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rTheSi By REX I ; C o p y r i ti *: i 105, I o;?*t tnn't n.-?nrt tn k nf ** alii a l>ystaiulor; then added, with enthusiasm: "But. say, there's a win in this here camp!" rHAPTElt VI. ?I TllD'S your new shift boss?" 1 / (ilenistvr inquired of his 1/\l partner a few days later. ? ? Indicating a mam in the cut below, busied in setting a line of sluices. "That's old Slapjack Sirums. friend of mine from up Dawson way." Glenister laughed Immoderately, for the object was unusually tall and loose Jointed and wore a soiled suit of yellow macklnaw. He had laid off his coat, and now the baggy, bilious trousers hUDg precariously from his angular shoulders by suspenders of alarming frailty. His iegs were lost lu gum boots, also loose and cavernous, and his entire costume looked relaxed aud flapping, so that be gave tbe lmpres aloo of being able to snake nimseir om of bit raiment and to rise like a burlesque Aphrodite. Hla faee waa overgrown with a grtxafed tangle that looked as though it bad been trimmed with buttonhole ectaaors. while above the brash heap grandly soared a shiny, domelike bead. "Hat he always been bald?" "Naw! He ain't bald at all. He shares his nob. In the early days he wore a long flowtn' mane which was Inhabited by crickets, tree toads and such fauna. It got to he a bobby with him finally, so that be growed superstitious about goln' oncorrled and would back into a corner with both guns drawed if a barber came near him. But once Hhnk?that's fats real nameundertook to fry some slapjacks and in flrln' the skillet a heave, the dough lit among his forest primeval. Jest back of his ears, soft side down. Hank polluted the trulcb with langwidge which no man hud onght to keep in himself without It wag fumigated. Pisrepplta bleness oozed out through him like treat through an Ice pitcher, an' since then he's been known as Slapjack Blmms an' has kept his head shingled I smooth as a gun bar'l. He's a good mioer, though', ^in't none better?an' quare as a die." j t 81uichiR had boguu on the Midas. ' Long sinuous leugtbs of canvas hose wound down the creek bottom from the dam, like gigantic serpents, while the roll of gravel through the flumes mingled musically with the rush of jjraters, the tinkle of tools and the song of steel on rock. There were four "strings" of boxes abreast, ami the heaving line of sbovelers ate rapidly into the ereek bed. while teams with scrapers splashed through the tail races n an atmosphere of softened profunity. In the big white teuts"which sat back from the bluffs, fifty men of the night shift were asleep, for there is no respite here?no night, no Sunday, no halt, during the hundred days in which the northland lends herself to pillage. The mine lay cradled between wonderful, mossy, willow mottled mountains, while above aud below tbe gulch was dotted with tents aud huts, aud everywhere, from l?aslu to hill crest, men dug and blasted, puuily, patiently, ^while their tracks grew daily plainer over the face of this Inscrutable wilderness. A great contentment filled tbe two partners as they looked on this scene. To wrest from reluctant earth her ? ? *- a ? ? S/v ?.lil #/\ ?Ka woo 1th ncuesi ireasure?, iv nviu iv ntmui of the world, to create?here was satisfaction. "We ain't robbln' no wkiders an' orphans doin* it, neither," Dextry sud denly remarked, expressing Els" 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 filed a gold pan with dirt taken from under the feet of the workers aDd crashed 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 conten to en t "I've beer waltin' a turrible time fer this day," said the elder. "I've suf v?-*-; - /'it been trcitiw' a turrihle time fer t.de day." fe.tJ tlic r;ies of prospectin' from mi ~ .10.1 joilers. I j BEACH. h y ?. .x E. D Sr. < J. I J [ _ a | t!ii' .Mf.vi vs to tin4 rircle. an yet 1 j don't i..v.;v; h It none n?.