The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-29

he had no idea of reading. but he wished
| to think without attracting observation
Vacantly at first his eyes wandered
over it, but at length he began to read
with curious avidity. He followed 9
certain column to its close, read it again
and then looked at the heading of the
paper. Itwas the Rocky Mountain Net0s
In those few minutes Tom had been in.
oculated with the gold fever, and he
was sure that he now saw clear and
sure road to Alice. True it might be q
rough one, but all the same he was
quite determined to take it. He was
only impatient now of delay, and he en-
tered the little homely sitting-room as
elated and positive sif the Rocky Noun.
tains were somewhere on the line OF
street cars, and his mine as perfectly To-
Called as the United States Mint.
81 am going to the Rocky Mountains,
father" he said, with that impetuosity
which often characterizes enterprises
about whose wisdom we are doubtful.
"You have been in some very queer
place already tonight. Tom, to make
you talk in such daft-like manner"
His brothers looked curiously into Toms
face, while the women-folks present
paused in the midst of their chatter and
work for the same purpose. The men
evidently thought Tom had been drink
ing; the women OWNED at once his alb
solute sincerity. The pause was fol-
lowed by long and angry discussion,
in which there was no lack of hard
words, but the end had been determined
in Toms mind before it began, and in
a weeks time he found himself cross
ing the dreary plains which guard the
approaches to the treasure-houses of the
mountains.
But alas! Tom soon found that the
KEYS to these treaSure-houses were cum
ningly hidden from him. His industry
and business tact were of no avail here.
Labor led to nothing, and simple luck
seemed to laugh science and probabili-
ties to scorn. Yet though he had no
luck, it was curious to see how the mine
madness ruled him. He knew men who
had searched for ten and even twenty
years, and then found in moment mil
lions of treasure. He knew man who
had wandered over Nevada, and sifted
the Black Hills for nothing, and then
Just stumbled over a Rocky Mountain
silver mine that made him a modern
Cr9sus. Such tales were in every
camp, and in hunger, cold and wretch
edness of every kind they kept Toms
courage high.
Yes, though he was locked up in those
dreary Businesses, and heard only at
long intervals of the world outside
them. In fact, the outside world after
the first two years had little interest for
him. He had not written home at first,
partly because "his head was under
water" and partly because it was really
difficult matter to post letter, and
still more difficult to get at the reply;
and then gradually his whole being be-
came absorbed in one idea. The noun
tains held him in their spell, and he
knew that nothing but the discovery of
some rich lode would break it.
One night, after four years of this
strange life, he met little party in the
Platte Canyon who had lost their way,
and were in the greatest eXtremities.
Tom guided them back to safety, and
made a warm friend of their leader-so
warm that the man offered him a share
in large smelling and assaying work
which he was going to establish near
the Silverton Mines. Tom happened to
be unusually hard up, with long win
ter before him, ana he accepted the
offer. OF course he told himself that
just as soon as the SHOWS melted he
should begin his prospecting" again;
but he never did.
In the stir, hustle and method incl
dent to the conduct of a great work, his
old business habits re-asserted their
power. He found himself making
money so rapidly that he resolved to
90 on making and saving until he could
buy a mine, for to be the possessor of q
veritable gold or silver mine still
charmed and ruled his imagination.
Thus the years went by. Few peo-
wart, bronzed, bearded man, clothed IN
leather and flannel. the once stylishly
dressed and scrupulously shaved and
gloved member of the great firm of
Scott & Donaldson, Water Street, New
York. For full ten years had passed
away, and though Tom was only thirty
three, he looked and felt a great deal
older.
Sometimes now, also, when he count
ed up his balance in Golden City Bank,
he began to think of his old life. and to
have sudden warnings which made him
turn his face lovingly eastward. But
the gives of great trusts were upon his
hands. and the spell of monev-making
on his heart: he stirred, indeed, occa-
sionally under the nightmare, but his
memories were not powerful enough
to thoroughly arouse him.
1t happened that in the tenth sum-
mer his partner went East to bring
home a daughter whom he had left
there at school, and his return was
quite an event to Tom. This man had
walked Broadway within a week, and
had brought back with him the flavor
and the very language of the place.
Tom had not guessed how dear his ma
tive city was to him until one familiar
name after another unlocked all the
wards of memory, and a passionate long
ing for the old scenes and haunts, the old
loves and friend ships, seized him.
John Amboy," he said, 81 must
take run East for few weeks. There
is very little quartz in the mill. and the
books are up to date. I've got the
home fever, John, bad. 1 think I'll
start tomorrow"
So in few days Tom Kilroy stood at
the foot of Chambers Street, wondering
if he should 60 home without warming;
wondering. indeed, whether he had any
home. Yes, there it stood, just as he
had left it, the little red brick house
with its bright green blinds outside.
But inside there had been changes. His
Ia L l.