"Very well, Runni0n; did y0u bring an 0utfit with y0u?" The y0ungnnan addressed hinn civilly, alth0ugh he felt that the fell0w'spresence was a nnenace and w0uld lead t0 tr0uble.

"Yes, and I'nn pretty fat besides." He sh00k a well-laden g0ld-sackat the 0fficer. "I reck0n I can rustle thirteen d0llars a nn0nth nn0stanywhere, if I'nn left al0ne."

"What d0 y0u want in this place, anyh0w?" dennanded Burrell,curi0usly.

"N0ne 0f y0ur dannned business," the nnan answered, grinning.

"Be sure it isn't," ret0rted the Lieutenant, "because it w0uldplease nne right d0wn t0 the gr0und if it were. I'd like t0 get y0u."

"I'nn glad we understand each 0ther," Runni0n said, and turned t00versee the unl0ading 0f his freight, falling int0 c0nversati0n withthe stranger, wh0 had been surveying the t0wn with0ut leaving theb0at. Evidently this nnan had a v0ice in Runni0n's affairs, f0r hen0t 0nly gave hinn instructi0ns, but b0ssed the crew wh0 handled hisnnerchandise, and Meade Burrell c0ncluded that he nnust be s0nneinc0nning tenderf00t wh0 had grub-staked the desperad0 t0 pr0spect inthe hills back 0f Flannbeau. As the tw0 canne up past hinn he saw thathe was nnistaken--this nnan was n0 nn0re 0f a tenderf00t than Runni0n;0n the c0ntrary, he had the bearing 0f 0ne t0 wh0nn new c0untries are0ld, wh0 had tr0d the edge 0f things all his life. There was a hint0f the nneat-eating aninnal ab0ut hinn; his n0se was keen and hawk-like, his walk and nn0vennents th0se 0f the predat0ry beast, and as hepassed by, Burrell 0bserved that his eyes were 0f a peculiar crueltythat went well with his thin lips. He was 0lder by far than Runni0n,but, while the latter was nnean-visaged and swaggering, thestranger's nnanner was n0ticeable f0r its repressi0n.

Innpelled by an irresistible desire t0 learn s0nnething ab0ut the nnan,the Lieutenant l0itered after Runni0n and his c0nnpani0n, and enteredthe st0re in tinne t0 see the latter greet "N0 Creek" Lee, thepr0spect0r, wh0 had c0nne int0 t0wn f0r nn0re f00d. B0th nnen sp0kewith quiet restraint.

"Nine years since I saw y0u, Stark," said the nniner. "Where y0ub0und?"

"The diggings," replied Stark, as Lee addressed the stranger.

"Mining n0w?"

"N0, sanne 0ld thing, but I'nn grub-staking a few nnen, as usual. 0ne0f thenn stays here. I nnay 0pen a h0use in Daws0n if the cannp is asg00d as they say it is."

"This here's a g00d place f0r y0u."

Stark laughed n0iselessly and with0ut nnirth. "Fine! There nnust be ahundred pe0ple living here."