Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-19

| vender. We are out OF funds, but this, ="
taking a valuable watch from his pock-
ct, 'can be left rs security"
"And this can keep it company" said
Bagley, producing handsome pistol.
Skinner drew the slip of paper upon
which the word "go" was written.
1.-The little girl can sit before we, and
ye can stop at the cabin and give this,
the last of our hard tack, TO the wo-
man." said Bagley.
One OF the men came forward with q
flask OF whisky, which he asserted would
''straighten out the little chap" Fleet
wood, their only horse, was quickly
saddled and Skinner started ON his err
rand.
Tell yer ma to fight her luck few
hours longer, and when supplies come
we'll give We rousing supper, shouted
Bagley rs they rode away. -.
When some distance from tho hut
Skinner put the girl down, gave her the
biscuit and flask, after drinking half
its contents, and resumed his journey.
In the evening Flynn and Bagley
went over to the hut, intending to bring
the woman and her children up to the
camp.
skinner will get back about eight
o'clock. guess the sick boy only wants
a little feeding up to make him all
right, remarked Flynn as they APP
preached the hut.
They found the woman seated on the
rough floor with the boy on her lap, and
Maggie, their late visitor, at her side
sound asleep. With fearless sobs she
related her sad story. About five years
before, or when Freddie was only q few
weeks old, her husband left to join q
party of prospectors who were going to
the Sierra Nevada region, and she had
never heard from or seen him since.
She waited until her funds were nearly
exhausted, then made her way to Sac
ramento. While supporting her child
rem as best she could she learned that
the party had broken camp; her hus-
band had been brought to Sacramento
and placed in hospital, where he re-
manned q long time seriously i'll with
brain fever She traced him to the hos
pital only to find that he had gone
away again, no one could tell whittier.
Recently she learned that man an
swering his description and bearing the
same name was working in the Kiwan-
ma mines, and she was on her way
there. He had always been fond hus-
band and father, and she believed he had
searched for her also, but they had
missed each other
The two men were deeply moved as
they listened TO the story of her suffer-
ings, and, after much persuasion, in
duced her TO return TO camp with them,
promising that one of the miners would
90 the following day TO Kiwanna, about
ten miles distant, and make inquiries
concerning the person she supposed was
her husband. Without further ceremo-
ny Flynn wrapped the boy in the blank
ct he had brought for the purpose.
Bagley trudgcd along with Maggie in his
arms.
When the party reached camp it was
past the time set for SINNERS return,
but he had not arrived. A bed of brush
wood covered with q blanket was ar
ranged for the guests, and after they
had lain down the men lighted their
pipes and gathered around the fire,
conversing in low whispers and listening
eagerly for the sound of the horses foot
steps.
"He oughter bin here long afore
this" said Baglcy, rousing himself from
q brown study. boys, he's scooted."
The suggestion fell like bombshell;
no one spoke for 2 moment, then Bagley
resumed
"He's got your watch, Flynn, my pis-
tol and Fleetfoot. He's gone sure as
shootin'. l saw the devil a shining in
he oxoo tr,ban ho J..o,.t tho elm ~
The others were 10th TO accept their
comrades suggestions, but all crept
to their resting places with very heavy
hearts.
1--WE kin live on beans" muttered
Bagley, "but what in thunder will be-
come of the woman an the kidsP'
In the morning there was considerable
excitement in Eureka Camp. Two of
the men, Bagley and Reed, were miss
ing. After protracted search, the lat
ter was found near clump of bushes
some distance avn" in an unconscious
state, having apparl.y fallen in a fit.
They carried him i't.; Ia camp, laid the
limp form on braI 10 bed and gazed
at each other in blan Ismay.
"Call the woman; ''rips she'll know
what to do" advise .'om Knowles.
The woman did { wait to be called.
Seeing that something was amiss, she
approached the group. The next mo-
ment heartrending cry burst from her
lips. Falling upon Ter knees. she threw
her arms aroun the sick man and kiss
ed the still. white fl.' wild, distract
ed way. A slig & l'smor passed over
Reeds frame. Heopened his eyes, looked
wistfully at tho woman bending over
him. Then CLEAN of intelligence
illuminated his countenance; he recog-
nized the faithful wife, from whom he
had long been separated, by singular
freak Of fate. For one brief moment
soul met soul. He raised his hand
heavenward, murmured family, "Up
there, Maggie" then earned his soubri-
quet of Silent Reed.
A solemn stiffness prevailed around
Eureka camp when Flynn and his COM
rades returned from their unsuccessful
| search for Bagley. The remainder OF
the party were sitting around in despon-
dent attitudes, while Mrs. Reed, with the
sick child on her knees and one hand
fondly resting on the dead mans face,
| looked the very embodiment of incon-
solable grief. MISUNDERSTANDING
Tom Flynn-how his burly frame shook
with sobs as the touching death scene
was described to him.
Boys" he said huskily, 1--WE must
lace our hard luck like heroes. have
insisted all along that the Eureka held
fortune for each of us, because / be-
lieved it, But" il cost him u struggle
to utter the next words, which were the
extinguishment of the hope that had en-
abled them to endure privation ant