The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. the key to some things which the super- intendent wanted to know. Gorman usually slept in the fore- noon and loafed in the afternoon. Bremerton’s messenger found him, and he came straight to the office. He was a rat-eyed, weasel-faced little man ‘whose main object in life seemed to be to keep out of sight. The most devious way between two points was the shortest for Gorman. He entered the office so silently that Bremerton did not know he was there until he was seen beside the desk. “On deck, Mr. Bremerton,” Gorman nervously. “Sit down,” said the superintend- ent. The millman cuddled into a chair and looked about him shiftily. He had the air of one who was expecting some- thing disagreeable to happen. “Tf you're under the impression, Gorman, that I don’t know you're a thief, you are mistaken.” The. quiet, conversational tone was weirdly out of harmony with the sen- timent expressed. Bremerton’s man- ner disarmed Gorman for a moment, and then, when the burden of the words had sunk in, he bristled angrily. ‘Nobody can talk to me like that, by gorry! Insults like them I never stood for and never will. Gi’me my time.” “Don’t be a fool,” returned Brem- erton. ‘‘ You know that, if you had your deserts, you'd have been caught in the same net that snared Big Steve and Chombo. While Steve was here, said you turned in no more amalgam than he . did; since he’s been gone, you’ve been turning in three times as much’as you did before. I was pretty sure you were stealing, but I had no time to bother with you. Now that you're evidently playing fair, I have no incli- nation to make you trouble. All I want you to do is to talk.” Some men with a guilty conscience can bluff successfully. Gorman was not one of that kind. For long he had been afraid he was suspected. 647 T ain't admitting a thing,” said Gorman; “ but what do you want- me to talk about?” ‘Where were you on the night I reached Phoenix? King was in charge here, and somebody had brought a supply of whisky into camp. Not much work was going on. I guess you remember.” The millman wriggled uncomfort- ably. “TI don’t get you at all,’ he an- swered. “I been at the Mariquita right along.” ‘“ Don’t hem and haw and side-step,” returned Bremerton. “ I’m not intend- ing to take any action against you. I'll be more kindly disposed, however, if you come out square-toed and tell me what you know. Were you and Big Steve directly connected with Car- ruthers? ” Gorman took a red cotton handker- chief from his pocket and drew it across his face. He was undergoing an or- deal, and showed it. “T’m_ straight now, ton,” he whimpered. “I’m tryin’ to do what’s right. You ain’t going to put me through if I tell the truth? ” 66 No. “Do I get fired?” ‘ Not so long as you keep straight.” “Well, then, Chombo worked with Carruthers, and Big Steve worked with Chombo, and I worked with Steve. That’s the gospel of it, and I’ll kiss the Book. I didn’t want to go in on it. Backed away from the propersition for quite a spell. Steve allowed, though, that they was going to get their toll of amalgam from the night shift, and if I didn’t come over, then some night I’d turn up missin’ and there’d be an amal- Mr. Bremer- ‘gamator in my place they could depend on. I was scared into it, Mr. Bremer- ton; that’s all.” “Who disposed of the amalgam?” ‘““Chombo got it to Carruthers, and he turned it into cash. We all got our whack, and it was purty profitable. When Chombo had the pin pulled on him, Steve sneaked the stuff out of COMicdoo S CO@