Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-04-07
A BAR SINISTER.
CHAPTER T..

f"Aa--f
CHAPTER I.
Eureka Valley, in 1870, contained half doz-
en- substantial log houses, and during the
severest portion OF the winter was the ref
uge OF hunters, trappers, tle-herders, and
the awful sublimities of nature, because they
have learned to love her in this form-men
who seldom forsake the mountains, mead
0Ws and lakes, and who would pine and die
II compelled to live in the crowded haunts
OF gregariOus man.. For weeks terrific
storms had ragged over the valley. The cab
ms had long since disappeared beneath the
drifting snow, and still the flakes fell. Some
men huddled together before blazing fire
on the ample hearth of the largest cabin in
the Valley, discussing problenl-a question
OF life and death. Ben Smith, an expert
enced mountaineer, and one whose words
were listened TO with the closest attention,
was just finishing long speech explanatory
OF the terrible situation.
''We're in fur it. boys,' he said, sfunless
somethin' turns up mighty soon. We can't
live through another week eff the storm don't
let up, or somebody comes to lift us out.
Now, it's my opinion tibet the storm won't
let up, an faint likely nobOdy's COMM to
fetch us out, or set up fust-rate hotel in
Eureka to keep us from starvin'."
But somethin's got to be done," re-
marked Joe Skinner.
"I'd like to know w'at?' responded Ben.
the scurvy, cabins turned into wood. piles
and burnin' to ashes ez fast eZ we ken
pile on the logs, an the deuce's own storm
a-howlin down through the gulches and can
Ons. Sometimes got to be done, sure
enough, but wat? I don't see but one
thing to be done.''
"What's that?'' muttered one of the men.
Ben did not reply, but glanced rapidly from
one haggard, weather beaten face to another.
The men seemed to understand irstinctiyely
what haf at 1Oal. faral,ndod
shudder quivered through the frames of two
or three OF the younger men. No one spoke
for moment. Finally:
"Only a weeks provisions 20 The words
came huskiiy from the throat of Sam Bill
Gngs.
GA week-scant 'lowance, answered Ben.
$50 ne of it's putrid, but don't suppose
yer partickler bout little thing like tibet,
the consultation, broken by the youngest of
the party, a boy named Jerry Homer.
''How long can man live on nothing but
water and toothpicks?" he answered, his
pleasantly contrasting horribly with the grim
possibilities conjured up by his words.
- Bout nine days, I've heerd, eff he don't
die vi'ient death afore tibet time.' an
swered Ben, and then even the most obtuse
understood the hidden meaning of the old
mountaineer's remarks, and the proposition
toward which he was reluctantly drifting.
my God Ben, you don't mean itY' ex-
claimed the boy, his face blanching as he re-
allied that there was but one resource left.
''Oh, yer beginning tounderstand, air YEP"
replied Ben: eyes, | mean it," he con-
tinued, FAN to be palmer 18th We. afore this
weeks out ther'll be dinner in this yer
camp that wolves might smack their lips
over. but eSf Us
(Which we're not going to partake of |"
The speaker was tall, gaunt, and eadayer-
Gus. He was old and thin; struggling locks
OF gray hair fell around his furrowed
temples. Every eye was turned toward him
inquiringly, his hoarse voice was SO positive
in its tone. He stepped forward and stood
specter from the other world.
'W'at do you know bout it, Tom?'' in
quired Ben Smith, half smile playing
across his hardlin features.
'I've been listening for the last hour
Ben," replied Tom, ''to lot Of talk about
starvation, and now l hear hints that lead
me to suppose that cannibal feast is on the
cards. Now I don't want to be facetious-
it isn't in my line-but I'll eat my own hand
before I'll dine off any human being.
prefer turkey in mine for dinner, and the
next square meal we eat together shall have
turkey on the bill Of fare. Why don't you
talk senseY said Tom. s'Why don't YOU
talk about making fight for your lives !?
moping there like lot of frightened chill
dren. Let us take what We can on our
backs; let rs get out Of this
"How long dye s'pose we'll be on the
road, Tom!" asked Ben. with sarcastic COM
miseration. iaas
"a day and a night; perhaps two days."
easy trav'lin', s'posey'
some OF us may die on the road - s
"No danger OF all OF us dyin', I s'pose?''
"More chances of our gettn' through
snowdrifts forty or hundred feet deep, in
q storm that shakes the mount'ins, IN ther' is
stayin' here till she lets up, Ell? Hev We no.
ticed, Tom, tibet the trails our o. the valley
are smoother,n macadam, an plainer'n the
fan w. NO hat ,o,-
all hale n hearty, an able to travel!'
''I understand all the difficulties and dam
gers, Ben, and for one am willing to brave
them. Who goes with me?" and Tom tight
"Who'll take the chances wi,h me in the
storm ?', No one replied. !" All right, here
goes forliherty or death! hand me the dope,
SAM" And amid profound silence Tom
strobe to the cabin wall and took down a
pair Of snow. shoes. He examined the strap,
bent the light boards TO test them, ''doped'
the bottoms, and placed them once more
against the WALL. Approaching the silently
watching group in front of the fire, he waved
his hand around the room, as he said, in a
There's shoes enough for us all. Who'll
follow old Tom Stoddart to liberty, life, or
the other world!" No one replied. The men
seemed TO- he turned to statues. Some o
Them regarded the fire with q stony stare !;
Others bowed their heads in their hands !;
while smalt minority, among whom was
Ben Smith, lOokedupon Sioddart with thu
angular expression which sometimes over
apreafls the faces of brave men rendered reck .
less by despair esf- f.zs.
:. Nobody wants to go, >, said Tom, at last
swell, boys, understand how it Is. You
think YOU nee certain death on the noun
tain; u.thtnx You see q chance Of prolong-
ing life by staying here-prolonging your
life at a horrible expense. Ilcan't see 1t, ~
YOU do, bey... When / die want TO die
irving. I want to die fighting; 1 don't want
90 starve to DEATH But I'll tell You. boys,
wha, intend to do. = want you to under
stand that Pm not actuaied by selfish mo-
tiyes: I want you TO understand that Pm not
leaving you in the lurch. / win risk my life
on the mouniain to bring You relief. pfl be
with you again In seven dAysw