclose everything. She couW 
 beheve rt from what she knew and had heard of him 
 
 w^ ™«i^ ^* '^"^ ^^ ^P^8^ *° ^^^ ^^'^' that she 
 was wrapped m a mysterious woof of secrecy, came 
 
 tTlL l*fn ".u* ^'^ ^ °^*^" °^ ^*^«- I^ Struve 
 talked to that other woman, why wouldn't he talk 
 
 FrJif Q*^* ^*T^' ^^"^^"8: her direction towards 
 Front Street revolvmg rapidly in her mind as she went 
 her course of action. Cherry Malotte beheved her to 
 be an actress. Very well-she would prove her judu- 
 ment right. ■' *^ 
 
 S^ fourd Struve busy in his private office, but he 
 I^ped to IS feet on her entrance and came forward, 
 offering her a chair. ' 
 
 rn^^r^'^^T^^'^^ ^^^^' Y'^^ ^^^« a fine color, 
 considering the night you passed. The Judge told me 
 
 a^l about the affair; and let me state that yoX the 
 
 pluckiest girl I know." ^ ® 
 
 She smiled grmly at the thought of what made her 
 
 ao7 
 

 
 i! 
 
 f Iff 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 ^Yj»-but not too l«.y to .tt«.d to «,ytbi„, y„„ 
 deUjhted." sKtadwS i^L!**"'; . '■■» ■»<>« «»n 
 
 ;;^ do you take the fatal .tep?" 
 ,^ What itep do you mean?" ^ 
 
 rJL^^^^j^^ ^en does it occur? You needn't 
 month io." McNamara told me about it a 
 
 I thmk you are miat«lrA« u "^"^'y* 
 joldng." ' nustaken. He must have been 
 
 For some time she 1m1 ui^ ^ . 
 
 and flippai^h^oT^He S^^. " 1°°"" « h~ new 
 b. lik. this. «, t«tii«S,^ ~^^.*«??^ *' '^ 
 
 f? "-ddeningly aloof «d diSSt ^^'^^ ff J"* 
 na Speech. ««i«ir. He grew bolder in 
 
 Jj.'wZtTg:^^^^*'' -'"*• questioned. « 
 Mr. McNan:.™ /„ .C^outhJ^rcTU^SS^^:! 
 
 !! 
 
THB TIUTH BB6INS TO BAIB ITSBLF 
 
 He looked at her quickly. " In whtt respect ?" 
 sue iummoned up her courage and walked past the 
 ragged edge of uncertainty. 
 
 t." ^.' <*<»'* y«» t^y to keep me in short dresses, too 
 
 J^Tor"ir;!!sir.'''^"*'"'°'*'' ^^^"p- 
 
 "What do you want to know? "he asked, cautiously 
 ,^^X^r ^'^y-^^^lcanheiirwharji^ 
 
 to'w^; 'XV'J.y^'''' '"*'* '"^ ^y ^y '^*-*- 
 
 Sherecognised her mistake and continued, hurriedly 
 
 tI^'I'^^^'*^^ Aren't we aU in thii t^S? 
 Iobjerttob«ngused'indthendi«:anied. It^kPm 
 wtitled to know ho. the scheme is working. Don't 
 you^k I can keep my mouth shut?" 
 
 ject of their talk; but she arose and leaned against the 
 oSi."^ hun. vowing that she would not lel^thj 
 Office without piercmg some part of this mystery His 
 mwrner strengthcmed her suspicion that there «S some- 
 ^i^"^^ ' .*"• J^ di«iP»ted. brilliant cit^ 
 
 ^ W ^n!r*r'^°'^^^'y' »°d yet. though swayed 
 uL^/^°'*!:;^*r°***°«^<^^^«i by caution. She 
 leaned forward and smiled at him. 
 
 . " You're just like the others, aren't you ? You won't 
 give me any satisfaction at all." xouwont 
 
 oiJ^*''!:*^''*' *'''®'" ^'^ S^™^«' cynically. "That's 
 always the woman's cry. Give me this-^ve me that 
 
 U^.T 7^y^°°'*y°« offer sometlSg in return 
 M« are; traders, women usure . You are curious, 
 hMce miserable. I can help you. therefore I should 
 
 909 
 
Il 
 
 r ^ 
 li ( 
 
 
 11: 
 
 sill 
 
 i 
 
 TU SPOILBIS 
 
 t^^iSL*^ y»» "k «. to bmk ay pio,^ 
 •no rtfk my honor on your nnriea W.ii^^!!r 
 woman -Uke, and ru do it rnW -J.Jt ', *^** 
 somr hut !«»_>. J 7, «• ' U put m)rw|( jn your 
 
 my SUIS * »™»'»y." -h. <««Ad, i„dip«.ti^ -..I, „ 
 
 condition that yrc^l't^C" """^ »P to «tth . 
 «d, on thX^Zd. ^^'cZ T,!^"'* '""'= 
 
 tl»m.elv« If Z.^'^*" ""* "»0y to .peak for 
 rose abruptly from his chair H« ™! J^*^ J"l ^* 
 
 but^ „t«.t«. eo r^'; piL'r';^^ ■"'• 
 
 tao^.' y^ "•■" -^ fl»n« .t him, ••ti.2^1 •«„, 
 
 biKr^ai::^.i^/„r:^/.7- ' «~ - 
 
 tudi^l you. and ru pC^C^hl^TorcS:^; J^« 
 
 axo ^ 
 
TH8 TIOTB BBGINS TO BAIB IT8BLP 
 
 McNuun nor look your uncle in the eye UII you know 
 the truth. You might do either if you *ii«i them to 
 b.- moto, but you couMn't if you c^ w^S^t- 
 u t|jthe womw When you get Jiy, i^Ck- 
 
 n«« abihty When they come to in«:ribe my bwS- 
 •tone I hope they can cuve thereon with truth 'H. 
 (ot value received.'" "•"• hum, ne 
 
 ;| You-« a panther." the said, loathingly. 
 Aa^euonate Md full of play, but with d»rpT«h 
 
 SffaSL ' '>•"*• «>» "»«'<«« owM no k)yalty to 
 £^S^^^ ""* •""*• '^- Now. wh«, you've foU 
 ti^^ '=^n»P'"cy out and placed the btame when, 
 It Delongi, wont you come and tell me about it? That 
 door lead, mto «, outer hall which open, into the 
 •treet. No one wiU tee you come or go.'' 
 
 Ai the hurried away she wondered dazedly whv she 
 ta«l .Uyed to listen so tong. What a mons^'e Jali 
 
 fim day he laui eyes upon her. and he was utterly con' 
 «»enceles.. She had known all thU; and ^l w 
 proud youthful confidence, and in h.; need.W^ho^ 
 ^^t** '^ "'««'*' *° ""ow the trJt^ Ae C 
 Sr^^™'V!™'" "*"• '"'»• Withal, the ^1^ WM 
 shrewd and observant and had divined her m^l ^ 
 
 fir'.. . ! '^'^ "'"' '"«w that she could never rest 
 t^n she found «. answer to her questions. ^^^ 
 kill thjs smpicion that ate into her so. She tho^ 
 tenderly of her uncle's goodness to her. clung^th 
 
 aiz 
 
(ii-il 
 
 THE SPOILEIS 
 
 that lost bn)«l w1^ ° f ""^ ** '*" » dire need of 
 
 bound herto h?^^koId° r^"" "".** »'™'° that 
 McNamara; but C c^uTh"? T'^l'' '^'^ *» 
 she know of him this^„ *^'P ^"' ^°^ ""oh dM 
 
 dax^tshadowSh^nerus^l^r '"^ '"'^ *« 
 
 With Struve.'^Hele^'r^i^'rca.X" T"""*" 
 tions would aUow and decided thti-fC?^'^ " """ *'"°- 
 which pride should figi« ThJ^*" r*' ■"> "l^y » 
 was imperative she d^M ^ '"^ '*='' '''»'='' i' 
 therefoi^a few .Su^7jl r^f "f '"""ediately; 
 
 was astSsh5°fsee t^hl ,f f v'" *PP«^' "elen 
 
 bu™ hottestfnd Ce pfltt tl?^ "^'"?- ^^^^ 
 come most seldom ThiT ^^ "^^ "bere they 
 
 the tumult of ^Ttion *heS? f T^" °''* 8^ 
 her absence, the wtTde^hf J ,f "'"*«'80»e during 
 fathomed. iortCZ^T^^'^}^^':^ ^ 
 
 bSranT;:i-'''-£i}^»^^! 
 
 he._^itor24tSy^5Xnt^-;.'-* .tared at 
 
 haJpJl^^hii^rsarryt^.:: «^-"^ "er- "I 
 
 When they were inside, Cherry Malott*. «f,^ ^ 
 
 g^ at her visitor with inscrSb^l'i^^ rtto^^y 
 
 "It i«.'t easy for me to come b«4." Helen beea» 
 
 • 12 ' 
 
es 
 
 of 
 lis 
 
 IS 
 
 d 
 
 le 
 
 THE TIUTH BB6IRS TO BABE ITSELF 
 
 " *"* •,f''*i'"* ' ^ "• K you c" help m- I ,00. 
 
 bemg done. I have suspected it. but 1 HM„'t i^ow 
 and Ve been afraid to doubt my own people y^u 
 «ud I had a part in it-that I'd tetrayedZ frierT 
 Wa|t a moment," she hurried on. at the otherV,^cai 
 iu- 7°" * y"" **" »* "hat you know «d^h^ 
 
 toTni. r*',"* *'^''-<"', they make me afraid 
 to think and yet I can't find the tmth I You see in a 
 struggte hke this, people will make aU sorts of aCat 
 
 S h'r t^rZot?: ■"'^^ '"^y -^ P-*. «-t my 
 
 "Is that aU?" 
 
 "No You said Struve told you the whole schenie 
 I went to him and tried to cajole the story out of Sj 
 M^ She shivered at the memory. 
 
 nH^i *'''''T' ^'"^ y°'' ^^^® • " ^^^^red the listener 
 oddly curious for all her cold dislike/ *"*«»«•, 
 
 "Don't ask me. I hate to think of it." 
 Cherry laughed cruelly. " So, failing there you came 
 back to me. back for another favor from the ^S wST 
 ^fl^f^\^^^^^^r, I don't believe a word you';e sa d 
 
 the rir^'LT '^'^'l!^^- ^ ^^^^ ^° ^^« -ncle and 
 
 n? I^ r^ T ""^^ '^^* y°"' ^°^ i^^o"" them that 
 
 11 2f \ r fu *^' ^'"^^ '°"^^- 'T^^^y tl^ink I know 
 too much, do they ?-so they've sent you to spy ? Well 
 
 I U make a compact. You play your game and I '11 play 
 mine. Leave Glenister alone and I'll not tell on Mc- 
 r amara. Is it a bargain ?" 
 
 "Ny, no, noi Can't you jee? That's not it. All I 
 want IS the truth of this thing." 
 " Then go back to Struve and get it. He'U teU you ; 
 
 ai3 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 i'jii' 
 
 B 1 
 
 with him. " ">en-now, see what you can do 
 
 himr;ir'ir;rcLTfi^^f°'r*-»dgiv. 
 
 partner and give thi otW to wl'V,"" J^" '<»!' ^r hi, 
 return in an hour with tZ. i .? ; ^'^ vanished, to 
 hand. '"* "•* '«'*«■• for Dextry still in his 
 
 "I don' catch dis feller " i,. , • . 
 
 f«^ say he gone, <^7Sck ' SS'"""*- ""^°""8 
 days." °"'' mebbe one, two, leven 
 
 ''Was there an answer?" 
 Yes, ma'am." 
 ^Well, give it to me." 
 The note read: 
 
 " Dear Miss Cbsstkd a j* 
 
 to us both as the An "c^t c^^°° °' * °**"«'- ^ ^«niHar 
 your inclination is du^to^e ^JZ^?7'°'^^ ^ "^^e**- H 
 trouble yourself. We d°on^tTa^t ^'oS pi^* 7^*^ 
 
 X our servant, 
 
 "Roy Glbnistbr." 
 
 W „ the Ust twelve, or elser ^eCa'^'eS 
 
 3X4 
 
THE IBOTH BBGINS TO BARB ITSELF 
 
 the only one who can save us." 
 
 "What do you mean by that? What a^ ^ • 
 
 xNamara s announcement 
 
 officer at the post. td.Tantt hiL'^TSv! 
 soldiere guarding the house hereafter " ' 
 
 ^_ Why— they won't hurt us—" 
 
 "Tut, tut! I know what I'm talking about We're 
 
 Zl^Z ^'T ""V""" ^^"- *"<• « we Xn-t TrLk 
 
 ^^•~ . '^ "*"" *"""*'" •>* bloodshed-thafs w^t 
 Thq^ re a menace, and they're trying to force me^ff 
 
 Ig i^ mt's S'hTl*'''' '"' l^- i"t° their":™ hLf 
 agam That s what I want to see you about Th*.v'«» 
 
 lo^r^J" "^V"'' ^"^ ni^o'kesa^H^ianrwTv^ 
 got to act quick to prevent murder. Now tWs v^^ 
 Glenister ,s one of them, and he knows wh^ihe S^ 
 Do you thmk you could get him to talk?" ^* ^'^• 
 1 don t thmk I quite understand you," said the ^Vl 
 through whitening Hps. saiatnegirl, 
 
 "Oh yes, you do. I want the names of the rina 
 leaders, so that I can iail th,^ v ^^^' 
 
 of that'feUow if Vrt'^" • ^"^ ^ ""^ ■* °"t 
 
 wa^1?Jr''^v* **■* °'<' "«" » a horror that at fi«t 
 
 "S 
 
THB SPOILfils 
 
 i;! 
 
 for Alec, too." He said ^1 i /°''"J!'"*ybe,and 
 stormed at him: ^® ^* "^'^^X. but she 
 
 "It's infamous I Yot,»«. o.i^-« 
 '"y nmn who saved ^^,^t^ ""L *° ^^t^y the 
 •Meed hi3 life foTM " *"'''• •«»« ««o- He 
 
 ge;7h™X7te'Vw™';rr'°»- "-'"'"•» 
 feUow, but I wa«? ttTothe^"^?" ""^ «"* ^^ns 
 to do it." '^""eothera. Come, now, youVe got 
 
 But she said "Nt>" fin.!.. j 
 
 a long tune starine with iin.«l- ^'' *« »*' for 
 
 denched in her bp At kL^?^ '^^ ''*' ^''^ tight 
 "I'mafaidifrtme r^!5*^'^r'«'- 
 She remained hid™^ duSnt'^'^ 'i> *™*" 
 pleaded a headaclw wh^M^i" <^"-ho«r, and 
 early evening. Altho^. shf hadZf "^"t? " «» 
 he left her the night before bLri^l ^ /*^ ""^ »i»« 
 wed iim. yet hlw coX^'he mS. v **"* P^''« *" 
 
 conviction grewing on her h^irTv^..? ""^ "** *• 
 rogue ? She wrestled wSk*?^J *** ""^ "as a master- 
 
 «cle, her owT^d^lw^^'^K''* that he and her 
 were conspi«t<^ A^d° ^ " *« P»« <>' a father, 
 cold-blooded t^nestZll- ** "^"-y of the Judge's 
 whole being y^Z^^ she should tarn tnrit4s, her 
 that, what other h^^ ^^.'^^^ ^\f *i»? Kke 
 capable of? AU thrionT^l ^ ** °"8''* ■■« "ot be 
 n om. but atlTst^^ T^^Z^'Tf *^ ^«P* "er 
 sareh of Fred f^ ^he Zi * ' ^^^ down-staiis in 
 breakfast ■"' **"""**»*«• "othing since her late 
 
 Voio« reached her fh». the parlor, .„d „ ^, «„. 
 
line 
 Eind 
 she 
 
 the 
 He 
 
 n't 
 
 ng 
 ot 
 
 er 
 or 
 ht 
 
 THB TRUTH BBGIlfS TO BA.B ITSELF 
 
 dfawn curtains ba^S tit , "^ *'"™*'» *• «•<«<>- 
 She rtood toWH^X J""^' "* eavesdropping, 
 plot that cameTw SL"^"':lt''"'!"''8 » *• 
 ^thered up her «kirts'':"i'tX Tc^'i'^T:^' 
 "^estd7ot>t,r^- -^"- ^» ^ 
 
 .tut"h^tt ^„Tr?i*«'-^^ C°^e2 
 
 li^aufste^Ufnto tte tr I?' ""T"^"^ *« 
 "Good-n«ht" at ttie f«,nfii ?""« McNamara's 
 
 while herlncle slowly m^tS';.,*'/''""**^ "K"" 
 before her chamtrr^^ w?'" ""^ .P*"^ 
 when she did not answeVtTtin^J?^ ?^- "'"'J'' '"'* 
 When he was safely S^Thl^ T.""' °^" "<»»• 
 
 out. and lockrf theC dJ^'tT*"/? '""**'>'• "*»* 
 key in her b<^ «ront-door behind her, pUcing the 
 
 "^T^l""' "ghtened though?? ' '* " ""^ """"^ 
 I n be too late. I'M be too late." 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THB DRIP OF WATER IN THB DARK 
 
 The air, weight^ l^ a tw-S Iff , '°i"^^°"^- 
 surchaiged with the elLST ^ "^^ °^ ^^^^^^s, was 
 
 power in leash It ^o» ?? ! tremble at the hint of 
 
 SomethtorcoM afd hart ™ tt? ^''^I "" ""^"y- 
 her cheek, foreine her h^ IJ^"f J '^?'*"*'y »8ai°st 
 struggled •a„S':^t'*»'"'°'»bruismg her. She 
 
 remained^ hir ^^ii^'-^" "f, ^^-'y » hand 
 weapon he had ianmrf t„ h.,? "^/^ '""^"^ *he 
 . ■' W.y. Miss Se^f" he Sm '^.f^Pf-^ <='<^e>y- 
 
 Thats too bad," one^^id. "We mistook you 
 
 III'' 
 
THB DKip OP WAIB» IH thb DARK 
 
 uncle'. «n.i«rie. haTnot L rh;nH "^ *""* " ^^^ ''" 
 She had overhead the^^deeln^M'M"'^" °'«"»*«- 
 to drjg the town with a fo^ o" d^t^^JS^i^- ^"'"^^ 
 only her two friends but .v.™ _ "^P"""- «o«ng not 
 
 . Vigilante. T^^^tarwTreT T^ "' "^^ 
 bond, without reason with™^^ ^ ?''*^ '^*'"«<t 
 anism of the coSTwm to ^i , J!J' •'"'* *• ""h- 
 them until faU. if n^^** Sid ""^.n.*" """^ 
 officers were already b^T. i,. .^ ^^ *""* *'"'t the 
 She .ped down tHl^s^Z:^.^ ^ *'°'^ 
 
 to seek n«^ Zmrthe^oSr/"** ^^ "°* »»>«" 
 hide the m^uA^Zl^^^^Tu "■•'* "^""t 
 against the posse CTToZrth.!!^ ,'*"^* ""■* »'» 
 There was ZyZ^^L^T '"" *""' *° ««»' 
 Theatre. Even Ti,el^\^ ** *' Northern 
 dared not go tte^'h^r^l''"^"'* •"»• '»' *• 
 
 Jap boy. 4t Si^'^Tno ^e*""^'!^' '"^- "" 
 meant failure. wasted moments 
 
 Roy had once told her that u^ «- 
 he undertook. Veiv wS sif. t ?!T ^^'^^ "P ^^^t 
 girl may possess dZ^^.'^'^.f^-^ that even a 
 modesty or shrinking inH^° ^'^ ^^^ "° *inie for 
 more closdy abo^T"^^^^^^^^^ tV""^ ^^^'^^^^ 
 
 into her hands Shemitl "f, *°°^ ^^' ?^ name 
 streets which cast a ?^ T"^/^ *°^^'^^ ^^^ "^^ted 
 
 sal Cnr:«4.i j**""*^** caim, arose the sound of ramn 
 "«• Swrftly d.e threaded the narrow afle^ to S!^' 
 
THE SPOILBIS 
 
 of the theatre's rear entrance, for the dared not ap- 
 proach from the front. In this way she came into a 
 part of the camp which had Iain hid'len from her until 
 now, and of the existence of which she had never 
 dreamed. 
 
 The vices of a dty, however horrible, are at least 
 draped scantily by the mantle of convention, but in a 
 great mining-camp they stand naked and without con- 
 cealment. Here there were rows upon rows of criblike 
 houses clustered over tortuous, ill-lighted lanes, like 
 blow-flies swarminfe to an unclean feast. From within 
 came the noise of ribaldry and debauch. Shrill laugh- 
 ter mingled with coarse, maudlin songs, till the clinging 
 night reeked with abominable revehy. The girl saw 
 painted creatxires of every nationality leaning from 
 windows or beckoning from doorways, while drunken 
 men collided with her, barred her course, challenged 
 her, and again and again she was forced to slip from 
 their embraces. At last the high bulk of the theatre 
 building loomed a short distance ahead. Panting and 
 frightened, she tried the door with weak hands, to find 
 it locked. From behind it rose the blare of brass and 
 the sound of singing. She accosted a man who ap- 
 proached her through the narrow alley, but he had 
 cruised from the charted course in search of adventure 
 and was not minded to go in quest of doormen ; rather, 
 he chose to sing a chantey, to the bibulous measures of 
 which he invited her to dance with him, so she slipped 
 away till he had teetered past. He was some long- 
 snoreman in that partictOar epoch of his inebriety where 
 life had no burden save the dissipation of wages. 
 