\v tliat I've I struck pay." While thev spoke two miners strug- i gled with a >Mi\vhIer tlicy had unearth- j : ed and. having scraped and washed it , carefully, staggered hack to place it on the cleaned bedrock behind. One of thetn slipped, and it cm shed against a brace which held the sluices in place, i These boxes stand more than a man's height almve the liedrock. resting on supi?orting posts and uinuing full of water. Should a sluice fall the rush; Ing stream carries out the gold which has lodged in the riffles and floods the bedrock, raising havoc. Too late the partners saw the string of l>oxes sway and l?end at the Joint; then. l>efore they could reach the threatened spot to support It. Slapjack Slrnms. with a i shriek. plunged flapping: dowu into the out and seized the tluioe. His great height stood him in pood stead now, for where the Joint had opened water ponred forth h: a cataract. He dived nnder the breach unhesitatingly and. stooping, lifted the line as near to its former level as possible, holding the enttre burden upon his naked pate. He gesticulated wildly for help, while over him ponred the deluge of icy. muddy water. It entered his gaping waistband, bolging out his yellow trousers till they were fat and full and the seams were bursting, while his yawning boot tops became as boiling springs. Meanwhile be chattered forth profanity in aucta volume that the ear ached nnder it as mcst have ached the heroic Slapjack under the chill of the melting snow. He was relieved qulcklv. however, and emerged triumphant, though bloc and pmkered, his wllderdmi of whiskers streaming like limber stalactites, his boots loosely "squishing." while oaths still poured from him in such profusion that Dextry whispered: "Ain't be a riDg tailed wonder? It's plumb solemn au* reverent the way he makes them untamed cuss words sit up an' lx*g. It's a privilege to t>e present. That's a gift, that is." "You'd better get some dry clothes," they suggested, and Slapjack proceeded a few pares toward the tents. bol>i blirg as though treading on pounded | glass. "Ow-w!" he yelled. "These blasted boots is full of gravel." He seated himself and tugged at his foot till the l>oot came away with a sucking sound; then, instead of emptying the accumulation at random, he poured the contents into Dextry's empty gold pan, rinsing it out carefully. The other !>oot he emptied likewise. They held a surprising amount of sediment. l>eeause the stream that had emerged fr<>in the crack in the sluices had carried with it pebbles, sand and all the concentration of the riffles at this iK?int. Standing directly lieneath the cataract, most of it had dived fairly into his inviting waistband, following down the lines of least resistance Into hh> l>oot legs and boiling out at the knees. "Wash that." he said. "You're apt to get n prospect." With artful passes Pextry settled it In the pan bottom and washed away the gravel, leaving a yellow glittering pile which raised a yell from the men. who hud lingered curiously. "He pans $40 to the boot leg." one shouted. "How much do you run to the foot. Slapjack?" "He's a reg'Iar free milling ledge." "No. he ain't; he's too thin. He's nothing hut a stringer, but he'll pay to work." The old miner grluned toothlessly. "Gentlemen, there ain't no better way to save fine gold than with undercurrents nn' blanket riffles. I'll have to wash these garments of mine an' clean up the soapsuds 'cause there's a hundred dollars In gold dust cllngin' to my persou this minute." He went dripping up the bank, while the men returned to theJr work singing. After lunch Dextry saddled his broncho. "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 ounces the way that ground prospects." He loped down the gulch, while his partner returned to the pit, the flashing shovel blades and the rumbling undertone of the big workings that so fascinated him. It was