St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-05
THE ALIDOR.
By HAROLD w1THRAn.

implements of war; one fellow, with
knotty beard and terrible blue eyes,
carrying what appeared to be femur
! pone-an effective weapon. and at the
sight OF which my companion clutched
close his Canadian pepper box. The
contrast in the appearance of the visit
ing party and the reception committee
was so great, and apparently the dispar-
ity so disagreeable to the latter, that an
encounter of some kind was probable,
II not imminent. Saucy, gruff and con-
temptible was the address and manner
OF the miner, and we found it so in
nearly all parts of the range.
/ We were very weary of our work when
we reached Wakefield again in company
/ with the prospecting party. At the sug-
geStlon of my companion | made copi-
| Gus notes of the results obtained, made
inquiries of our host, his broad uphol-
stored wife, hired girl and the general
/ utility mau,aS we found the latter fumi-
eating the pantry with chloride of lime.
Thus far we had observed but little of
Wakefield and its surroundings, and ap-
preciating we'll the anxiety at home
over the result of our excursion. we de-
cided to gather all the information at
hand, weigh the outlook, and return to
the eager AlidOrites in st. Paul. The
hOSC-OOuud u dIu WAS NtuC db w nhChCiu
at 1:30 in the morning, and on it we
hoped to pile bag and baggage and the
truth of the Alidor.
My companion was anxious to leave
the country, and cared nothing for the
rude life and picturesque scenery OF the
Gogebic. He spent that dark evening,
up to the hour of our departure, i'll snug
hiding behind the hay repository of our
hotel. We disagreed as to the interest
the locality might betray to one half
way curious, and leaving him where alb
ducti0n was improbable, ventured out
into the night-to See-and feel!
Thirteen wooden buildings, as if
pushed up through the crust of the
earth. still smelling of the moIds OF the
lower realm, were hoveled together III
the narrow pocket of noisy tamarack
swamp. Here the sun seldom intruded,
the rain dumped itself at will, the cleo
trio messengers CT the sky found vent III
nightly crash against the tall trees which
stood cloSe-ranked sentinel on the
four sides of the hamlet, The
weather was propitious for the Gull
tivation of Incidence, intemperance and
laWlesSnesS; the air was germlnal
mass of crime and immortality, and the
factors that playedin these elements and
subSisted upon them were the bold.
bad, black-souied men and women OF
the mineSi 1t was cautious noSlng
and peeping did that evening about
the dens of that village. But while my
companion was worrying suspense
out of his suspenders, l managed to
see enough to plant determination in
my head to stay on the range and probe
its darkest holes, which the subsequent
entreaty of my companion failed to
break. The Alidor report was dis
patched to st. Paul under conduct of
one messenger instead of two. went
to Ashland with dread concern about
tie AlidOr upon the submission OF our
report. My companion was of and
would soon land amongst the anxious
him at the union depot in st. Paul. and
l we'll knew what troubled looks of d is
gust and despair would picture the dis
appointment OF the hopeful Alidors.
There was one young financial mag
nate, a shareholder in the luckless en-
terprise, who, while he had good reason
to be chagrined at the news we CLEANED
for the dtlectation OF AlidOr members,
was utterly unmindful of the cOngrega-
ton at the depot, as much so as II he
had never heard of the disastrous essay.
He was the god of the heaven crust of
our society, the ideal of our daughters
and the dashing young gallant of the
avenue. He realized that he was in the
AlidOr, and that was enough. HIS
friends knew him as a shrewd fnancier,
with semi-occasional dash at mischief.
rare exploit or wild carousal. His papa
the dear conciliate governor
more 'idust'; than asawmiil, and only half
inquired into the commercial ventures
of his son. This intrepid youth Boosted
a marvellous courage, at the brink OF all
hazards; could kick a football from the
ave" into Merriam Park. drive a tan
dem without the risk of arrest, and do
many other daring and graceful things,
such as Saiuting London cab driver
with pop. When my companion left
me on the range it was to this young
man that ! directed a telegram which
made the blood (blue blood tingle in his
veins. | thought knew his worth as q
colleague in the jaunt | had in mind.
He was beautiful specimen of the ath-
lete. light. strong walker, handy with
the rifle, and such lover of nature in
its rusticity as is seldom found among
our Western young men. We were to
explore the range from Mellen to Lake
Gogebic, embracing the widest and
most picturesque country this side of
the Rockies. To student of nature
and human character the sch0liuEls
here were many. A country where dam
ger lurked in the night, and preyed
upon the stranger everywhere. and