The Twins of Suffering Creek

e form of the solitary Minky––with their persistent efforts to alight on his perspiring face and bare arms. The storekeeper, with excell

disgusting odors to the already laden atmosphere. Fortunately, noses on Suffering Creek were not over-sensitive, and the fly, with all his native unpleas

isure moments of a day's hard and prosperous work. But just now Minky had little ease of mind. And these long hours, when the camp was practically deserted, had become a sort of nightmare to him. The gold-dust stored in the dim recesses of his cellars haunted him. The outlaw, James, w

of the newcomers. And, when he recognized them, such was the hold his alarm had upon him, that his first thought was as to their fitness to help in case of his own emergency. But his fleeting hop

im?" he greeted the re

" Toby retorted,

is face and orde

down any," observed Minky,

intelligence. "But it'll buck a feller so it don't seem so

. The men helped themselves, and with a simulta

e and wiped a few drops o

s were returned to the counter. And insta

n'? So mad, folks is likely to git busy an' string you up with a rawhide? I'm sure mostly dead easy as a man, but I feel that away jest about now. I've sed to myself I'd

ally do," said

nky, just as the doorway of the store was darkened by the advent of Sandy Joyce. But he gla

ip," he added, for Sandy's enlightenment. "He found James. Located

t he never said a word. He jest set Bill's mare ba

m," Sandy admitt

lence. "His eyes are blackened, an' his pore mean face is cut abo

fit did it?" inquired

git a word out o' him. I tell you right here somethin's goin' to happen. Somethin's got to happen," he a

o it?" inquired Sa

ed on him

g share to satisfy me," he added, with such evident sincerity an

s rest broke," observ

y mule between him an' starvation he'd hate to live. He ain't no more savvee than a fool cat motherin' a china dog, but he's got the grit o' ten men. He's hunted out James with no more thought than he'd use firin' a cracker on the 4

e, sure," inte

but became serious under

h a tough like James. He works so he comes nigh shamin' even me, who hates work, on a claim that couldn't show the color o' gold on it, if ther' wa'an't nothin' to the earth but gold. He's jest got two notions in his silly hea

f feeling had struck home, and each man stood staring thoughtfully at the mental picture he had conjured for them. Each ad

uestioning and wholly angry. He glanced across at the wi

ing to his head. He opened his lips as though about to continue his tirade, but apparently cha

rinks," he de

nt over, and, with face thrust forward, inspected the bill.

at them con

hell, an' I want to be quit of it. Oh, I ain't bug on no sort o' charity racket, I'm jest about as soft as my back teeth. But I'm mad––mad to git busy doin' anythin' so we ken git Zip

ames was bound to meet with his approval just now. But Sandy cl

hurt this tough?" he inquired,

his drink and

ow?" he crie

st

gri

ny. You're so bright, you

hat was hazily hovering in the back o

han one man's work, an' at the same time he's got to dig up that mudbank claim of his. He don't see the thing's impossible, 'cos he's that big in mind he can't see small things like

rust," gri

his levity and seize

ed," he said. "That's just wot we need. Ther' should be a tru

threw its shadow across the window of the store.

lf into one of the chairs, when Toby, in jocular

his brain is shockin' wonderful. Guess he's got sick o' rest

andy, with a laugh, in w

ared the remittance man in the midst of his mir

There was no responsive smile on Minky's face. Sunny was glowering sulkily; while Bill's fierce brows wer

e demand

think

m short in his

. An' when you done thinkin' jest start right over ag'in. An' m

nto the chair and cr

in' Creek, but Zip's one of 'em. Say, Toby, would you ride out to James

ht," replied

. But he went on almost immediately. "We got to help him. I'm sure with Sunny." He tur

contempt. And then, he knew, would have followed a storm of sarcasm and "jollying" from Sandy and the others. With quick wit

thing out––too?"

is answer on

ill––to a

watching them with a curious intentness. And before Sunny could c

his gaze upon the open window, "otherwise we'd likely hev as

" demanded Sandy, wi

t easy to say r

ds," cried Sandy, "but I k

unny grinned broadly to see the way the man was now literall

joining this Zip Trust, I guess you can. But get this, what you're cal

y no

ough a great privilege ha

e Toby bec

for me, Bill?" he haza

in Sunny's grin at the other men's expense. Sandy, too, now that he was a

see, you ain't much else than a 'remittance'

"I can't help it if m

went round the room. Then the gambler suddenly sat forward, and the old fierce gleam shone once more in his cold eyes. "Say," he cri

ed the puzzled To

st. You sure got more

a roar of laughter concluded

y copied people of greater degree and self-importance. He plunged into his task with whole-hearted enthusiasm, and, with every word he uttered, pree

ombine as theirs, it would be necessary to allot certain work, which he called "departments," to certain individuals. He assured hi

ected gover'ment," sug

se around wi' portyfolios hangin' to 'em. I don't guess

ioned Toby artlessl

a 'pres.' He's got to sit on top, so if any one o' the members gits gay he ken hand 'em a daisy wot'll send 'em squealin' an' huntin' their holes like gophers. Wal, Bill needs to be our 'pres.' Then there's the 'general manager.' He's the feller

y. "He's a dandy at gettin' out o'

, with sudden inspiration. "Who'

start. Later on, if they kep clear o' the penitentiary, they start in to fake the market till the Gover'ment butts in. Then they git gay, buy up a vote in Congress, an' fake the laws so they're fixed right fer themselves. After that some of them git religion, some of 'em give trick feeds to their friends, some of '

is," sneered Sandy, as the lo

's better'n a muse

to hear how Sunny int

er in this lay-o

uess we'll need to give you hard work.

no workin' staff,

u'll be boss of it." Th

board. You'll need to kep us wise to the general principles of vittlin' a family of three, when the woman

"I'll be treasurer. Seems t

d like to pass a vote o' thanks fer the way you conducted this yer meetin', an' put it t

," cried Sa

ne," ad

Sunny at Minky's gr

shook h

thro'. Zip's kids is our first trouble. They ain't easy handlin'. They got to be bro't up reg'lar, an' their stummicks ain't to be pizened with no wrong sort o' vittles. Ther's such a heap o' things to kids o' that age it makes me nigh sweat at the tho't. Howsum, Zip's down an' out, an' we got to see him right some

in through the window, and Bill looked round. The next i

ried, "an' we'll

en filed out of the store, each one with his thoughts bent