perhaps 4 o'clock when be was aroused from his labors by a 8bout from the bunk tent, where a group of horsemen had clustered. As Glenister drew near be saw among them Wilton Struve. the lawyer, and the big, well dressed tenderfoot of the Northern, McNamara, the man of the heavy hand. Struve straightway engaged him. "Say. Glenister, we've come out to see about the title to this claim." "What about It?" "Well, It was relocated about a month ago." He paused. "Yes. What of that?" "Galloway has commenced suit." "The ground l<elongs to Dextry and me. We discovered It, we opened It up, we've complied with the law. and we're going to hold it" Glenister spoke with such conviction and heat as to nonplus Struve. but McNamara, who had sat bl6 horse silently until now, 4 4*1: W . i "Certainly. sir: If your title Is pood yon r ill tie protected, l?ut the law has nrrlred~tn Alaska nnd we've pot to let It take its course. There's ;io need of violence?none whatever?but. briefly. the situation Is this: Mr. t.'alJowav has commenced action airainst 1 vot:. tlie court lias enjoined you fron; v.-orhinp and h::s appointed me ns re reiver to operate the mine until the 4t:it i? settled. It's an extraordinary proeeduiv. of course. I?::t the < ouditin - are. extraordinary in this country. Tl r se:v-oti is s<> short that it would be niu-t to the liphtful owner if the claim l;:y idle : .!! summer. so to avoid that r*e I ? ?.??? put in char-e. w!t!j instria ti< ns to ojiercte it and preserve TIU* ' - MI' ." "I l > ill.- cvii.i ^ ur . " >s here is the I.'niteil State-. lie will serve the papers. r'-ei.hi.1 ?!s haul i:i a pesturc r< "1! >ld can to tell me that any vpnize such a claim a< tind"Ti e law riMMinxi'S e\er> v,f his r: poinds are no tic.itl, so ni. letter fur you." "You can't put in a receiver without notice to us. Why. pood Lord, we never heard of a suit l?e!np commenced. We've never even Ix'eri served with a I luminous, and we haven't had a i-bunce to arpue in our ?><vti defense." "I have .just said that this Is a remarkable state <>f affairs and unusual J l%n,l Ju. tni <.n '* \I f \'n ????i pn iti. piled, but the young miner grew ex- j clte<l. "I-ook here, this gold won't gel ! way! .It's safe In the ground. We'll knock off work and let the claim He Idle till the thing Is settled. You can't really expect us to surrender {possession of our mtne on the mere allegation of some uukuown mun. That's rfdk'utous. We won't do It Why. you'll have to let ns argue our case at least before you try to put us off." Yoorhees shook bis bead. / "We'll have to follow Instructions. The tbing for you to do is to appear before the : court tomorrow and bare tbe receiver dismissed. If your title 1" as pood as you say it is, you won't hare any ironMe." I "Yon're not tbe only ones to suffer." j added McN'smara. "We've taken |>os- | session of all tbe mines below here." j He nodded down tbe gulcb. "I'm an , * aai.W an/1 nndor hnnil"? juurr i;i mo uuu ??? .~? "How much?" "Fire thousand dollars for each claim." "What? Why. heavens, man, the poorest of these mines Is producing that much every day!" While he spoke Glenlster was rapidly debating what course to follow. "The place to argue this thing Is l?e fore Judge Stillman." said Strove, but with little notion of the conflict golnz . on within Glenlster. The youth yearn- ; ed to light, not with words nor quih- ; bles nor legal phrases, but with steel l and blows. And he felt that the Im- j pulse was as righteous as It was natu- j ral, for he knew this process was unjust. an outrage. Mexico Xlulllns' i warning recurred to him. And yctIle shifted slowly as lie talked till 1::- 1 back was to the door of the big tent. , They were watching him carefully, for all their apparent languor and loose- , ness in saddle: then, as he started to J leap within and rally his henchmen. \ his niind went hack to the words of ! Judge Stlllman and his