The evening world. Newspaper, May 3, 1916, Page 17

} ) An Outdoors GINOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. Burt has disoveret gold in the Bitter mountains, An Eastem capitalist named tries to rob Alm of his claim to him to Helen Dunbar, whom Bruce to aid, In bis wearch for some one to his mining venture, Bruce encounters . We Ly an beg caeiaint, ape ‘re f logether for Smears But they boat remect” and 0 ike other, Harrah packs Brice bar ink to speak to CHAPTER V. (Opntinued.) “Slim's Sister.” HE had stepped into the cloak room for her wrap and Sprudell was waiting in the corridor. Immediately when he saw Bruce he guessed his Purpose and the full significance of a meeting between them rushed upon Aim. Ho was bent desperately upon preventing it. Sprudell took the int- tative and advanced to meet him. “If you've anything to say to me, Bruce, I'll meet you to-morrow.” “['ve nothing at all to say to you xcept to repeat what I said to you fm Bartlesville, I told you then I hought you'd Iled and now I know it. ‘That's Slim's sister.” “That is Miss Dunbar,” “I don't believe you.” “T'll prove it.” “Introduce me.’ “It isn't necessary; besides, gneered, “she's particular who she lmnows. “Not very,” Bruce drawied, “or she wouldn't be here with yor He added obstinately, “That's Slim's ister.” Helen came from the cloak room and stopped short at seeing Bruce and Sprudell in conversation, Cer= tainly this was an evening of sur- prises, “Are you ready, Miss Dunbar?” Sprudeli placed loud emphasis upon the name. She nodded, Sprudell, who was walking to meet her, glanced back at Bruce with @ emile of malice, but It Was wasted upon Bruce, who was looking at the irl. Why should there be that lurk- ing horror and hostility in her eye? What had Sprudell told her? On a sudden desperate impuise and before Sprudell could stop him, he walked up to her and asked doggedly, though temerity made him hot and cold: “Why do you look at me as if 1 were an enemy?) What bas Sprudell deen telling you’ f “I forbid you to answer this fellow” —-Sprudell’s voice shook and his pink face had again taken on the it curious chalkiness of color which became under stress of fecling. Fot getting prudence, his deferential pose, forgetting everything that he should have remembered in his rage at Bruce's hardihood, and the fear of exposure, he shook his finger threat- eningly before Helen's face. On ‘the instant her chin we haughtily in the air and there was dangerous sparkle in her eyes as she replied: ee are presumptuous, Mr. dell. Your manner is offe very.” He ignored her resentment and his hand none too gently upon arm, as though he would have turn her forcibly toward the door, The ac- tion, the familiarity it implied, in- censed her. “Take your hand away,” Helen said quietly but tensely. “1 tell you not Mut he obeyed. “{ Intend to hear what Mr. Burt has to say.” “you mean that?” hen you'll listen alone," he threat. ened. “You can get home tho best you can.” a *NSuit _yourselt_about that.” Helen replied coolly, “There are taxicabs at the door and the cars run every six minutes.” Bruce contributed cordially: “Sprudell, you by dust whenever you get ready.” 2 “You'll repent this—both of you! His voice shook with chagrin and fury, ‘I'll see to that If it takes the rest of my Ife and my last dollar,’ Bruce warned in mock solicitud “Don't excite yourself, it's bad for your heart; I can tell that from your color.” Sprudell’s answer was a malignant look from one to the other “On the square,” said Bruce rue- fully, when the last turn of the re- volving door had shut Sprudell into the street, "I hadn't an idea of etir~ ring up anything like this when I joke to you.” Sait eoean't matter." Helen answered cold'y, “It will disabuse his mind of the notion that he has any claim on me t did look as though he wanted to give that impression.” Hruce was absurdly pleased to find Limself alone with her, but Helen's eyes did not soften and her volce was to talk to him!" along distant as she said, moving toward the nearest parlor: “If you have anything to say tome, pl be brief. T must be going. Sprudell has k at me want to know wh. told you that you should | almost as if you hated me? “How else would I look at the man who murdered my brother in cold- blood.” He stared at her blankly In an as- tonishinent too genuine to be felaned “| murdered your brother in cold You are 8 n’s sister, then audain's sister, if you mean—his