 Returning, she pounded on the door, possessed of the 
 sense that the man she sought was here, till at last it 
 
 aao 
 
THB 6R. P OF WATB» IH THB BAKX 
 
 Z^TLTli '™^ *"• •"■»«•»*• o« • i>irt. 
 
 of di»^e™, .c.n':^:X„„,^^^^.^«mp^ 
 m her face thrust a .ilver dollar in^S Wl .t ^ 
 »SVr« r«'8i»8 """If into the o%SL He i^' 
 **!?w ,^ «"" ?"" *• d*" clicked to bS h« '^" 
 Well, speak up. The act's closin' " E^3^«„ u 
 
 Wa«t a minute. There goes the finallv" .nH 
 ^shed away to tend his dro,^ and^^'^' J^ 
 
 ^lirT^ '" ""^ """ '"^ princSTtad s^S 
 ♦•'^''"Muig-rooms he returned. ^'* 
 
 ,_a)you know Mr. Glenister?" she asked. 
 8>ure. I seen hun to-night. Come he™ " u i^ 
 ?" !»™'* the footIights.and puSTg baSTthe SeS 
 aance-haU. She had never pictured a olac liv- *i7 
 eta" f *« °"'*'«^t««on 4 astoni^S'SiS^^J 
 elega. e. The gallery was formed of a continuoM 3 
 of compartments with curtained fronte T wS^ 
 and women were talking, drinking, sinX T^^ 
 . on the lower floor were disappearing „d the «t^ 
 
 rnSTth""!"^ *"^''' *owin'niri;iS>tdtr^ 
 
 thft Snl;,r'"''°"* "'""K" *»■« "ide folding J^ 
 l^l}f *''*r" S^n'bling-room she heani a W 
 S,"?^^"'"^ ** commencement of Se^W 
 
 ^f do^ 't *^ T ")P*^°" "•■"« *« ''"tched ■ 
 
 „. ' '''»' t «e him," said her guide. "You bett«. 
 walk out front and help younelf/^ He inS^t^ 
 
 321 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 •toin which led up to the gtlleried boxei tnd the ttwi 
 WMtog down on to the main floor, but the handed him 
 another coin, begging him to find Glenitter and brine 
 him to her. "Hurry; hurry!" the implored. 
 
 inJ^'V!^^^r°^*'/***^ ** ^^ curiouily, remark, 
 mg, My I You spend your money Uke it had been left 
 
 SL?^' J?* " ' "«^' Pic^eck for me. Come 
 around any time. 
 
 kP*!.^?^"^ ^ • *^'^ «>™«' »nd waited inteimin- 
 ably till her mMsenger appeared at the head of the 
 gaUeiy stain and beckoned to her. As she drew near 
 
 S* .,'^ ^^^ ^"» ^^ WW a thousand^dollar filly 
 flaggin him from the stage door, but he's got a giouch 
 an wont stir. He's in number seven." She hesitated 
 at which he said, "Go on-you're in right;" then con- 
 tinued, reassuringly: " Say, pal, if he's your white-haired 
 tod, you needn't start no roughhouse, 'cause he don't 
 flirt wit these dames none whatever. Naw! Take it 
 xrom me. 
 
 She entered the door her counsellor indicated to find 
 Roy loungmg back watching the dancers. He turned 
 
 ^^^K^^l' " "^*. "^^ ^^ ^«"' 1«P«1 to his 
 teet and jerked the curtains to. 
 
 •• Helen I What are you doing here ? " 
 
 "You must go away quickly," she gasped. "They're 
 trying to arrest you." or— ««/ «» 
 
 "They I Who? Arrest me for what?" 
 
 last m^h?^ ^""^ ^ men— for riot, or something about 
 
 know'STt"'^'' ^* '*^'^* "I h*d no pait in it. You 
 
 vJiTf^' y^*-^*/^"'!* a Vigilante, and they're after 
 you and aU your fnends. Your house is guarded and 
 
 ass 
 
THB DftIF OP WATBt III THB DAKK 
 
 £l !TJ; •"'^ "^^^ *^*^"- They've planned to 
 aII Tf! °" JS*™* P'«*«* <«• other and hold vou^in! 
 defii^tely Plea«» go before it't too U^/' ^ ^ 
 
 How do you know thit?" he asked, navelv 
 ;;ioyerheaid them plotting." ' ^'^^' 
 
 Who?" 
 
 " Uncle Arthur and Mr. McNamara." She faced him 
 
 J'.?' S?*™;- J "ouM have done the nme for Da- 
 ABm^-f, T*^*- ^ ■» •'one. I g»ess. I heart 
 
 ^^epr^»^•^r^:c^s..^ 
 
 S^^hX'S^eJ^'"'*'-''*^*"'-"^'"^ 
 
 2L^J?. •!^i?t' "^^ ""^ "<»•• »»<1 you ondl 
 nmrt Stop ,t. I have seen the truth at tost, and W™ 
 
 in the nght Please hide for a time at lirtT ' 
 
 «-.: tLY^L "X°" ■"'* *«'«° ""1" with us there's 
 ;^0P.^I5 Thanlc you for the risk you nTin* 
 
 w^'J^^^^^^"^ ?' *• companment ««i 
 
 "Toolatel Toototel There they are. Don't oart 
 the curtains. They'U see you." •«nipart 
 
 PMhing through the gambUng-haU were Voorhees 
 
 ^iZ ?*""• rr^'y " <!»«" °f •<»«•« one 
 
 Run down the back stain," she breathed, and 
 
TBB tPOILBIS 
 
 more wtiting « the foot " hJuIi^ ^ •*• *•"" 
 the offlcen h«l «,^ .x. '*'*' *** *» 8n«> that 
 
 th.°^J:;XS-^,^T; '">• into hi. .y« cm. 
 
 •o that you can e^ ta tl?'* '^ "l"* " *« "^<»o™ 
 firing rtip. «.d Sr,^d ^tt^*!^""^:. ^'^ »"' «» 
 the knob when di< ^t S^^hi "" ^P^ ^ <» 
 
 "Thejr'U Ida you. W.ftTVJ^'^'? **»"''>'= 
 Jump." She di»md him .„ .u f • ' •***«■ ^7- 
 P"^ .ride tt?^lS^*°..n'j^*°/ *•«>?«•<'« 
 won't tee you till it7?So late ^J'*'' ""^ ^^^ 
 through the crowd." Then you can run 
 
 in te'ra^'tid folS"^' Jl!''^* ■"• '"?<» back 
 Iowe«d hiSdowL^i°l*/.i«^«« t°" "^ «nd 
 unhedtatingly andTta^w'^fT- Henrangout 
 
 twice the height of. »a?^read ^^^eTo^f'^,"^: 
 
THB DKIF OP WATBt IH THE »AKI 
 
 landed on hit feet and had drawn hii Colte even whUe 
 the men at the ttain were ihouting at him to halt. 
 
 u^L?^*** ^ *^' "*^**' weapone there wat confiuion, 
 wherein the commande of the deputies mingled with 
 the ihriekf of the women, the craih of overturned 
 chain and the lound of tramping feet, ai the crowd 
 divided before Glenister and swept back against the 
 wall in the same ominous way that a crowd in the 
 street had once divided on the morning of Helen's 
 arrival. The trombone player, who had sunk low in 
 his chair with closed eyes, looked out suddenly at the 
 disturbance, and his alarm was blown through the horn 
 in a startled squawk. A large woman whimpered, 
 
 Don t shoot," and thrust her pahns to her ears, clos- 
 ing her eyes tightly. 
 
 Glenister covered the deputies, from whose vicinity 
 the by-standers surged as though fron* the presence of 
 lepers. 
 
 "Hands upl" he cried, sharply, and they froze into 
 motionless attitudes, one poised on the lowest step of 
 the stairs, the other a pace forward. Voorhees ap- 
 peared at the head of the flight and rushed down a 
 few steps only to come abruptly into range and to 
 assume a like rigidity, for the young man's aim shifted 
 to him. 
 
 "I have a warrant for you," the officer cried, his 
 voice loud in the hush. 
 
 "Keep it," said Glenister, showing his teeth in a 
 smile in which there was no mirth. He backed diag- 
 onaUy across the hall, his boot-heels clicking in the si- 
 lence, his eyes shifting rapidly up and down the stairs 
 where the danger lay. 
 
 From her station Helen could see the whole tableau, 
 
 325 
 
TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 partner oVZ^^^Zf't 'T^'^ ^^^ *h«i' 
 lips, the men e^g^ y«7I^l''* '«" "«» Parted 
 
 ment across the hall sudrt.S„ ,.• / '''"* move- 
 attention. She saw a mfr ^ ^"fl^ ^" "^^^ 
 the box op,^'te"Id iC "f ""'' ** ^P^ of 
 to peril of fitting He uSh^ ^^ °"* *"»* ''e ^<^ 
 Gienister. who^a, jm -S",^ '«•■*» '''P- «* 
 first glance Helen gasoK^ k - " '"'^- •** her 
 l-nge. and she crTed^t "'* «*"" °°* ^"ce 
 
 she ha7s<j;.;S?'*fc™*='»rIy: it was the brotheT 
 
 knew or could chS th?bl„S ^^'^^ ^«f<"» *« 
 
 "Druryl" she ^ti */'*i''°o<i <»« leaped forth, 
 head abS;;. wt.;:^'^^„i«*j"ch he whipped his 
 she could not gauge s^^ f. ^"^ °*er emotion 
 
 For a long momSX Sa w^^^ f '***"«• 
 or s.gn while the drama h!!:.tl '"*''out movement 
 back into his retrLTSh^rn Tf ,* °f ■ *en he drew 
 tog his senses, yet feS of . *!^ '°?'' °' °"« -Joubt- 
 .For herpart^h'el/wShtagP^^^^them to the test. 
 »hmg slowly into th« cu. j e*«ept her brother van- 
 her glance. th"1ur^i„^.1'"^' as though stricken at 
 
THE DRIP OP WATER IK THE DARK 
 
 and then the springing doo« closed bikfnd G?e4?S^ ' 
 Helen made her way from the theatre as Xhad 
 
 8 dream. Emotions had chased each other too closelv 
 to-mght to be distinguishable, so she went mechLSSv 
 through the narrow alley to F«.nt Street and th^'S^ 
 
 Glenister, meanwhile, had been swallowed up by the 
 darkness, the mght enfolding him without sign or t«a 
 As he ran he considered what course to foUo^whSS 
 to carry the call to hU comrades in town or To ,Xf« 
 the Creek and Dextry. The Vigilantes might^U di^! 
 trust hnn. and yet he owed them warning McNa 
 mara's men were moving so swiftly that ^on mu^ 
 be speedy to forestall them. Another hour MdJhrS 
 wouM be closed, while it seemed that wwS ^«^ 
 he chose they would snare one or the other-Tth^ 
 friends who remained in town or Dpt .^h«I^- i 
 
 walk' T:^'^ ^-y^^^U^^^lZS'rS^^Z 
 wa^k unheedmg mto the trap, while if he bore thTw^ 
 
 ^,™ ^"i- '5*" *'■" VigH^r't^ would be jail^ bSo« 
 dawn As he drew near Cherry Malotte's housThVUw 
 a hght through the drawn curtkins. A hearL-ndroo 
 pushed upon his face, another followed, a^™en"e 
 
 Before he could gain the door the storm had brokeJ" 
 It nirept up the street with tropical violence, wMte a 
 
i:> 
 
 ■n 
 :f 
 
 '^ 
 1 1 
 
 'i I 
 
 'nil 
 
 li!; I 
 
 Hi 
 i, I 
 
 11 
 
 ^Rir '' 
 
 i 
 
 HH Ir'^ 
 
 i 
 
 ll 
 
 11 ll 
 
 'i 
 
 1 ii 1 
 
 i 
 
 m¥ 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 ta^th nghed out of the night, liftine the Htt«. f,™- 
 underfoot and i»Iti„g hin, ^th'fly^'^pIJScte ^ 
 
 riri^t^i*^ ?' '*°" '^*'"~* knocking, to find the 
 girl removmg her coat. Her face gladdoied at rieht 
 
 r^. his speech atoiost drowned by the roar out- 
 
 ^tat%.^^ °«^''-'' "^ ^ ^^ the 
 in "oT^t marshals are after me. We just had a 'run 
 
 ^trjl^ ^w?^^''* *^^ Vigilantes. and I mus? 
 get them word. WiU you help me?" Heraoidlvi* 
 
 '^*^.*^" «>w of the last ten minut^ wM^she" 
 nodded her quick underetanding. ^* ^^® 
 
 You're safe here for a little while," she told him 
 for the storm will check them. If they should com^' 
 
 ade entrance yonder. In my room you'U find a pj^ch 
 wmdow. They can't comer you v^weU."^"^ 
 
 know ^w ^""^ ^^"^ *** °^* ** t^« shaft house-you 
 biow-that quartz claim on the mountain awT X 
 
 Midas." He hesitated. " WiU you lend me yo^ sId! 
 
 c^ r*? ?®°^ ^'^*' *^«° ^t for the hiUs." 
 
 She shook her head. "You can't do it. You can't 
 
 people and McNamara has probably telephoned the 
 mmes to send a party up to the quartz claim Xd^x 
 
 aa8 
 
THE DRIP OP WATER III THE DARK 
 
 ♦k1T°'^ "®'^n>?''*y * P^'^y* *"^ y^^'d founder him in 
 'c^"% The mud is knee-deep. Ill go myself.'^ 
 Good Heavens, girl, in such a night I Why if a 
 worth your life! Listen to it! The cLks wTu L up 
 and you'll have to swim. No, I can't let you." ^ 
 He s a good little horse, and he'll take me through " 
 Ihen, commg close, she continued: "Oh bovl Can't 
 you see that I want to help ? Can't you see that I-I'd 
 die for you if it would do any good?" He gazed 
 gravely into her wide blue eyes and said, awkwardly 
 Yes, I know. I m sorry things are— as they are— but 
 you wouldn't have me lie to you, little woman ?" 
 
 No. You re the only true man I ever knew I 
 guess that's why I love you. And Ido 'aveyou,oh so 
 
 "" Q? , •7?''* ? ^ «^°°^ *^^ ^°rt^y to love you, toi." 
 She laid her face against his arm and caressed him 
 with clinging tenderness, while the wind yelled loudly 
 about the eaves and the windows drummed beneath 
 the ram His heavy brows knit themselves together 
 as she whispered: 
 
 "I love you! I love you I I love you!" with such 
 an agony of longing in her voice that her soft accents 
 were sharply distinguishable above the turmoil The 
 growing wildness seemed a part of the woman's passion 
 which whipped and harried her like a willow in a blast 
 
 "AnH f'v'-*'^^.^?'^""^ jumbled." he said, finally. 
 And this IS a bad time to talk about them. I wish 
 they might be different. No other girl would do what 
 you have offered to-night." 
 
 339 
 
li?-! 
 
 TRB SPOILERS 
 
 " Then why do you think of that woman ? " she broke 
 in, fiercely. *' She's bad and false. She betrayed you 
 once; she's in the play now; you've told me so your- 
 self. Why don't you be a man and forget her?" 
 
 " I can't," he said, simply. " You're wrong, though 
 when you think she's bad. I found to-night that she's 
 good and brave and honest. The part she played was 
 played mnocently, I'm sure of that, in spite of the fact 
 that she'll marry McNamara. It was she who over- 
 heard them plotting and risked her reputation to warn 
 me." 
 
 Cherry's face whitened, while the shadowy eagerness 
 that had rested there died utterly. "She came into 
 that dive alone? She did that?" He nodded, at 
 which she stood thinking for some time, then continued- 
 You're honest with me, Roy, and I'll be the same with 
 you. I'm tired of deceit, tired of everything. I tried 
 to make you think she was bad, but in my own heart 
 I knew differently all the time. She came here to-day 
 and humbled herself to get the truth, humbled herself 
 to me, and I sent her away. She suspected, but she 
 didn't know, and when she asked for information I 
 msulted her. That's the kind of a creature I am. I 
 sent her back to Struve, who offered to teU her the 
 whole story." 
 
 "What does that renegade want?" 
 
 "Can't you guess?" 
 
 "Why, I'd rather—" The young man ground his 
 teeth, but Cherry hastened. 
 
 "You needn't worry; she won't see him again. She 
 loathes the ground he walks on." 
 
 "And yet he's no worse than that other scoundrel. 
 Come, girl, we have work to do; we must act, and act 
 
 330 
 
THE DRIP OP WATER IN THE DARK 
 
 quickly." He gave her his message to Dextiy. then 
 she went to her room and slipped into a riding-habit. 
 When she came out he asked: "Where is your rain- 
 coat? You'll be drenched in no time." 
 
 " I can't ride with it. I'll be thrown, anyway, and I 
 don 't want to be all bound up. Water won 't hurt me. " 
 
 She thrust her tiny revolver into her dress, but he 
 took it and upon examination shook his head. 
 
 " If you need a gim you'll need a good one." He re- 
 moved the belt from his own waist and buckled his 
 Colts about her. 
 
 "But you!" she objected. 
 
 "I'll get another in ten minutes." Then, as they 
 were leaving, he said : " One other request, Cherry. I'll 
 be in hiding for a time, and I must get word to Miss 
 Chester to keep watch of her uncle, for the big fight is 
 on at last and the boys will hang him sure if they catch 
 him. I owe her this last warning. Will you send it to 
 her?" 
 
 " I'll do it for your sake, not for her — ^no, no; I don't 
 mean that. I'll do the right thing all round. Leave 
 it here and I'll see that she gets it to-morrow. And— 
 Roy — ^be careful of yourself." Her eyes were starry 
 and in their depths lurked neither selfishness nor jeal- 
 ousy now, only that mysterious glory of a woman who 
 makes sacrifice. 
 
 Together they scurried back to the stable, and yet, 
 in that short distance, she would have been swept from 
 her feet had he not seized her. They blew in through 
 the bam door, streaming and soaked by the blinding 
 sheets that drove scythelike ahead of the wind. He 
 struck a light, and the pony whinnied at recognition of 
 his mistress. She stroked the little fellow's mussle 
 
 331 
 
)! I 
 
 S! ;i 
 
 If 
 
 l! j 
 
 THB SPOlLfilS 
 
 '''«»«> her uponX H^ '"<*^ ***'«« hi, hands uul 
 Kttl. »aid."';?,^.*"didt" '^^r-'^r ""«*«?^« 
 fa» WM pressed f„J°:TT ^. *"* »' **«». • 
 glass in the rtable wall '*'^'* *'» P"» o£ 
 
 "^^^^^m^^ttiX '7. ^ "r ^°» •• »• 
 
 Md she rode out toto the rto™ t °?*''* <*«"• »'<'• 
 he plunged back tow«rf. t^^™' ^^''""'e the portal 
 note, fof there wrC^*?' 5^."^° '^*- *'' ""^ed 
 ««>niplishn,ent. desprihri,.^ ^<J scant time for its 
 
 the Golden Sands, Md Ww t^T^? V* *"»"«*<> on 
 of the fall had coti^ ij^^orth t' '^* !""* •*<»» 
 lence of men would rivaTt?.^^ ?" *''•* *•" ^io- 
 deeds of this nigh w^'id ^^ thel?^'^'"*'' '" *"• 
 WM rousing the hate of thelL ^^°'" " ^°''» 
 
 b«te'X°dn^'*^^«^rann." "• -T-' 
 
 a draught suck p^? h^^^l^^V'"" °'*^**' «' 
 at his back as he wot^ ^'' '™° "> °P« door 
 
 prevrat. I pUyed the gaSt^,w , ' *"" '*™ '^°« to 
 forcjd me back to <im pA^olS^S^i^i'" ?"" ""«• •"" «>«y 
 
 ™'' Roy Glbnistbr." 
 
 932 
 
 II 
 
THB DRIP OP WATBR IN THE DARK 
 
 A» he sealed this he paused, while he felt the hair 
 on his neck rise and bristle and a chill race up his spine. 
 His heart fluttered, then pounded onward till the blood 
 thumped audibly at his ear-drums and he found himself 
 swaying in rhythm to its beat. The muscles of his back 
 cringed and rippled at the proximity of some hovering 
 peril, and yet an irresistible feeling forbade him to turn. 
 A sound came from close behind his chair— the drip, 
 drip, drip of water. It was not from the caves, nor yet 
 from a faulty shingle. His back was to the kitchen 
 door, through which he had come, and, although there 
 were no mirrors before him, he felt a menacing presence 
 as surely as though it had touched him. His ears were 
 tuned to the finest pin-pricks of sound, so that he heard 
 the faint, sighing " squish " of a sodden shoe upon which 
 a weight had shifted. Still something chained him to his 
 seat. It was as though his soul laid a restraining hand 
 upon his body, waiting for the instant. 
 
