Dave Porter's Great Search

t between the rocks and that a rattlesnake wa

you sure it's

me down and h

u hit him with a

rry up-and bring that ax

ich to clear away any obstructions which may prevent a clear sight. On this occasion Roger had bee

the rocks. As he did this he heard a stone strike on some

d the senator's son, "He'

hile the unfortunate youth was endeavoring wildly to extricate himself from his predicament, he was shying one loose stone after another at a snake that was coiled up in

hum had disturbed. The reptile was at least five feet in length and o

ake. His aim fell short, but this shortness proved to be thoroughly effective. The handle of the axe came down with a thud on the rocks, sendin

oger. It whirled around swiftly in search of the ene

gasped Roger. "I dropped my pisto

engineering gang to carry firearms. Dave had a small automati

cond and third hit the mark, and the rattlesnake twisted and turned in its death agony. Then, placing the pistol bac

ger. His face had gone white, and his w

, after Dave had made a brief inspection of the rema

to bite me!" went on the s

onder that it scared you, Roger. Think of facing

e other hollow and began to rattle and coil up to strike. If you hadn't come down

ndle, and the blade, too," remarked Dave. "

Roger. "But first of all I've got to get my

your leg or you

n a little, but t

of the space between the two rocks. Then the footwear was recovered, and the senator's son put it on once more. In the

dn't 49believe our story unless we were able to show the snake. Besides that, we ca

crambled up the rocks to where Dave had left his flag and the leveling-rod. He waved the flag in the air as a signal, and presently a

s, when they met. "If you want to--Great catfish! where did you get that snake?" and he br

when you get an unexpected calle

attler attacked you?" ques

ed to att

him and then shot him," e

on. "If he struck for you he certainly meant business;" and he

l shots, but we were not su

e in something of a hollow," answered Dave; and then h

I was out in the gold mines in the northern part of this state I knew a man who was

back to the construction camp, taking the remains of the rattlesnake with him. Here the story about the

en they went among the rocks and through the bushes. "Because, you know," he explained, "where there is one rattlesnake there may be more. I was told by those

the only one," pu

o say that no one went anywhere without having his eyes wide open for a possible appe

ould stop at the construction camp before going to the Endicott place. D

a day off just to show

we can show him the spot where you killed the

e can d

it to hear some of Shadow's oldest chestnuts of stories,"

tell," responded Dave. "We haven't seen him in such a

ittle time to think about the coming of Phil Lawrence and Shadow Hamilton. Once or twic

. "Maybe he got wind that you were

and Roger were hard at work in Section Five when one of the general utility men ar

o horses and ride down to the office as fast as you can. Some young man is there

n leaping into the saddle. He was followed by Roger; and both

ay and listen to what Nick Jasniff has to sa

ed along past the bunk-houses to the rear of the office. Here a window was wide open, and, looki

him. It's Nick Jasniff,"

ad been sent to prison for the robbery of Mr. Wadsworth's jewelry works. J

much. You see, I've been used to office life, and working around the construction of skyscrapers, and things like that. I had a pretty go

questioned Mr. Obray. He was doing what he could

nearly thr

irectly from San Fr

d 54Nick Jasniff hesitatingly. "I was

did you work

r, only the firm that employed me went out of business

East-in New York

got any farther

poked Roger in the side and both

ered the senator's son. "He al

his got him into more than one

t by Ralph Obray and the answers made by Nick Jasniff. Finally the questions beca

ng for me or not?" he demande

ffice and tiptoed in through the doorway. They came up direct

id Mr. Obray quickly; and thereupon the visitor tur

ed Nick Jasniff, and

ee us, did you, Jasniff

t out of prison so qu

nd now his face grew purple while the heavy be

" cried Dave. "Well, we

der the assumed name of Jaspe

re talking about!" cried Nick Jasniff, str

your part," answe

know what

me thoroughly!" burst out Roger. "We have found out all about you, and M

ck Jasniff wheeled around

send for these fellows

ook on a stern look. "They

to do that!" blustered the f

n this camp, and we have no use for fellows like you. I wanted to make sure

don you," Roger could not help remarking. "They should

ff looked for a moment bl

ee here

"It was a big mistake. But now that they have let you go, I

you around where

orders from you," b

d before, I want you to leave this place. I don't want you to come here again-unde

ick Jasniff. And then, as he reached the doorway and passed outside, he turned around and shook his f

he had been riding, leaped into the