The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

GOLD GRABBERS. Deane. Every worker wanted a look at the “big boss.” He was discussed frankly by a few. These maintained that he won his games by jumping men over the business checker-board, sacri- ficing ruthlessly in his dash for the king-row. ; They said that his employees were catspaws for pulling his golden chest- nuts out of the fire; that he had not the nerve for executing his own schemes; that he bought men in open. market and played them selfishly and unscru- pulously for his own lawless gain. Talk of this kind, however, left no sentiment of disgust or disapproval in its train. Deaie’s success and his wealth dazzled the eyes and confused the understanding. The mining king was a rugged and prominent figure all up and down the Pacific slope, and men shut their eyes to his past and gave him a hand for what he was. O’Hara took no part in the buzzing gossip in the mill. He listened pas- sively while Giles and the engineer shouted confidences to each other about the mine-owner. The Irishman had tact as well as the courage of his con- victions. In the late afternoon Deane and Bremerton visited the blind gully and searched out a place where the visitor could be lowered with least danger and physical effort to himself. Then they went to the overhang and exam- ined the bonanza lead. Deane was astounded, overjoyed. He talked of running up the price on the syndicate, and of profiting more largely by his superintendent’s work. His greed outran his delight, and his stuffy voice jingled with prospective dollars. He swaggered up and down the tun- nel. He bragged about what he had and what he was going to have, the things he had done and the things he would do; and he wound up with: “Darn it, Bremerton, I don’t know but I'll take the bit in my teeth and insist on giving you every sou of that ten thousand!” 553 They returned to the mine in time for supper, and Deane insisted on sit- ting at table with the grimy, sweat- stained workers. He tried to be a good fellow, and monopolized the conversation with jokes and witticisms. ‘The jokes were coarse and the witticisms far-fetched, but they never failed to draw a laugh. Following supper, and cigars smoked in front of the headquarters adobe, Bremerton made ready to tighten the coil. Asa preliminary step, he invited Deane to step into the office. O’Hara’s respect for himself would not allow of association with Deane. He kept away from the headquarters adobe, but watched it carefully from the shadow of the btink-house. When the mine-owner and the su- perintendent retired into the office the Irishman approached the little mud- walled building and took up his posi- tion at a point where the mumbling voices reached his ears. The matter of what Bremerton was about to do worried him. He knew his friend so well that he was expect- ing drastic measures; and these, he was confident, Deane would fight. Out of that clash what was to come? When the voices grew high, when passion pitched them in the high key that meant a narrowing of argument and a resort to force, O’Hara was planning to interfere. | Bremerton might go too far with Deane—it was conceivable—and the Irishman would step in and call a halt before his friend went to extremes. While biding his time, with every nerve tense and every faculty alert, O’Hara heard a sound of galloping. He sprang into the trail and was sud- denly confronted by Mariquita Mal- ory. “Saints defend us!” he gasped. “Miss Mallory, you will please for- give me for saying it, but this is no place for you.” “Where is Mr. Bremerton?” the girl demanded; “ where is Deane? I want to talk with them. I watched CO DOO AMUUC S CO@