Show I II I I I POOR WEANS MAllS H GOLD GOLDI I Courtney y Cooper e eo O m Courtney Ryley Cooper Service f SYNOPSIS Jack lI Hammond gold prospector returns ito Prince Rupert after a spree In Seattle end and lc learns that a gold rush Is s starting as asa asa asia a ia a result of some careless remarks he had dropped dropped at a party concerning a gold dis- dis covery He finds that his partner McKen McKen- Joe Britten has gone on north to protect their claims Besieged Hammond decides to tell the would would-be pro prospectors how to f reach Teach the new gold fields Around the World Annie Annle a n frontier dance hall proprietor has assembled a n troupe of girls and Is bent on starting a dance hall at the new camp Jack muses anuses about Kay Joyse the girl In Seattle whom he loves and to whom he confided the secret of his gold strike Going to his lawyers law law- yer's iyer's office he passes a young girl on the stairs 6 stairs irS Jack asks Barstow the lawyer about I the girl and learns that she is a n volunteer client Jack tells him about Kay Timmy Moon Moon a mutual acquaintance nce had brought them together Kay was chilly at first but when when she saw some of his gold nuggets l they got along beautifully He had met her mother and a friend of the family Bruce Kenning a n geologist Sergeant Terry of the f Royal Canadian Mounted Police Joins the gold seekers gold seel ers on their trip north Jack enI encounters en- en I counters the girl Jeanne Towers and she tasks casks him to lend her a team of dogs and supplies He lie consents The ne next t day the trek to the new bonanza begins Later on the trail Jeanne Is lost and H Hammond Jon Ion saves her The gold seekers arrive and the new camp is soon In full fun swing Hammond Ham mond and Joe Jae have a secret theory that the real gold find will not be on the present site cite of the Big Moose river but on its prehistoric bed which they are seeking Kenning turns up with messages from rom Seattle Springtime comes Then an nn air air- arrives bearing Kay her mother and Timmy Timmy Moon the aviator McKenzie Joe JoeI I 15 Is moody While they are arc eating at the Jeanne Towers appears She and Kay dislike each other at first sight i sand and she sits by herself Kay urges Jack to take Kenning into his confidence about his bis operations I 1 CHAPTER IV Continued IV-Continued Continued 8 Women are right sometimes Mrs Joyce added Timmy fussed with his knife and fork Wish Vish that Yellow Peril would bring on the steak Im I'm going to eat the tablecloth in a minute T be along Hammond answered answered ant an an- t glad of the change of conversation con con- Ill try to get hold of that Chinaman Chinaman- I He raised his head looking about the shoddy restaurant resta only to pause as the door opened and a young man entered paused a moment then started forward at the sight of Hammonds Hammond's party He was a aman aman aman man Jack had not seen before once well built but now somewhat fallen aw away y as though his clothing did not fit or an nn inactive life had robbed a frame once well filled by the outdoors The extended to his features deep lines about his mouth a thickness of the cheeks at each side of his nose He raised a cigarette to his lips with a jerky movement then snapped the arm quickly down at his side Now he hesitated as ns if wondering whether or not to interrupt At last he decided decided decided de de- de- de against further approach and turned again to the door Hammond saw him glance toward the corner where Jeanne Towers sat and stiffen as though with surprise Then he heard a sound from the corner half gasp half scream that was smothered almost before it be be- gan For an instant the two stared as if each were petrified by the theother's theother's theother's others other's presence Then the young man swung out the door and Jeanne Towers fighting mightily to pretend unconcern returned to her meager meal CHAPTER V VAn VAn VAn An hour later Hammond saw the theman theman theman man again The meal was finished and Jack was strolling through the camp with his guests Kay had announced announced announced an an- a tremendous interest in everything about her she could not wait until morning she said So now picking their way along the dark passageways and trails which passed as ns streets Hammond had done his best to give a picture of the place its beginnings its hopes At last tired they had turned homeward Timmy Moon lagging somewhat in the rear Glancing back Hammond saw the dim form of a man follow the aviator aviator avi avi- ator for a few moments moments moments-at at last halting him Timmy was late reaching the cottage you been asked aske d Kay Kny The pilot grinned A itA fellow wanted me to make a trip for That man who came into th the e Hammond asked Tim Timmy m y nodded Kay Joyce Joyc e shrugged her shoulders How far is it from here to Wrangell Wrangell Wran Wran- gell asked Timmy To where K Kay y was yn yawping yawning ing Wrangell