Part 14 (1/2)

”This here's the place, boys--the shack ain't fifty yards away”

”Likely looking gulch,” Gale was heard to reply, in his deep tones--there was a crackle of dead brush, a sound as of aheavily, then oaths in a voice that hed Doret ”You mus' be tired, Meestaire R-r-unnion

Better you pick up your feet Dat's free tarn' you've-”

They eed into the open behind the house to pause in line back of Lee, as staring at the stove-pipe of his cabin, from which came a wisp of smoke It see time Then he heard Lee say:

”Well, I'll be damned! Sorowled Stark, angrily, pushi+ng past hily look in his eyes

Burrell was standing at ease in the door, s on the ja the entrance

”Good-afternoon,” he nodded, pleasantly

Lee answered hi, but Runnion's exclamation was plain

”It's that daet here?” said Stark, after a pause

”A few hours ago”

”How did you come?” asked Lee

”Black Bear Creek,” said the soldier, curtly, at which Runnion broke into profanity

”Better hush,” Burrell admonished him; ”there's a lady inside,” and at that instant Necia showed her laughing face under his arm, while the trader uttered her name in amaze you for quite a while”

”Ba Gar! Dat's fonny t'ing for sure,” said Poleon ”Who tol' you 'bout dis strike--eh?”

”Mother; I irl answered

”Take off your packs and come in,” Burrell invited, but Stark strode forward

”Hold on a ood to me You say your hter--eh?”

Necia nodded

”What time of day was it when you learned about this?”

”Cut that out,” roughly interjected Gale ”Do you think I double-crossed you?”

The other turned upon him