Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-05-01
THE BANK OF CALIFORNIA
BY PRENTICE MILFORD.
XIV.

BY PRENTICE MuIFoRD.
CHAPTER XIV.
During the next few days we were busy
getting quartz. down from the "Bank."
Broener called dailysto see Pratt, who con-
tinued in the same condition of imbecility and
physically seemed neither better nor worse.
Broener seemed also to have made a favor
able impression on Hillyear. I noticed them
lingering about the door holding those
lengthy eve-of-parting conversations always
betokening that two people have found some
topic of common interest and a consequent
bond Of sympathy between them. Only, in
this case, I knew or rather felt that the bond
manufactured by Broener for the occa-
sion and concluded it wa for the purpose of
winning the dog-like allegiance Of Hillyear
from Pratt and transferring it to himself,
thereby making more secure whatever of
Pratt's secrets or differences concerning the
"Bank" Hillyear might possess.
Meantime a steady estrangement was grow
ing between myself and Broener. It came
of my thought, suspense, uncertainty and
jealousy regarding Blanche Sefton-or rath-
ca II plCoA1AAcu oAAuCu0 0cltOu. IL Wa8
gradual in growth, like the GOODNESS of the
early autumn certain to terminate in the
iciness OF winter, a winter which must ever
fear loss at the hands Of the other. OF this,
the cause lay with me-. was a brooder Of
the worst type. I would live over and over
in mind all that imagination, stirred I'D to
redoubled action by jealousy, created for me
regarding the matter. I began to dislike
Broener for his superiority in many things
over myself-a superiority I was obliged to
acknowledge. Dwelling on this made me
realize more and more his inherent gift of
command-con>mand first Of himself, next
of his fellows-commaAd not ostentatiously
asserted with pomp and bluster, but COM
mand based or. tact, the art of saying the
right word and doing the right thing at the
right time and place. Broener seemed to
know where lay the door to every persons
good will; more he knew how to open il.
This reflection seemed to terminate a more
disagreeable idea, that despite all Broener
had done for me, l was but his creature. He
was ruling n influencing me as he did
others. I land this last thought slnote me
hard) stood to him as Hillyear had to Pratt
when Pratt was himself.
So the cloud, the cloud I alone made ont
of my thought, came between US and grew
darker and darker, and more and more chilly.
Yet our external intercourse was much the
same as ever-at least we attempted to make
it so, though the very attempts served but to
reveal the change more clearly.
l resolved at last to have the secret out Of
him. If he would not speak Blanche Sefton's
name I would. So, one day, as we we're com
ing down from the "Bank" laden each with
forty pounds of rich quartz, I said in as in
different a tone as l could assume: '"That
girl who played looks to me like one I knew
home named Blanche Sefton.'
Your friend has reason to be proud OF the
resemblance" replied Broener, in a careless
way. Then he added, in q lower tone: eve
mustn't talk loud hoe. Bill Settlers crowd
are working but a hundred feet below us.
and Setter is al artistic and accomplished
busybody, with one ear always open for
other peoples business"
No sooner were the words out of nv mouth
than I saw that I had now laid myself fully
open to Broener. That he had my secret, il
secret there was, without any exchange in
return. He now knew the cause of nv
changed manner. In nautical language. I
had given him all the marks aud bearings Of
the channel and the course he should steer.
Then l hated and admired him at the same
time for the readiness with which, I saw, he
had parted my question. That readiness,
after a few moments reflection, only made
me more miserable. Because, 1 thought, he
must know her name, and if it were not
Blanche, what occasion would there be for
his concealing it! So, then, it was Blanche.
But Blanche may have given linn a false
name. There was hope. But what If she
has! Is she not Blanche still was getting
in that state where my mind refused to
work in proper fashion. If I kept on in this
way, l should soon argue that a maj had but
to change his name to change his identity,
and that when Charlotte Brown called her.
self Julia Smith she became Julia Smith.
This alarmed me a little. Then the ridicu.
l laughed aloud.
Eat a fool l saw yesterday, when l looked
In the glass, who took a strolling actress TO,
a girl he knew in the states" I said, in q
mood made up of petulance and vexation.
Broener turned half round and gave me 9
look, apparently half surprise, half anger,
l had ''broken out in a new spot for him
and in the remark he had possibly recop.
nized an attempt of mine in his own fashion
to throw him off his. guard. 1t was not
The words were born Of the mood l WIS in,
and had flown out Of my lips as of their owr
,v~olition. Suddenly l recollected that the
term ''strolling actress I had used was no,
che indicative of the highest respect for the
lady III question, and that under the circum
stances it could not have fallen aereeably on
Broener's ears. I apologized for bavin.
used such expression.
He roraivai NV arn1ouv il, c;1o,oo CIV,
by this he meant to punish me, and of course
my feelings against him were not at all
lcssened.
Meantime the other cloud on Bull Bar was
darkening for me Pratt became worse.
The physician talked of brain fever and
looked grave. He added beside that some
secret was on Pratt's mind. He inferred
there must have been a quarrel and much
i'll will betwixt Pratt and some one previous
to- the-ahem-accident.' Pratt raved CON
tinually about the "young un,'' who thought
he owned the whole mountain" He was
ever being ''dogged about the chapparal by
him" and 30 ON.
Mr.. William Setter drank in with his
gossipy, greedy ears Pratt's u~tterances and
the doctors opinions. He visited Pratt's
cabin on his way to work in the morning,
dropped in at'noon and again at night. He
made himself an assistant nurse to Pratt
brought him choice dishes and brotLs Of hi:
own making. and he could make them we'll
He was really useful. Besides, he carried
from Pratt's house messes of gossip. which
he'distributed as a labor of love all over Bull
Bar. Mr.. Settlers forte as a suspicion
breeder lay in differences. He had no direc,
charge against any one. But he said it was
queer piece Of business" Pratt, poor man
had been trying to get along aud earn al
honest living. He as good as supported Hill
year, who hadn't much gumption anyway
"Young Holder, y he added. sfound Pratt witt