 He let his hand seek his hip carelessly, but remem- 
 bered where his gun was. Mechanically, he addressed 
 the note in shaking characters, whUe behind him sound- 
 ed the constant drip, drip, drip that he knew came from 
 saturated garments. For a long moment he sat, tin he 
 heard the stealthy cHck of a gun-lock muffled by finger 
 pressure. Then he set his face and slowly turned to find 
 the Bronco Kid standing behind him as though risen 
 from the sea, his Ught clothes wet and clinging, his feet 
 wntred in a spreading puddle. The dim Ught showed 
 the convulsive fury of his features above the leveUed 
 weapon, whose hammer was curled back like the head 
 of a striking adder, his eyes gleaming with frenzy. 
 Wenisters mouth was powder dry, but his mind was 
 leapmg notously like dust before a gale, for he divined 
 
 233 
 
 
THfi SFOILBIS 
 
 "That-. . h-^f • ^'^* "*<» y°» »»nt ?" 
 
 •• u i . T * y°^' ®^ course, and I've rot vn.. " 
 
 lowererl "TK . "• '*»««<J the revolver he had half 
 
 ping himself with finThS to^^. ♦ ' '^"i '^^ 
 in hi. bones. " WcaS^ wn ™^. ?' *^' '"' '••» 
 
 VoLrno-^i .^ f • - SS^*hruS[: 
 however;=-„o,«;'r^,^<i»J.«ch^. 
 other's look unflinchingly The ITM h .f f^ 'he 
 .tant, while his eyes, ^hioJ^'^t^Z^^ t 
 glare of hatred wavrrM . -, x ^ *" ""h the 
 
 ' * ^new It. your neck coids ouiver " 
 
 I'd'te "^s- "' <-:^oopi I could. 
 
 to fight, you C ^",^*:,S ••^"* ^""■" »"- 
 Roy refused. " I gave Cherry m^iun " 
 Yes, and more too," the man eritt^ ''T.-^* ., ■■ 
 
 bier's nervous tension and S.^^ f *P *■" S™' 
 
 that would put c°:::'^z'Ztx!^j^^ 
 
 »34 
 
THB DRIP OP WATBK IH THB DAKC 
 
 "I h.ve tried it before, but murder ira't mv nm. " 
 ••T*'- -^ J ««.€»* ucu 11. mere s a gun — vet it •» 
 
 fight you whenev^ rrh^tl n^h." '" "~"*' ^* ''" 
 tleman and I hav'en't losTifS^^i g^ But r'.*^: 
 
 outer door-knob and turned it to let in a i^teih«J 
 ofnuu^ hen vamshed Ulce a .torn, wraith le^v^^J 
 PMched-Iipped man and a zigzag traU of water -Jlk 
 gleamed in the lamplight like a K btoS ' 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 i >' 
 
 I >H 
 
 ;iii 
 
 WBEREIN A TRAP It BAITBO 
 
 GLENISTER did not wait long after hi. visitor', 
 departure, but extinguished the l^t tec^^ 
 
 T^/'^^ ^""^ '^' ^"^^^ adventur^ of Kl^ 
 The rtorm welcomed him with «uffocatin£ Wo?i2«^' 
 J!'w? ^^^•J^'^r breath from hi. UpTwhUe thi^' 
 
 thought with a pang of the girl facing thi. temo^t 
 
 dJ2! T^° '"^ ^''•° "^ t"^*" to cover evi- 
 dMtly, for the streets were given over to itTvteie^ 
 and Roy encountered no hostUe sign as he wiiZ^' 
 
 snau Had been before hun peopled now onlv bv fnVhi 
 
 ^^if^ ^i"^"- AsLtte^d f::vL'7i^: 
 
 fceven^thd;S.*''T • ?"* *"' '"^« "^»^ 
 "w prevented then- fanulies from spreading the >t»n.. 
 
 or ventunng out for succor. Those whChe was Z 
 to warn d«»sed hurriedly, took their riSsT J"w»1 
 
 .36 
 
WBBIBIH A TIAF IS lAITBI 
 
 out into the drifting night, leaving empty cabins and 
 weeping women. The great fight wai wi 
 Towards dayUght the remnants of the Vigilantai 
 
 ^l^^^ *J!! *»^,^?*>»*">'^««h<>t»eonthesiSd!ir^ 
 and there beneath the smoking glare of lanterns cttmd 
 the name of McNamara. As dawn grayed the rasired 
 eastern sky-line. Dextry and Slapjack blew in thrS^h 
 the spmdnft. bringing word from Cherry and liftin/a 
 load from Glenister's mind. ^ 
 
 "There's a game girl." said the old miner, as he 
 wTimg out h» clothw. " She was half gone when she 
 got to us, and now she's waiting for the storm to break 
 so that she can come back." 
 '•It's clearing up to the east." Slapjack chattered. 
 D you know I m gettin' so rheumatic that ice-water 
 don t feel comfortable to me no more." 
 
 " Uriatic acid in the blood," said Dextry. " What's 
 our next move ? " he asked of his partner. " When do 
 Tki J^^S"* politician ? Seems like we've got enough 
 able-bodied piano-movers here to tie a can onto the 
 whole outfit, push the town site of Nome off the map 
 and start afresh." ^' 
 
 "I think we had better lie low and watch develop- 
 ments, the other cautioned. "There's no telling what 
 may turn up during tht day." 
 
 "That's right. Stranglers is Uke spirits— they work 
 best in the dark." ^ 
 
 As the day grew, the storm died, leaving ramparts 
 of clouds hanging sullenly above the ocean's rim, while 
 those skilled in weather prophecy foretold the coming 
 of the equinoctial. In McNamara's office there was 
 great stir and the coming of many men. The boss sat 
 
 a37 
 
|;K 
 
 in sroiLBit 
 
 r^ bitfrty ..1U ^L'. SSSr *°»«»-'-^ 
 You're not fit to henl theeo Th{**«, — 
 
 He called for a certain deputy and auMf{^^ u- 
 ^J*«.. .re.ch.nr ~m.wh«,. kJZ«. ^ 
 
 "What?" 
 
 thel^ll^'"''"^' ^•<^««htherbymirtakeia 
 
 thit*^:^* °^ ^^* "*** ^**^ ^*^ been with Voorhee. at 
 the Nmh^ asked to see the receiver and toW iS * 
 
 The chief won't beUeve that I saw mJt^^'- 
 ^a dan^haU last night. hntsL^Tt^:^ ^^u^ 
 
 wcSkn? h "'^^"^ P«t him wise to oSTg^ S?e" 
 wouldn t have known we were after him." 
 
WHBIBIII A TIAF » lAITBB 
 
 Jp h«Mtr n»d« no cominmit, bttt. wh«i alone nm 
 grtw MVAge and bruul. 
 
 "So that'i the gune. eh^ It't r. an to man from 
 SSI ~\i yr ^"' ^^^' ^'" have yoTSfe^ 
 ^lr*J?7""y?*'" W. MiM Helen." He c^ 
 
 ^ /J^IS** T*^ ***•" "^•^ *"<> ^t them Imdly 
 
 ^•newered. Pubhc opinion would not .tand too 
 f^lu!i^u.^\^^^?^^ ^* ^^ »<^ within hii 
 
 mieib^ond the law and into his trap. She had pawed 
 the word once ; the would do so again. ^^^ 
 
 He hurried to Stilhnan's house and stonned into the 
 prewmce of the Judge. He told the story so artfully 
 that the Judge's astonished unbelief yielded to rage and 
 
 •J^"!' "?** ^^•u'^M**'' ^» «i«ce- She caxnedown, 
 white and silent, havmg heard the loud voices The 
 Old man berated her with shrewish fury, while Mc- 
 Namara stood silent. The girl listened with entire self- 
 control until her uncle made a reference to Glenister 
 that she found intolerable. ««*cr 
 
 ••Hush! I will not listenl" she cried, passionately. 
 
 1 warned him because you would have sacrificed him 
 after he had saved our lives. That is all. He is an 
 nonert man, and I am grateful to him. That is the 
 only foundation for your insult." 
 
 McNamara, with apparent candor, broke in: 
 You thought you were doing right, of course, but 
 your action will have terrible consequences. Now we'll 
 
 239 
 
lli 
 
 
 'jW 1 1^ ; ^E 
 
 
 Ilil B 
 
 
 ml 
 
 
 ■ |Tp p 
 
 
 |^.|,|,_,., 5^ 
 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 have riot bloodshed, and Heaven knows what It »« 
 w ^^®®*s impnsonment would have done it 
 
 Xr.^'^rt.^ ""'' '^"^-"» "0 -'^^' 
 
 len'ce""' '"''" "" "***• "'^*"" °»"t°"* »» "»y vio- 
 
 ruihSl*7„!?i,''° "" *P'"« *° "''«='' «>">>• They an, 
 ru»hing to their own destruction. I have learned thIJ 
 they plan to attack the Midas to-niriit and?H h. 
 fifty •oldien waiting for them there It i,..h /' 
 
 yet not crazy enough to attack the Midas. Thev wiU 
 
 ch^ters. They must be fellows who wrn-Hlt ^t 
 
 fall. I U make you answer to me " '^ 
 
 ^^Why don't you get the troops?" ventured Voor- 
 
 940 
 
WHEREIN A TRAP IS BAITED 
 
 •tep out, and I'm not ready for that just yet." The 
 receiver smiled sinisterly. 
 
 Helen meanwhile had fled to her room, and there 
 received Glenister's note through Cherry Malotte's mes- 
 •enger. It rekindled her worst fears and bore out Mc- 
 Namara's prophecy. The more she read of it the more 
 certain she grew that the crisis was only a question of 
 hours, and that with darkness, Tragedy would walk the 
 streets of Nome. The thought of the wrong already 
 done was lost in the lonely girl's terror of the crime 
 about to happen, for it seemed to her she had been the 
 mstrument to set these forces in motion, that she had 
 loosed this swift-speeding avalanche of greed, hatred 
 and brutality. And when the crash should come— the 
 girl shuddered. H must not be. She would shriek a 
 warning from the house-tops even at st of her uncle 
 of McNamara, and of herself. And yet she had no 
 proof that a crime existed. Although it all lay clear 
 in her own mind, the certainty of it arose only from her 
 intuition. If only she were able to take a hand— if 
 only she were not a woman. Then Cherry Malotte's 
 words anent Struve recurred to her, "A bottle of wine 
 and a woman's face." They brought back the lawyer's 
 assurance that those documents she had safeguarded 
 all through the long spring-time journey really con- 
 tamed the proof. If they did, then they held the power 
 to check this impending conflict. Her uncle and the 
 boss would not dare continue if threatened with ex- 
 posure and prosecution. The more she thought of it, 
 the more urgent seemed the necessity to prevent the 
 battle of to-night. There was a chance here, at least, 
 and the only one. 
 Adding to her mental torment was the constant 
 
 841 
 
i 1 
 
 nil'''' 
 
 ,v'l 
 
 nKfff 
 
 ] I 
 
 ■ ■ I 
 
 f.«^ 
 
 '1 
 
 'iilJ 
 
 
 If ,*^if§_ 
 
 m 
 
 tll^ 
 
 •-''^^1 
 
 "^■^1 
 
 lllr 
 
 in 
 
 U 
 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
 THB SPOILfilS 
 
 .uo? What weprhrm'a'^'''^«it«»^^^ 
 
 o«^o^rean:nt^-4^^-h.pHv.. 
 gray-eyed girl standing Tew ** "*^* °' *J»« 
 
 cheeL'-t^lrgX^^ UP t: ^^ "«^* -* o^ ^» 
 gain, then?" '^^ ^*^^ «P *<> hw eyes. "It's a bar- 
 
 She nodded. " Give them to me fi«t " 
 He laughed unpleasantlv "wt * i* 
 for? I'll keep myWof th. f^"*.^^'./^" take me 
 you«. But thisTno oul ^'^^'^ ^^ y°«'" l^eep 
 theair.andi'm W^ir!n;"°''V"*- '^hei^'s riot ii 
 backto-morrow^hritrarv^V?^'"^^'*- ^"^ 
 4^^^^^^ °^ to-night's doings that led 
 
 "I'll never come back." she said -i. • 
 to know tOKlay-yes, at on«*' ^*'"^^i^ 
 
 have clung to me 'bi^u^^Th!,", '""i ^"^^ °^ "W/ 
 bones, and it seem, to^^^J^ '*"*'' '°'' y°" « » my 
 the kind of a^Tn ?am and ? r""*' '" '*• ^ >»''» 
 self because of it BuT'lv. ,*"''* °° P""** » "y- 
 We'U ride to tbls^oltl^T ?**" *•"" ""y- 
 little road -house Sfrnf J f ii "'' » """"tic 
 above the Snake wT.^ T.,^i P^'^'-ed high 
 together." ~v" trail. We 11 take dinner thwe 
 
 »4» 
 
 
WHBIBIlf A TIAP IS BAITBB 
 
 "But the papers?" 
 
 'I'll have them with me W-'ii .*^^ • 
 ••T« .« u M "»n* inc. we u start m an hour ** 
 In an hour," she echoed, lifelesslv AnH wL u • 
 
 Snake Riv«. brS ^ellor"?^«"""«r"'^ °» *"• 
 » Strove. Anylw^y at th.^*y°"' Shorts? "">» 
 
 them away if tC^n,..!j^' *'~^- T"™ 
 
 ctrioS:?ye^^^^^'-^"«'.;' 
 
 heraelf. uS M iL?^ "'tfP«» "Khtly about 
 
 diffidence, hoover and whLw^"*^"!.** '<»* "er 
 markurf ,ijrt J • • •^*° '**'*" had finished, re- 
 marked, with deasion: "Don't go with him. H<;'. a 
 
 ^™veto,dyouth^;h^rL^e.""5Syor^'St 
 
 d^^L \ ^^""^ °"'y ^^' ^°«^' ^«t he spoke of those 
 ^trcSol toT''^^^^^^ ^^^"^ *^^y contained h?i^ 
 h«M^ .1 , *'® ""P *^® '"^"^s i^ order to give h W 
 hold for the lawsuits. He bragged that the rest of^l 
 gang were in his power and that he cou d Khl L' 
 the penitentiary for conspiracy. That's aH/? ^ "" 
 It s the only chance," said Helen. "Thev are send 
 mg soldiers to the Midas to lie in ambush, and^o" ^uft" 
 
 243 
 

 if 
 
 THB SPOILBKS 
 
 wa™ the Vigilantes." Cherry paled at this and ejacu- 
 
 nignt. The two stared at each other. 
 
 If I succeed with Struve I can stop it all-aU of 
 this injustice and crime-everything." ^^^^ °' 
 
 mand^^" '?^i!'* ""^^^ ^^'^^ '^^^?" Cherry de- 
 manded That man is an animal. You'll have to 
 kin^hmj to save yourself, and he'U never give up So^ 
 
 JZ"^' ^^ "^"lu?*^^ ^^^^' fi««ely. "and I defy him 
 to harm me. The Sign of the Sled is a pubhc roa^ 
 
 Will you warn Mr. Glenister about the tit)op8?" 
 
 ment ^ Ch^^ruT ^°' t ^'"^^^ ^^^^- Wait a tno- 
 
 "er "Don'f^ -r? ^~™ *^' '^'^'^' ^«' tiny levol- 
 
 Ils^ tha??!L cr*1' '° u'" '^^^- ^ ^^* yo" to know 
 
 V.t \ ^IF ^°'' ''^** ^ *^i^ yesterday." 
 
 As she hurried away, Helen realized with a shock 
 
 he^ In"f^h'V'' P"V^" "^°"*^« had wroVht^ 
 jier In truth, it was as Glenister had said his North 
 
 land worked strangely with its denizens. What of^W 
 
 shnnkmg girl who had stepped out of the ^^e^'^e 
 
 harned thing. juggUng with honor and reputation in 
 her heart a half-formed fear that she migWl a m^ 
 
 i„.T^M°.^^"^'^^°^^ The elements we^mc^l^ 
 mg her with irresistible hands. Roy's contactwSrh. 
 prinu^ve had not roughened l^'moT^To^^\^ 
 
 She met her appointment with Struve and th^v m^^ 
 away together, he talkative and elatJ^%Te ^^ 
 
 "44 
 
 "hi 
 
WHBKBIN A TIAP IS BAITBD 
 
 Late in the afternoon the cloud banks to the east- 
 ward assumed alarming proportions. They brought 
 with them an early nightfall, and when they broke let 
 forth a tempest which rivalled that of the previous 
 night. During the first of it armed men came sifting 
 into McNamara's office from the rear and were hidden 
 throughout the building. Whenever he descried a 
 peculiarly desperate ruffian the boss called him aside 
 for private instruction and gave minute description of 
 a wide-shouldered, erect youth in white hat and half- 
 boots. Gradually he set his trap with the men Voor- 
 hees had raked from the slums, and when it was done 
 smiled to himself. As he thought it over he ceased to 
 regret the miscarriage of last night's plan, for it had 
 served to goad his enemies to the point he desired, to 
 the point where they would rush to their own undoing. 
 He thought with satisfaction of the r61e he would play 
 in the United States press when the sensational news 
 of this night's adventure came out. A court official 
 who dared to do his duty despite a lawless mob. A 
 receiver who turned a midnight attack into a rout and 
 shambles. That is what they would say. What if he 
 did exceed his authority thereafter? What if there 
 were a scandal? Who would question? As to sol- 
 diers—no, decidedly no. He wished no help of soldiers 
 at this time. 
 
 The sight u . a ship in the offing towards dark caused 
 him some uneasiness, for, notwithstanding the assur- 
 ance that the course of justice in the San Francisco 
 courts had been clogged, he knew Bill Wheaton to be a 
 resourceful lawyer and a determined man. Therefore, 
 it relieved him to note the rising gale, which precluded 
 the possibility of interference from that source. Let 
 
 245 
 
'■ iU 
 
 1 
 
 
 1' 
 
 « 
 
 1 • ' " 
 
 fi 
 
 i-'i 
 
 '.1 
 
 1 1 f 
 
 li; 
 
 
 I: 
 1 
 
 THB SFOILBIS 
 
 them come to-morrow if they would n^ ♦v * .i 
 •ome of the mJnet would be ^TS««'*«? v^* .*^.°'* 
 •trengthened a hundredfold ^'^•'^•" ''^^ ^ Po«tion 
 
 tho^i^h^let^^ei'LT^^^^ .^'~T -* ^«^-. •!- 
 of .triking^Tn the ?i^ of i!^"*^ ^°^^ ^^'^ 
 knew m^t have be« J^« t^e warning which he 
 
 She hasn't returned from her ride Vrt rl / .i 
 of effort node towud^^J^i ""^ "* *• '«=k 
 
 "You bet,"chorus«ed the othem "ti,. . 
 soned the mines ao let'. ar!Vu *™\ They've garri- 
 
 » clean jJbTh iL'.^V^T^*' *?* *°™ "«» ""^e 
 p^„ joDotrt. I*t • hang the whole outfit to one 
 
 m^rV^lI^ "PP"^*"' Glenister alone de- 
 
 L»t night I lot word ZX^tbt^ZcV^"^?- 
 «n>rt» are aeainst ua n. .H -u . . '* *''* Cahfoniia 
 whatever t^^^' we a^""*"^)**" ™!!r «••«*. 
 
 eitherin this court ^ra^NfJT "" '*«"' ''«'? 
 
 v-rua appeal. Now, suppose we lynch 
 
 346 
 
 ijil! 
 
WHBIBIR A TIA^ IS BAITBB 
 
 thweofficMta to-night— what do we gain? M»rti»lUw 
 
 whril'"™"'J*" ""»- *'«^ "P for%nother r.r Md 
 Jrtotaow. what ehe? Mayb. . comipter c^'„"t 
 
 thi > ^!^ r *•.' 'f *•"* >~« » no fool. What 
 thM TOoM of OS who don't find the morgue will end 
 m jaU. You wy we can't meet the soldier. I „y we 
 can and must. We must carry this row tTihm We 
 S'SLif^'ii* ^ *"• coms^ Ataska. J^t tSTcouS 
 of C^ifomia, and up to the White House\where th.^ 
 on. honejt man. at least. We must do' .^t^tl 
 
 Ii^j;'^,* •« « '" ^"•""gton- We must get out erf 
 h^i^ «^' M-^NMiara can beat us there. Alth^gh 
 he s a strong man he can't corrupt the President W. 
 *«v. <«e sh^ left, and it mus? reZi^fXn^ 
 When Uncle Sam takes a hand we'U get a squ^e^' 
 «. I say let ,« strike at the Midas to-night and Se to; 
 
 FoUowmg this harangue, he outUned a plan which 
 m |te «n«j« daring took away their breaths, ^„SS 
 SiS Tn^'^'j^' detaa they brightened With «tdt^ 
 
 S^ ST. !^ *T r:'"' '"^ *••• »"*»* valleys « 
 
 ^J^ "^^^ "D^f^'- ^ '»'^°«» "tined them 
 and enthusiasm did the rest. 
 
 mn^A— *if°' f?''*^'" ^* ''**^' "^ *h« chance to 
 run the big nsk. It's mine by right " 
 
 "Ain't he a heller?" 
 
 the chairman added: "Let's have Glenister lead this 
 totlom hope. I am willing to stand or faU on his iude- 
 
 M7 * 
 
m 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 ^?tlth1i?%'^u**^ "^^^"^^ • di-entiiig voict 
 
 tnUm" ^'^^^ '** "••" "^^ ^^J'- "^•'" «« by 
 
 "?/ ^i*^"? u^"^ can we get » train?" 
 rf*««i!f!^i • A* •P«^«'«>' •* which Dextry grinned 
 itk?wL*i-^ Wjointed companion. «d1S^ 
 ^•h!b wre is " ^°" *" *"''•'' "ying: 
 
 thl.^fL'"^!^^'^' "?*^ Glenirter, accompanied by 
 thwe two ghpped out into the whirling storm and k 
 half-hour later the'rest followed. One by cme™he^L 
 
 length from the door, till at last the big bleak wTiT 
 house echoed hollowly to the voice of Ihe :S^dTd' 
 
 Over in the eastern end of town behind durV «•« 
 
 fiZth?^ ^ '?*'.'"*'y ""ittog-waiting «>,ie wort 
 ^ ^J^ A^dow which rtood Witt folded IS 
 
 w^SnS ""^ "^^ «"y • '""• '»'" their headTa 
 TOrtched old man paced back and forth, wringfaehfa 
 
 and to mumble the name of his siMer't chiM. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 DTNAIilTB 
 
 EARLY in the evening Cherry Malotte opened her 
 door to find the Bronco Kid on herlteT uL 
 entered and threw oflf his rubber coat SioW hfm 
 wen, she waited for hi. disclosure of his maTd * hS 
 •allow skin was without trace of color, his evei w«r« 
 
 while his hands kept up constant little nervous ^l 
 
 8lq)t and now hovered on the vei^e of some hysteria 
 S! fiT J ^ ;«»P«»sion of a smouldering mine with 
 tw V 1!S"^u''^2't "P ^ *^* P<'^<^«'- She judged 
 ^wit h ^y^jf ^ '*^^«^ ^y ^^«^ passion tin 
 «?wl i^/J^ ^^^"^ and weary, yielding only to the spur 
 of his restless, revengeful spirit. 
 