half-sis- blood, “vm that’s what ter,’ ‘The slowly made m. t of understanding grew Liruce's face. The revelation ny things plain, The dtffer- Ane URN ge eel ee i fg ta} eManFrom theBitterRoots | a Battle for Fortune. ' 4 | Romance of can help; it's not an easy thing to talk about to—his sister.” She did not make it easier, but sat! waiting in silence while he hesitated. He was wondering how he could tell her so she would understand, how not to shock her with the gruesome de- talls of the story. Through the wide archway with its draperies of gold thread and royal purple velvet a pro- cession of bare-shouldered, exqui ly dressed women was passing and Bruce became suddenly conscious of the music of the distant orchestra, of the faint odor of flowers and perfume of everything about him that stood for culture and civilization, How at the antipodes was the picture he was seeing! For the moment it seemed as though that lonely, primitive life on the river must be only a memory of some previous existence. Then the unforgettable scene in the cabin came vividiy and he almost shi dered, for he felt again the warm gush over his hand and saw plainly the! snarling madman striking, kicking, while he fought to save him, He had | meant to tell her delicately and in- stead he blurted it out brutally. “T made him mad and he went crazy. He came at me with an axe and I threw him over my shoulder, He fell on the blade and cut an_ar- tery. Slim bled to death on the floor of the cabin.” “Ugh—how terribt Bruce imag- ined she shrank from him. “But why did you quarrel—what started it?” Bruce hesitated; it sounded ao potty eo ridiculous. He thought of tho) two old partners he had known who) had three bloody fights over the most desirable place to hang a haunch of venison, “Salt,” he finally forced himself to answer. “Sprudell told me that and I could not believe ft.” 6 looked at him inereduously. » were down to a handful, and I fed it to a band of mountain sheep that came to the cabin. I had no business to do it.” “You said that he went crazy—do you mean actually?” “Actually—a mantac—raving.” “Then why do you blame yourself 80 much?" “Because I should have pulled out when | saw how things were going. We had quarrelled before over trift and I knew he would be furious. You can't blame me more than I blame myself, Miss Dunbar. I suppose you think they should hang me?” There was a pleading note in the question and he wiped the perspiration from his forehead while he waited for her answer. She did not reply immediately, but when she finally looked him squarely | in the eyes and said quietly, “No, be- cause I believe you,” Bruce thought his heart turned over with relief and Joy. “What you have told me shows merely that he had not changed— that my hopes for him were quite without foundation—a temper, that was little short of diabolical, Wo have all been the victims of tt, 1! should not want to see another, ‘Ho disgraced and ruined us financially. Now,” Helen sald, rising, “you must go back to your friends, I'll take a taxicab home"—— : let me go with you. They can wait for me—or something,” he added vaguely. The thought of los- Ing sight of her frightened him. She shook her head. “No—no; T won't listen to ft.” She fave him her hand. “I must thank you for sending back my letter and pictur “Sprudell gave them to you?” nd the money.” yes." She looked at him in- quiringly, Just in time Bruce caught and stopped a grin that was appearing at the thought that Sprude!! had had to “dig up" the money he had returned to htm out of his own pocket, “That's so," he aagreed. “I had for- gotten, Rut Miss Dunbar," eagerly. “I must see you on business. Your brother left property that may be valuable." ? Mr. Sprudell did nm “Propert mention “I suppose It slipped hte mind,” Bruce answered dryly. “You'll give me your address and let me come to-mor- row?" “Will you’ mind coming early—at nine in the morning?” “Mind! Ill be sitting on the eteps at sunrise if you say so,” Bruce answered heartily. How young she looked—how like the little girl of the picture when she laughed! Rruce looked at his watch returned to his party to see ho many hours it would be before nine in the morning, The shabbiness of the hotel where Helen lived surprised him, It ways worse than his own, had looked so exceptionally well-dressed the prev fous evening he had supposed that what she called ruin affluence, for Bruc learned that clothes are ur ards by which