Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-03-08

iouhu hyseii hihoHS Poher anu ldro
tables. Searching among the empty
bottles and cigar boxes behind the bar,
l found few pipes full of plug tobacco,
and resolved to have my smoke in the
saloon. / lit my pipe, seated myself in
an armchair, and, cooking my feet on
a faro table, cast my eyes upward. l
saw stain on the wide-cracked plank
floor above me. ] looked down, and
on the tight-ftting floor of the lower
room was a widespread dark stain. 1t
is always cold of nights in Rocky
Mountain valleys of 5000 feet altitude.
The frosty air sweeping down from the
snow peaks chilled me. / shivered as
/ smoked, and shivering, understood
that the dark stains were those of
blood.
l departed from that saloon. Out
side the cold air blew briskly up the
gulch. A gibbous moon rose high in
the eastern sky. The tall slender pines
swayed to and fro in long, graceful
sweeps, signing mournfully. The roar
of distant waterfalls and rapids came
floating up the gulch. The uncanny
sound made by pine trees grating
harshly against one another mingled
discordant with the never-ceasing music
of well-watered Rocky Mountain for
est. The grass in the lee of houses
was hoarfrosted.
Buttoning my coat, resolved to see
the village by moonlight. Slowly l
walked down the stump-encumbered
street. Many of the houses were roof
less, the ends of rafters jutting above
the top logs. Looking through the
shattered windows / saw the wrecks of
roofs crushed under the enormous
weight of snow that falls in the tim
bered regions of the northern Rocky
Mountains. The sailing moon caused
shadows and bars Of ghostly light to
slowly shift their position, now hiding
objects in the shadow, then revealing
unexpected and even startling things.
A large hotel, built of hewn logs, the
shattered weather-worn sign obscured
by shadows and projecting timbers, at
tracted my attention by the utter wreck
of its roof. Clambering on to the
porch, l fattened my nose against the
glass of an unbroken window, and
eagerly, expectantly, looked among
the mass of broken timber and shat
tered furniture. AS the irregular
patches of light slowly moved across
the Uttered floor, pair of rubber boots
came into view, then some playing
cards, then rusty, white-handled
bowie knife. / thought I could see
legs above them. Steadily l rubbed
my nose over the glass, vainly endeav-
oring to see around corner, until its
tip was tender. Then unable longer to
endure the uncertainty as to there beisg
d crushed man in the house or not, /
kicked in the window and dragged the
boots into the light. The supposed legs
were empty overalls. Quite relieved, I
resumed my midnight stroll
Passing out of the village, followed
a road along the banks of wide and
noisy creek. Pine needles thickly car
peted the disused highway. Soon |
came to another village. Standing high
above the log huts of the mines vere
the shaft house and stamp mill Of a
gold mine. wandered from house to
house searching for men. In the shaft
house / lay down at the mouth of the
shaft, and listened intently, striving to
hear the moaning of the earth in the
workings far below me. The earth
means and cries as her veins are robbed
Of treasure, and / was curious to know
if these abandoned mines were still
crying, or if the wounds had healed.
The silence was profound. l dropped
stone, and counted slowly, one-two-
three--four--fve. Then l heard faint
splash as the stone struck water. mo
wonder you are silent. You are
muttered. Dangling my
legs over the shaft, cut pipeful of
tobacco, and smoked as / repeopled the
villages and wondered why the district
was abandoned.
Slowly 1 walked homeward (home in
the mountains is wherever your blank
cts are). The sky was overcast with
storm clouds as | re-entered the village.
Far down Douglass Creek / heard a
strong voice singing. Listening, l
caught the oft-repeated refrain;
Eli no for placer gold !"
Tired-sleepy-I pulled my blankets
around me, and instantly lost myself.
1t was nigh noon when / awoke. I
rubbed my eyes, sat up in bed, and
smiled kindly at ragged, dirty, snow
faxed, handsome boy, a mere baby,
who, open-eyed with astonishment at
my presence, stood looking at me. He
had big piece of my venison in his
hand. Slowly got out of bed, walked
10 him and secured my meat, saying to
him: "Wait bit; we will cook it.
You get some wood" Without word