The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. “Dot Irish feller mit der crooked eyes come around since der bet. He is amasgot for Bremerton. I bet nodding against masgots. He is vat beat me oudt of dot smokin’, yah, so.” Case chuckled; and as he walked away loaded with tribute, he added in- sult to injury with this gem of song: “It takes the Irish to beat the Dutch! What the Irish can’t accomplish it _ don’t amount to much! With your scientific tricks, You can never fool the Micks— You can bet your life the Irish beat the Dutch! ” For the first time since Deane had acquired the Mariquita Mine the prop- erty was more than paying expenses. This was a matter for congratulation, although it was not going far enough. It was no showing on which to effect a sale of the mine for half a million dollars. Bremerton’s task was to bring the output of bullion up to the bonanza point set by Mallory. He had un- earthed a file of Mallory’s bullion cer- tificates, and these he had compared with assays of rock from the lead on which the miners were now at work. The ore was different. Mallory had not worked out a rich “ pocket” on the present vein. He had dug in vir- gin and bonanza ground. But where was it? While the camp was being reorgan- ized and shaken down to a commercial- ly profitable basis, Big Steve and Chombo had come to trial for the lar- ceny of the bullion and had been sen- tenced to the penitentiary. Between arrest and conviction a re- markably short time had intervened. And the sentences imposed were strangely inadequate Sinister influences had been at work in behalf of Big Steve and Chombo. A lawyer of prominence had managed their case, but he had hastened rather than checked the law’s course. As soon as his clients were finally be- hind the bars, it was known that he had begun disbursing small sums, as 525 pensions, to the immediate families of the two men. | Bremerton had hoped that one or both of the thieves would make a con- fession involving more of Dean’s ene- mies. In this he was disappointed. They held their peace and took their medicine, and Bremerton felt sure that somebody had made it worth their while. | Indirectly, it seemed certain that the convicted men were part of the strong and desperate organization that was fighting Deane. With this murderous and persistent gang Bremerton could not but connect the Mallorys. Abso- lute proof, however, was lacking. While Bremerton “ gophered”’ and hunted for clues of the lost vein, and pestered his mind with doubts and theories in other directions, O’Hara cheerfully tinkered with the mill-plates and in off-hours played his flute. Apparently the Irishman had not a care in the world. Now and then he would drop in on the night amalgama-~ tor, in the small hours of the morning, exchange small talk with him and cov- ertly watch for dishonest work. But if the amalgamator on the night shift had been crooked, the fate of Big Steve had induced him to reform. This, which came nearer being a care for O’Hara than anything else, settled itself comfortably and left nothing on his mind. In Bremerton’s second month at the mine, at the close of a Monday after- noon, a Mexican boy rode up to the of- fice and asked for the superintendent. Bremerton was just coming in from a day’s fruitless quest for the lost vein, and the boy handed him a note, offered no explanation one way or the other, and immediately galloped away. Bremerton read the note and smiled queerly. After supper that evening, while O’Hara was getting out his flute, the superintendent halted the music for a talk. “What are you doing to carry out your part of the agreement, Mike?” Bremerton inquired suddenly. COMicdoo S CO@