 After a few objects remarks, he began, abruptly: 
 m.^J'^ °''*; ^7 Glenister?" His voice, like his 
 
 mI^H' r** ^^T^l ^«^«'' *"<^ »»« matched her care- 
 fullyas she replied, without quibble or deceit: 
 
 «-« T ;: • ^^'^^ ^ ^^'^^y* '*'**"• He is the only true 
 
 fo^iin^ " ""* ^""^ ' ^""^ ^'"^ ''^^ *"^^"^^ °^ «y 
 
 For a long time he studied her. and then broke into 
 rapid speech allowing her no time for interruption. 
 ive held back and held back because I'm no 
 
 349 
 
Ill '1? 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 ^M 
 
 til 
 
 ■I ■ 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 01 It, and up here rm mIv • .»-«;wi !bI 7 P*" 
 elie I'H m-,lr y * 8»mWer, fit for nothing 
 
 "««»e me sicuUc a-d walk the alleys like a daffo If. 
 put murder into my heart, iw/lned tS SSjtte 
 hm. I tned it here hut night-but-I wuTTe^hl 
 ^once-tiU the card. came. He know^^Si^ aC« 
 now^ though, and he', ready for me-HK> one of u. wS 
 2?^i **^* » J*"^;« ^hen we meet. I felt that I had 
 •^Y^5»l^?r^;^*^<^<>^<>'^fo«hegotme.'' 
 Jou re talking hke a madman, Kid." .he replied. 
 
 ±Zt ^"^ '"'i*'* * ***" •«*^»* ^^ «ow. H; hai 
 tojuble. enough. I never knew you cared for me. 
 ^t a tangle it i.. to be «ire. You love me, I love 
 fh?;* ^^^ *^* ^^^' *«d "^^ »o^« « crook. iM't 
 ^IVI? 7 f*^*" "^^^^^^ yo"' ^^^^Jing to it ? You 
 
 ^l? * ^^ !!?•• ^' ^*>^ I'« J»«lf i««n«- There', 
 something dreadful in the air to-night-" 
 
 *nH "i ^!.'''' *° ^" Wm."the man muttered, doggedly. 
 W f.^K°' "*'°" " *^*^ ^°"^^' «he could get noth- 
 ,^«T r ^""^^^ *^^ ^ords. tiU at lart .he turned 
 upon him fiercely. 
 
 a$o 
 
 'Hi ! 
 
MKAJIITB 
 
 The gambler roee slowly to hie Ib^ " v#«. a^ i 
 Mm. don't your 8h. bi^S h« 2^ J^S ^^ 
 tat «o.tin«.d: "I wp„u„-t m.,JToiX1^S^ 
 way. I didn't mean it that way " ^ •*• um 
 
 ^fjT ,***• '^•' >' *^* » ^»«t you cam? for I 
 wanted to leave this life and be goodf to w"w« v and 
 
 rrjoVi^^lLii:^"'^^^'-**^- ^-^^wi:; 
 
 iW®K' f*^ *^* ^^^- "You're wrong. I'm not 
 that kind of a sport." His voice broke sSddenW ^ 
 
 onaT^hi f '''^^"^u" """^^^ ^ ^^« » woman. If. 
 one of the two good things left in me. and I want to 
 
 t^e J.T T^ *"'"' ^'^ ""^"^ ^"^ «^" ^*»» hide uZ 
 the past, where we can start new, as you say " 
 
 • You would marry me ?" she asked. 
 Ill an hour, and give my heart's blood for the 
 
 Srdl*; .7"V ~"'' '''? '^^ *^^"«' '^o* ^ if your 
 own dear hfe hung upon it. I must kill that man " 
 
 She approached him and laid her arms about his 
 
 .^aZ^ ^KM '?'' ^y P'^^^^"S. but he refUS 
 st^dtastiy. while the sweat stood out upon his brow 
 She begged: "They're all against hiiTlCid. SS 
 •» as I 
 
TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 iightiiiff t liopelcn fight. He laid aU ht bad at thAt 
 gttVM feet, and I'U do tha lame for you." 
 
 hJ^^ {"T*?* !f '^•^y- "He got hit nrwaid. 
 He took all the had — " 
 
 H Ji^J^^** ' ^^' . ^ «""• I ^°^' You'w a fam. 
 Mater, but you haven't any right to talk like that about 
 A good woman, even to a bad one like me." 
 
 -k^*?. u^ <^^«y« •Jo^Jy cwpt a hungry took, and 
 •he felt hmi begin to tremble the least bit. He under- 
 
 took to ipeak, pauMd, wet hii lipe. then carefuUy chose 
 these words: 
 
 "Do you mean— that he did not-4hat she ia-a 
 good girt?" , •--««» M« »-• 
 
 "Absolutely." 
 
 He sat down weakly and passed a shaking hand over 
 his lace, which had begun to twitch and jerk again as 
 it had on that night when his vengeance was thwarted. 
 
 ♦V * ^ f*7*" *•" y^ *^** ^ "^o^ •»»••• wore than 
 that. She s honest and high-prindpled. I don't know 
 Why Im saying this, but it was on my mind and I was 
 half distracted when you came. She's in danger to- 
 night, though— at this minute. I don't dare to think 
 of what may have happened, for she's risked everything 
 to make reparation to Roy and his friends." 
 "What?" 
 
 " She's gone to the Sign of the Sled alone with Struve." 
 
 Struvel'' shouted the gambler, leaping to his feet. 
 
 Alwie with Struve on a night like this?" He shook 
 
 cu •^^y* *^*"8' "What for? Tell me quickl" 
 
 She recounted the reasons for Helen's adventure. 
 
 while the man's face became terrible. 
 
 AA?^^' ^' l.*°* *° ^^»*^ 'o** ^«tting her go. Why 
 did I do it? I'm afraid-afraid." "^ • "^ 
 
ftTIIAIilTB 
 
 «.. Clock hi. eye."br«3fh:t anrjufch^/: 
 fotded ay-maddened bull. " Wu ^htTcl^?!^ ^ 
 ten mil«-two houn. Too late!* ^ 
 
 "What aili you?" the quettioned, baffled bv t.1. 
 •tnrnge dtmeanor. "You called ^\u ^ "* 
 
 jurt now. and yet-" »••# the one woman 
 
 He swung towards her heavily. " She', mv d.tm> " 
 
 u— J;^. P' C*" ' you he»r? She'i in I).,,ll•• 
 dww hinuelf somnrbat under contrel ^^i^Z 
 
 tor bun while the Ufe ran bkck into hii veta. ivZlJ 
 done, .nd » he fl», the «ddle on the b«ckZ.^ 
 
 «d iptrigued .g.i„« her, buuf. ^,^,1,::? "f^'J 
 W. . httte .trealc of good in m. ^ij,^ 
 
 He spoke to her from the saddle " If. «,«- a. 
 . .t^Ic. Cherry-, .nd you're my tod of piT^ ^ 
 
 lri„H ,* • '•'*-•»»<>«». Kid. I don't want to be you, 
 tand. Iw.nttobehi.kind-oryourB.ter?^'?"' 
 
 » 
 
 ««^ **r°? *^* «nde«vous. Glenirter and hi. two 
 ttiid. .lunk thxough the night, avoiding Se m Hd 
 
 «53 
 
 ^*1 
 
1 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 Ughtt of the town, while the wind surged out of the 
 voids to seaward, driving its wet burden through their 
 flappmg shckers, pelting their faces as though enraged 
 at Its failure to wash away the purposes written there. 
 Their course brought them to a cabin at the western 
 outskirts of the city, where they paused long enough 
 to adjust something beneath the brims of their hats. 
 
 Past them ran the iron rails of the narrow-gauged road 
 which led out across the quaking tundra to the moun- 
 tains and the mines. Upon this slender traU of steel 
 there rolled one small, ungainly teapot of an engine 
 which daily creaked and clanked back and forth at a 
 Mail 8 pace, screaming and wailing its complaint of the 
 two high-loaded fJat-cars behind. The ties beneath it 
 were spiked to planks laid lengthwise over the semi- 
 Iiquid road-bed, in places sagging beneath the surface 
 till the humpbacked, short-waisted locomotive yawed 
 and reeled and squealed like a drunken fish-wife. At 
 night It panted wearily into the board station and 
 there sighed and coughed and hissed away its fatigue 
 as the coals died and the breath relaxed in its 
 lungs. 
 
 Ear!/ to bed and eariy to rise was perforce the motto 
 of Its gnmy crew, who Uved near by. To-night they 
 were just retiring when stayed by a summons at their 
 door. The engineer opened it to admit what appeared 
 to his astonished eyes to ^e a Krupp cannon propelled 
 by a man in yellow-oiled clothes and white cotton mask. 
 This weapon assumed the proportions of a great, one- 
 eyed monster, which stared with baleful fixity at his 
 vitals, giving him a cold and empty feeling. Away 
 back beyond this Cyclops of the Sightless Orb were two 
 other strangers likewise equipped. 
 
 '54 
 
DTKAJIITB 
 
 now locened by the movemm hU ote^ lilL^:^ 
 bent on smking floorwani in .„ ;stasy TauZ^ 
 
 WCTM order. The other man was new to the wav> of 
 tte North. «, backed to the limit of hi, q,«rt^1La 
 
 "H^'h.m"* *^!*, <"?■»" thing at my stomach." 
 
 nes, "hL "^'''^ ?* ^"»"'"- with unmitttml loud- 
 "-^- '^°'"' ^^' boys." 
 
 hrJf! K ?■"•'* "° '°''''" '»'"' the foremost figure it, 
 
 weata^L' '»?!»ted the shoeless one. "Mustbe- 
 ..«*.*' ""ythmg worth stealing." 
 
 hurt'yo::^^ Ctrot^:^ ZVi^e-ta J^tf 
 
 J«nf .refrin^i^i*^^" '-r '*^ ^p^"- ^ 
 
 taking «ff^T., '^ ■"'""'^ " »"««■• « premature 
 
 Md dimhtc •, !T '"'' °*"' '^''" '°"»' naterializTng 
 and chmbmg silently on to the cars behind; then asU^e 
 ««m-gaage touched the mark, the woM ^as 2^ and 
 th. t,«n rumbW out from iu shelter, itsshriU^^t^t 
 
 '1$ 
 
 m 
 
• '.ii 
 
 i f , 
 
 TBB SPOILERS 
 
 cttfb and croning whipped away and drowned m the 
 •tonn. 
 
 Slapjack remained in the cab, gun in lap, while Dex- 
 try climbed back to Glenister. He found the young 
 man in good spirits, despite the discomfort of hit ex- 
 posed position, and striving to hght his pipe behind 
 the shelter of his coat. 
 
 " Is the dynamite aboard ?" the old man questioned. 
 
 "Sure. Enough to ballast a battle-ship." 
 
 As the train crept out of the camp and across the 
 nver bridge, its only light or glimmer the sparks that 
 were snatched and harried by the blast, the partners 
 seated themselves on the powder cases and conversed 
 guardedly, while about them sounded the low mumjur 
 of the men who risked their all upon this cry to duty, 
 who staked their lives and futures upon this hazard of 
 the hills, because they thought it right. 
 
 "We've made a good fight, whether we win or lose 
 to-night," said Dextry. 
 
 Roy replied, *'My fight is made and won." 
 
 " What does that mean ? " 
 
 "My hardest battle had nothing to do with the Midas 
 or the mines of Anvil. I fought and conquered my- 
 self." 
 
 ^ "Awful wet night for philosophy," the first remarked. 
 "It's apt to sour on you Uke milk in a thunder-storm. 
 S'pose you put overalls an* gum boots on some of them 
 Boston ideas an' lead 'em out where I can look 'em over 
 an' find out what they're up to." 
 
 " I mean that I was a savage tiU I met Helen Chester 
 and she made a man of me. It took sixty days, but I 
 think she did a good job. I love the wild things just 
 as much as ever, but I've learned that there are duties a 
 
 356 
 
«£.!:/«? . ^^ °**^- ^^« found out too that fhi 
 JJ^ibmK.. ..ully the h.rf.« ^ do/'S^'l*!;;:,* ^^ 
 
 Ob. yo»f mannen ue good enough as they I«» " 
 j-^pt«Ith.oth«. "You never id eat JlSLyL 
 
 ••No°°^l^"r " ""»-«''." Glenister laughed. 
 ywi re nght on the job along with any of them Ea«t^ 
 Zj^I't'^ ^"^ t^ '* ">«» Trir^otelT^" 
 
 tot hSd^t? ZYt ^"** ""^ Pickle-forks equii 
 with v~. T ■ ^ '* P^* ""* confidence just to be 
 with you. I »emember puttine milk >nH ™.., • 
 
 c<»«)mm< the first time. It wL Mil ^1, ™*^ "^ 
 
 anf 2J'^?i^''''^"*""'' "** '•«''• f°' l-e was buoy- 
 "^•^ Wmthe w?„r"" °' -«'''"'' ■>-*" P--^ 
 
 w." J^ll";"''* ^* "''" ' ■"«««• but it goes. Say if 
 we win b«* our mine, we'll hit for New Yorkne,t-^h ?" 
 
 »S7 
 
TRB SFOILBIS 
 
 tten than I gat j. Tmco. I uMe that won! 'high"' 
 a^^- ?P«f to meat. Not that I wouldn't lem 
 
 thZT^h ! ? fl^^"u ^i"«^ '°' ^^^^*» Avenue or any- 
 wheres. but I hke the West. Spealdn' of modes an' 
 styles when I get all Ut up in that gray woosted suit of 
 mme, I guess I make the jaded sight-seers set up an' 
 ^^i^° r^JlL Somethin' doin' every minute iS the 
 «anm ofnecloK-what? Nothin' gaudy, but the acme 
 of neatness an' form, as the feller said who sold it to 
 tot. 
 
 Their conamon peril brought the friends together 
 again, mto that clilse bond which had been theirs with- 
 out interruption until this recent change in the younger 
 nad led him to choose paths at vaciance with the oW 
 man s jdeas; and now they spoke, heart to heart, in 
 the half-senous. half- jesting ways of okJ. while beneath 
 each whimsical irony was that mutual love and under- 
 standing which had conwcnrted their partnership 
 
 Arriving at the end of the road, the V^lantes de- 
 bouched aad went into the darkness of the caflon 
 Denind then- leader, to whom the trails wene familiar 
 He bade them pause fiaally, and gave his laat instruct 
 tions. 
 
 "They are on the alert, so you want to be cafcM 
 Lhvide into two parties and close in from bo« sides 
 creeping as near to the pickets as possible without dis^ 
 covery. Remember to watt for the last Uast When 
 rt comes, cut loose and charge like Sioux. Doa't shoot 
 to kill at first, for they're only soldiers and under otders 
 witif they stand—well, every man must do his work "' 
 cirdT^^ *Pl»aled to the dim figures fc«ining the 
 
 as8 
 
 if 
 
 i ' 
 
 hi 
 
ATHAMITB 
 
 go iMide than for the boy. I've had more expe^S 
 Sgh't 1^ LTmll:?-'* " '"•^ •"' '^ -• '"^ ^' 
 
 They melted away to each side whili the old prot- 
 pector paused to wring his partner's hand. ^^ 
 
 help eml" He stumbled after the deparSn/shado^ 
 
 &o^"th!rr H^^^*' ""' "^^ Cn'Gi:^!^ 
 
 npped open the powder cases and secreted the contents 
 to7evL^r"- ,f^^»^^-'?"<^?«helddynanme^no^h 
 
 pockets, inside his shirt, and everywhere that he h«i 
 JBom^ll be was burdened and cased in an armor one- 
 
 the^ «f the earth so utterly as to leave no tnce 
 
 H^L2vT' t ^^ "Pf^ °"* °^ *^* mountainside. 
 He to^ to his fuses and saw that tney were wrapped 
 m oded p^per. then placed them in his hat. HaWng 
 
 «^^iL "'^' ^^^"^ ^**^ ^iffi^^^ty ^^r the 
 wei0rt be earned. 
 
 pv^lSV*''?*.**^ ^"^^^ ^^ ^^«« ^e» made was 
 ^idenced by the fact that the ground beneath his feet 
 stoped away to a basin out of which bubbled a spring 
 It furnished the drinking supply of the Midas, and he 
 knew every mch of the crevice it had worn down the 
 mountain so felt his way cautiously along. At the 
 bottom of the hill where it ran out upon the level it had 
 worn a considerable ditch through the soil, and into 
 this he crawled on hands and knees. His bulging 
 
 «S9 
 
p- 
 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 ^JSJJ.S^'s:? "H" ~ ♦"•t hi. giot WM dow ««i 
 
 hi. b«k tiu h. ^^zz^^z'^:,:^ 
 
 let. ctoving downwMd betw«n to rib. nJST^ 
 
 ^n« th. ditch „d w.^.^ to^t^t 
 Mother look when he .uddeniy flatly iZ»fc 
 «~m bjd h.tf d«^j^ *•>• -*«^ ^^ 
 
 A .^ ^" j:r«?sL"j'^";j^'«^ "^ ^• 
 
 n«ve touched him. The wntiy paused a few m^ 
 heyond and accosted another tbm^JLrZ ?!^ 
 ov^ the bridge. Evidently hta^tritetS* 
 
 blacknns of the mine buildings, then d«w hinSrifdrte 
 
 a6o 
 
DTIIAIIITB 
 
 dream of his boyhood, and had answered the hope he 
 tond. It had come to him when he was disheartened 
 HtoThrid«%*"^ ^PP^?"' *"^ ^•^^ yi«W«J itSf 
 
 IS? ]5i;2.^'^*X ?•* ?^- inhabitants were on the 
 ™!i«.?^ lu ***• '°«n<l»tion» he made mysterioui 
 preparations then sought out the office building and 
 ««k.hou«. doing Ukewise. He found that bi^k of ^ 
 •«nmg repose of the Midas there was a strained «- 
 
 Although suspense had lengthened the time out of 
 ^ calculatK,n he judged he had been gone f «^ iS 
 companions at least an hour and that they must be^ 
 pUce by now. If they were not-if anything^S Tt 
 ^ eleventh hour-well. tho«» were the fortun^ Sf 
 ^tK. In every enterprise, however carefully planned 
 thwe comes a time when chance must Uke iu turn ' 
 
 fomwJ?^ ^ ""*? ^?^* ^^® blaclcsmith-shop and 
 ftimbled for a match. Just as he was about tostrila 
 
 for some time. Then, ignit«g his punk «id hidingh 
 
 w^ii?^**'^°^^*'^^«»'" to listen. ThewLd 
 
 t^f m^altS."'" and th. rein sang musically upon 
 
 He ran swiftiy from house to house. and, when he had 
 
 l^ , "P'"** ""^ ^^ *""«1® ^ ^^ traced three 
 
 glowmg coals were sputtering. 
 
 The final bolt was launched at krt. He stepped 
 
 9^1 
 
 !l 
 
tl:t- 
 
 ■* I 
 
 TIB SPOILBIS 
 
 down into the ditch and drew hia At •!.». * vj 
 
 With the first impact overhead the men poured forth 
 dwindhng whine of spent lead. Theriea^ Iz! 
 
