The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GOLD GRABBERS. make this partial clean-up, Bryden? ” the superintendent asked. “ Four.” The amalgamator was gathering a ball up in the chamois. His big fists clamped down on it tight and the “quick” oozed through the skin and dropped into a bowl. “Two balls each time? ”’ “ Gen’rally.” Big Steve removed the first ball, laid it on a shelf behind him, and then be- gan squeezing the second ball. Work- ing at the amalgamator’s back, Bremer- ton drew a knife from his pocket, opened the blade and, with its point, made a cross on the lower surface of the first ball of amalgam. The ma- neuver was entirely lost on Big Steve. “I don’t reckon we'll get two balls every partial clean-up this run,” said the amalgamator suddenly, as though his heavy wits had been struggling with Bremerton’s question and his own an- swer. “Ore’s purty low-grade, com- pared with what it 1s usually.” Bremerton strolled out of the little room, across the body of the mill, through the engineer’s quarters and around to where King was working at the cxanid tanks. “What does Bryden do with the amalgam he takes from the plates dur- ing the day, King?” Bremerton in- quired. “Turns it-over to me when he knocks off work in the afternoon,” was the reply. ‘“‘ Night amalgamator does the same thing in the morning. Why?” “Oh, nothing! I’m just getting the run of the details. After supper, this evening, bring Bryden’s amalgam to the office.” The little expert’s eyes widened. “You don’t think for a minute that Big Steve—” he began, but the super- intendent cut him short. “Don’t bother about what I think, King. Whatever it is, be sure it is noth- ing to your discredit. Just bring up the amalgam this evening—and keep the matter quiet.” Bremerton went back to the office 51] and resumed his study of the Mariquita property as outlined on the map. Deane’s holdings comprised several claims, all known by the one general name, and completely filled the little valley and lapped over upon the hills that bordered it. | Where was the bonanza ledge, the golden reef which had dazzled Deane while the mine was in the hands of Mallory or Carruthers? Bremerton could have sworn that it was some- where under that scoriated valley, and just as surely as it was there so surely would he one day discover it. For the rest of the morning and all the afternoon he smoked and reflected, the map under his eyes. His next step was to go over the property foot by foot and endeavor to locate the lost vein. Next day he would begin. Following supper, and after the day men had retired to their quarters and the night men had gone into mine and mill for their work, King came with a canvas bag and rolled four balls of amalgam out upon the office table. “Is that all Big Steve turned in? ” Bremerton inquired. Certainly,” replied King with a pained look. “I hope, Bremerton, you don’t think I’d hold out anything on you?” “Bosh! It’s not your trail I’m on. How does the ore now running through the mill compare in value with the ore of the last run? ’”’ “It is almost identically the same, so far as value is concerned.” “And the amount milled is the same?” 66 Yes.”’ “Bryden says it is his practise to have a partial clean-up four times dur- ing his shift, and that generally he gets two balls of amalgam from each plate every time he takes the stuff off. Ac- cording to that, there should be sixteen balls of amalgam in this lot. Where are the other twelve? ” King appeared astounded. “He never turns in any more than this, Bremerton. Probably Big Steve COMmiicloo S CO@