The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-15

the Kootanie country, had camped IN
the gulch one night and there decided
that their supply of food was too short
to admit of their going further.
The circumstance which at the time
appeared to defeat all their calculations
eventually developed into the very key
stone of their fortunes, for the men, IN
despair of getting away, fell to digging
where they were, and stuck at 1t pluck
lily, working with more hope and luck
than knowledge The goddess of chance
justified their faith in her and guided
them to find the fame whereof went
abroad through the land and sweiled
with its going, so that before the lucky
miners had learned to wear their good
fortune with ease the world, or that por-
ton of it which deals IN mines. was
about their ears and clamorous to
share it.
The nucleus OF the city-the rough ola
log shanties-still stood away up the
grllch. the abode of Cinnamon and va
grants, On whom. for various incompe-
tencies, Dame Fortune persistently turn
ed her back. In the first year of his
coming, when the spell of the place had
been fresh upon him, Royal had been
fond of poking about in the old town
and tracking ont the evolution OF the
Getty fathers"
He had made his home in the place be-
cause the sister next him IN age, and
his special favorite. had married man
of the place and was solicitous to have
him settle near her; in addition to which
the town appeared to offer inducements
to a man of his profession. He liked
the place and. probably because of that
liking, had prospered In 1.-THE variety
and vigor of the life formed a fit accom-
paniment to the impulses which domi-
mated his nature.
During those eight years his parents
had died, his old home in the southwest
had been broken up. and the members
of his family scattered far and wide.
Apart from the sister who lived here,
and in whose life he was Of necessity a
factor of secondary Importance, Royal
was adrift from all domestic ties. Oc-
casionally, when work was slack or his
physical condition disordered, a sense of
loneliness would settle around Royal
like a gray cloud. and the. longing for a
| life apart from that of his profession
would cling to his spirit like the vapor
1 of which the cloud is formed. His life
was full, but not full enough; he cared
for his profession, taking vivid pride IN
its every branch, but it only satisfied
his brain. while his heart stood empty.
Having the intellectual life in full meas
ure, he craved the emotional ife-the
| strength and virility Of the man demand
| ed fuller exercises and larger opportu-
mites.
/ Particularly had this been the case
| since his return from the East the pre-
vious winter. The knowledge that he
had wife and should have a home
made him FESTIVE, because, as yet, he
was debarred enjoyment of either good.
His eyes, as he gazed away into the dis
lance, had wistful look, his figure
dropped in the saddle, and, involunta-
! rily, his face turned eastward.
/ A noise close at hand caused both
| horse and man to start and stand at at
! tention. Near the roadside was pile OF
/ dirt and rubbish thrown up by some san
/ guine and unsuccessful prospector in
years gone by. The noise appeared tC
come from behind it, and had curious.
ly human sound. Royal touched his
horse with the spur and rode around the
heap to reconnoiter. On the farther side
near the edge of the old excavation, sal
Ea brawny looking man, IN miners garb
rocking himself backward and forward
and muttering or swearing in a sort OF
grooming undertone. His back was
j toward Royal, but at the sound of the
horses step he glanced sideways over hi
shoulder Then he slouched forward
again, and Royal, from the elevation o.
the saddle, could see that he had one les
drawn up and was feeling it slowly from
knee to ankle.
"Good day, mate" Royal called, witt
the ready freemasonry of the frontier
"Is anything the matter"
Blessed if don't believe it's broke,
the miner made answer.
:, whats brokenT
my leg"
Royal was off his horse in an instant
and went to the mans side.
How'd you manage that"
The miners face was pallid, under
meath its tan and dinginess. and his eye
showed that his pain was considerable
but his mouth twisted into quizzica
smile as he answered:
Il guess I must ha' been pretty full
last night and missed the trail gwin
into town. Sumthin' seems to ha' hap
pened, anyhow. I come 70 myself
, while ago in the bottom O that inferna
. trap = indicating the hole = ''sorte
screwed round, an mighty uncomforta
Bile, an nary notion inside my skull hoy
got thar"
Royal dropped his rein and came t
the mans side. The horse moved off
step or two and snuffed the ground
, nosing the half dried grass dainty.
Hell stand" Royal said, noting tn
mans expression. Now let's have
look at the leg. I'm Doctor"
He cut away the miners long boot an
ripped up the leg of his trousers. Th
leg was broken in two places, and til
bones grated as Royal moved the linn
, about; the bruised flesh was swollen an
, much discolored.
Its a bad job, amt it, doctor" ques
| tionod tba MOI, iY,,,,o,co,,o I1x