The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-02-24
CLARK'S GHOST STORY.
BY FRANK wII.KESoN.

ne water naQ faiied m the mountain gulches. My seasons work of placer mining was over. Time began to hang heavily. had tired of walking through the forests looking al the game had 70 need to kill. The worl of I tamiy of beavers that had greatly interested me was almost completed, and iheir houses were well above the water II the dam when bade thefn sooa.b5e faf ;l{e y!a- ter.
 had walked aI ,a .ac hae af ,he snowy range. hor.n5 ;o n,a < hef. ef elk that had seea there n sae ,eGa: Ief. but they had migrated to tae bare aa.s through winch tke Na1,h Pate rlser riows. Comirs down the tesse1 noun tan Hanks l ne; iila Ct..fH. inner, rap per, prospecior. whom had kiiown wears ago in Idaho. towing a white donkey Gp the long g-eneumbered trail that had led through the lofty pass of the snowy range.
 linn and were staunch friends We had camped together on the Cour d'Aleue mountains we had fshed in the clear. rapid water of Thompson's river; we had boiled rude raft on Bend d 'Oreille lake. Once, hidden in a recess among the rocks, we had looked out on the Spokane Indians, and debated whether 10 20 into their camp at the fishery for the purpose of buying a fresh salmon, or to stay where we were in safety. Clark had sug gested that the chief, Spokane Gary. might De drunk, and he was tritle disa- gTeeabie, nc; ;o say malicious, when in his cups and in addition to this possi- bility there was an unsettled affair cons ceming a spotted pony between Gary and Clark. Naturally the latter was dis inclined to meet the dusky chief,ain when surrounded by 800 or ooo braves. As Clark tersely expressed our movements, We skipped for the Bitter Roo, noun tain, and Fish Creek Pass. as soon IS il became sufficiently dark 10 mask our movements.
 l was glad to meet my old oomrade. We sat on sunny log and talked. He told me that he was going across the range to search for placer that his con- rade. Joe Matlock, had discovered when on his way 10 California. ln iS3o They had beeq driven from the overland rou,c leading up the Cache u poudrc rvcr by the Ute lnd.a8>. They had crossed the mountains and entered ,hc North iark While there. Natis-k had i5ro.seete8 and found good pay soncHhofc an the eastern slope of he SC nd range. ltss2s ihls gulch my friend was gong 70 search for. As he talked. the desire ,0 on hin, took possession of me. and I said: John, come home with me tonight, Tomorrow will go with you. want 10 see that country will help you pros pect."
 He readily agreed to this, and we walked slowly home. noticed that the old-time fire and joy were lacking in my comrade. He was nervous. He started slightly at the sharp noise made as pine trees rubbed against one anether. He seemed to be depressed in spirits. Vainly tried to cheer him. Cayly talked of the famous times we had had together in northern Idaho and Montana. He smiled almost sadly in reply 10 some of my lghs-hearted "reminiscences, and said :: ~Ah, Frank, am sixty years old. Life is not enjoyable as ii once was. The com rades of my youth are mostly dead. Some of them who are still living are among the human wrecks that every stormy mining excitement strands on the Hanks of these rugged mountains They are living in deserted villages and IF tso- lAACA NaOtl4s hiAuCf1 HI lOIciy EulCNes. They are patiently waiting for death to lay his kindly hand on them"
 That night Clark sa, by my open ire smoking and gazing into the ruody blaze Ks he leaned forward. with one e.bo~ or his knee, he conveyed 50 rse the impres- sion of a man listening fof ar uaexreeted sound. Seeing tha; he was :aliy oe-u- pied with his thoughts ! p.cked - :. book of Irish tales. and w@s soon deep n a story of the outrageous cnuduc. of ,. ghost tha; lived n the grea; bog of A. len. The story was xell told closed the book reluctantly. Jim" said. '.I have been reading 3 ghost story" Quick iy. and with more interest than he had shown since the frs, flush of OUT meeting in the early afternoon. he looked at me Seeing tha, he was interested. asked ]: Do you believe in ghosts" My friend looked me squarely in the eyes. He took his pipe from his mouth and held |. tightly between his fingers, then an- swered in low tones, -Yes, believe in