Adventure Magazine Cover — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

an’ there’s some spots in my checkered ca- reer I’d as lief not discuss.” “We have accepted you on your appear- ance, and what you have done for us. We ask nothing more. Our case is different— we need a friend who understands,” Bently said with simple dignity. “Then I’m listening,” Dal said. “My daughter told you I was an assayer. Through my carelessness my house lost a _ large sum of money. I worked for a large concern, and there was a large amount of very valuable ore samples in the laboratory. _ One night I absently forgot to put those samples in the safe, and the. next morning they were gone. Besides-the intrinsic value of the ore the firm had to pay damages you understand. I lost my position, and I had no savings. Some day I intend to pay the firm all it lost on account of me. Things looked very black at that time, but for- tunately I had something promising here at this old, deserted mining-camp of Silver Zone.” “Y’d call this a darn poor straw for a drownin’ man to grab at,” Dal commented to himself. _ “Forty years ago,” the old man contin- ued, “signs of silver were found close around here and these old cabins were built, and the place named Silver Zone. But the ore was not found in paying quantities so the camp was abandoned. However, about three years ago, a prospector who signed his name ‘‘Lonesome Jim”’ sent me a sample of ore to be assayed, stating that it came from a new ledge or lode near the old Silver Zone camp. It proved to be a rich argentiferous galena, containing thirteen per cent. silver. It showed that somewhere near here is one of the richest silver-mines in the West.” “And this Lonesome Jim?” Dal inquired. “Tn a letter he sent with the samples he stated he had some dangerous, powerful enemies who were watching him. He said se _ that if I did not hear from him in six months : I would know that he was dead—and that I would be welcome to the silver-mine as he had no folks of any kind. That was three years ago, and Lonesome Jim has never been heard of.” _ “Then you’ve spent two years huntin’ for this lost mine an’ ain’t found it yet,” Dal commented, He had the true cattleman’s disdain for prospecting and prospectors. “But it’s here—it only takes patience to Adventure eo find it. I have found traces, traces every- where. But the real lode has eluded me so far just as it did those prospectors of forty years ago—though I know it is here. More than that, Hasbrouck knows it is here. More than once I have seen him in the hills with a pick and shovel. I believe he is that - powerful enemy of Lonesome Jim, and that he is the man who killed the prospector.” Dal was anxious to change the subject. Even if Lonesome Jim had found a wonder- ful mine the chances of finding it now were too remote to be attractive to him. That sort of work, he felt, properly devolved upon some white-haired desert rat, and he had no desire to join the breed. ~The men- tion of Hasbrouck gave him an opportun- ity to turn the conversation, “About Hasbrouck—are you going to have him prosecuted?” he asked. “It would be useless—besides, the only thing I want in this country is that silver- mine,” Bently declared. “Well, buck up. I'll find that silver-mine, an’ bring it in for you to look over,” Dal. said lightly. “Don’t treat it flippantly,” the old man implored. ‘The mine is an actual fact, and remember that it means an old man’s honor. If it isn’t found I can never repay my employers. Furthermore, if you find it half of it will belong to you.” Dal saw Vincie watching him closely, and he was glad that his skepticism made him regard the matter so-easily. But’even if he’ had been convinced that the mine could be located, he was not at all covetous. As if to test him the girl said— : “Of course you can claim it all if you find tl S53 _ “Pm only the hired man—an’ wages will do me fine,”’ Dal said cheerfully CHAPTER V A PERIOD OF ACHIEVEMENT pL Bat day Dal busied himself fixing up the flimsy pole fence with which Bently had tried to protect his spring from the sheepmen. It was completely torn down in many places, mute evidence of the con- tempt in which the sheepherder bandits had held it. In one of these open places Dal made a discovery that sent him down on his hands and knees in a hurry. When he arose his face wore a look of satisfaction. Many Eomicbooks (E@)