to Judge the resources of city folks, just as on the plains and in the mountains faded overalls and a rageed shirt are equally untrust- worthy guides to a man’s financial rating. And the musty odor that met him in the gloomy hallway—he felt how she must loathe tt, He won- dered at the early hour shé'd set, but when Helen came down she quickly explained “LT must leave here at half past and ff you have not finished what you have y [thought you might walk with me to the office. Phe office?” It shocked htm that she should have to go to an office, that she had hou that anybody should have a claim upon her time by paying for it, Quizzicaily: “Did you think T was an hetress?" “Last night you looked as though you His tone told her of his 1 replied smiling. greatness,” Helen remodelled gown that was my mother’s, One sood treet sult at a th and a blouse or is the best [can do, Tam merely ence In the n accounted for his a wonderful bluff in the evening.” f@bility to trace her, It was easy Bruce felt that it was a sore spot enough now to account for Sprudell's although was smiling, and he violent opposition to their me could not help. being glad, for it “He told you that it was @ pr meant she needed him, If he had itated murder found her in’ prosperous etreum- Bhe nodded, stances the ssa or fallure of the “Why, | came East on purpose to placer would have meant very little find you!” he exclaimed, “To make to her, He must succeed, he told amends’ himself exuberantly; his ‘Incentive “Amends!” she interrupted, and the now was to make her life happier and cold # her voice made the per- ease apiration start out on his forehead, it everything goes this summer as “Yes, amends,” he reit d. "Ewan Th hd expect" he said slowly, blame in a Way, but not entirely, “you nex bluff’ at any hous be any harder on me than you In almost breathlessly, much to suy and an appallingly short ume to say tt in. that he had been talking about hin self—babbling for nearly an bh ‘I never broke like this before, the worst of It is that tho least encouragement from you I his coat, coming to you | Can You Beat It? 1 SHOULD THINK You'D HAVE AN TO. EVERYBODY HAS ONE Now geaht. 1918 be The ree Piblian ing 9 (The New Yorn a) THAT'S MY HUSBAND'S OFFICE Roy \T SNOT THE CAR , IT'S THE UP-KREEP THAT IS SO AW FULLY EXPENSIVE . WE REALLY bag A AFFORD WHAT A LOVELY HE IS THE JANITOR OF CAR! Wo Is HE? ONE OF THE BUILDINGS NY HUSBAND OWNS Her eyes widened. “You must go away at once.” to tell to this girl. He talked # though he had What was the mat- how? he asked him- r the second time, Was he get- maudlin? Not content with strange girl to death he ton the finishing touch*by ner. It was high time he was should kiss he hotel which wi the Pacific Coast, It dawned upon Bruce suddenly PANE promptly Kissing Helen | ighed aloud at his dismay, Honest," he assured her ruefully And I know wi destrians out of his way with so lit- tle ceremony that only his size saved him from unpleasant consequence It_was incredible and absurd that he should find {t so hard to say good~ jast in Alberta. pn up In the James lifted a din North but per “there's some more money “I suppose you must go, but*—he from Slim—I forgot hesitated; it “seemed a tremendous had awful bad luck with. they allus die or quit me.” your suc r teeth hard, but they kept ecomi never maé Country, parka Mp in a shy grin of ecstasy— “Laims to git married and stay in the dropped So fur I'v my u'd even and, mortified at such an exhibit H bil she laid her arm on the back of the ne Sawereds Bub! and ane worn plush sofa and hid her face, | "t want to felt you T do be ars, however embarrassing, have ¢.4 won nd wood da a tone ‘ of breaking down barriers » bank on it a hat other hand that lay In her lap Bleeer atin! habe. some “What ia {t, Mias Dunbar? Won't self that It is of no ia tna aiFuatlene Nea wit you tell If you only knew few uths my 1} had known, proud and happy Ushould he to have nt Wh eT essa tn kane you talk to mo frankly, You can't took the Wine ARGUE sleotsical Tinenii imagine how I've looked forward shed deep 41 said frankly, “Eonly know the being allowed to do some for try—with all my he IT want—that [must have you, It means everything to me said ly, and In his heart the rely on the Judgment and more than to you sinipt uacwaale aioe a8 ied anh Bruce remembered having seen } Hl ras she ran up the Ee te ae mother ery, through homesickness and und disappeared inside the wide