The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOLD GLEANERS.’ BY WILLIAM WALLACE COOK. A story of the West, with a new background, in which modern science jostles the evil instincts of some men, the bravery of others, and the indomitable devotion of woman. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. Amy TRAVIS, in charge of the Cyanide Works at the old Golden Eagle mine, is informed by letters from the owners that her services will no longer be required after the arrival of Mr. Whipple, whom they have selected, to take her place. The safe has been broken open, and five thousand dollars in bullion stolen, hence the company have decided that their interests will be better safeguarded with a maa in charge. The stage on which Mr. Whipple arrives ts held up by road agents, but Whipple manages to frustrate their attempt, and lays himself oper to the special gratitude of a fellow passenger, a Spanish girl, Teresa Gonzales, daughter of the night watchman at the cyanide tanks. The coach also carries a carboy o acid, which is jolted off in the scrimmage, and the acid burns its mark into the flesh of at least two of the robbers. Whipple prevails on Miss Travis not to leave the works, and after making an enemy of Chombo, the leader of the men, in an attempted strike, rejoices the girl’s heart by showing her, through what he calls an acid test, that Jeffries, the foreman, was probably concerned in the hold up of the stage, and inferen- tially therefore in the stealing of the bullion. She then insists on telling him that she had suspected her own brother Tom of the latter crime, and begs that he will hire him in some capacity about the works. Whipple declines to do this, whereupon she asks him what he would do supposing she should have her brother come there in spite of him. He replies that he should have to hold both her brother and Jeffries, and communicate with the sheriff. In these circumstances, she is quite wrought up a little later when her brother unexpectedly appears, announces his name to Whipple as James Henderson, and secures from him a position in the works. Amy is continually on pins and needles, and one day her worst fears are realized when Whipple comes to her and announces that he is sorry he must do what lies before him, but that duty impels him. Then he ex- tends toward her the pocketbook Jim Cassidy, the mine owner, had lost in the stage hold up, with the words : “Here is the wallet which I took from your brother last night.” CHAPTER NII. THE TEN OF DIAMONDS. [" Whipple had expected a display of womanly weakness on Amy’s part, he was agreeably disappointed; but he was hardly prepared for the unimpas- sioned, self-possessed manner in which this frail girl met the shock of his an- nouncement. Tor several hours he had felt certain that this interview must come. And he had dreaded it, as a strong, manly na- ture always dreads the infliction of pain upon one of the weaker sex. He recalled how she had stood be- fore the dingy office window, all uncon- scious of his presence, hands clasped and face uplifted, the rays of sunlight touching her form with saintly glory. Likewise he remembered the fierce fight *This story began in the October issue of THE ARGOSY. which Duty and Desire had waged in his soul when he whirled, with the stolen vision fresh in his mind, and beat a retreat to the friendly cover of the tanks. , He had been dangerously near to yielding then, but Duty had triumphed and the combat had strengthened him for what was to follow. “The wallet which you took from my brother!” She repeated the sentence deliber- ately, with emphasis on the words of direst import. In a flash the scales fell from her eyes. T'om’s subterfuge had failed of its purpose; Whipple had recognized the lie from the very start. Further- more, he had taken the foils from their hands and worsted ‘Tom and_ herself with their own weapons. The two back numbers will be mailed to any address on receipt of 20 cents. GORMIGOOO SS (COL