The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22

leaves of the volume on her knee, became
conscious of an increased stir around her.
People were passing and repassings A
woman said
'.Come. Let's look. There's passenger
going over to the Montana"
Rising and walking to the railing. she
looked down the steep, black side of the
vessel to the small boat rocking below.
Sirani's face was uplifted. His eyes lit
on her face and rested there until his heart
seemed frozen, and she, herself, turned to
stone with their parting sadness.
The boat moved of, struggling with the
dark swell of the waters.
Miss Verney stood, a slender figure out
lined against the sky, her veil blown back
ward until Sirani's features were no longer
rope ladder up the side of the Montana
and lost identity in The crowd upon her
deck.
The cabin occupied by Radcliffe and Dob
bin at Gopher Gulch was regarded as q
particularly fine abode. A porch and q
coat OF whitewash had caused the partners
no end of rough badinage. 1t was called
the White House and Windsor Palace.
Guess you're proud of Twin in palay-
tial palace" one of the boys would say.
or ''Air yer goin' home ter yer ancestral
marble halls?'
A narrow strip of plain lay in the heart
of arid and treeless hills. The blue spurs
of the Sierras lowered twenty miles off.
with the foothills like baby mountains
clustering at their base.
1t was q day in June.
Radcliffe came TO the door of the cabin
and stood looking out. The sun was high,
pouring a flood of light upon him. He
stood in the doorway, tall, broad
shouldered figure. with canvas trousers
stuck into his boots, and a red flannel
a. D.r,x l.,xy he nnl-
like valley of the gulch, and the white
stretch of the road to Delano as ii wound
in between the hills. At short distance
were the we'll and long wooden drinking
troughs, the ground around plowed and
trampled.
wagon Two horses. hobbled, wandered
laboriously. down the road.
The claim and sheep had been sold. To-
morrow the horses and wagon were TO take
him to Delano. the nearest town and the
terminus of the railroad, en- route for
England.
There was no sound to break the silence
save the clucking of a few chickens scratch
ing in the bare earth. He was the only
human being to be seen.
Radcliffe was heartily glad that this life
was over He had knocked enough around
the world. Now that fortune had smiled
ON him he would go back to England and
then settle down in some snug little place
with pretty wife.
There had been ugly spots in his life,
memories rather at variance with such
quiet career. What man did not have
them?
at Naples, which he did regret. But he
Thought with glow of pride that there
had been nothing sneaky or caddish In his
past.
of some animals feet approaching. Walk
ing to the end OF the porch he saw coming
over the brow of the hill. from toward the
mountains, three horsemen.
They rode up to the fence and drew rein.
The leader was Higginson. large man
with a white beard and ruddy nose.
With him were a tow-headed youth on
mustang and sandy-haired lrishman
named McGinnis. Ihey were war" anu
dusty with hard riding. 80
aMornin', Hugh" said Higginson. lie
was sheep man living eight miles up IN
aHelio. responded Radcliffe. The 9TH
ers gave saiutatory grunts OF recognition.
,iigginson proceeded WITH oirectness 20
Business He took of his straw hat and
n,onned his glowing face with his shirt
sleeve. "Hev yer seen anything mere
cor elsewhere" suggested McGinnis.
ssOf a bay mare with white star on he pc.
forehead. She's got my brand on her lett
shoulder -. =, IA ~
r-osssr named Parades," irterposed NC
Ginnis. a-r;,. .re.
.,,,,ad G,cciuson, ..an' ef catch HIM III
make it hot fur -. ,ar. 10
.Hayen't seen anyone go past nsre 70
day." said Radcliffe, except ina. an'eVi'
iawed Flipper with ioaa ol sson f,,,.
II wouldn't hey lost tnes maie 'u'