MER Caan aD A@Aan TAGE loneliness, softly, uncomplainingly, < of the office building nt- mistake. And T can she went about her work in the ely ine again the thought that she had a mistake, I've left frame house back there on the bleak that she lad to work for mistakes, every prairie, And he remembered 1 f there we Aah roars of rage in which Perox caleulations: erots Louise had volced her jealous shoul e n by or Ww he had seen few women er ( t now he was so sorry for he t h 1s hurt him—he felt as though sor 6 ean new had laid a hand upon his heart and n sau " ‘ aid ooked up to breaks yr 1 nondesert; or ® the eurbin wv from picky Bruce why t asked Nimeeit, ¢ Nor sharply at on * The Evening World Daily Magazine, Wedne as he passed, “or is that hombre tag- “What do you meant” Rruce's volce was sharp with anx- ging me around?” phen Bruce described the ground jety. “I wish you could come West, that he and Slim had located, He he added wistfully. IRV. told of his confidence in it, and the I'd love it, but tt fs out of the CHAPTER VI. means by which he had accomplished question; it's too fur—ton expensive.” A Practical Man. . Encouraged by her intelligent in- — Bruce's. black eyebrows came te . é - terest he talked with eager enthus- gether, His poverty had never seemed RUC thoughts were jaym of his plans for working it, so galilng, so humiliating. jumble of dynamos deseriting mercury traps, and uné I must go.” She got up quickly, motors, direct an currents, discussing the compa ti “T'm late. De my eyes look very n . ol « merits of pole and block, Hungarian badly. Ball bg Sntenie Yala Ane and caribou rifles, Once he was well pheytre all right.” He turned amperes, when Jasues ft seemed to him that he ayruptiy for his hat. He knew that Jennings's papter-mache suitcase hit ave been saving up things all jf je jooked an instant longer he him in the shins in the lobby of a headquarters mining men tn the somnolent elty on dropped suitcase and thrust out a hand whieh helping “Why haven't you stopped m getting back to the mountains, still had ground into the knuckles oll demanded, pausing in the m lle of «He walked with her to the office, and smudge acquired while Atence And coloring to nalr. wishing with all his heart that the put up a power plant in Alaska, T'vo heen prattling lke an old tocks were each a mile Jong, and In” po ly da hay come from soldier, telling war stories Ina Home. hix fear lest he miss a single word nae What's got into me she to say he pushed divera pe- are you doing here?” Bruce had seen start again, T never wanted to talk by toa girl he had just met, but when States.” so much in my life, I'm ransacking they reached the steps it was not un- — “Shoo—you don't say so!" my brain this very minute to see if til he had exhausted every infantile exclaimed, properly surprised and there's anything else I know that [I excuse he could think of for detain- congratulatory. haven't told you. Oh, yes, there 1s," ing her just an instant longer that “Yep,” he beamed, then he exclaimed putting his hand inside he finally said reluctantly: as he added mournfully, his last Sourdough," to tell you, It isn't a great deal ) ask of her because it meant — Hruce ventured the hope that but—-he latd in her hand the bank- so much to him—"I'd like to write to tuck might change with this, notes Sprudell had been obliged to you if you'd answer my letter. Pard- —and as Jennings explained- give him in Partlesville after having ways write to each other, you venture, dented finding her know.” He was smiling, but Helen — "kinda think St will,” the Helen looked from the money to st startled by the wistful tive brid de red he Bruce in surprised §nquiry: ‘sin his eyes, “I'd Hke to “Bertha looks—er—lasty, Hut “But Mr, Sprudell has already given {t feels,” he added, “to about you?