The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-11-06
CHAPTER ".
ON Tie rN AL


ON TIE TRAIL.
Three days easy riding toward North
Pole" | put in. | found those arrows"
lblaZed on trees and rocks pointing in "a
direction opposite the one to be taken, but
only af er an exasperatlng hunt on the
fourth day. / followed to end of blaze,
and rode three hours to the northwest, :"
and then | prospected for color"
l prospected Tor two days, coming to the
sorry conclusion that my eyes were off
their look, and that l had better light
out bv first mule train bound for the
States. On the third day | ranged about
in one direction and another on my horse,
IN search Of a possible stream. About
noon l halted on the banks of one some
ten yards wide. On the opposite bank, not
far from this stream, was a wooded knoll.
Among the pines I thought l could make
out a small cabin. With a glass to
bear, l knew it was a cabin. Crossing the
stream, | rode for the knoll and entered
among the pines. 4 few moments, and |
| halted In front of the neatest looking log
cabin | ever saw, and which sported flag
staff! On that staff hung the strangest
| banner ever flung to the breeze, except,
| perhaps. an advertising sign. From a
| cross bar, affixed thereto BY it's neck and
! wristbands, hung billed shirt"-a most
unusual article in the Hills, even under ex-
| tenuating circumstances. But stranger
| than the fact of the shirt itself was its
| BelcRess-it looked as though it had just
| come from gentlemens furnishing goods
| establishment, ana those establishments
! were rather scarce in the vicinity. Stranger
| yet-strange beyond all else to me-was the
| legend 1t bore on its front, under the
| bosom:
HOTEL DE WAYNE.
That legend nearly paralyzed me. Ho-
| tel de Nayne'-my own family namel
! What could it mean? | couldn't imagine
| ! was amazed. That didn't matter: ]
| couldn't have told in normal condition.
| As gazed and wondered, puff of wind
| filed the shirt like bladder. 1t swayed
| about the pole as though the torso of Her.
| culeS filed IT. My amazement gave way to
| mlrth, and | laughed a loud. long laugh of
| excessive meriment, which caused nv
horse to raise and turn his head, as if to
| inquire the reason of the unusual outbreak.
! Ny laughter, which was reducing its
| volume somewhat, was suddenly expanded
| by an acrobatIc performance on the part of
| the headless and legless Hercules, which
/ got up and stood on its head for an in
slant, colapsing then like q bursted blad-
! der, which ridiculous action was caused by
/ a freak of the wind. seemingly imbued with
! a sense OF the iudlcrOuS that dav. This
! second install ment of exclamation was cut
| down in its prime by the sudden opening
| OF the cabin door and the appearance on
the threshold of an apparition in red
! shirt, bucSskin breecheS, and grain boots.
| but minus hat.
! Hello, HANK Got here, Ell? Thought
! you'd come, some time. Come in, won I
| ye:
| The speaker was none other than Jack
! Ford. my whilom pard OF the buried mine!
And he spoke IN his old quiet way, neither
/ face nor tone expressing the slightest emo
! ton OF any kind. One would have thought
| 1t an understood thing vi him, nv COM
| ing, and that II was matter of lndiffer-
| ence to hlm whether l came IN OF passed on.
| saw that he showed no surprise al the
| meeting, and, though surprised myself
clear down into my boots, determined not
to betray myself and responded with nom
| ehalaace 10 his invitation, saving: We'll. l
don't mind Jacz, If / stop . moment, q"
| sliding oil my horse N n sort of perfume
( tory way, and fac ne my old pard, who held
out his hand IS though it were OBLIGATORY
merely, mine meeting his IN the same vav
/ then following him into the cabin. T
knew hls manner was assumed as well as I
| knew my own was. so my feelings were rot
AuFt II the least, no more were his. He
Was ~ odd one, any way. aud was now
playing hand foI a purpose, OF it was a
/ mere IrelE without Intent 1 would know
sooner or later.