The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. is proof enough, even if Carruthers is never able to speak a word.” Bremerton went out into the other room and, for a whole hour, tramped the floor. O’Hara knew that his loyal- ty for Deane was dying hard. At the end of the hour an automobile dashed up to the headquarters adobe and the doctor and the sheriff sprang out. Dr. Morton, Bremerton,” said Ransom. ‘ What does all this mean? ” “You'll find your man in there, doctor,” observed the. superintendent, nodding toward the bedroom. “ We have Dave Carruthers, and he’s badly hurt and unable to-talk. We'll know more about what it all means if we can get some information from him.” “Carruthers! He has always been a wildcatter, and none too strong on the moral points.” Ransom took off his hat and knocked the dust out of it. “He slipped out of sight a few months ago, and I thought he had left the country. Was he—shot? ” ““No. There was a rope over a cliff and he was found unconscious at the lower end of it.” Bremerton was in for some more explaining, but he was tactful and said nothing about the overhang, the lost vein, or Mariquita’s account of her father’s dealings with Deane. The superintendent’s recital hinged upon the shooting at the fork of the trail, his accident, the rescue by the girl, and the coming of O’Hara. The sheriff muttered an exclama- tion and thumped a fist into his palm. “ By gorry, were on the track at last!’ he declared. ‘“‘ Carruthers, and not the Mallorys, has been picking this bone with Deane. Mallory isn’t the one to hide out and go sniping for this mine’s superintendents. But Car- ruthers could do it without the flicker of an eyelash. We're getting down to cases now.’ Bremerton got the note-book and showed Ransom the entry regarding money paid to Pennyworth on account of Big Steve and Chombo. v 543 “That cinches it!’ averred the sheriff. ‘“ He was back of that crowd, and he wouldn’t separate himself from good money without a reason.” Dr. Morton came out of the bed- room. He had shed his coat and rolled up his shirt-sleeves. “What's the queried Ransom. ““He’s done for,’ was the reply. ““Mangled as he is, I can’t understand how he has lived as long as this.” “Will he recover consciousness? Do you think—”’ O’Hara showed himself suddenly at the bedroom door and beckoned. The doctor hurriedly returned to Car- ruthers, and Bremerton and Ransom followed. The eyes of the injured man were wide open. After wander- ing from face to face they came to a rest on the sheriff's. “You’re too late, Ransom,” said Carruthers faintly. ‘I’ve fooled you for months, and now I’m off on the long trail and fooling you for good. Bremerton was more than I bar- gained for; and yet I—I came within one of getting him. He—” The voice failed. While O’Hara lifted Carruthers’s head, the doctor picked up a glass from the table and put it to his lips. word, Morton?” CHAPTER XXI. THE MAN WHO LOST. ¢ Grr a pencil and paper, Bremer- ton,’ said Ransom, “and take this down.” Carruthers’s strength rallied under the stimulant. There was that in his eyes, however, which told the others unmistakably it could not be for long. He began to talk as soon as QO’ Fara had laid him down, and it was‘“all around the few points which the sheriff wished to have made clear. “T feel as though there wasn’t a whole bone in my body,” moaned Car- ruthers. “Why couldn’t I go out without realizin’ what had happened? CO 1TOO im S CO@