 I-j "i" • 'L^' "*y "" *■>« cook-house disruot itictf 
 "d <i»mteg«t. into . thou«nd flyi« to^'^^ 
 
ftTNAMITB 
 
 over their he»di and into the night. At the rockmff 
 
 JS^Ji^th?!,?*'J^* ? ^'y .tick., then every. 
 W i5i?^*u ?• defendert the earth was lathed by Su- 
 
 y^^t^l^ Tl'i *H^' ^•'y ***«'^' «»d they 
 canw. Then, before they could reaUie what it b^ed 
 the deptht ht up again tiU the raindrop, were ouVSS 
 d«tmct and glittening Uke a gouam^ y^ToTl^^ 
 whUe the office building to their left wat ripped IS 
 l^ded and the adjoining wallt leaped out into'^dS^ 
 rehrf, their thattered window, looking Uke ghoetlv 
 
 JS.'^"? 'r- 7^' ^•^'^ °' darkne«do.edCv L; 
 than velvet and the men cowered in their tiack.. .hield- 
 
 erne another . bodie.. waiting for the .1^ to vomit Ter 
 them it. rain of mitriles. Their bac^ were to t^ 
 
 dropped their nflet. The thunder of hoofi and the 
 
 ^e«ji of teit^hcwe. came from the .UWe.. The 
 cry of a maddened beast is weird and calculated to 
 e^e the blood at bett. but with it aroteVlI^ 
 voice .hneking from pain and fear of death A 
 wrenched and doubled mass of tine had hurtled out of 
 the heaven, and struck wme one down. The chokine 
 hoar8«««s of the man's appeal told the story, and those 
 about him broke into flight to escape what tight follow 
 to escape this danger they could not see but which 
 
 t W^^o ''''' ""i *^ ^'^'^ ^^^« ^d ^'^ which 
 there w^ no defence. They fled only to witness an- 
 
 other and gmter light behind than by which thly ^ 
 
 •63 
 
 ill 
 
 •ft 
 
I '-. 
 
 ( r 
 
 n- 
 
 T8B SPOILBIS 
 
 «Ming at tha lolluig unoke-bank at it waa rav^^dbJ 
 
 mrtlh- tTfi- w . ™" ""Uow"* •rma aa i{ to ahut 
 ojrt^th. hdl»h gto. or to diiaM thanaelvaa few , 
 
 ^ 0«t to th. heart of the chao. nng a voJee fc»d aad 
 "Be»are the nest blaatt" 
 At the aame jpatant the (Mle of ■han.duv.t^ 
 
 "«« •■ xney came, but it wm unnecetiarv for thJL 
 
 S^i t^ "^ "^P^ «»-t™ctioa only by a ham 
 M, were not mmded to Urry hen where the hea^ 
 
 S^« JT ^^' ""f^- ''» •'*»»» their ^. 
 •tornabon the hoitei had bioken fita, their .Sua 
 
 over the men— bhnd. unreawming, contagiota— and 
 tZ^^ out into the night. S,lHdin7^ tWr 
 
 •pot. Some dashed oS the bluff and feU amons ^ 
 Pt. and duice.. Other. «n up the nwur^dde 
 «nd cowered in the brush Bke qiuiU ' 
 
 the nSl! 'l*™"?**!." "«"»'«J «>«!' Pri«>ne™ near 
 
 S:,1iv,?!rC'S;^r^ th^u.^ .he «nok. pan. 
 
 a64 
 
DTlfAHITB 
 
 ** Rm any one teen McNanuifm t " Na m.« t..^ ^ 
 wh«, thv w« ta.„ -JIK Uto Zw'tSj 
 tal;^ h. w„ p^ by D«cuy'. gli^i^J^ 
 
 Jfr r?^ "•'' ** "«"» o»t yonder in th« bnidT* 
 
 " ■""/ ■">••• Tney were miners ell or thna. .-j 
 »««MU gathered faom the e»mo Wh!l ?- ^ *^ 
 w«e the eoldien. "•**"'• where, he wondered. 
 
 yolirt m'S::,'"'' *~^ '~» *• b«»ck. .0 help 
 
 wcI?to{:,S??'- ^' '-'^•» -» • "'ai« .inc. w. 
 
 th. United'STc^. ."^'S??'^ " t? '^* 
 wouW never reuh W«SA«^ .„L • " •^^ ** »««™ 
 pHrting hi. end he .^KieSSj SS^ .I'ST'- 
 «lv« into the realm, of o^ttoZ w^l^rf "ir" 
 
 SrJi w^h""""" -sainrt the.H/tJ'Slt"^^ 
 pncet would rest upon their Hm/I. ^ *^"*^» wnere 
 
 l-d Uek .h«l, courtVX d«t«?°TN.^'^ 
 |ud^*em where he wanK«„!n:^: 5^^':^: 
 
 M the imagination of DeSr^,r!Sl ~* """"» 
 
 OI«Mter.Sembled h,^TD^,^T "".' ?">" 
 
 •« Bova ♦»..•. • . ' •?**«»? to them plainly 
 
 Boy.. th» » no victory. I„ &«. we're wSITSff 
 
 ^65 
 
 if 
 
MICMCOPV RMOUITION TBT CMAIT 
 
 (ANSI and ISO TEST CHART No. 2) 
 
 A 
 
 >^PPLIED HS/HGE 
 
 16S3 EoM Moin StrM< 
 RochMtor, Nm> York „ 
 (716) ♦« - 0300 - Phon* 
 (716) 288 -5989 -Fox 
 
 Inc 
 
 14609 USA 
 
-tf 
 
 ;rf 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 than we were before, and our biggest fight is coming. 
 There s a chance to get away now before dayUght and 
 before we re recognized, but if we're seen here at sun- 
 up we 11 have to stay and fight. Soldiers will be sent 
 against us, but if we hold out, and the struggle is fierce 
 enough. It may reach to Washington. This wiU be a 
 different kind of fighting now, though. It will be war- 
 
 .? A «"^ r ^°^ ^^'"P^®- ^°^ "^^"y o^ you will stick ? •• 
 All of us," said they, in unison, and, accordingly 
 preparations for a siege were begun. Barricades were 
 built, rums removed, buildings transformed into block- 
 houses, and all tjirough the turbulent night the tired 
 men labored till ready to drop, led always by the youne 
 giant, who seemed without fatigue. 
 
 It was perhaps four hours after midnight when a 
 man sought him out. 
 
 "Somebody's callin' you on the Assay Office tele- 
 phone — says it's life or death." 
 
 Glenister hurried to the building, which had escaped 
 the shock of the explosions, and, taking down the re- 
 ceiver, was answered by Cherry Malotte. 
 
 "Thank God, you're cafe," she began. "The men 
 have just come in and the whole town is awake over 
 the riot. They say you've killed ten people in the 
 fight-— is it true?" 
 
 He explained to her briefly that all was well, but she 
 broke in : 
 
 "Wait, wait! McNamara has called for troops and 
 you'll all be shot. Oh, what a terrible night it har 
 been! I haven't been to bed. I'm going mad. Now 
 listen, carefully— yesterday Helen went with Struve i* 
 the Sign of the Sled and she hasn't come back." 
 
 The man at the end of the wire cried out at this, 
 
 a66 
 
DYNAMITE 
 
 then choked back his words to hear what followed. 
 His free hand began making strange, futile motions 
 as though he traced patterns in the air. 
 
 " I can't raise the road-house on the wire and— some- 
 thmg dreadful has happened, I know." 
 "What made her go?" he shouted. 
 " To save you," came Cherry's faint reply. " If you 
 love her, nde fast to the Sign of the Sled or you'll be 
 too late. The Bronco Kid has gone there—" 
 
 At that name Roy crashed the instrument to its hook 
 and burst out of the shanty, calling loudly to his men. 
 What s up?" 
 "Where are you going?" 
 "To the Sign of the Sled," he panted. 
 "We've stood by you, Glenister, and you can't quit 
 us like this, said one, angrily. "The trail to town is 
 good, and we'll take it if you do." Roy saw they 
 feared he was deserting, feared that he had heard 
 some alarming rumor of which they did not know 
 
 "We'll let the mine go, boys, for I can't ask you to 
 do what I refuse to do myself, and yet it's not fear that's 
 sending me. There's a woman in danger and I must go 
 She courted ruin to save us all, risked her honor to try 
 and nght a wrong— and— I'm afraid of what has hap- 
 pened while we were fighting here. I don't ask you to 
 stay till I come back— it wouldn't be square, and you'd 
 better go while you have a chance. As for me— I gave 
 up the old claim once— I can do it again." He swung 
 himself to the horse's back, settled into the saddle and 
 rode out through the lane of belted men. 
 
 lili 
 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I • 
 
i' 
 
 
 :; f. 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 IN WHICH THREE GO TO THE SIGN OF THE SLED 
 AND BUT TWO RETURN 
 
 AS Helen and her companion ascended the moun- 
 r\ tain, scarred and sweot hv ♦J,- * moun- 
 
 "That rain raised the deuce with thp frolic »» -j 
 Struve, as thev oicked fh«,v 1 ^"^' ®**^ 
 
 "Om" «;^^ ^ ^ **^®^^ ^^y past an unsightlv 
 
 pi W "" "'' *"' "°""' ^-* °« t»^ <^3 C^- 
 
 fjj^ " *^ '^^^^^* " "a' "o «sy task to avoid 
 ttese danger qjots, for the horses floundereTon Se 
 
 ^^^t^ '°'^- J''*"'"^ '"« Sin wondered how^e would 
 find her way back in the darkness, as she hid pS 
 She sa.d lutle as they approached the road-hCfor 
 the thoughts within her brain had begun to <L!°r 
 
 368 
 
A' 
 
 THREE GO AND BUT TWO RETURN 
 
 too wildly; bvt Stnive, more arrogant than ever be- 
 
 They rounded a bend and saw th^ Q,or« «* ^u o« ^ 
 
 a sled suspended from a S^mThlk ?'..''*"'« 
 a quaint structure Tamblir', J "'! ""*" *"* 
 
 fro,-i I ■ ?^^^" *'"^''^^ *^ad Changed to the river 
 trail leaving the house lonesome and hieh as tiioul 
 
 debt ^and'""""^ "T' ^'^^' ^^^ taken it ove^on^a 
 trlffi.^ -T "^'^ ^* ^^'^ *^^ convenience of a sTend^ 
 t^% T^^ stampeders. who chose the higher rout^ 
 
 SpVctL^rh "• ""^ '^"""^ ^P-* thelSle hTrs 
 m prospecting a hungry quartz lead and in doing assess- 
 ment work on near-by claims. ^ ^ 
 
 she had found m the north country. The n»L rX 
 
 369 
 
 t 
 
 !i 
 
I ^! 
 
 a 
 
 ''■ i 
 
 *■' 
 
 mI- 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 held bar nnd gold-scales, a rude table, and a hure iron 
 
 thi r,"!'^" ''' ^^"^ *"^ <=«i««« were sheetT^hS 
 white cloth so cunningly stitched and t^^lhltit 
 •eemed a cavern hollowed from chalk. It was fiiU 
 w^th trebles of the hills, stutfed birds and a^imah 
 
 do hL ^ r"""; '"r"'^o««' ^'^' ^^ articles of 
 
 wt^ LvellelTh^^h"^' '''' '^ '"*^ ^« ^""^-°o« 
 deeo To !h! ^^ """"^ *° ^^^P i" tie" three 
 
 rt^ht.r^ r*'' ''*' * ^*^^«« *"d cache, to the 
 nght a compartment which Struve called the art gal! 
 lej. Here free r^ign had been allowed the oriXal 
 owner's artistic Wcies, an ' he had covert theXe 
 with pictures clipped from gazettes of questfonable 
 Impute til It was a bewildering arrangemir o^pt k 
 ladies m tights, pugilists in scanty tnSiks prize bin 
 d^^s. and other less moral characlrs of tiifs^X" 
 
 "This is probably the worst company you were ever 
 a"t lightrsr'""^ "^ ^^'^'^' -^^^ ^"--^ ^tteL^J 
 
 an^i^t'^v^'^^U^rs^frf^^^^^ ^^^ -'^ ^^' ^er 
 
 "Travel is light at this time of the year. Thev'U 
 
 come m later, perhaps. ^ ^ " 
 
 ini wT ^"™'"^ ^ ^^'^ Pi"^ '°o"» where the land- 
 ^rd had begun spreading the table for two. and °ts 
 warmth was grateful to the giri. Her companio^ 
 thoroughly at his ease, stretched himself on a fur^ 
 covered couch and smoked. 
 
 " ^«t n^e see the papers, now, Mr. Struve," she beean 
 but he put her off. ' 5»neDegan, 
 
 "No, not now. Business must wait on our dinner 
 
TBKBB GO AND BOT TWO RBTUBN 
 
 D<»^a our little party, for the«>', time enough and 
 
 i*U UolMg down the narrow gulch slie saw that the 
 mountain, beyond were indistinct for it was gr^wtoe 
 
 Tr^k^ ™n-d«>P Struck the glass before her eyes, then 
 another and «K,ther, and the hills grew misty Vhind 
 
 tlvT^l.^°^"- * *''»^«"" 'rith a pack oT^ 
 back hnrn«i around the comerof the building and pMt 
 
 l^^'o^^J^"" "''«■*"* «^-- -» -0 went 
 "Thank Heaven, some one has come," she thought 
 
 till that of the stranger raised itself in such indignant 
 protest that she distinguished his words '"""'S^^* 
 
 held^"' ^""^ ^°* "'°"^^ *° ^^^ ""^ "^^y- ^'"^ "° ^e^- 
 
 Shortz mumbled something back. 
 
 "I don't care if you are closed. I'm tired and there's 
 a storm commg. " " « c a 
 
 This time she heard the landlord's refusal and the 
 mmer s angry profanity. A moment later she saw the 
 traveller ploddmg up the trail towards town 
 
 What does that mean r she inquired, as the lawyer 
 re-entered. ^ 
 
 "Oh, that fellow is a tough, and Shortz wouldn't let 
 him m. He s careful whom he entertains— there are 
 so many bad men roaming the hills." 
 
 The German came in shortly to light the lamp, and. 
 although she asked no further questions, Helen's un- 
 easiness mcreased. She half listened to the stories with 
 
 371 
 
 
TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 excellent meal that was shortly served to them Strove 
 mewwhde ate and dr«Uc imost grerf% ' ^T' 
 
 ardi« had suddenly overtaken the |irl; and if at ttL 
 iL^'i T "?" ^"' withdra^, slie woSd hTve 
 
 ^P^t'^Jt'lT^""*" '""■"* the violence of *e 
 lempest. But she had gone too far for retreat- aivi 
 reah«ng that, for the present, apparent Z^^ ^ 
 
 w!?h'^* "!?"n'..** "' 'i'^'- answeringafrnM 
 
 morels h^^h"' 1" '>'*' «"" ""ehtef. his ^ 
 more flushed, hts speech more rapid. He talkari i7 
 
 Studio ''"'"f ^''y^y. -o4 n^btC 
 cigarettes and apparently unconscious of the flisht of 
 
 Slf^^ ' ''I'i* ??"? remembered that she had not heuS 
 
 J^^ :? *^' '"*'^f '°' " '°"8'™«- Suddenly St^ 
 smiled on her peculiarly, with confident cunntag J^ 
 he leered at her over the disorier between^m h^ 
 took from h« pocket a flat bundle which he tos^ to 
 
 "Now for the bai^gain, eh ?" 
 
 .fcl'^'^?!""' *° '*"°^* these dishes," she said as 
 she undid the parcel with clumsy fingers 
 
 I sent him away two hours ago," said Strove aria, 
 ing as If to come to her. She shrank back. bS h^ ^ 
 
 cloth, and, twisting them together, carried the whole 
 tog out, the dishes crashing and janglinras he Tr^w 
 his burden recklessly into the kitchen. Then he^ 
 turned and stood with his back to the stove, sTartL at 
 her while she perused the contents of the pa^rsTu^ 
 were more voluminous than she had sup^ 
 
THKBB 60 AMD BOX TWO KBT0KM 
 
 .. .k^ J .^ ^* P*P*" ^*« only too obvious- and 
 
 ^4^' T^l'" ""^^■' ^' «»°^ -' »'- 
 
 •«u awnning. There was no possibility of mistake- 
 
 ^^nJ,t^J^ ""'1^°' "" disiU-uionment. Helen 
 
 E^^m!^ if knowledge that justice would at last 
 «™^?*2- '!'«'"'<"» her triimphandher«ou! 
 
 «ul her j^,^'- *' ""'' "* "" «y« 8'eaming 
 "It is here." 
 "Of course it is. Enough to convict us »ll It 
 
 rr'.o*«n*~1"T.'!J^°" P-dol"nctand 
 your lover. He stretched his chin upward at fhl 
 
 S°° "y«"?'' *," '^ "' «•""" f^mrlnWsille' 
 
 «.e ThatW^w k"" Pr*"="'"'y' *" he's the real 
 
 TOu but rn J^'^ J ''~'«''* y°" •'*«■ He'U many 
 you, out 1 11 be the best man " Th*. firr^u^ ri.- • ''^ 
 was unpleasant. The tmibre of his voice 
 
 •'Come, let us go," she said. 
 Go, he chuckled, mirthlessly. "That's a fine «> 
 ample of unconscious humor." ^^aisahneex- 
 
 " What do you mean?" 
 
 «n3f ' fu'^*' °° ^'^^'^ ^^'""S cou!d find his way 
 down to the coast in this tempest; second-but Z^ 
 ^e-way, let me explain something in those paoe^ 
 while I think of it." He spoke casually and stepp^ 
 
 about to give up, when something prompted her to 
 
 ays 
 
 
 
 s ' 
 
n 
 
 T^B SPOILBIS 
 
 ^T^h l^ ^*''"'^ u"* ^"""^'^ •"<" »^ ^^ well .he did. 
 for h,. hand was but a few inche. away. He wa. „o 
 
 Of ner dress. The sudden contact with Cherry's re- 
 
 She turned, but his indolence vanished like a flash 
 and springing m front of the door he barred ^w 
 
 o«f «?! °"' '"^ **'^^' '^"^'^ °"8^*»* *° understand with- 
 wL LTT*^ * u^ '"°'*- ^^y ^^d I bring you here ? 
 
 In' away flT^'""'' ""'^^ ' u ^""^ ''^' ^"^ '"^^ 
 roan away? Just to give you the proof of my com- 
 
 phci^ in a crime. I suppose. Well, hanily.' You 
 ZZl ^'*^\J«^ t^-"»«ht. And when you do. you 
 won t ca^:- those papers-my own safety depends on 
 
 ^ht'^caurr^'^'r^^^^^^^**^^- ^tenr 
 They caught the wail of the night crying as though 
 
 hungty for sacrifice. " No. you'U stay heil and-'' 
 
 He broke off abruptly, for Helen had stepped to the 
 
 telephone and taken down the receiver. He leaped 
 
 snatched it from her. and then, tearing the Sstr^ment 
 
 ^ h.llf r' *"^/P""^ *°^a«is her. but she wrench- 
 «1 herself free end fled across the room. The man's 
 white hair was wildly tumbled, his face was puirJe 
 
 vans He stood still, however, and his Ups cracked 
 into his ever-present, cautious smile 
 "Now. don't let's fight about this. It's no use. for 
 
 374 
 
THIBB GO AND BUT TWO »BTO»R 
 
 it will U. while I lock up" """ """ "'""' 
 
 Far down the mountain^de a man wa. u™in„ . 
 
 jCs.o^A^'a^rJnT^Lr^^^^^^^^ -tS J" 
 the animal stumbled and fell with it,^««!' ^°"**'^ "^^ 
 
 except h,s haste, insensible to the rain which sZtehrm 
 
 ul "h'^rid"' '" ''^ "^".' "^^^^ seized &?agely 
 rxhr„!.!i ^f' °' ?^'^^ ^* *^i"» in the gullies wfth 
 
 Lw thTlaThr • f •' ^i '^ «^^"^^ ^he pTateauTnJ 
 saw the road-house light beneath, so drove his h«.l« 
 
 in the air before something smote him and heTy still 
 
 ^il?T*' t^'^ ^^"^ "P^""^^d to the riXwie 
 about him the storm screamed exultantly. 
 
 The moment Struve disappeared into the outer room 
 Helen darted to the window. It was merelv f J^^ 
 sash, nailed fast and immovable. brsekr„g^Le o tt 
 httie stools beside the stove she thrust TthrLgh 
 the glass letting in a smother of wind and w^er 
 Before she could escape. Struve bounded into the 
 
 275 
 
 § 
 
 1,1 
 
'ill 1 
 
 I 
 
 TRB SP4ILBIS 
 
 JJ«»^hi. Uc Uvid wi«. .„„,. u, voie. ho«» «rf 
 
 tol«rfi.?J^ She wat very p,le Md her bimt 
 
 StorT^^l^rfi '^"^ »o «»« h«i ever «en tC 
 before, glowing hlce two jeweU whoee hearu coauinrf 
 
 Jk« •?*■"? 'T'"' »* ««'»"'*"• ShehldXISrtJ 
 though under the deft h«,d of . m«ter^?pC^hS 
 noetnl, growing thin «.d Mched. her lip. tigh?p^ 
 
 wKni^V" *•**««> window, over and past her 
 though m gleeful applauM. Her bitter abhomma S 
 
 She did not note the calculating treachery rftoi 
 ^«. however, nor fathom the punx-e. te Sd to 
 
 Out on the rain-nrept ^ountato the proetrate rider 
 
 toward! the road-houae. Seen through the dark h« 
 would have resembled «,me mieahapen* o^^inTmoS! 
 «e^ tor he dragged himself. ^tile-UketX^^to S^e 
 S^^w.. "■ !? *" "'»«.<=l<»«r the man heard a c^ 
 winch the wind «emed guarding from hi, ear. anZ 
 
 ^'Z 1'^:^^^'' '"^y ^<-«^. '^ 
 
THUB GO AND BUT TWO KBTURN 
 
 Helen watched her captive closely at he backed 
 through the door be/ore her, for the dared not loee 
 ^ht of him until free. The middle room wat lighted 
 by a glatt lamp on the bar and itt rayt thowed that 
 the front-door wat tecured by a large iron bolt. She 
 thanked Heaven there wat no lock and key. 
 