niece. Surely that old man was on the square. lit j couldn't 1*' otherwise with her be-ddc him. l?e!ioving in liiin. end a. suspicion of deeper plots behind these actionwas groundless. S > far el! was lec l ( he supposed, with his scant knowledge , of law. though the methods seemed j unreasonable. The meu might he do- ! Ing what thoy thought to he right. Why 1)0 the first to resist? The tuen : on tlie mines below had not done so. The title to this ground was capable )f such easy proof that he and I)ex need have do uneasiness. Courts do . aot rob hoDest people nowadays, he argued, and, moreover, perhaps the girl's words were true; perhaps she . I would think more of him if he gave up ' the okl fighting ways for ber sake. ; Certainly armed resistance to her un- 1 cle's first edict would not please her. , j She had said he was too violent, so he would show her he could lay his savagery aside. She might smile on him i approvingly, and that was worth taking a chance for. Anyway it would j mean but a few days' delay in the j mine's run. As be reasoned be heard ! a low voice speaking within the open ! door. It was Slapjack Simms. "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 j man had moved out into the open, a i Winchester at shoulder, ms cneca cua- i dling the stock, his eyes cold aiid nar- . row. The young man flung the barrel up and wrenched the weapon from his hands. "None of that, Hank!" he cried j sharply. "I'll say when to shoot." He ' turned to look Into the muzzles of guns held In the hands of every horseman?every horseman save one, for ' Alec McNamana sat unmoved, his J handsome features, nonchalant and amused, nodding approval. It was at j him that Hank's weapon had been , leveled. "This Is bad enough at the best. Don't lefs make It any worse," said he. Slapjack Inhaled deeply, spat with disgust and looked over his boss incredulously. "Well, of all the different kinds of blame fools," be 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 toward town, not deigning a backward glance either at the mine or at the man unfit to fight for. [Continued on page 3.] Rev Trail Scbedaie. The following schedule of the new train from Lane to Florence, which went into effect Monday, December 17, has been furnished us by Mr J P Taylor, the courteous and efficient agent of the Atlantic ' oast Line railroad at Kingstree: North Pound Arrives No. So 7:37 A. M, ' No. 40 11:42 A. M. No. r?0 P. M. South Bound Arrives No. >0 h:lH P. M * + n m " .\o. 4, n:*u r. .m. No. 51 10:52 A.M ,t Daidy Lxcept Sunday. .Ju>t received, o..r nice line of Dress Linen. IVnpV.s Mercantile Company. l-SJO tf ,','oak ki^eys Weak Kidney*. rarely point to weak kidney Hervee. The Kidney*. like the ;Hean, and the Stomach. find their weaknen. not in 'he organ Iteelf. but in the nerve* that control d rulde and itron?thea them. Dr. Shoop'f P wave ti a medicine cpeclfioally prepared t h th?*e controlling nerve*. To doctor the /? alone, h It U a waito of time, at money a* If your back ache* or i* weak, if the arte* Meld*. or 1* dark and atronf. tf you have lymptams f Bri(bt? or other dlitreetiet or d*n*eran* kidgey dltoaee, try Dr. Sboop't leetoratfye a month? SWti or Liouid?and aee what tt can and will 4* for yon. DwaKmcmwai aaaeeO Br thilAtt'tt Via VilVVH Restorative D. C. SCOTT. bee our new line of Laces and Embroideries. Just to hand. People's Mercantile Co. 1 -30-tf The Largest and Most f ..mplete Establishment South. GEO. S. HACKER I SON, ^ I bmd -MANTFACTl B .RS OFSash, Doors, Blinds Moulding and Building Material, ! Sash Weights and Cords, CHARLESTON, SC. PROFESSIONAL CARDS W. L. Bass A. C Hinds BASS & HINDS, Attorneys-at-law KNGSTREE, S. C. 9-20-tf. 1M1UIU. m Lake City, S. C. C.-own and Bridge Work a Specialty, ALL WORK Guaranteed as Represented. "W. L. BASS Attorney at Law LAKE CITY, S. C. Dr RJ McCabe Dentist. KQJGSTS.EE, - S. C.j J. D. MOUZON'S BARBER SHOP ?in the? Van Kenren Hotel is equipped with up-to-date appliances. Polite Service, t ompetent Workmen. 