—1 never knew y: me what Freddie lett." thing tn'the mall besides gaw a city, “Oh, this is another matter—n eol- mail-order catalogue-—to have “fm na sure enough lection I made for hi.a after Sprudell © look forward to, Bruce admitte but I did stray left,” he replied glibly It was con sure—wo are partners, of the timber sister 1 siderable satisfaction to think that wor Vougall about tt nr Sprudeil had had to pay for his per- 1 i me; fidy and she would benefit by ft ; I liked better.” Br Jennings, Bruce commented The last thing that Helen had ex with such fervor that Hi y as he watehed him walk pected to do was to cry, but the coloring ; kK, was no Money meant so much to her just n't like being a silent partner,” have sins then; her relief was so great that the Ste ceurned Hehtly, "E wish Teould of vus tears welled into her eyes, She bit i” re, T'm even afr sy sday, May. By Maurice Ketten WHAT A Po Your swe \Sou ! WHoIg FRIEND 2 Yes THe EXPENSE NusT BE Awful contury of frying-pan bread had given Jennings indigestion and now as he water he pondered, finally—"Ift I was you, Kurt, Vil tell you what I'd do, I'd tn- sipped bursting his hot out lutely new type of crest reader cannot gyess in is to he solved. te is you won't be able to. “The weight is a mighty important | feature.” | Jennings hesitated. | The dynamos will welgh close to | 22,000 pounds, and the whole 56,600 | pounds approximately.” | “They wefgh aplenty,” Bruce looked | thoughtful, “but [ reckon [can bring them if f must, And there's no doubt | about the must, as a wagon road in there would cost $20,000." As the outcome of the chance meet- Bruce bought the machines upon nings’s recommendation with a saving of much money and Jermings furthermore was engaged to make the necessaray repairs and tnatall the plant on the river. It was a load off Hruce’s mind to feel that this part of the work was safe in the hands of a practical, experienced man accus- tomed to coping with the.emerrencies which arise when working far from transportation facilities. Once this was rettled there was nothing more for Bruce to do in the city and a great deal to be done upon the river, so he bade goodby to Jen- nings and left immediately. On the journey from the Pacific coast to Spokane the gritting of the car wheels was a song of succens of achievement. Bruce felt himselt alive to the finger tips with the Joy of at last being busy at ee worth while, He looked back upon the times when he had thought himself happy, with profound pity for his ignora When he had stretehed himself at night on his mattress of pine boughs with his head on the bear-grass pil- low watching through the cabin win- dow the moon rise out of the “draw” where Big Squaw creek headed, ho had thought that be was When he had banded & batt side” after a struggle thrust his fork through the crisp brown skin into Its steaming pink flesh he had characteriaed that alae contentment such as any clod might have as happihess. Poor fod!, ho told himself now, he had not known the meanfng of the word. His day dreams had taken on a dif- ferent color, His goal was always jbefore him and this goal was repre- sented by the hour when the macht ery in the power and pump houses was running smoothly, when a head of | water was flowing through the fhime and sluice-boxes and the scrapers. were handling 1,000 yards a day. As |he stared through the window at the \flying landscape he saw, not the orchards and wheat fields of the great State of Washington, but quicksilver riffles and the nagging with precious, ‘yellow, honey-combed chunks of gold still hot from the re- tort. Sometimes he found himself an- etall’ the old type Edison machines tictpating the momeat when he should y that y reason, You can't be telegraphing the amount of the ‘om with a triphammer. clean-up to Helen Dunbar, to Harrah, 0 80 le a kid can run ‘em. and to Harrah's good-naturedly pes: ‘4 nothin’ about ‘em to git out mistic friends, Bruce ransacked his of repair—onct they're up they're up. brain for somebody tn the world to If you be a big d rse they'r these new-fangl “But the agents tell me these newer achines will stand it.” astic upper and lighter i Jennings blew out his « Lip and shrugged a shoulder “Maybe the kn maybe they terest to trician en around and 1b nigh to fifty years, so I know them man ds motors, they'll git It on them scrapers: » work that ground with apers, Vil ell you now it's goin’ ag on the motors. a little bit heavier than more than T do >, but it's to their in- alk ‘em up, ain't it? I'm a@ practical machinery They'll stand 1, and take my word for it ‘These new-fangled machines will stand jest about what they're rated at, and you can’t tell me anything different, say them old type Edison machines iy the thing for rough work in that what Besides, half the das good as new with a iittle kine they you price repairin’.” fa country. Ain't I see can do on drudgers? can pick ‘em up for “IL wonder if they would do the murmured to himself work,” 11 thoughtful “What interest would I tellin’ you nin manded. mean 1ce that the it they