The Young Engineers in Nevada; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a Pick

Tom and his waif companion that t

le almost at Reade's feet, they were all too deeply absorbed in

nt, break into hostilities, with human lives at stake, Tom glanced coo

red Alf Drew, whose slim little figure w

urmured. "We may be of some

lver-armed men with the automobile party, "and march y

es. "We won't hinder 'em. We'll give 'em two full minutes to get wh

low cliff came Tom M

say, fr

below glanced

trouble down ther

one of the armed men w

o spoil it with fighting," Read

ned one of the four men, raising his rif

omen and children pres

, with a shak

outed the man, now ai

Git--before I

er. Surely you wouldn't shoot a harmless orphan like me." Saying which the young

put a ball through you!" roared the ma

your marksmanship," Suggested To

k?" howled the ma

ned his pace somewhat, reaching the

any second, Tom didn't betray any outward fear. The truth was that even if he w

tile parties. Had hostilities opened at that moment he

ped the frightened

is head behind a bush. He was trying to make himself as

at the four men, who glared bac

" demanded the spokes

sheriff," Tom

orted the

, rather genially. "I'm ju

b?" demanded the l

is eyes with interest. "Who is

mation. "It's the place where inquisit

me day," Tom promis

me to pack you there," growled the leader of

ook hi

then sit down for a nice little ta

h talk already," snar

ilent. They had scented in Tom an ally

iable?" Reade demanded

ur business," ordered th

nger," returned Tom. He turned on his heel, presenting his broad ba

ey had the look of being desp

d almost cowed th

you," suggested Tom, raising his

n," replied the older of the two armed men with th

that line,"

t seat of that car," returned the same speake

re the advice. He had small t

the two armed men went himself to the car, taking out t

t tool is not for me. I'm the two-hundred-and-

nothing but chin. And, ladies, I ask you to get behind one of the cars, since you won't leave here. Throw you

he rifles scow

right hand. "It's none of my business, as I very well

n of sixty, who had been leaning against the side

a mining company. The men yonder say that they own the claim--that they found it firs

rth. So get out of here, all of you, or the music will start at once. We don't want to hit any woman or children, but we're

he line of action!" gro

ng the quartette, "do you claim that you ever

'most a year Today we came to settle here, stake off our claims, file our en

that they have made lega

isted the port

e for the courts to settle. But if these people, who appear to be from the East, have acquired legal title here then they'll be a

we'll topple 'em over and move 'e

h to settle this case fairly. We'll call in a few of the

der of the quartette. "Wher

Tom proposed. "Much

ew

of the cliff. He was still present mainly be

ng sharply, for he guessed that the ci

ed the falterin

you can. Tell Ferrers to bring

nd, which sounded like an order to rush an

s,

on't let any of this outfit

, s

is shoulder from a considerable distance, for the

bout the merits of the case, and I'm a stranger here. I don't want to be accused of being too fresh, so I've sent

last statement wit

your camp, is he?" demanded

nted affably. "

ay

about Nevada, too, and he's a man of good judgment. He'll

t side," insisted the

s to be a good deal of difference in opinion as to which is really the right side. But just wait until Jim and his frien

uding the cheeky young one, before Jim Ferrers and

d Tom. "Do you know Jim? He has a reputation, I believe,

y, kid!" growled one of th

e weapon up angrily just b

istance down the rising path at the rear of the quartette. The four men turned

stranger!" ordered one

g of the sort, Harry!

right on a

ader of the four, holding his rifle as th

so heard my senior partner's order. He

will never understand how near death he was at that moment. But there had be

" Harry called cheerily. "A

Just a little misunderstand

lie hasn't been passe

isn't litt

s chum, displayi

f the young engineers was wholly apparent. For the same reason t

"But there's a question at issue that I feel it would be impertinent in me t

e where Ferrers's "crowd" wa

rence was going on among the four

e leader. "But if Jim has a crowd back of him thin

rs's party gets here," growl

w. In a case like this remember that a fellow lasts longer when he does his shooting from ambush and at his own time. We wo

t this view prevailed

o move away, the

't image you've won. Don't get any notion tha

ong as your hearing remains go

ning their backs, starte

e last of them!" shuddered one

dam," spoke Tom Reade gently. "Those fellows will be heard from again, and at

out ma

so any of the men who may happen to have no taste for fighting. I don't believe you'll see those four men in the open any

f we leave, it will take one of your two fighting men to

p, gently, "that our newly-found young

rs's "crowd"--consisting of poor, frighten l

a moment, "you must get the women and the child

of dismay. The litt

Dr. Dunlop's d

cars a muffled voice

ing and shaking,

!" cried the child.

ay, dear," explained

ing too. We'll be

shots, fired in rapi