Alaska Jack su sup sup- p. p plied Its about a hundred miles air line okay said Timmy Fifty Fit i ty cents a mile a hundred buck bucks s for the round trip Say he que qua rigid theres a part of this lak that dips over on the Alaskan side sid of the line isn't there uy Yes es II ai Mind pointing it out to tT m mo If Now asked Sure Ill I'll be making an nil early get away in the morning Lets Let's go outside If Well VeIl said Kay with another yawn if theres there's anything to see ee lets let's take a n look at nt it Come on Mother Mrs 1 Joyce laid aside her green cigarette holder and with that queer coldly acquiescent mood which seemed a n part of her joined the rest of the group on the tiny veranda The moon had risen I shimmering the great expanse of Sapphire lake lying now like an nn irregular plate of silver between rugged mounds of black velvet Its an inlet over there to the right Hammond said Land on that and you'll be safe Safe broke in Kay with a little little little lit lit- tle laugh From whom The Mounties l This is a booze trip isn't it Kay faced the aviator Timmy 1 I You haven't gone in for bootlegging already The tone was jesting but Timmy was tired It isn't against the law to bring liquor from American territory to American territory Im I'm not sneaking sneaking sneaking sneak sneak- ing anything into Canada this fellow who hired you Hammond asked Curiosity pulled hard at him he was sure I s j 24 X ti r ri i 1 Im Int Making laking an Early Get-Away Get in the Morning l it it was the man who had frightened Jeanne Towers Timmy rubbed his round face Damned if I know He said his name was Lew I think he works for Around the World Annie Kay laughed somewhat harshly So uSo that's what becomes of our darling Timmy He comes into the new unfettered North and immediately immediately immediately immedi immedi- becomes a bootlegger It was badly timed Timmy Moons Moon's nerves were raw from a along along long iong session at the stick Well at least Im I'm honest about it Im I'm not being a damned pretender pre- pre tender Why U Timmy asked Kay with an air of amazement Vho's U pretending pretending pretending pre pre- tending Weve all been pretending said Timmy Moon Jack caught the scent of liquor on his breath and evidently Lew whoever he was had been generous U And Im I'm Imsick Imsick Imsick sick of it Were We're up here and lets let's be ae honest as to why were we're here Timmy in the reflected light of the doorway Hammond saw that the girls girl's face had gone white there was rage in her eyes The aviator did not notice Dont Timmy me he exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed Were Vere all broke and we might as well say were we're broke and be done with it if Perhaps you'd better go to bed said Mrs Joyce icily I think that's a good idea iden Hammond Hammond Hammond Ham Ham- mond took him by the arm Time for us to go Timmy Timmy- Oh all right The round little pilot was grinning again I didn't mean menn to start any fireworks fire Hammond pulled him off of the veranda veranda veranda ve ve- randa and with an effort at a joking joking joking jok jok- ing night good-night to the two women led him down the trail Sorry I cant can't put you up in my cabin he apologized when they were w well ll along toward town But weve we've only got two bunks there Oh I couldn't go anyway Ive I've got to get out too early Timmy rubbed his hands over ver his face Wow Vow how a couple of shots canhit can cnn canhit hit a fellow when hes he's tired You rather spoke out of turn up there at nt the house the miner suggested Timmy raised his head pulling hard for air nir Yeh I guess I did he con con- Kay will hate me for that They've been trying to keep it dark that they haven't got a cent But everybody in Seattle knows it If it wasn't for the money that Bruce Kenning slips them they wouldn't have a thin dime Hammond gasped But they've always been the rich people of Seattle Yeh with their heads in the air But they cant can't hold em up any longer down there there there-that's that's why they were so glad to get out A certain grimness s came into Hammonds Hammond's features Kay doesn't need to worry e Sure not with you e Then lets let's drop the subject the miner said qt qi y yo Besides heres here's your flop joint I Timmy Timm Moon hiccoughed Sod Jot h he e exclaimed claimed looking at atthe atthe the outlines of the log-cabin log bed bed- bed I house with its tallow bear candle flickering behind a net mosquito-net o window Hammond slapped him on the shoulder Get to bed bcd Timmy he com com- I IThen Youve had a long day Then lonely puzzled a bit depressed depressed depressed de de- deI de- I pressed he went onward toward his I dark cabin where snored McKenzie McKen- McKen I zie Joe This night of nights had hadnot hadnot I not turned out at all the way he had hoped for it I Morning however brought a spirit of gayety everybody had been tired and excited the night before before before be be- fore