wouldn't?” have way Hiruce assured him qui ot I'm in Jen- envy, but there waa no one, He had gone directly to the river from the Kast, taking a surveyor with him, and as soon as his application for the water-right In Big Squaw Creek had been granted he got a crew tov gether composed chiefly of the mag- nates from Ore City who, owing: to Dill's failure to take up the options, found themselves still at leasure and the financial depression unrelieved, Ore City nursed a grievance against Dill that was some sorer than a car~ uncle and It relleved its feelings by inventing punishments should he ever return to the camp which in ingenulty rivalled the tortures of the Inquisition, Hruce, too, often speculated concern- ing Dill, for tt looked as though ‘he had purposely betrayed Sprudell’s 1n- 1 terest, Certainly a man of his min- ing experience knew better than to make locations in the snow and to, pass assessment work which was ob- viously inadequate, From Sprudell, Bruce had heard nothing and en- grossed in his new activities all but forgot him and bis treachery, his tn- sults and mysterious threats of ven- Keance, Hefore leaving for the Pacifte coast to buy machinery, Broce had mapped out for the erew the work to be done is absence and now, upon his re- turn, he found great changes had ome to the quiet bar on the river, ‘There was a kitehen where Tony 1 was thinking that if they would patgned, an arbitrary monarch, and a do the work and T could save some- jong bunk-house built of lumber thing on the price of machinery I'd sawed by an old-fashioned or- sure breathe easier.” wheel which ftself had been labor- “bo the work!" scornfully, “You tously whip-sawed from heavy logs. can pull off a chunk of mountain as the river the mon were strain- 1 donkey-engine and them nd lifting and tuecing on the hotors, Why, on the drudgers up ereen timbers for the 500 feet of tres- hore taky"* which the survey. demanded tn naa ere you can get order to get the 200 feet head that ee eat now where you oan Bet wan necessary to develop the 250 wT Cink Lt iloe" denuings tefivoted, Homse-power needed for the pumps ret t down North I knowed “"1 seraners, ‘ Bruce was not long in exchanging where there wis @ couple If they i. clothes of civittzation for the tee- ang oxnized uniform of the miner, and in Ppose you look them up and fanned shirt and overalls he tolled find out th ndition—will you do wit by side with Poreupine Jim, Lane this for me ; nigan and the other local celebrities: tl old man; V'd ike to see on hie pay-roll, whe wy herole exer- make a go of It. T gotta show tons were pushing the trestle foot by up a rhs, then [i run right The HabAw Cesk ou L look "em over and report im an of general manager as Rruce interpreted ft was no sinecure kopt his word, and when y n cross the ottice with A fe ee maninIRe uiened et liies-of-the-valley in his Sf ea Rita caprian (ud steppin 6 an Enis ‘ kutesed that be either had ne ssful or his call upon Bers rf n eminen istactory pitt eel hes rect, it in both he crew wondered, they criticised—not through any lack t "he announced fag FUR TRAE satalee from 1 shape, too. The he secret belief that wh 4 nding and did they could have de nkerin their hours of relax t ; yy ir wont to go aver bi i lucky as Tam for working the. ground, wa n to git & Brent they knew them, and explain to ey an other carefully and in desan how ble for Hruge with the &" he was put 5 ny t w t { i ! were . f ex © siartied, wad L \ Wis well along added? B ¢ ed sawing limber for jot Wea if pa drm + Wherein the very cley- The House of the Purple Staixs By Jeannette I; Helm > Next Week's Complete Novel-in Fhe Evening World Try your skill as a amateur d this story's mystery. But tt istoaly fair to warn you 4 @ Blanc, * couadoate and enc of OY looking for—the abso- vance.how the problem ective in working out the half-mile of flume which’ was te bring the water from the head-gate abroms: ithe trestle to the pre box ahave the power-house, ite sawed in such frenzy of haste—for thera was so much to do and go Uttle time to do it in—and with such come centration that when he raised bis eyes the air seemed full of two by fours, and bottoms, When hé them at night he saw “inch stuff,” and Hottoms. When he dreamed, it Was of aaw-loes, battens and bottoms, Spring came unmistakably and Bauce watted anxiously for word from Jennings that the repairs had been Made and the machinery was on ét— way to Mendows—the mountagn town ont Aondred and fifty milet above where the barges would be built and Juaded for their hazardous journey, An the sun grew stronger Bruce began to watch the river bs rg anxiety. Ho wondered if he had made it clear to Jennings that delay, the di nce of a week t mean @ year's postponement. pertod nearest approaching: Was whea the river was at the mid stage Of the spring rise—about feet above low water. nad passed this point only the utterly foolhardy! would have attempted ft. Bruce's nerves were at a tegsion es the day# went by and he saw ereat green snake swelling with coming of warmer weather.