The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

5d4 while Deane was taken into the gully and shown the bonanza lead, and I came here to do what I can to get our rights.” “Och, wurra, what a night it is!” sighed O’Hara. ‘“ Will you be, listen- ing to me, Miss Mallory? It will do you no good to see Deane. Bremer- ton has him in the office now, and will fight it out with hinx He ‘has his plans — divil knows what they are — and if Bremerton can’t do anything then nobody can. Will you please go away? I’m afraid for you here.” “Til not go away,” she declared. “PH stay on the ground till it’s set- tled. Why are you here, Mr. O’Hara?”’ “Faith, now, it’s just to be handy in case I’m needed. A _ better man than Bremerton never lived, and I can’t let him get the worst of any- thing or—’” “You think he’s in danger?” mur- mured Mariquita quickly; “ you think he’s risking his life trying to get our rights for us?” “Never—not in the way you mean,” and O’Hara laughed shortly. ‘Why, Lee could take this fat mining king with one hand and strangle the breath out of him. Begorry, it’s that, or something like it, that worries me. That’s the worst of the law, do you mind? You can’t kill a human, coyote though he is and no matter what he deserves, without complica- tions with sheriffs and courts and prison walls. If necessary, I’m here to save Bremerton from that.” “Then I’ll stay with you and help you.” In spite of his protests she stayed, leaving her horse by the corral and then sitting beside O’Hara on the rock-heap where he had posted him- self. drone of voices, and once Deane’s tones rose high and his words came to them distinctly. . “You're working for me! What are the Mallorys to you that you’re so keen for them?” I gave you a chance. get for it!” They listened silently to the THE ARGOSY. Mariquita’s hand clutched O’Hara’s arm convulsively and a sharp breath fluttered through her lips. “He'll stand to his guns, this Bremerton,” whispered O’Hara. “I know him, I tell you.” Again Deane lifted his angry voice. “You're a d— traitor, that’s what you are! You was on the rocks and This is what I “ The likes of him to be talking to Bremerton like that!” gritted O’Hara. ‘“Here’s where I begin expecting treuble. Don’t say anything, don’t do anything; just listen and leave it to me, Miss Mallory.” 0, anxious and apprehensive, they waited and listened. Meanwhile, in the office matters were approaching a climax. Deane had followed Bremerton into the office wonderingly. There was that in Bremerton’s face which Deane remembered to have seen there out around San Simone once when they were cornered by Mexicans bent on taking their: burros and camp equip- ment. The look and manner of the superintendent puzzled Deane. Bremerton lighted the lamp and placed it on top of the desk; then he waved Deane to a chair. “Silas,” said Bremerton bantering- ly, “you're a shrewd one. wouldn’t tell me in Denver how you got hold of the Mariquita Mine. I asked you if it was a square deal, you remember, and you said it was.” “Well, wasn’t it?” “It was clever,’ and a false note of admiration rang in Bremerton’s voice. “You kept Mallory dangling while you put on a side deal with Carruthers.” “Mallory was an old fool,” chuck- led Deane, whose ear was too gross to detect the false note. ‘I let him nibble and then jerked the bait away from him. But I didn’t do that, by thunder, until it was too-late for him to raise the money in other quarters. “Carruthers was harder to man- You COMicdoo S CO@