5-8-08. W. P, TENNENT ARCHITECT General Contractor and Builder Solicits vour business. Estimates cheerfully furnished on all : ; kinds of work. : : 126 Evans 'Phone 1962 FLORENCE, S. C. Supervisor of construction New School Building and Superintendent of work on U. S. Post Office and of John McSween Co, stores Timmonsville and Beulah and residence at National Cemetery. : : : : : TJoes Not | I Color Hair ; Ayer's Hair Vigor, as now made from our new improved formula, does not stain or color i^the hair even to the slightest j degree. Gray hair, white hair, ' J blonde hair is not made a j shade darker. But it certainly ? - # ? t. XT _ J Coes stop railing nair. ->u j( question about that. 11 Decs not change the color of the hair. | a ^TW m Shew ;t to your i!/ifiz>rc doetor jj JL m. M M r. ? Ask him about it, j** then do aa he aaye Indeed, we believe it will stop every case of falling hair unless there is some very j unusual complication, something greatly effecting the general health. Then you should consult your pb'-sician. Also ask him about the hew Ayer's Hair Vigor. Made by the J. C. AyerCo., Lowell, M*?' ? j COTTON] -l.\D THE PRIV TOBi There -will be a number of si Fall and we are ready to serve splendid crop prospect we are re enlarge our floor space, and ratbi Queen Stoves and Ranges from * price 2? JPez We have just received a carl< fered at a low price. Remember min Moore & Co's Paint. Also, Cutlery and Razors. The Robes< predate our friends' patronage a t'nued confidence. L,&ke City LAKE CI A dollar is a dolk There is no better way t dealing with J. L. Stuckey, the ok man. I have a splendid lineoi n TTT BIB, Willi that in view of the hard times above cost. A nice bunch of HORSES at prices to suit. J. L Stuc 6XXA CAR g ?OF FR | Horses i V Nice drivers and Sr Come in and ge Q Buggies and 8 Harness jr Give us a call : V the rest. Q Yours to 8 THE WILLIAMSBURI ft l/? a O ft ningsirtiC ft urmymie, feoooooooooooc IBANK QFK Kingstree. Sot CAPITAL, $ 30.000 =^== DIREC Jas F Cooper D C Scott Collections made promptly LOANS, large or small, mi nBHnnBHniB .1! / VOU LOOK FOR Tr.WJS-E /V fv\lf Jw 0'rta,l' Rro ' iJl w ^ i ryy*V~'aS^ Th? fxp?rt?nced Hunter'a crd ;jj|Lv Markaman's Ides! 2fl?areliable, unarringSTtVIRS j FINDOUTWHY j v i 7 V by thocting our popular f-,71 RIFLES?SHOTGUKS | PISTOLS X' '/f J ^8k your local Hardware J. iSmm or Sportinp Good* Mf jV'v Iffl chant for the STEVENS. .If yu cannot obtain, we jf direct, wprria p-'-- . L'JSnl paid, upon receipt of Cn:. jk? ' ?! '> | 1<?k ITice. I I - "' ' | { w-.ot 4 < ent* in vtampe for 140 I'aj^c > sJ ?.nitrated Catalog,includingcircu-; i '! of late*t addition# to our ll:i? | J j ;' iifi.irt. point# on ehoothig.nmia;.-1 J , J tuition, the proper care of a P.ronr ; ' j I etc. 4Inr attractive Ten Col- : i ' : hograplted Hanfer mailed z. ( where f"r mx cents in ' > T\sTEVL\? arms a tool c ( V. O. I4or -K1C7 i hleooee TV'a, Ma".. T". r. mmmmwmmmwr??mmmm?? i IS KING CE RECENT IS? 1CCO. ibjects of both in Lake City this < i them. In anticipation of the ipairin? our warehouse so as to er than remove the stock of O.K. warehouse we have |reduced the 1 Cent. 3ad of Wire Fence, which is ofwe are headquarters for Benja we offer exceptional values is Dn Razor can't be beat. We apnd will try to merit their con'v lardware TY. 8. C saved ir made" 0 save your dollars than by 1 r^linklp livp-stnrk A VIAMMIV AA V wwvw a ? m ill Urn, j am offering at 10 per cent * and MULES always on hand ? N * key, Lake City, S. C LOAD?<a 't:SH?- ? 8 k riules | j good workers. Sr t your choice. V Wagons g andWhip$. X i ind we will do Sr Please, 8 J i LIVESTOCK CO. 8 I South Carolina. X 1 KXXXXXXXXXXXN j JNGSTREE wSSSSSSSSSSSSSm nth Carolina. 1 > , surplus. I Tm TORS R H Kellahan ' J A Kelley r ide on approved security. m