@ Inch by inch the water crept up the eides of “Old Turtle-tmok,” the huge glazed rock that Tose defiantly, splitting the current in the middle, A few hot wuna wotld melt the snowbanks in the mountains to send the river thundering between its banks until the very earth trembled, and éte was unthinkable. legram came finally, and lef was sd great that, as Little ae he liked him, he could almost fave embraced Smaltz, the tight news that the machinery Win oe and on tts way to lowe, fh : M "Thank God, that worry’s over!” Bruce ejaculated as he read it, and Smaltz lingered, “I may get a night's sleep now instead of lying awake lis- tening to the river.” “om, the machinery’s started?” Bruce bad an impression that he ready knew the contents of Spe { ocenee Hd @ram in apite of his atr of ti and his question. “Yea,” he nodded brtefly. “BSay-—me and Porcupine Jim been talkin’ {t over and wonderin’ if wed pay our own way around so it wouldn't coat the company nothii it lying thick with Li ye behind the you'd let us come down with a boat > scale m Meadows?” “Can you handle a sweep?” me! Brave tooked at him a moment be- fore he answered. He was wonder- ‘ma why the very sight of Smaits irri- tated him. He was the only man of the crew that he disliked thoroughly. Hin Boastful speech, his sweggering walk, a veiled insolence tn his eyes and manner made Bruce itch to send him up the hill for good, but sinee Smalt# was unquestionably the best all-round man he had, he wguld not Mow hinikelf to be influenced by his personal prejudices, While he boast- ed he had yet to fail to make good his hoastings and the tattered ore- dentiala he had displayed when he had nxked for work were of the best. When ho asserted now that he could handle a sweep it was fairly certain {ha ng could not only handle one but h it well. Porctpine Jim, Bruce Know, had had some experience, so there was no good reason why he should not let them go they were anxious. “I've engaged the front greepman for the other two boat: ruce said finally, “but if you and Jim want to tule & “hind sweep each and will promise to obey ordera | guess there’e flo objectton.”* “Burest thing you know,” @maits anawered in the fresh tone rasped Bruce. “An’ much nything to git a chanst to em rapids. I'd do it if I wasn’t Pa vneteip’ dut of it just for the of tt” “It won't look Ike fun to me with all I have at stake,” said Bruce so- berly, “Aw—don't — worry —we kin out her.” Smaltz tossed the assurance back alrily as he walked away, look- ing sharply to the right and left over bis shoulder, It was a habit he had, Bruce often had noticed it, along with a fashion of stepping quickly around corners, peering and craning his neck as if perpetually on the alert for womething or somebody. “You @et like some feller that's ‘done time’— or orter, I'll bet a hundred to one you know how to make horsehair bridles, ods, the carpenter, had ones told him pointedly, and the eriticiam had voiced Bruce's own thoughts. In the mail which Smaltz had Lroughte down from Ore City a letter. fram Helen Dunbar, \It was the second he had had and ‘he told himself as he tore it It had ¢ Q first one was well nigh worn out, not get over the surprise hew ify re®dings three or four pages of Rona bnndwriting will stand with- out loss af in Now he tried to grasp {t all in the friendliness of it, the agement it eon- vy. But at the parigraph which s fly in the rise to @ Vv 1e 0 ton end r the city one day last we rraph read, “and who do yous el saw with Winfield Hazral he lobby of the Hotel thin You would never TON wher Sprudell!" Thow dul they meet! For what ho pose Ald Spruc sought Harrah's jcqumaintance? Tt troubled ag well es uegled Krace, for ne could not thimk uy vecident, because even t Harrah and Spre- iin widely different strates «To Bo Continued.) xy ‘an 12" Smaltz sniggered. “Bry | 4 ‘