The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-11-07
How Jack Hastings Sold his Mine.

u MRS F. p VICTOR.
The passenger train from the east
came laundering down the head of the
Humboldt Valley, just rs morning
dawned over the earth-refreshing ewes
wearied with yesterdays mountains and
Gallons, by a vision of green willows
and ash trees, and a stream that was
not a torrent, and n stretch of grassy
country.
Among the faces oftenest turned to
hitting views was that of a young, grace
fully-formed, neatly-dressed, delicate
looking woman. The large brown ewes
often returned from gazing at the
landscape, to scan with seriousness
some memoranda she held in her hand.
"Arrive at Elko at eight o'clock A. NJ"
said the memorandum. Consulting 4
tiny watch, whose hands pointed to ten
minutes of eight, the lady began max
ing those little preparations which be-
token the journeys end at hand.
"What strange looking place it isl''
she thought, as the motley collection of
board shanties and canvas houses came
into sight-for the famous Chloride
District had been discovered only few
months before, and the Pacific Railroad
was only four weeks open. 81 wish Jack
had come to meet me! Pm sure don't
see how am 10 find the stage agent to
give him Jacks letter. What number
Of peopler'
This mental ejaculation was called
forth by the sight of the long platform in
front of the eating-house, crowded with
surging mass Of humanity just issuing
from the dining-roOm. They were the
passengers Of the eastward bound train,
ready to rush headlong for the cars
when the mOmently-expected "All
abOard"' should be shouted at them by
the conductor. Into this crowd the
freshlv-arrived passengers of the west
ward-bound train were q moment after
ejected-each cycling the other with a
natural and pardonable interest.
The brown-eyed, graceful young lady
conducted herself in q very business
like manner-presenting the checks for
her baggage, inQuiring out the Office of
Wells, Fargo & Co., and handing in her
letter in the briefest possible time.
Having secured a seat in a coach to
Chloride Hill, with the promise of the
agent to call for her when the time for
departure arrived, the lady repaired to
the dinning-rOom just in time to see her
acquaintances of the train departing.
Sitting down alone to a hastily-cOoked
and underdOne repast, she was about
finishing a cup of bitter, black coffee
with little shudder of disgust, when
gentleman seated himself opposite her
at the table. The glance the stranger
cast in her direction was rather
lingering one; then he ordered his
breakfast and ate it. Meanwhile the
lady retired 10 the ladies' sitting-rOom.
Afteran hour OF waiting, one, two, three
coaches rolled past the door, and the
lady began to fear she had been forgotten
when the polite agent appeared to notify
''Mrs. hastings that the coach was
ready. This was Mrs. Alice Hastings.
then-wife of Mr.. Jack Hastings. of
Deep Canon, Chloride District. The
agent thought Mr.. Hastings had a very
pretty wife, and expressed himself in
his manner, as men will.
When, just after starting, there en-
tered three Of the roughest-looking men
she had everencountered, Mrs. Hastings
began to fear that in his zeal to obey in-
structions, the agent had exceeded
them, and in packing the first three
coaches with first-cOmers, had left this
one to catch up the fag end of the travel.
If the first impression, gained from
sight, had made her shrink a little,
what was her dismay, when at the end
of ten minutes one of her fellow travel
lers-the only American of the three
produced q bottle of brandy, which,
having offered it first to her, he passed
to the bullet-headed Irishman and very
shabby Jew; repeating the courtesy
once in twenty minutes for several
~ times.
Mrs. Hastings was brave sort Of a
woman, where courage was needful; and
she now began TO consider the case in
hand with what courage she could COM
mand. One hundred and thirty miles
eighteen or twenty hours with such
companionship-with no chance or in
termissioni a wilderness Of country to
travel over, and all the other coaches a
long way ahead. The dainty denizen
OF city home, shuddering inwan,lIv
showed outwardly a serene countenance
Her American friend, with wicked biacL
eyes and a jolly and reckless stvIe of
carrying himself, continued TO offar
brandy at short intervals.
"Best take some, Madam said he.
"tbis dust will choke you if YOU don't y
Thanks" returned the lady. with
her sweetest smile, 81 could not drink
brandy. / have wine in my travelling
basket, should / need il; but / prefer
water"
At the next station, although hardly