Hammond told himself Nevertheless Nevertheless Nevertheless Nev Nev- on his way from breakfast breakfast breakfast break break- fast he could not help turning toward toward toward to to- ward the store cabin-store of Jeanne Towers Towers Towers Tow Tow- ers nor could he conceal a n certain expression of concern as she began began began be be- gan what was meant to be a sprightly conversation about Hammond's Hammonds Hammonds Hammond's Hammonds Hammond's Ham Ham- monds mond's guests Then she turned to the subject of Timmy Moons Moon's air air- plane Its uIt's changed the whole camp she exclaimed rearranging a few containers of dried food on the al almost almost nl- nl most empty shelves been asking me when I intended to tolay tolay tolay lay in new stock C Buy me some tobacco that isn't half hay when you do Hammond ordered with a grin McKenzie's Mc- Mc Kenzie's Ive I've been using using using-he he could smoke moose hide J Jeanne emme got out a n pencil and a sheet of paper already there was the beginning of quite a listI list I HI cant can't get it for a week or so she said Mr Hl Moon l is booked up until then I was up early early but but the people and the flophouse flophouse flop flop- house and the hotel were already ahead of me U a week asked Ham Ham- mond be the merchant queen of Sapphire lake first thing we know Im afraid Im I'm getting as bad as you prospectors came with an uneasy uneasy uneasy un un- easy laugh Ive HIve been wishing for another mining rush Why U She shrugged her shoulders Oh I dont don't know the know the excitement excitement excitement excite excite- ment I guess the thrill of going somewhere Then Im sorry That doesn't sound grateful But this camp hasn't really gotten gotten gotten got got- ten started Quickly he asked Jeanne what's bothering you Spring maybe I Sure She fenced What H else Who Vho was that man in the restaurant restaurant restaurant I rant last night Oh that she exclaimed with witha a smile that for the moment disarmed disarmed disarmed dis dis- disI I armed him It uIt was all too silly I II I could have sworn I knew him him him-a a aboy I boy Id I'd gone to school with up in in- in I back home It HIt was a mistake then I Oh yes Id I'd looked up hurriedly hurried hurried- I ly ly-it ly it was just dust like seeing a ghost I IDid Did you hear me I almost shrieked The poor fellow must have thought Id I'd gone crazy I did feel like an idiot Hammond agreed that it was Indeed in indeed indeed In- In deed a n silly feeling Soon he went I onward again to take the trail up to the cottage But he carried with I him an uneasy presentiment that i Jeanne Towers had not told the truth I Kay was waiting for him as well wen groomed as if she had come from froma I a beauty parlor Hammond watched the sun play pInyon on her hatless head I as with her mother they went down the trail Then at last on the banks of Loon creek the man pointed out the claim which he had saved for her a stretch of gravel extending I along the stream near where upturned upturned upturned up up- I turned stones and earth told of the workings held by McKenzie Joe and I himself I HI got them as near mine as ns I could he announced And is this a claim asked Kay Why H its it's just the bank of I the stream Look Hammond answered All AU I along the creek were evidences of I labor Here and there disregarding disregard disregard- I ing the high water men labored at the shoveling of earth into long I wooden sluice boxes which picking u ui the water from a flume running from a higher point in the stream I carried it downward on a slow de de- cline You just wash it through and it becomes gold Kay Kny said curious curious- ly that cute It uIt looks like a n day laborers laborer's job to me her mother reflected A shout answered her from upstream upstream up up- stream where the raw boned UP-I UP Olson Olson Olson Ol Ol- son and two partners were work work- ing Instantly labor stopped else else- where Necks craned Heads appeared appeared appeared ap ap- above the higher portions of earth where the stream temporarily ran between cut banks Then men began to converge upon the sluice box Lets go up Hammond ex ex- ex- ex claimed Olsons HOlson's found something m in the clean up The asked hurrying hurrying hurrying hur hur- up clean-up Kay beside him Mrs 1 Joyce followed followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed somewhat in their wake glancing acridly about her a woman woman woman wom wom- an who seldom smiled who seldom gave interest yet who seemed al always always al- al ways to be be weighing everything within her range Hammond turned to explain I Yes the clean up You s see e those long wooden chutes are called sluice boxes They've got cleats across the bottom called riffles rimes The dirt is shoveled in at the top and is carried along by the water The dirt and light gravel flow on out Anything heavier settles behind behind behind be be- hind those riffles rimes TO BE CONTINUED |