 Struve had retreated until hit back wat to the 
 counter, offering no word, making no move, but the 
 darting brightnett of hit eyct thowed that he wat alert 
 and planning. But when the door behind Helen, urged 
 by the wind through the broken casement, banged to, 
 the man made hit firtt lightniug-like tign. He dathed 
 the lamp t© the floor, where it burtt Uke an egg- 
 thell, and darknett leaped into the room at an ani- 
 mal pouncet. Had the been calmer or had time for 
 an inttanft thought Helen would have battened back 
 to the light, but the was midway to her liberty and 
 actuated by the sole desire to break out into the open 
 air, so plunged forward. Without warning, she was 
 hurled from her feet by a body which came out of the 
 darkn«M upon her. She fired the little gun, but 
 Struve's arms closed about her, the weapon was 
 wrenched from her hand, and she found herself fighting 
 against him, breast to breast, with the fury of despera- 
 tion. His wine-burdened breath beat into her face and 
 she felt herself bound to him as though by hoops, while 
 the touch of his cheek against hers tuiaed her into a 
 terrified, insensate animal, which fought with every 
 ounce of its strength and every nerve of its body. She 
 screamed once, but it was not like the cry of a woman. 
 Then the struggle went on in silence and utter black- 
 ness, Struve holding her like a gorilla till she grew 
 faint and her head began to whirl, while darting lights 
 
 277 
 
 i 
 
 11' 
 
! 
 
 Wm 
 
 1:1 p 
 
 m 
 
 - I 
 ' '' \ 
 
 I 1 !■ • • 
 
 1 1 |. ; 
 
 i ' I 
 
 1 i i 
 
 |:|' . 
 
 ; 1 ■ 1 
 
 1 s 
 
 )■ i-' 
 
 
 ,t:5 
 
 t;'|i 
 'J.I. 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 drove past her eyes and there was the roar of a cataract 
 m her ears. She was a strong girl, and her ripe young 
 body, untried until this moment, answered in evei^ 
 fibre, so that she wrestled with almost a man's strength 
 and he had hard shift to hold her. But so violent an 
 encounter could not last Helen felt herself drifting 
 free from the earth and losing grip of all things tangible! 
 when at last they tripped and fell against the inne; 
 d<wr. This gave way, and at the same moment the 
 nian s strength departed as though it were a thing of 
 darkness and dared not face the light that streamed 
 over them. She ^ore herself from his clutch and stag- 
 gered into the supper-room, her loosened hair fallin? 
 in a gleaming torrent about her shoulders, while he 
 arose from his knees and came towards her again 
 gasping: 6~". 
 
 " I'll show you who's master here " 
 
 Then he ceased abruptly, cringingly, and threw up 
 
 Vr.^'I^I^'^ .^'! ^^^^ *' '^ *° ^^'^ ^ff a blow 
 Framed in the window was the pallid visage of a man. 
 
 The air rocked, the lamp flared, and Struve whirled 
 
 completely around, falling back against the wall. His 
 
 hZ If ,Tu ^"*°' *^^ '^^^^^ ^^^'^ ^here his 
 hand had clutched at his breast, plucking at one spot 
 as If tearing a barb from his bosom. He jerked his 
 head towards the door at his elbow in quest of a re- 
 treat, a shudder ran over him, his knees buckled and 
 he plunged forward upon his face, his arm still doubled 
 under him. 
 
 Helen felt, rather than heard, the shot and saw her 
 as^lant fall, she did not realize the meaning of it till 
 a dnft of powder smoke assailed her nostrils. Even 
 
 378 
 
THRBB 60 AND BUT TWO RETURN 
 
 80, She experienced no shock nor horror of the sight 
 On the contrary, a savage joy at the spectacle seized 
 her and she stood still, leaning slightly forward, star- 
 ing at It almost gloatingly, stood so till she heard her 
 name called. "Helen, little sister!" and. turning, saw 
 her brother m the window. ^ 
 
 That which he witnessed in her face he had seen 
 before in the faces of men locked close with a hate- 
 ful death and from whom all but the most elemental 
 passions had departed-but he had never seen a wom- 
 an bear the marks till now. No artifice nor falsitv 
 was there, nothing but the crudest, intensest feeline 
 which many people live and die without knowing 
 There are few who come to know the great primitive 
 passionate longings. But in this black night, fighting 
 in defence of her most sacred self, this girl's nature had 
 been stnpped to its purely savage elements. As Glen- 
 ister had predicted. Helen at last had felt and yielded 
 to irresistibly powerful impulse. 
 
 Glancing backward at the creature sprawled by the 
 door. Helen went to her brother, put her arms about 
 his neck, and kissed him. 
 "He's dead.?" the Kid asked her. 
 She nodded and tried to speak, but began to shiver 
 and sob instead. 
 
 "Unlock the door." he begged her. "I'm hurt and 
 I must get in." 
 
 When the Kid had hobbled into the room, she pressed 
 him to her and stroked his matted head, regardless of 
 his muddy, soaking garments. 
 
 "I must look at him. He may not be badly hurt " 
 said the Kid. ' 
 
 "Don't touch himi" She followed, nevertheless, 
 
 »79 
 
 W 
 
 
 I 11 
 
 'nil 
 
t 
 
 lit 
 
 : I < 
 
 } 
 
 r t 
 
 
 ! ! Li 
 
 ! ■ J ' 
 
 
 i •: I 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 weak and pale, and the girl led him iSrthltin "^ 
 
 nunation had sustained him thus far anrf nr^ «f 
 kn^^ledge of his help.es«,ess se^^S top^^L'SIlen-: 
 
 The Kid would not hear of her going for helo till 
 the storm abate* or daylight came insiftW th« th^ 
 ^^ T'!,*^ treacherous and that no t^mf coSw ^ 
 At kstV°T '^- J""" ">«y waited for a^Twu 
 
 onlyT^Mrhul^es'"-'^^''- "^"'^ '« »o -Uc!. 
 
 die and I'm afraid?' ^e m^ed^tm^'B^ror^d 
 hobWed m. g aring with unquenched hatred 
 
 yes, you re going to die and I did it R» «.™. 
 can't you? I sha'n'f i.t i,_. t , . °* game, 
 light." ""ant let her go for help until day- 
 
 a^t^^'^Vabbr """^ "-■' --o ^ »~he«nt 
 A little later, when the Kid seemed stronger and hl- 
 
 stoZ w°' ^IJ"^' '••* "«"• '^«' her hj~ "f 1 
 stonng JUS .ee. She told him of the attack pUmS 
 
 mmers. He questioned her closely and, realizing the 
 
THEBB GO AND BUT TWO RBTURN 
 
 l^ellund" '''''' ^"P* ^ ^^^ ^-^' ^-ting the wind 
 "We'll have to risk it." said he "Tfi*» «,• ^ • 
 ^^hTr^J^^^^'^^^^^^^^tillA'iighJ^' "'^"^ ^^ 
 
 She pleaded to go alone, but he was fiS -T'li 
 leave you again, and. moreover I know^L , ^ " T^.f 
 quite well W^^'ii «J j , ' *^*^ow the lower trail 
 
 ^ch town S ' C°Tt.f ./t" *? the valley and 
 dangerous." ^' ' '"**'' •»« '»'« not so 
 
 "You can't ride," she insisted. 
 
 the L'C" '""'" ''^ "* '«° *"« ^-Id'e. Come, get 
 
 its violence when she helnM^l o'' *" """'S'' ««d by 
 The effort wrenched a J^f„f "?"" '"*° >>" ^«<Jd'e 
 upon her tyi^ WsteCtlf.^ u""' ""' ''* '"'^^^ 
 
 that the t4i« ^ih'^fhe 4urJ1 1'''''-"'?^^ 
 of faUing again • so hLI^ "« could take no chance 
 vices shI St &; <S!.^ Ptrforaed the last ser- 
 animal and aUot^ it m ™L •"' """"'^ ^er own 
 descent blhindT^broS;/,'^,'*' ''^>"'°"'' *•>« steep 
 drunkenly in hi seat *' ' ^''° f^'-ed and lurchS 
 with both h^dT ' ^^^"^ ** ''°™ ''«f°« Wm 
 
 hoS^TiSXCsV':^o£thet''l"'''~"'°*- 
 before the%x,ad-htuse d«r ?,, " '""'*"^ 
 
 and dishevelled, tng htoself n "n J\"""'-=**'''«* 
 ground and bolted in rtr^ugh rt", ^^^ "^"^ '» 'he 
 signs of confusion in ti,« „ ? • "® **" the 
 
 bmken, th^ arw^fe^:"SL?!™' f^'^ "P-' and 
 
 thecounterashatteriLTntp'riS ^"h^^^^ 
 
 m 
 
 III 
 
! i 
 
 m- 
 
 it 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 loudly, but. receiving no answer, snatched a light wUcl 
 he found burning and ran to the door at his left Nolh 
 ing greeted him but the empty tiers of bunks Turn 
 mg. he crossed to the other side and burst ihro«^ 
 Another lamp was lighted beside the couch wSfn 
 Struve lay. breathing heavily, his lids half dos^ 
 
 arhis feetanl T\ ^°^ "°*^ '^' P-t of tc^ 
 at Ills feet and the broken window: then setting 
 
 down his lamp, he leaned over the ma^ and 'spoke to 
 When he received no answer he spoke again loudlv 
 
 -You're too late.-rm dying-and I'm afraid " 
 His questioner shook Struve again " Where « «Ha ?'• 
 he repeated, time after time, till by very forcHJ h s 
 own^ insistence he compelled realization irthe sul 
 
 fh'lJt- ^'^ *°°^ ^°' *^^y- T^e Kid shot me " and 
 
 The Kid shot me and I'm dying " He c<mahliy7 a 
 to his lips, at which Roy lai^ hL ba"k ^nd'sttd °u^ 
 So there was no mistake, after all. and he had arrivS 
 Se^sru^k ^^',^,r^^« Kid's revenge. Thltas how 
 ne struck. Lackir.ji courage to face a man's level pv^«: 
 
 ?e1tTwlf '•'' 'T''' '^ P^^y "P- - ~ Roy 
 
 nis eye feli upon a sodden garment which Helen had 
 
 aSa 
 
THMB aO AHD BUT TWO MTOW 
 
 a sudden fury felt it ZT '' ?"*"* *^^ Aoor and in 
 tissue-paper!^ * ** '°'"" ^P*^ >° his hands like wS 
 
 He found himself out in th* ,-• 
 trampled soil by light of his lam^ J"j. ''^^"'^infir the 
 which thedrizzfe ht :L^l'ZX^ hT"""^ ^^^^^^ 
 chMiically that the two rid^sT^M L '^^"^"^ '"«■ 
 of him. so strode out beyonrth? ^i ^^ "° «^^* "^^^ 
 gone farther into theS The^T *° '"" ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ 
 therefore they must have do«wI! T'f "° *"«^^« here, 
 It did not ocLr to hirthat i!^ ^"l '^"'^^ *°^°' 
 beaten path and followed^dow^^^^ the 
 
 nver; but. repladng the light wheVe he h^^T''^*^ *^^ 
 remounted and lashed his horTe ^tn ^i""^"^ ^*' h® 
 towards the divide that iL ^!! \^ ^^'^ ^^^^^ «P 
 The story was g-wtng i L^^^^^^ the city' 
 
 he could not piece it aTiT^ *? ^' ^^^^ ^ yet 
 subbed h™ w.^n.4* Ca\ Sei^o^i^!? 
 
 this girl as though she ^^ZT^'^. ^^"^ °''^ 
 
 »ust overtake Lfficn^etlf/'^l •""*«'' »* 
 that he might not threw hto^? J"" P°«*iKty 
 
 mental chaos that br^iTfo^ ^* "?«°^«™'ble 
 Men went mad that wav H.T^«^ '^^ "■"«««• 
 That gasping cr^w^i^ T'** ■"" t^'"* of it. 
 well of the B,S^llSr„T'"''°r "P""^* <* too 
 those who had C^'^Si^ ?''?,"• *■"* 5^**' "'«' <>( 
 that his vileness wrsottte;'artw:r ' "°"" ''''"- 
 
 his^a tt-ei'srvefK; r""^. "«>'• 
 
 waiting impatiently his riju^^^lf^^^^ ^^^^ 
 
 i 
 
 pi! 
 
THE SPOILBIS 
 
 ri^ jmn. Down in the vaUejr to hi. left ww, the 
 two he foUowed, while he, ob^Med «>d anreMoniag. 
 Mw cumaj hlce . m,dm^, now grim «>d «ZI 
 
 
 I 
 
 . I 
 
 :lli 
 
 i I !(?!;■■ 
 
 i :. 1 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THB HAIIMBR-LOCK 
 
 had not slept for two days and niehte Th. I!v^ii 
 tion did not reassure the young mfn for W^ tJS ""' 
 a weapon which must not M fn^^'.SS,^ .^^ '" 
 now that there was work to do Ev,^te^n"r "" 
 speculation upon his physical haTdi^p off^*^* 
 however from the agony which fed upon b^en^t 
 
 ^«n!J^ ^*' «"'*""S at his master's viol^ 
 plunged onward towards the roofs of Nome now i^ 
 uig gray in the first dawn. ' *™*" 
 
 •fhi* ^^ ^^ ^°'=* ^°y ^^ «en the sunlight for 
 
 Ion. *H-' ^'"'^ '^^ ^""P™^- had b^XtiX 
 lonr H,s body was faint beneath the strain lnd^!j 
 he rode on and on, tired, dogged, st»ny.^'^^* 
 towards the sea, his mind a sto?m of foriiC Stolid 
 
 aWet^S.""'- "" - -"^eviaS-t;!^? 
 
 He knew now that he had sacrificed tU hope of the 
 
 28s 
 
 u 
 
 M 
 
 m 
 
 j 
 
I I 
 
 1^: 
 
 I 1 
 
 'ii:l 
 
 1^ 
 
 THE SPOILBIS 
 
 Midat. Md Ukewise the hope of Helen was gone; in 
 fact he began to realize dimly that from the beginning 
 he had never had the possibility of winning her. that 
 she had never been destined for him. and that his love 
 for her had been sent as a light by which he was to find 
 «i?i u u ^/f ^*!I^ everywhere, he had become an 
 
 K?- ;.*% *^ '2"*^?* ^^ 8^°"* ^°^' «^rtain only of 
 his rectitude and the mastery of his imruly spirit. 
 
 Now the hour had come when he would perform 
 his last mission, deriving therefrom that satisfaction 
 which the gods coi^d not deny. He would have his 
 vengeance. 
 
 The scheme took form without conscious eflFort on 
 his part and embraced two things -the death of 
 the gambler and a meeting with McNamara. Of the 
 former, he had no more doubt than that the sun 
 nsmg there would sink in the west. So well con- 
 firmed was this belief that the detaUs did not engage 
 his thought; but on the result of the other encotmter 
 he speculated with some interest. From the first 
 McNamara had been a riddle to him, and mystery 
 breeds cunosity. His blind, instinctive hatred of the 
 man had assumed the proportions of a mania; but as 
 to what the outcome would be when they met face to 
 face, fate alone could tell. Anyway, McNamara should 
 never have Helen-Roy believed his mission covered 
 ttiat point as well as her deliverance from the Bronco 
 ut u^ !u ^^ ¥*^ finished-he would pay the price. 
 If he had the luck to escape, he would go back to his 
 hills and his olitude; if he did not. his future would 
 be m the hands of his enemies. 
 
 He entered the silent streets unobserved, for the 
 mists were heavy and low. Smoke columns arose 
 
 a86 
 
TBB RAMHBI.LOCK 
 
 wi^'dnl^r*"**'- Th.~n had ce.«d. having 
 hS^ «1? .?• ""^ "'''* """Wed agaiMt^ 
 beach, filhng the .treet. with their subdued &und^ 
 
 of Sledge bhuid with the fint lull, while midway to 
 .W i^™:!' *V^" '" """« •""» failing, ita™ « Lh! 
 
 1^"%*!?* "^""^ ^'^"^ ^*^* ^^««dless of danger heed- 
 a^i^' *"^^,?^ J»« «»«ny's Stronghold. He passed a 
 
 sto^ at IhT? • ^ r" '*^" °"* unsteadily and 
 stared at the horseman, then passed on. 
 
 *n?^^'*^*i? P^*" ""*" *° ^° '^'^^8^^t to the Northern 
 and from there to track down its owner relenttessT 
 
 hi m^H .hi "^r * ^*"*^"- ™^ ^'^"ght back to 
 Th?l^ ? r,?'' ^^'°^ °"* ^^"'■^ *«° "^"es at his back. 
 ^Lntirnno!'* t^f '^ ^r^^^^ ^^t assistance be 
 sent at once Yet he dared not give word openly, thus 
 betraying his presence, for it was necessaJy thkt b^ 
 maintjun his liberty during the next hour aTa^ ha^^^s 
 
 ho'rT wv l^ *^"t* °' *° ^^P^^^^t and reined TS 
 horee, which stopped with wide-spread legs and deject- 
 ed head while he dismounted and climbed the stairs to 
 teaye a note upon the door. Some one would see the 
 message shortly and recognize its urgency 
 In dressing for the battle at the Midas on the pre- 
 
 "mull!!lf * l^^ '^^^'"^ ^'^ ^«^t^«^ hoots 4h 
 mukluks, which are waterproof. Ught. and pHable 
 footgear made from the skin of seal and walrus. He was 
 thus able to move as noiselessly as though in moccasins 
 
 i>i 1 
 
: 
 
 1 
 
 : 
 
 H 
 
 
 T ^ 
 
 : 
 
 
 J i 
 
 1 
 
 If 
 
 
 TBB SPOILfilS 
 
 Finding neither pencil oor paper in hit f>oclmt h* fw^ 
 
 •twed inude and listened, then moved towardt a 
 t^Ie on which were writing material., but in doSg^S 
 hMrd a ruitie m Struve't private office. Evidently hU 
 ■oft iolee had not disturbed the man inside Www 
 
 th^!?. •*^'°'*- ^* " '"^ ^^^ involuntary sounds 
 TJ^ thanT I^r '"^ '"'^'^ ^^"^y mo^^stinctly 
 GZi.t.r"Jrj^!i^i"^- A »*««?« eagerness grew ii 
 Hv Tf L ^ ""^ ?• approached the partition stealth- 
 ily. It was of wood and glass, the panes clouded and 
 
 ?ZVi: "'^"'i'^ '^^ *^^ '^^^ ^«* stepping u^n 
 
 knelt m a litter of papers before the open safe iu 
 
 tents scattered. The watcher lowered himself drew 
 in^ T; r'l^J*'^. r'i *^*"' "P^'^ *^« <i«>'-knob. tu^ 
 ::L^'t:m::?hr'^'"^^"- «« -ngeanJe had 
 
 thii:^h Jr?, '" ""^^^ ^''^^"S^ *^* ^<>°« ««ht. certain 
 that the Vigilantes would spring his trap McN^ra 
 
 was ^tounded at news of the bfttle at thi M^d 
 
 «^rr^rTh?T«d «««*<>--» and cursed his ,;::« 
 Si, I!r^' T ^""^^^ ^^""^^ »^«**^y exercised over 
 this new development, which, coupled with his night 
 
 '!^L^'k^' '"^"^ ^'"^ ^ * Pi^i^^l hysteria.^ 
 « ! /"^y " J>^o^ «^ wp next. Great Heavens! Dv- 
 namitel Oh. that is barbarous. For Heavens sake 
 get the soldiers out. Alec." ^*' 
 
 "Ay. we can use them now." Thereupon McNamara 
 roused the commanding officer at the post anT ,2? 
 
 2iS 
 
 'I., ; 
 
 [k.jMJi^^ 
 
 m^wm 
 
TBB BAMIIBI.LOCI 
 
 quetted him to accoutre a troop and have them ready 
 to march at daylight, then bestirred the Judge to ttait 
 tfte wheeU of hit court and invoke thii miliury aid in 
 regular fashion. /•«*•» 
 
 "Make it all a matter of record," he said. "Wa 
 want to keep our skirts clear from now on." 
 
 BtiUman. "They'll tear us to pieces." 
 
