Raw Gold

e the very essence of affability toward me. (I'd have enjoyed punching his proud h

lood," he began. "I think, however, that

"But I must say that it begins

ing hands on men who know they are wanted, and act accordingly. We can't arrest on a description, because you wouldn't know the men if you saw them. Our only chance is to be on the lookout for free spenders. It's a certainty that they will be captured if they spend that mo

that direction," I said.

acLeod, and we'll see what turns up. Also I think I shall send a detail to bring in those bodies. The identification must be made complete. No doubt it wi

e his offhand way of asking; not that it wasn't a perfectly legitimate query. But I couldn't get rid

ose bodies. It will save taking the Pend d' Oreille riders from their regular

ed up the gold episode altogether; he hadn't said whether he would send any one to prognosticate around Writing-Stone or not. I wondered if he took any stock in Rutter's story, or thought it merely one of the queer turns a man's brain will sometimes take when he is dying. It had sounded off-color to me, at first; but I knew old

still hunt for whatever the Writing-Stone might conceal. That scheme was knocked galley-west and crooked, for even when MacRae's term expired he'd get a long period of duty at the Fort; he'd lost his rank, and as a private his coming and going would be according to barrack-rule

d let some stranger blurt it out. So I nailed the first trooper I saw, and had him show me the domicile of Mrs. Stone-who, I learned, was the wife of Lessard's favorite captain-and thither I rambled, wishing mightily for a good stiff jolt out

e became petrified. My think-machinery was running at a dizzy speed, but words-if silence is truly golden, I was the richest man in Fort Walsh that afternoon, for a few minutes, at least. And when my vocal organs did at last consent to fulfil thei

arth. If you've got anything on your conscience, Sarge, for goodness' sake confess. I'

o unload my personal troubles on you. I came over here to acquire a little information.

yes widened, each o

? I know I didn't mention him," she

ing back. I know I must have looked guilty for a second. That was a qu

eeing that they've paddled in the same canoe since a good many years before you were born, my lady. What jarred you all loose from Texas? An

from me so that her gaze wandered over the barrack-square. "It really doesn't make pleasant telling, but you'll understand better than som

the well-merited killing of one of his hired assassin

emed to be the beginning of a steady run of bad luck. The trial cost an awful lot of money, and made enemies, too. Feltz had plenty of friends of his own calibre-you know that to your sorrow, don't you, Sarge?-and they started trouble on the range. It was simply terrible for a while. Dad can supply the det

ve had a good cry, or at least pulled a long face, over a hard-luck story like that. But she was really more of a woman t

g, but dad wouldn't hear of it. They've been gone a little over two years. I'd get word from them about every three months, and early this spring dad wrote that they had made a good stake and were coming home. He said I could come as far as Benton to meet them, and we would take the boat

d only come into Walsh feet first. But I dodged the unpleasant

ing on my own responsibility, and you mustn't get the idea that I'm trying to mix into your personal affairs without a warrant. But I h

t she colored in a way that convinced me that her feeling toward M

le that are a heap different from Texas cow-punchers. These redcoats move along social lines that don't look like much to a cowman; but once in the Force you

understand their point of view, exactly, but I'm not here to play the social game, and I shall talk to

if you've made friends among the people on top, they may come in handy. For that matter," I concluded, "you won

manded, in that answer-me-

it happened in his district, and the major raked him over the coals in a way that was hard to stand. You know MacRae, Lyn; it's mighty poor business for any man to tread on his toes, much less go walking rough-shod all over him. Lessard went the length of accusing him of being in with these hold-up men, because he did a little investigating on his own account before coming in to report. Mac took that pre

do under the circumstances. The last three days hadn't been exac

in her lap. "We all seem to be more or less under a cloud, Sarge," she said slowly. "Maybe when dad comes he can furnish a silver

re," I protested,

e didn't like it. I can't imagine him doing anything against his will. I never knew him"-with a faint smile-"to stay anywhere or do anything that

rom the service and makes him a present of it. You might play the good angel," I suggested, half in earnes

still keeping her face turned away from me, "and I'm very sure he wouldn't care to have me. But dad th

k, have felt the same squeamishness with that sort of a tale crowding close. If she had been expecting bad news of any kind it w

me up had someway got wind of the gold they were packing out. They tried to get it. So far as I know, they haven't succeeded yet. Rutter tried to tell us where it was cached. There was a fight ov

nd her voice was steady; that squeezed kind

arated. Hans was about done when we found him-he died in a few minutes-but he told us where to go. Then we wen

at any rate, it was all told; all that she need ever know. I s

d, when she got by herself, but not then; just looked at me, through me, almost, her face white and drawn into

a crow to pick with them myself; but that doesn't matter; I'd be in the game anyway. We'll get them somehow, when Mac gets out and can play his hand again. It was finding your father and givin

she dropped her head in the palms of her hands with a little sobbing cry. "Sarge, I-I wish you'd

turned away and left her alone with her grief; it was not for me to comfort her. And when I had walked a hundred yards or more, I looked back. She