The Winds of Chance

elling. In the hectic hurry of that gold-rush many incidents were soon forgotten and

by the way, which ended only in the tragic death of Soapy Smith and the flight of his notorious henchmen. Although the circumstances of the Sheep Camp demonstration now seem shocking, they did not seem so at the time, and they served a larger purpose than was at first apparent; not only did t

e, corroborated by the owner of the missing sack of rice, roused the audience to a fury. Even while these stories were being told there came other men who had identified property of th

ew his neighbor-nevertheless it was plain that there was an organization of crooks and that a strong bond of understanding existed between them. Now, inasmuch as the eye of suspicion

imented the miners for their acumen in selecting for such a position of responsibility a man of his distinguished qualifications. It was plain that he believed they had chosen wisely. Then, having inquired the names of his two committeemen, he likewise commended them in glowing terms, although of course he could not praise them quite

ar!" yell

t that. There was no law whatever in the land save the will of these men; in their hands lay life or death, exoneration or infamy. He searched the faces round about him, but could find signs neither of friendship nor of sympathy. This done, he looked everywhere for a glimpse of a woman's straw-color

y to the door of the prisoners' tent, and the original package, identified positively by its owner, was put in evidence. This in itself was enough; testimony f

him at various times; nevertheless, his indignation and his contempt for them were tempered with regrets, for he could not but remember that they had befriended him. It was of cour

skeys stared at Pierce coolly; therefore he cli

iven him shelter. That chance association, he took pains to explain, had continued, but had never ripened into anything more, anything closer; it was in no wise a partnership; he had nothing to do with them and they had nothin

m," ordered

er was here in Sheep Camp an hour ago. She

wom

I brought h

is her

id he. There was a murmur of interest; the memb

ointed spokesman inquired. His face wore a smile of disbelief; when the

swer. "Do any of you gentlemen know

as greeted by

id you," cried a

t I met four kings last

f Queensberry," sho

ated the chairman, using

y other throats. "Coun

ed. "Come, Countess!

a ribald note to this

s' eyes

he palace. Let's get along with the

me!" Phillips re

r countess appears to be constituted of that thin fabric of

came forward now, pushing his resistless way through the audience. "Wat for you say dere ain't nobody by dat name, eh?" He turned his ba

her out! W

Dyea," Pierce insiste

ar? Dis boy spik true. He was in Linderman las' night, for I seen him on

accused?" queri

know him li'l bit. Anybody can tell he's hones' bo

efore, to see the Frenchman, after replying shortly, impatiently, to several senseless cross-questions, force his w

n, by the way, whom Pierce would never have suspected of being suc

a-he fairly fed it to me, like he said-so I guess I'm acquainted with him. We're all assembled up to mete o

, for, although his followers took their cue from him and applauded loudly, the

rust a determined countenance close to Broad's and cried, an

it your own way," he gave in, with an airy gesture. "But take it from me you're a bunch of boobs. Hang

chairman to bring the meeting to orde

ep Camp to learn that he had been robbed of all his savings. Corroboration of this misfortune he left to

heft of the sack of rice, he was uncomfortably aware that evidence of systematic pilfering had been introduced and that evidence he had not met except indirectly.

The younger brother made a poor start, but he warmed up to

lared upon his honor. The evidence was strong, he admitted, but it was purely circumstantial, and he proposed to explain it away. He proposed to tell the truth, the who

they had shared their blankets with him, they had helped him in a thousand ways, not without serious inconvenience to themselves. Why, only on the day before the speaker himself had volunteered to take t

ay of knowing. Phillips was often absent at night; he came and he went at all hours, and neither Joe nor the witness ever questioned him, believing his statements that he was packing for hire. Neither his brother nor he had ever seen that sack o

er's limbs and placed them upon his. It seemed impossible that such a story could carry weight, but from all indications it did. When Joe McCaskey took

ir when he had finished. "You can judge for yourselves who did the st

r yourself?" The chairman ad

have lied; they're trying to save themselves at my expense. I've told you everything, now I demand that

than grub in this country; it's more than money; it's a man's life, that's what it is. Now, then, the McCaskeys had an outfit when they landed; they didn't need to steal; but this fellow, this

ar!" came

choleric individual who had so pointedly made know

t's make a

us of assent to this suggestion, whe

again he was interrupted by 'Poleon Doret, who

ion stood upon his face; his eyes were flashing. He vaulted lightly to the platform, then flung out his

ose who had spoken a moment befo

my back. You can take a mark's life by stealing his matches the sa

s boy's neck if you'll do de pullin'. For me, I ain't care 'bout killin' no-body, but you-you're brave man. You han

n't do the

Messieurs, you see how 'tis. It tak' brave man to hang a feller lak dis. Some day policeman's goin' come along an' say: 'By Gar, I been lookin' for you long tarn. De new jodge

who had hitherto acted a pass

to answer to them. Miners' law is all right, so far as it goes, but I won't be a party to a murder. Tha

men. When you make your stakes and go home, little Johnny's going to climb onto your knee and say, 'Papa, tell me why you

king there came a swiftly moving figure, the figure of a tall woman with straw-gold hair. Men gave way before her. She hurried straight to the tent platform, where 'Poleon leaned down, took her beneath her arms, and swung her

she was breathing deeply. She flashed a smile at

stealing something last night. Well, he w

; this stealing has been going on for

night, wasn't it? The man who stol

rce told her. "They're tr

ook defiantly. "Ban!" she exclaimed. "I haven't heard the evidence, fo

Doret," said he.

he seen a woman like this one, who radiated such strength, such confidence, such power. She stood there like a goddess, a splendid creature fashioned of snow and gold; she dominated the

. "We've made our spiel," he began; then he launched

rce's side, inquiring, quic

oks as if I'll be cutting figure

m think you did

I did. You see, I had

you b

ntences Pierce made known the facts of his recent

You men take it for granted that Phillips did the stealing because he needed grub

argue this case?" It wa

orward and was scowlin

anyhow? Are you

ntained their even coloring, her eyes were as icy blue as ever. It

ot his thousand dollars. Was it your brother?" Jim McCaskey recoiled; his

ase. You say the kid was in Linderman last night. Well, I say-you're a-! How d'you know

Linderman becaus

ht?" The speaker g

slept in the same

ber," the younger McCa

unconcernedly. "As for the

e Dyea dance-halls are full of 'countesses' like you-counting percen

lips set his muscles and landed upon him. It was a mighty b

forward to stamp him beneath his heels. But stout arms seized him, bodies intervened, and he was hurl

ha

on t

tch h

y ing

structure to creak and to strain; men piled over it and j

ed Jim from the trampling feet

heard above the din. She had climbed to the railing and was poised there

his cap in the scuffle, and with it had gone the bandage. His head was bare now, and, oddly enough, it showed no

o clear his vision; his captors released him and crowded closer to Jim

ss threw back her head and laughed unrestrainedly. "My! But you men are fools!

hush, the while Jim McCaskey rolled his head l

m, and now her cheeks had grown

checks,' eh?" She seemed upon the point of reaching out and throttling Jim with her long strong fingers. "Let

ained the older brother he went through the younger one and, having done so,

, eh?" 'Pole

hasty examinat

?" Her question met with a yell of approval. "Now, then, there's a new case on the docket, and the c

came wit

the ruffians if y

and without a word, without a glance b