 \^^\iT ^7' °"*'* ^ *** '"y ^»"^ on *»»• ring, 
 leader, the rest may not and be damned " 
 
 Although he had made less dispUy th a had the 
 Judge, the receiver was no less deeply . ^rried about 
 
 «S kJ/ZiT r "!J? "*''• *^""*- "•» >«'°««y • '«nned to 
 red heat by the discovery of her earlier defection, was 
 
 ^anced fourfold by the thought of this last adventure. 
 Something told him there was treachery afoot, and when 
 she did not return at dawn he began to fear that she 
 had cast m her lot with the rioters. This aroused a per- 
 fect dehnum of doubt and anger till he reasoned fur- 
 ther that Struve, having gone with her, must also be a 
 traitor. He recognised the menace in this fact, know- 
 ing the man s venality, so began to reckon carefully its 
 si^ificance. What could Struve do ? What proof had 
 
 Il^lw"; tr!"* »**^*^' *»d' ^^^g his hat, hurried 
 straight to the lawyer's office and let himself in with the 
 key he earned. It was light enough for him to decipher 
 toe characters on the safe lock as he turned the com- 
 bination, so he set to work scanning the endless bundles 
 withm, hoping that after all the man had taken with 
 him no mcnminating evidence. Once the searcher 
 paused at some landed sound, but when nothing came 
 of it drew his revolver and laid it before him just in- 
 side the safe door and close beneath his hand, continu- 
 
 289 
 
 \l 
 
J- 
 
 TBB tPOILBIS 
 
 When h. ^^^.^tS^VVuT'."^' 
 •Ught to «Unn .nd just •uffid^ !L^^,^''^* ^ 
 
 l«ip«l to hit feet, faced about !«^ genuine that he 
 cretive inttinct ^t^^^' JSt S^^^^u^^ " '^ 
 rwnl iU contents. He haSMJS ^ "though to 
 before realiaing Sat hi wIJ^?! ""^.^^ ^™P«J«* 
 now, although th? doJrTZ^ T*! *^***' •"<* *h»t 
 
 require tha? onrda^" ""* '^^^' '' ^d 
 jjp^.^ ««wouf, yet, fatal, lecond to 
 
 the oMermM't face. SS^rfT""*.'** *'^**- » 
 
 • dogged .nd grim^.^tS^^M^v*' ''°™*""' 
 perturbation left hta^ X 1 "'Nanur.-, flm 
 
 biMed forth unhidden ~°'*»^' ""d hu purpose 
 
 He ftood there unkempt and aoiled th. -i. 
 <rf )«w and throat overgiiwnwitt rVi.^ clean tweep 
 •tubble, hi. hair wet iSd mj^ \u^ fay.' black 
 foul ^ft day whe« ThTS^ "nlf Vj *"* 
 A muddy red ttreak reread ioZJ^J^f darkne... 
 above his temple, beneatt. hk ev^J^ ^ * «» 
 while the flicker at MTnZt^ "* '''«8*'* *<>"«. 
 high nervous plt^to'Twrh^wrk^ed*"*"^*' *' 
 
 havil;'::tr«ttn^*'«-«'''-^= -wel, 
 The politician shrugged hi. should.™. "You ^vi 
 
THB BAJIJIBB.LOCK 
 
 Pwn on me till •hooiinl.^^^i I"* '.•?* y""- '»'• 
 hod th. feeling" wTrm f^" * "i**^>' ""• =ver 
 o» you with nfy jJ, ";„'jT'^'"' *" """" *' "'• »"» 
 ""'''""•™ •quared hiniielf. 
 
 you .peek .bout ? h.T.^S^;^."* ' '"""' "" '-«>« 
 
 which lent ttHp^i^i' ', '"^ do.* -drawn belt 
 
 by the neclc .„d "KS^ Hri^S*^' ^"'l,''-"' 
 men. and he reaioned tw •« •/ **' '^**-'' better 
 te« in th.«^"^ ^uVrti'V"" *° • P""-"" 
 would moie thwTo&et .n^^ •' ""^ '^^ '"^h^ 
 might pou^ ■^u>^l*T"'", "^^y «"« "i*" 
 
 mo« m»Uy he longed to „tSy it ' "^ *' 
 
 •«»mr In rht.^T*-" r*'" °'""*"- "Now turn 
 StoHU y^S-^l^"* wanted to ..e if you were 
 
 oiifif ' yf^r "'•^ McNamara. 
 •KSS^hSlwSf ^•*°°*" «Pon the «fe and 
 
 with the «Siv« T1, ** ^^»»tage more strongly 
 
 with^thTMidt »d «chta 'a^*Jl'^ ""^"^ ^ ^o 
 
 fierce enmitv An/^f ^^ "''*"«* ^'""g their 
 
 enm'ty. And it was meet that they diould 
 
 S91 
 
 !1 
 
 w 
 
m. 
 
 if?^.'' 
 
 I' 'ii 
 
 ;t; 
 
 :{: 
 
 THB SPOILERS 
 
 come together thus. It had been the one certain and 
 Qgical event which they had felt inevitably aXa^- 
 
 they should fight alone and unwitnessed, armed only 
 w^«i the weapons of the wilderness, for th;y we!^ S 
 
 «d had h;/r ^^°i%^«'^ ^°th of the fighter's type. 
 and had both warred for the first, great prize 
 They met ferociously. McNamara aimed a fearful 
 
 ctv'eriv st^?"*'' "'*. """^ '"""^'"'y' beaS.g httff 
 Cleverly, stepping m and out. his arms swinging looselv 
 
 from h« shoulders like whalebone withes Spped wfth 
 
 lead. He moved lightly, his footing made doubJ^ 
 
 cure by reason of his soft-soled mukluks. RecS 
 
 .tr^rr'i ^''"*^' ^'^«^'' h« undertookSy to 
 stop the headlong rushes and remain out of re^ch m 
 long as possible. He struck the politician fa rlv iTth^ 
 
 fiTwe" '^l^ :S' T;^ ^-^ sLpperbfckl^ li 
 th^ZT ^ J ?^?' ^^^°'^ *^« ^^s could grasp him 
 
 non^rr ^- f^ **^ "K""' sweep ng his oo- 
 »!!fr,, "? "^ '***• ■*8"° Glenister's L shot tor- 
 Zl . '/.'r?,"* «"">'*'• •»** '"e other came on h«^ 
 
 big niim s brow. A sudden darting agony paralvx^ 
 
 .^■. ?• !.'°"" '^^*^- MeNamara had pas^ 
 
 under his extended arm and seized him by the m^^ 
 then thrusting his left leg back of iSy 's. he Xirf 
 hm. from his balance, flinging him cl«i i,d ,^fh rt^ 
 Mtless force. It seemed that a fatal £aU m-Mt^oUow 
 
 99a ' 
 
THB HAMMER. LOCK 
 
 but the youth squirmed catlike in the air. landing with 
 set muscles which rebounded Uke rubber. Even so the 
 receiver was upon him before he could rise, reachine 
 for the young man's throat with his heavy hands 
 Roy recognized the fatal "strangle hold." and. seizing 
 his enemy's wrists, endeavored to tear them apart, but 
 his left hand was useless, so with a mighty wrench he 
 freed himself, and. locked in each other's arms, the men 
 strained and swayed about the office till their neck 
 veins were bursting, their muscles paralyzed 
 
 Men may fight duels calmly, may shoot or parry or 
 thrust with cold deliberation; but when there comes 
 the jar of body to body, the sweaty contact of skin to 
 Skin, the play of iron muscles, the painful gasp of ex- 
 halation— then the mind goes skittering back into its 
 dark recces while every venomous passion leaps forth 
 from its hiding-place and joins in the horrid war 
 
 They tripped across the floor, crashing into the par- 
 tition, which split, showering them with glass. They 
 fe 1 and rolled in it; then, by consent, wrenched them- 
 selves apart and rose, eye to eye, their jaws hanging, 
 their lungs wheezing, their faces trickling blood and 
 
 Tf*;, ?;°^'' ^®^* ^^"^ P^^"^^ ^i°^ excruciatingly, 
 while McNamara's macerated lips had turned outward 
 m a hideous pout. They crouched so for an instant 
 cruel, bestial— then clinched again. The office-fitting^ 
 were wrecked utterly and the room became a litter of 
 ruins. The men's garments fell away till their breasts 
 were bare and their arms swelled white and knotted 
 through the rags. They knew no pain, their bodies 
 were msensaie mechanisms. 
 
 Gradually the older man's face was beaten into a 
 shapeless mass by the other's cunning blows, whUe 
 
 893 
 
TBB SPOILBKS 
 
 Glenister's every bone was wrenched and twisted nnH 
 
 he met this great, snarling cr^at^"^ ^Z% hi 
 h.ther and yon as though he were a Tuid Cl ^ 
 
 the blood mama. Their trampling feet caS th 
 
 judge Stillman and Voorhees came down from the hot p1 
 and paused to gaze through the mi^ I? a caraval 
 of mule teams which trotted into the oth^ ^H ?f 
 the street with jingle and clank tL Z °^ 
 
 ttv^:L»'*'7;/''* ^'y^ ™^-^^^ C 
 
 Z^nfft'f *t^ T"* ^'^^ f" the Midas 
 Out of the fogs which clung so thicklv to thTi^A 
 
 there came two other horses, distorted aid utS^^n 
 
 r^r'- °" *''* "*''" » ««""= of painTid^grfT 
 a grotesque creature that swayed stiffly to the mS' 
 
 »94 
 
THB HAMMBR-LOCK 
 
 of its steed, its face writhed into lines of suffering its 
 hands clutching cantle and horn. 
 
 It was as though Fate, with invisible touch, were 
 setting her stage for the last act of this play, assembling 
 the principals close to the Golden Sands where first they 
 had made entrance. 
 
 The man and the girl came face to face with the Judge 
 and marshal, who cried cut upon seeing them, but as 
 they reined m, out from ihe stairs beside them a man 
 shot amid clatter and uproar. 
 
 !!2Jr® ™® * hand— quick!" he shouted to them. 
 
 ^^ What's up ?" inquired the marshal. 
 
 "It's murder! McNamaraandGlenister!" He dashed 
 back up the steps behind Voorhees, the Judge foUow- 
 ing, while muflBed cries came from above. 
 
 The gambler turned towards the three men who were 
 hurrying from the beach, and, recognizing Wheaton 
 called to him : " Untie my feet ! Cut the ropes ! Quick !"' 
 
 " What's the trouble ?" the lawyer asked, but on hear- 
 ing Glenister's name bounded after the Judge, leaving 
 one of his companions to free the rider. They could 
 hear the fight now, and all crowded towards the door, 
 Helen with her brother, in spite of his warning to stav 
 behind. ' 
 
 She never remembered how she climbed those stairs 
 for she was borne along by that hypnotic power which 
 drags one to behold a catastrophe in spite of his will. 
 Reaching the room, she stood appalled; for the group 
 she had joined watched two raging things that rushed 
 at each other with inhuman cries, ragged, bleeding, 
 fighting on a carpet of debris. Every loose and break- 
 able thing had been ground to splinters as though by 
 iron slugs in a whirling cylinder. 
 
 295 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 to^e A JS' ^" ?'^rr *° ** Strait., horn Uni 
 
 h^. ^ .^°« camp-fiiw or in dingy buni 
 W«:jmd altho^rh «m.e .cout the t.rSJn 
 
 m^ fa ^. ZT**' "" '** *• '»"'• ot bS 
 moose in the rutting season, thoueh more t*rriKi. 
 
 avemng that two men like th«e L^T ^ ' 
 known in the land since the da^l?,^^ '^J^ 
 taa crew; for their rancor had .woll«^^ «ii V? ."" 
 
 apparent notice of the inteirun^^ !l « f' '"*°"* 
 It was seen rtiiri„^ *u- ""*7"P*»o°. the fight went on. 
 
 waT ™^tag "^^ *^ 'SS'^*\** McNamara's mouC^ 
 while eve^^^rete^'^'lhtSaU'" ^S'*"^ "^I'- 
 he,«ir , Jng: " Strtle^T^^V "But-no*^"* 
 
 ^"t:^n?a.^\^";i'"*r'"- ^eh^nlh^l^th" 
 
 gWis'sU.T^!:,^^--^--^^^^ 
 
 Judge was ashy, imbecile, helpless * 
 
 wh'^'^i^rs^^frhfm'^rtrhr "• r"*"^*- 
 
 •9« 
 
THB HAMMBR-LOCK 
 
 man6a sluggishly, his ribs seemed broken, his back was 
 weak, and on the inner side of his legs the flesh was 
 quivenng As they came together the boss reached up 
 lus nght hand and caught the miner by the face, bury- 
 ing thumb and fingers crablike into his cheeks, forcing 
 his slack jaws apart, thrusting his head backward, 
 ^le he centred every ounce of his strength in the 
 effort to maim. Roy felt the flesh giving way and 
 flung himself backward to break the hold, whereupon 
 the other summoned his wasting energy and plunged 
 towards the safe, where lay the revolver. Instinct 
 warned Glenister of treachery, told him that the man 
 had sought this last resource to save himself, and as he 
 saw him turn his back and reach for the weapon, the 
 youth leaped like a panther, seizing him about the 
 waist, grasping McNamara's wrist with his right hand 
 For the first time during the combat they were not 
 face to face, and on the instant Roy realized the ad- 
 vantage giveii him through the other's perfidy, realized 
 the wrestler's hold that was his, and knew that the mo- 
 ment of victory was come. 
 
 The telling takes much time, but so quickly had these 
 things happened that the footsteps of the soldiers had 
 not yet reached the door when the men were locked 
 beside the safe. 
 
 Of what happened next many garbled accounts have 
 gone forth, for of all those present, none but the Bronco 
 Kid knew its significance and ever recounted the truth 
 concerning it. Some claim that the yotmger man was 
 seired with a fear of death which multiplied his enor- 
 mous strength, others that the power died in his adver- 
 sary as reward for his treason; but it was not so. 
 
 No sooner had Roy encompassed McNamara'swaist 
 
 «97 
 
X, 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 from the rear than he slid his damawd fc.«^ 
 the other's chest and around the W^ u*"^ ? P*» 
 bringing his own left armcl^nnAtl'' ''^^' ^^"^ 
 armpit, wedging the i^eiv^, T'^l' ^ ^^'"y'- !«'< 
 with his othfr hand he ^!;S the n^^^/ ""^^^ 
 
 wrist close to the revclvefS^hnSf- P°Jf*<^?° » ^ght 
 
 which could not bTbToken ^^S* ^°**°« ^im in a grasp 
 
 two bodies set the,^t^-«,^,7^^^^^^ 
 
 was no lungine about "fT,,. ^"*® *"** "8^*^- There 
 
 «nd it became a contest f,w- " ^ "K""* "m 
 
 «.d down, the fury o'^ n^^^^^iX it tTf "^^ 
 formless patterns in the air Ztlu-T^^ *° *""* 
 Namara ,W him^lTbut fce^^ fj^"^- "'' 
 safe and could not escao. h;. I TJ°". '«"'»* 'he 
 the lock of the ^^'fS; «1 "^^^"^ '°"'»^ by 
 
 theb,eath doggrSSi^fhr: "lW^\tt5'' *^" 
 toil his right hand moved back «I .hti «■ . 8"e»o<M 
 
 a bit while the blooll^^tu^ ?^1? *"*«' 
 but he found that th. i~,» c "urenng from his eyes, 
 
 were like m« wdrt^ ™>!.*^.*''""="'« ^is ,^s^ 
 
 hiUsandthfii^r^XT^Jyth'S-j' *' 
 defeat. Slowly inch bv ,„^i. .i '^ ""* •"«» "o 
 
 dragged bacrd'o^ p«t Ws '^i' ^^ T'" "" "» 
 labor of his breatT^^^J^'afwL?' w "1* "*""«"■« 
 muzzle of the eunde«ih!r ■ ?* "'*' ^-^t. The 
 
 hands begi;rrt«*^t™xiT''*'" ■"'«*«' 
 
 now. across his broad btTk S «f l*"'f"»« ^apMly 
 wrenched, but uselessly. He st^ve tS fir ^^'"^ """* 
 but his fingers were woven aSs^tw ^' r'*P'»- 
 would not work. Then tt,. „• ? * ** hammer 
 ward. ** """^ began forcing up- 
 
 198 
 
 < t 
 
TBB BAMUI-LOCK 
 
 wJ^t«tel!L"!?° '*"'* *•■• •="'• 'trip* «rf clothing 
 
 J^r f.^ h qmmed. Helen, watching in silrat 
 terror, felt her brother iinking his fingers intTw 
 shoulder and hearf him pantinf, hi, fa^Tbl^^rt 
 
 ^^•^•' ""'5 *«.''~«n.. L-sci^TtSaTelS 
 repeated time and again: 
 
 Bv '!li^*i*?I^*"^°^^-~*^* hammer-lock." 
 ,,««; I? T ^cNamara's arm was bent and cramoed 
 
 S;7^^.ciira%':!sSn^ti"M'^i- 
 
 of 8 Strong man overcome with agony McN^i^ 
 went to his knees and sagged tor^^TZ'toi^^Jt 
 
 rite walT h?. hlf T' '"'*? ""* ^«'^ the oppc^ 
 SfThTrlfl ' dragging in the litter, bringing^ 
 
 with outflung arms as though fearful of falUngf ^a^ 
 mg, bhnd, exhausted, his face blackened by the e^^^ 
 "7 ^ *• r°''e'. yet rim with the BgiroKi^ 
 
 Judge Sfllmar shouted, hysterically: ^^' 
 
 Arrest that man, quickl Don't let him gol" 
 
 It was the miner's first realisation that othera wer. 
 
 a^nst the partition, then groaned the words: 
 
 my L^i *' *'"*°' and-^d-I broke him with- 
 
 ' *l 
 
•1' 
 
 ! 
 !. 
 
 ' 1, 
 
 
 
 
 ijjj 
 
 imi 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 TRB FROMIIB 09 DIIAMt 
 
 *»»««, tUl«an. on. .t the h«>d of th««2™lhoSS 
 
 ssLVcht* . ««™„, ^ that ««..»«,'':, 
 
 Then one <rf the receiver-a faction called: "Let', 
 hang h.m. He IdUed ten cf our men C ni^" 
 Hetei wmced, but StUtoun, roused to a SMtrf^. 
 
 OfficCT hold thae people back. Ill attend to thi. 
 »«»^The Uw. in my h«.ds and I'U make him 
 
 hi,"fr^"^''^ «~»'°« '™» «>« floor, 
 r^ J T^ swmgmg from the shoulder straneelv 
 loose ud distorted, with palm twisted outWMdSe 
 hjs battered face was hideous with pain W^drf^ 
 He growled broken maledictions at hi^ ene^ ^~*- 
 
 aJ5T' ?f»°'"'«' ^^ nothing, for as the savage lust 
 &ed m him he realized that the whirling facaUf^ 
 
 was still at large, and that his vengeance was but S 
 
 JOT* 
 
THB FIOMISB OP DKBAHS 
 
 ^ .guani., he c^ahJ^t^J i^P^T^ »>y 
 
 ptnion and paused deJ^fc? • * ^'l *°^ ^' «»»- 
 **Ah ♦u^-l^^^' *^}®*"*>fi^ his vision slowlv 
 
 Moulder. ^*^ ^"P'^' ^ '*^ *«"«<1 back over hi^ 
 
 thS wayrt5l?,"!f&,^' !«- -?« Wheaton ba„^ 
 Roy-" ^^^* *^**''* "P » minute-^t's aU right, 
 
 "Ay, BiU— it's all rieht W. At a ^ 
 w»e done by . dr ^il.^^'^';^-^* '« 
 me up— but I dont care Ihlla: '•"^ ">•"•««! 
 naked h«uj.. OiJtTkcU^f^"^*^ ^ 
 ""■♦••dily at the bou ii.T~^f^ . "* mocked 
 
 d-hevdled «.d Arilly iSe """^ "" "* 
 
 Bufv^^tcn^k^^pC wLtt^" *» ^■" 
 if eyes upon him .«;««. '' *■" ''°°° <*n*^ 
 
 you wm wear th. sh«ckl« y<S™ ^n^ '"" '^"^ 
 
 • *""» ««-»• ^- twor';r ;iu, ^^i";;;;^ 
 
 301 > J ^ 
 
' f" 
 
 THB SPOILBIS 
 
 potttiet and your puUt; but it's our tuni noir. « 
 we U make you dance for the mines you gutted and tl 
 robb«i« yoL've done and the nin ^Ve^i 
 mnk Heaven there's ont honest court and I happenc 
 to find it." He turned to the stranger who hidi 
 
 ^^^^"^^^^^1^?' "5^' "Serve tho. 
 warranu, and they stepped forward. 
 
 The uproar of the past few minutes had brought me 
 running from every direction tiU, finding nV^ a 
 the stairs they «had massed in the street below whil 
 the word flew from lip to lip concerning this clcsin 
 scene of thdr drama, the battle at the Midas, the grea 
 fight «P;Jtairs. and the anest by the 'Frisco depSS 
 Like Sindbad's genie, a wondrous tale took sha^frw 
 the rumors Men shouldered one another eagerly for i 
 
 S^^^ t W^'^r *"^ r^*" *^* P"*" «*«*««1 out 
 greeted it with voUeys of questions. They saw the 
 unconscious marshal borne forth, followed by the old 
 Judge, now a palsied wretch, slinking beside his captor 
 a very shel of a man at whom they jeered. Wheii 
 
 diapm. their voices rose menacingly. The pack was 
 
 S!S*^*^ Sf*^* ^T **' ^"*' *^°^^ ^^^ ««d crip- 
 pled, he bent upon them a visage so full of defiance and 
 
 contemptuous maUgnity that they hushed themselves, 
 and their final picture of him was that of a big man 
 do^ed but unbeaten to the last. They began to cry 
 for Glcmister. so that when he loomed in th^doonr^ 
 a ragged, heroic figure, his heavy shock low over Us 
 eyes, his unshaven face aggressive even in its weari- 
 ness, his corded arms and chest bare beneath the flut- 
 tenng streamers, the street broke into wild cheering. 
 Hers was a man of their own, a son of the NorS- 
 
THB FIOMISB OP ilBAMS 
 
 iMdwho labored and loved and fought in a war thm 
 '"Jwtood, and he had come into STdue '^ ^ 
 
 JT^i • ^•^P ?* •^•^ "^ *«*P* Wheaton. He 
 ST?**^ companion talking, but gnuped only that 
 the attorney gloated and gloried. 
 
