The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. “T'll not let that hot head of yours take you to the divil entirely,” flared O’Hara. “So help me, I'll not have you doing time for roughing it with a yellow dog like Deane. Smoke that in your pipe.” O’Hara turned back to the mill. Bremerton stared after him specula- tively, then climbed into the buck- board and drove away. At the fork in the trail he was sur- prised to find. Mariquita mounted on her horse and evidently waiting for him. She rode out into the road ahead of his team. “You have asked Deane to come here!’ she exclaimed. “Tt was necessary,” he returned. “You get your information direct from Denver, I suppose?” “You already know, Mr. Bremer- ton, that we have a friend in Deane’s © Denver office. done this?” She spoke vehemently, passionate- ly, and clearly was doubtful of Brem- erton’s motives. “IT told you, Miss Mallory, that you would have to trust me,” he said calmly. ‘“ You are not doing it.” “You have sent for Deane to show him that—that lost lead? ”’ “Yes. I want him to understand that the work he gave me to do has been accomplished.”’ : How will that help us?’ she cried. “‘ By showing him how valua- ble the mine is, how are you going to benefit my father and me?” “T have my plans. You know Deane pretty well, and I guess you realize that what I have ahead of me is anything but child’s play. I am go- ing to do what I can. That, Miss Mal- lory, is all any man can do. Are you going to lose confidence in me?” She rode alongside the buckboard and leaned sidewise to offer her hand. “No,” she said softly and with a wan smile, “ for you are the only one who can do anything with Deane. Help us, and it will be worth your while. If you win an interest for us Why, why have you 549 in the property, I have come to tell you that a part of it will be yours.’ He dropped the hand as though a serpent had stung him. “You don't know me very well,” he answered. “I can’t be bribed, Miss Mallory, and I’m sorry you thought so.” He picked up the lines and drove on. Until he was out of sight the girl sat motionless in the saddle, looking after him. Bremerton had work that evening in Pheenix. He called on a lawyer ‘and had a certain paper filled out and made ready for signing. On his way back to the hotel he stepped into a hardware-store and bought a small revolver to take the place of the “ automatic ” he had lost. The dealer wanted to sell him a box of -cartridges. Bremerton, however, did not buy. “All I want is the revolver,” he said. With the legal paper in the breast of his coat and the ynloaded revolver in his hip-pocket, he retraced his way to the hotel. CHAPTER XXIII. DEANE ARRIVES. THE train from the north was due at seven o'clock. It rolled up to the station promptly on time, and Deane was the last passenger to get out of the Pullman. The porter obsequiously handed him a black Boston bag, re- ceiving in exchange for it a silver dollar. The mining king was a picturesque figure as he came down the platform. His black Stetson, long-tailed coat, and flowing tie compelled attention. A wonderful diamond sparkled in the white frills of his shirt and a massive chain wriggled across the front of his low-cut vest. Another stone, conspicuous for size and bril- liancy, was very. much in evidence on the third finger of his left hand. COMicdoo S CO@