 ^^^15'/^ «^"~- Arrested in their very dow^ 
 )^wtI»-Hated for contempt of court-that's what they 
 Me^ They diMbeyed thoie other write, and to I got 
 
 ••I broke hie arm," muttered the miner. 
 
 a htt e while just tl tame, and we have broken tho 
 rmg. 
 
 "It snapped at the shoulder," the other continued, 
 duUy. "just like a shovel handle. I felt it-but he 
 tned to kill me and I had to do it." 
 
 The attorney took Roy to his o^bin and dressed his 
 wounds, talkmg incessantly the while, but the boy was 
 hke a sleep-walker, displaying no elation, no excite- 
 ment, no joy of victory. At last Wheaton broke out: 
 
 Cheer up! Why, man, you act Hke a loser. Don't 
 you reahse that we've won? Don't you understand that 
 the Midas is yours ? And the whole world with it ?" 
 
 Won?" echoed the miner. "What do you know 
 about it BiU ? The Midas-the world-what good are 
 they ? You're wrong. I've lost-yes— I've lost every- 
 thing she taught me, and by some damned trick of Pate 
 •he was there to see me do it. ;:Vow, go away ; I want 
 to sleep. 
 
 He sank upon the bed with its tangle of blanketo and 
 

 ^t 
 
 
 THB SPOILIIS 
 
 WM ««iBKJout Mm th. Uwyw |»d eovmd hi. 
 -J?^u'"«Z like • d«rt nan till bito in the after. 
 
 ■Mwenng Wkeaton't oil. ud fell upon Urn huarthJ 
 They ihook Roy into conidou»MM^rithto™Srt2' 
 
 th« tonnM* from hit miuclet, emngins phyiiciaiy fiT 
 
 fallSlM^ <ll«icripti<« of th. fight Irith .b«»b«I 
 
 "J?f 1. °^''' *^'" *"*» "ouTrful compUinf 
 him 1^ firi"'' "^ "^ *• •««>» *» •« m burt 
 .t°h.t!^' • "~*'^ '^* ioop~aideIi^ 
 
 •netted he iwora in eighteen dieferent Uncuami mJ^ 
 
 r^x? "^y '^-"^ ^4t?LThS 
 
 P««dm Oh. I h.ve tore mitted ..plenty tonJay. 
 
 M rinm-miU^ of Ute. ri,owia> t«l lik of new ideS? 
 J^A I jmght hnye ttumMtted «Hnethin' robu^ 
 ^^ ",«?>'««»• « I'd been here. No. S- . 
 
 ^^ diS > ■"**?• r°"""** "•'• kept me .«y. • 
 mJ^T<^ '* »ound when the butted?" insitted the 
 morhd Simmt, but Glenitter refuted to dit<»u. uj 
 
 "Come on, SUp." taid the old protpector "let-. «. 
 down-town. I'm to het up I c™:^ K.' Qid« 
 TObbe we am get the ttory the way it really hap^.S' 
 
 304 
 
THB PIOXISB OP ilBAMS 
 
 from loniebody who ain't bound an' namd »n» «.kt^.^ 
 fonnad by «.ch unbeconSTmSa.tiS^Rl'^JS?^ 
 JJ^ into vainlyville with them p^lonS^^* 
 ^jcaaie th^ read about at thrillin' m a coo£J«>k' 
 
 aU^.^' •crimmage. an' they're all diff^«at aS' 
 •U better 'n your account." 
 
 iti poiae he realised what he had done. 
 
 af J ^f«v^' •" 'f^'^'" ^* «~^«1' "•»<* that 
 after aU my itnving. I wanted to leave that oart h^ 
 
 «c«ng. 1 have loet her confidence, ye»— and what i. 
 ^orie. infinitely wo«e. I have lost my W^ She'Ial 
 
 r^fi 'S^*' "^ >' I ^•^^ "Other chance I will. I W 
 t^ I've been tried too hard, thaff all." 
 
 the'r^r K^dt?H^^'* ^•^ ^* <"- *<> -'«^* 
 
 SdJl V^i; ;^* "^^^^^^ ^***«^ h»«««l' with diffi. 
 culty, oflFenng in explanation : 
 
 other." *" ^^ ""^ ''' ^^^^ <rf one kind or an. 
 
 coZfi^f^* ?T^ *f.^ "°^' ^«* ^« wouldn't let me 
 ^ alone, and I could not wait. " the girl supplement^ 
 whUe her ey«i avoided Glenister's in strange heSatiS' 
 
 *^virf^u^:('^' I don't unde«tind." 
 t^ J^* J ^"^?®'' announced the Bronco Kid. " IVe 
 known it for a long time, but I-I-weU. you und^! 
 
 30J 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 'J 
 •I 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
 
 ) 
 
 
 : ■ 
 
 ^' kit- 
 
 THB SPOILBXS 
 
 •tand I couldn't let her know. AH I am »y « I've 
 gambled «,uare till the night I played you. and i wm 
 SL^ ? • <»e^«\then. blaming ?ou for the tallcl^^S 
 
 a^li 1 "* ^«^* ^ '"*"'*^ ^y *^h«"<^ about Struve 
 and Helen and got to the road-house in time to m ve 
 her. I m sorry I didn't kill him." His longwhite^n! 
 
 ^^ Isn t he dead ?" Glenister inquired. ^ 
 
 get well ^h!^ rv""? ITu ^"^^^^ ^^ ^" »"^ h«'« 
 f!««r .1* ? J^v ^*" *^® "»«" »" Alaska-here be- 
 cause the shen-Ts back home couldn't shoot straight 
 There's something else. I'm not a good talker but 
 
 f trie? toTe:o ir ^"^^^ '' ^ y-'» ^^^^^^^^ 
 LT!.J.^ ^^^^" ^'°"* ^^'^^^^ o^ tWs errand, but 
 
 thL T.^^K^' '\""'" *^'"« *"<i ^he knows bm^ 
 
 to thin. ? K f ^^'^l? y°" "^^«^^* <^°"«id«»- ^er a party 
 to the deal, but you don't, do you?" He glared bel 
 
 ligerently, and Roy replied, with fervor: ^ 
 
 Certamly not. Go on." 
 
 ments told the whole story and contained enough proof 
 to break up this conspiracy and convict the JuKd 
 McNamara and all the rest, but Struve kept the bundle 
 
 Th.f« If ''!:'^ ^°"'^"'' ^'^' '' "P ^thout a pSce 
 That s why she went away with him- She thought 
 
 h J?uc7e^^'"'"'''l'^ ""• ^"* '' seeS Wheafon 
 th^r^nt I^^T T'^Z':^' Now. I'm coming to 
 tne pomt. The Judge and McNamara are arrest J^fnr 
 contempt of court and they're as good L convkt^ 
 you have recovered your mine, and these m« are dls ' 
 graced. They will go to jail—" ^'*" 
 
 "Yes. for six months, perhaps." broke in the other 
 
 306 ' 
 
TBB FHOMISB OP OKBAMS 
 
 i«^CM*''^.**^°*'*^***"»°«"*tof There aevtr 
 was » bolder crime consummated nor r.ie more cruelly 
 
 jailed good men and sent others to nun: an J for thi 
 they are to suller-how ? By a paltry fine or a short 
 
 SrTf^ P^'^^P'- ^y *" ephemeral disgrace and 
 the loss of their stolen goods. Contempt of court is the 
 accusation, but you might as well convict a murderer 
 
 !n^. ^ .if ^ *^' P"^'"- ^"'^^ *^'°^ ^^^^ off. it's 
 true, and they won't trouble us again, but they'll never 
 have to answer for their real infamy. That will go un- 
 punished while their lawyers quibble over technicalities 
 and rules of court. I guess it's true that there isn't any 
 aw of God or man north of Fifty-three; but if there is 
 justice south of that mark, those people will answer for 
 conspiracy and go to the penitentiary." 
 
 "You make it hard for me to say what I want to 
 I am almost sorry we came, for I am not Cunning with 
 words, and I don't know that you'll understand." said 
 the Bronco Kid. gravely. " We looked at it this way 
 you have had your victory, you have beaten your ene^ 
 mies against odds, you have recovered your mine, and 
 they are disgraced. To men like them that last will 
 outlive and outweigh all the rest; but the Judge is 
 our uncle and our blood runs in his veins. He took 
 Helen when she was a baby and was a father to her in 
 his selfish way. loving her as best he knew how. And 
 she loves him." 
 
 "I don't quite understand you." said Roy. 
 And then Helen spoke for the first time eagerly tak- 
 ing a packet from her bosom as she began: 
 
 "This will tell the whole wretched stoiy, Mr. Glen- 
 
 307 
 
'I 
 
 THE SPOILERS 
 
 for'^/Jo t^'' *^* P^°* ^ *" ^*» ^«»««- It's hard 
 for me to betray my uncle, but this pn>of is you«Sv 
 nght to use as you see fit, and I can't keep itJ° ^ 
 
 that^^Cvo"?" *^.** '^' "^^^«^°« ^ 'how aU 
 
 f K^V '.' ^"^ " «^°'''«^ *° «iv« it to me because vou 
 thmk It is your duty ?" w«!w«we you 
 
 "It belongs to you. I have no choice Bntvrh^*j 
 came for was to plead and to ask a mS^ m^cy for my 
 
 He saw that her eyes were swimmine while the li+ft. 
 
 fl^hr^Twr "^'^f ^""^ ""^ "- p«^-^ w« 
 
 nusfted. There rose in him the old wild desire to tS 
 
 aw caress the wavy hair, and buiy his face de«n i„ ;» 
 taU he grew drunk with the madnW of w B^^ 
 W at last for whom she really pStirf ' ®"* "' 
 
 Th<n^kM^-!.a'i^ "•/'"*r » J"** Punishment. 
 
 contra.ytoinsureS^lLt^^C^"^-''"*™*' 
 to look at the proposition SyS' bS*v"^' 
 
 t^rie h^w^d-'L^^tfi^Jr ^'-'^ 
 
 hesitate. Love was not fw.«i *?' *^^ ^^ ""^^^ °ot 
 
 showttewS nofth'^^M »°' ^°*''" «*»<» «« 
 had come, ^d^^ r^y"" ^"'^ °"»'««: '•"• '» 
 
 «.e"2:^rmrrhel5^»er"U°"- '"*'^'" 
 
 308 
 
rd 
 
 >y 
 
 Jl 
 11 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 THB PIOMISE OP BIBAMS 
 
 "You ask this for your uncle, but what of— of the 
 other fellow ? You must know that if one goes free so 
 will they both; they can't be separated." 
 
 "It's ahnost too much to ask," the Kid took up, un- 
 certamly. "But don't you think the work is done? 
 I can't help but admire McNamara, and neither can 
 
 you— he's been too good an enemy to you for that 
 
 and — ^and — ^he loves Helen." 
 
 "I know— I know," said Glenister, hastily, at the 
 same time stopping an unintelligible protest from the 
 girl. "You've said enough." He straightened liis 
 slightly stooping shoulders and looked at the unopened 
 package wearily, then slipped the rubber band from it, 
 and, separating the contents, tore them up— one by 
 one— tore them into fine bits without hurry or ostenta- 
 tion, and tossed the fragments away, while the woman 
 began to sob softly, the sound of her relief alone disturb- 
 ing the silence. And so he gave her his enemy, making 
 his oflEer gamely, according to his code. 
 
 "You're right— the work is done. And now, I'm 
 very tired." 
 
 They left him standing there, the glory of the dy- 
 ing day illumining his lean, brown features, the vision 
 of a great loneliness in his weary eyes. 
 
 He did not rouse himself till the sky before him was 
 only a curtain of steel, pencilled with streaks of soot 
 that lay close down above the darker sea. Then he 
 sighed and said, aloud: 
 
 "So this is the end, and I gave him to her with these 
 hands" — ^he held them out before him curiously, be- 
 coming conscious for the first time that the left one 
 was swollen and discolored and fearfully painful. He 
 noted it with impersonal interest, realizing its need of 
 
 309 
 
if 
 
 TBB SPOILBIS 
 
 V 
 
 medical attention— w left the cabin and wallnd Unm^ 
 «to the dty. He encountered Dext" aTd Sii^ 
 
 "Lord, but you're the talk of the town," they began 
 
 oli -T!? i*^**" ^*^* commenced to puU Str^?i 
 office apar^ for souvenim, and the Swedes want to mn 
 
 ime" ^^ "hT " '^^ "^ getld'^tte?^ 
 Mate. They say that at collar-an '-elbow holts vou 
 could hck any of them Eastern senator IndtWhv 
 
 Speakm of laws ^oes to show me ?hat tWs hL 
 country IS gettin' too blamed civilized for a whit"" 
 
 dom fit to claim the interest of a growed-up person for 
 
 a long while. I'm goin' west." P person lor 
 
 "WMtl Why, you can throw a stone into Serine 
 
 Strait from here," said Roy, smiling. ^^ 
 
 e.!i2^' .T"c?® ''°'^^'' '°'^^- '^^«*'s a schooner 
 outfittin' for Sibeeiy-two years' cruise. Me an' Dex^ 
 
 ^T^ °" ^^^°' °^* towards the frontier fer a speU " 
 
 r^J^' '1^ ^f *'^- "^'"^ ^^^°i«' to fed aU 
 cramped up hereabouts owin' to th.^e fillymonarch 
 orchestras an' French restarawnts and such discrepan- 
 
 Sf?^ '"T^:* T^^''^ P^**^' * pavement on F^nt 
 ^^T?flJ^r' * shoe-shinin' parlor opened up. 
 Why, I d like to get where I could stretch an' holler 
 without disturbin' the pensiveness of some dude in a 
 
 &d«." """^ "^"^ ''°"^' ^^^y' ^* "^ «^ «^* 
 "I'll think it over," said the young man 
 The night was bright with a fuU mooa'whea they 
 
 310 
 
THB PIOMISB OP DRBAMS 
 
 : 
 
 left the doctor's office. Roy, in no mood for the 
 exuberance of his companions, parted from them, but 
 had not gone far before he met Cherry Malotte. His 
 head was low and he did not see her till she spoke. 
 
 "Well, boy, so it's over at last!" 
 
 Her words chimed so perfectly with his thoughts 
 that he replied: "Yes, it's all over, little girl." 
 
 "You don't need my congratulations — ^you know me 
 too well for that. How does it feel to be a winner ?" 
 
 "I don't know. I've lost." 
 
 "Lost what?" 
 
 "Everything — except the gold-mine." 
 
 " Everything except — I see. You mean that she — 
 that you have asked her and she won't?" He never 
 knew the cost at which she held her voice so steady. 
 
 " More than that. It's so new taat it hurts yet, and 
 it will continue to hurt for a long time, I suppose — ^but 
 to-morrow I am going back to my hills and my valleys, 
 back to the Midas and my work, and try to begin all 
 over. For a time I've wandered in strange paths, seek- 
 ing new gods, as it were, but the dazzle has died out of 
 my eyes and I can see true again. She isn't for me, 
 although I shall always love her. I'm sorry I can't 
 forget easily, as some do. It's hard to look ahead and 
 take an interest in things. But what about you? 
 Where shall you go?" 
 
 "I don't know. It doesn't really matter — ^now." 
 The dusk hid her white, set face and she spoke mo- 
 notonously. " I am going to see the Bronco Kid. He 
 sent for me. He's ill." 
 
 "He's not a bad sort," said Roy. "And I suppose 
 he'll make a new start, too." 
 
 "Perhaps," said she, gazing far out over the gloomy 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 ®ceia. " It all depends " Aftmfm^,^ ^ ^ 
 
 ;■ wh.t , pity th.iw^-t^?^2Z^t; *f '^^• 
 
 ."'*'»P«rt of the game." laid li« >•? j_ia. 
 if • K), but it U. I^ voTaf!; .• ' ^'^* ^°^ "hy 
 "No. boyJ?thik Z^'^ •"""t™-. won't I?" 
 
 1^ on. goocT^M andlSsS'tlS:;; *^'^^'' » 
 «d keep you. dear. b«ve Uttle C^ " "•" ^"^ 
 
 and her C^wlSl,^**"* ""^ ""^ Pi^ul «,b 
 
 'Good-bye, my boy, my boy." 
 
 ne wandeted down be^sde the •«. »~ ..• v . 
 not yet wen, and until hTwMm.^;/? "" h"'« »" 
 
 not endu« the ribald^ „d "S^f r^,"' "^f 
 welcome lav waiting f™. hi-, -^ "* '•"ow- A 
 
 no one «.e„'^Kthe"m^<^^^^tt*' "?] 
 gauge the desolation that was uT^ ' " °°' '^'<* 
 
 that he c^M^tWu^^ '^' ""* *''"» *» "a. 
 beside the^"«r s^"^^^^ °°* 'T""" « *« "tood 
 We slunkpttirela^:?.^',!^^' ^, ^J^^ 
 
 bound ab^fwifT^ti"'^^^ "Z'^'^' f ^"'^h 
 her sight pained him »T^' I ^"^ pleasure of 
 with hesitSSSrst^iJl^''"'f^.'^"'y- «<» yet 
 fluttered and Us ^fg,^lf ^^ Y"/* "« "eart 
 his bandages and her'SlSTctr^ at™";:?? **.'*'' 
 n« closer she touched tHenTJ^^^^^J^- 
 
 l:i 
 
TBB PIOKISB OP DIBAKS 
 
 J'lt'i nothing--nothing at aU," he said, white hi. 
 
 "I do not know— not for so-ne time." 
 He had supposed she would go to-morrow with h«r 
 unde^^and-the other, to be wifh them ^Ti^Z 
 
 TCth warm impetuomtjr she began: "It was a nnKi. 
 thu,gyoudidt<wJay. Oh. I am|lad and^d "*" 
 
 .. ^!^M^^ '^^^ °' ™ '" *■"" "»y- "th" than 
 88«ie wild beast you saw this morning, for I was nuS^ 
 
 perfectly mad with hatred and revengf and eZr^d 
 mjptUse that comes to a defeated ma^. You ^^ui^ 
 played and lost, played and lost, again and S tm 
 tt«, was nothing left. What misd.ancriS?'y^ 
 
 "But I cai. understand. I do. I know aU about it 
 now I know the wild rage of desperatioT; Iteow Ihe 
 exultahon of victory; I know what hate »nf^^ ^ 
 now. You told me once that the wildem^h^l^ 
 you a savage, and I laughed at it just as I ^ Vbe^v^ 
 SMd that my contact with big things woSd ^^^ 
 ttie truth, that we're all alike^and ttaml m^v« 
 «emusaU. I fee now that you were righted IwS 
 v«y ample 1 learned a great deal last iighT" 
 
 she J^t^"" "^ ' «"'" *-* y- any more," 
 
 He moved as though to speak, but held back and 
 tore his eyes away from her. ° 
 
 "Well," she inquired, gazing at him covertly 
 
 3t} 
 
THB SPOILBIS 
 
 
 
 "Once, a long time ago, I read a Lover'i Ptotit 
 •ad ever since knowing you I have made the consl 
 prayer that I might be given the purity to be woi 
 the good in you, and that yo might be granted 
 
 patience to reach the good in me— but it's no use. ] 
 at least I'm glad we have met on common ground, a 
 were, and that you imderstand, in a measure. ' 
 prayer could not be answered; but through it I h 
 found myself and— I have known you. That lasi 
 worth more than a king's ransom to me. It is a h 
 thing which I shall reverence always, and when you 
 you will leave nie lonely except for its remembranc 
 "But I am not going," she said. "That is— i 
 less — " 
 
 Something in her voice swept his gaze back fr 
 the shimmering causeway that rippled seaward to i 
 rising moon. It brought the breath into his thro 
 and he shook as though seized by a great fear. 
 
 "Unless— what?" 
 
 " Unless you want me to." 
 
 "Oh, God! don't play with mel" He flung out : 
 hand as though to stop her while his voice died out 
 a supplicating hoarseness. " I can't stand that." 
 
 "Don't you see? Won't you see?" she asked, 
 was waiting here for the courage to go to you since y 
 have made it so very hard for me — ^my pagan." Wi 
 which she came close to him, looking upward into ] 
 face, smiling a little, shrinking a little, yielding 5 
 withholding, while the moonlight made of her eyes t^ 
 bottomless, boimdless pools, dark with love, and hxh 
 ming with the promise of his dreams. 
 
 TBI BITD 
 
' Ptotitioa, 
 I constant 
 >t worthy 
 anted the 
 use. But 
 >und, as it 
 ire. The 
 it I have 
 at last is 
 is a holy 
 » you go 
 ibrance." 
 is — un- 
 
 ick from 
 rd to the 
 s throat, 
 
 gout his 
 id out to 
 It." 
 
 ked. "I 
 once you 
 " With 
 into his 
 ding yet 
 eyes two 
 ad brim-