The morning call., 1893-06-18

grotesque tattooed figures on his hands and
wrists and a queer twist In his tongue.
while his heart was as innocent and ten
der as girls, and a speech as gruf as the
growing of an angry bear. And Dick
Ashley was watching the sunset with
Babe.
Jim turned and struck out up the moan
tain. scarcely needing the greetings of the
young people. He walked furiouSly,
scarcely knowing where his footsteps
tended. The sun set over the noun tains,
the dusk deepened to darkness, and it
was far into the night when, spent with
the battles that had torn his soul, hesturned
his footsteps toward home. He had crossed
The gulch and circled she town. and climb
ing the bill to where stood his modest
little cabin. in which he still lived, with all
the old mining surroundings and simplicity,
he was surprised to find Dick Ashley Sit
ting in the open doorway, evidently aw' it.
ing him.
"Oh, Jim," the young man said. II
found your house empty. and was afraid
going away. Pm glad you've come"
Jim forced himself to greet his unwe-
come guest with show Of cordiality. and
striking light in the hut. bade him enter.
Young Ashley was evidently embarrassed.
"Jim,"'. he said. when yer going away
again?" "Ter-morrow, was Jim's short
reply. "Prospecting?"
Prospecting"
Jim" pursued Ashley. not noticing. in
his eagerness, the others manner, Il want
to go with you"
Jim was taken aback.
WHATS that fer?" he asked.
Dick nestaled. At last 81 might as
we'll tell you," he said with an embar-
rassed laugh. "You think as much o.
Babe as any of us-except me, | guess.
| Well, ] love Babe. I'd die for her to-
night if 'twould do her any good. l want
lixyn fOr bar -
he shifts at me because my hands are
white; says man isn't good for anything
till he's earned his way by hard work :;
tnat Pll never be able to support Babe at
the law, and I've got to show him $4,000 of
my own before | can have her I've got
no show TO acquire that within half q
dozen years unless l go to the mines :;
but I'm willing to go and work my fingers
to the bones-fnr Babe"
Jim sat silent for a long time. His brain
was rather dull and slow, as a rule, but it
was working with lightning speed lust
now. He knew. as Dick did not. just how
scant were becoming the pickings of the
solitary prOspector BY years of hard toll
he had succeeded in amassing. himself,
about $4,000. He had the dust now,
cached IN a secure place in the floor OF his
cabin, and he knew it would take many
years, as times had become, for Dick Ash
ley to gather together even half that sum.
His heart gave great bound of Joy. If
Graham kept his word it would be long.
indeed, before the white-handed young
lawyer might claim Babe Perhaps she
would never be his. He had only to let
Ashley 60 out with him and embark on
the weary, year-Ong task-he might even
ind death before he secured the desired
sunni
With that thought came the thought of
Babe, grieving her heart out for her
lover-waitng through the weary years
for his return. The thought brought a
sudden pang
Dye think" he asked Ashley, with a
sneer. that Babe 'ud have ye, even when
ye'd made yer pile?'
The young man looked up in surprise al
the IN wonted tone. Babe has promised
to be my wife," he said simply.
Over again in his iDnermost soul Jim
| fought his battle. Babes pleading lace
kept rising before him and would come
! between him and Ashley just when he
most desired to steel his heart against the
| young fellow.
| At last. without breaking silence, he
arose and went to the fireplace OF the
! cabin. Taking his pickaX from the wall
| he l0osened couple of stones in the rude
| hearth and lifted from the place laid bare
a small. square lid. From beneath this he
| took TWO dirl-staned bags and brought
them to Ashley.
There's fifteen thou there" he said.
! Take it an 60 tell Graham you want
| Babe"
Ashley stared, but m ade no move to ac-
cept the amazing gift.
II can't take your money, Jim," he
gasped. Il shall not take it. 1t isn't
righ.."J
Cannon" said Jim, briefly. "'1was
in the yaaIth. l dug it out. There's plenty
more. I've got enough. That's fer Babe.
| Ye kin give it ter as a marriage settle
ment," and he smiled grimly.
With so much AZ stake the young man
was more than ready to be over persuaded.
Besides. with tenderfoors ignorance of
! what the two bags really. represented, he
had vague idea Jim could easily produce
as many more, If necessary. And TO him
they meant Babe and happiness.
"God bless you, Jim." he said later. as
he took leave OF the old miner. keep yer
blessin's,"' was Jlm's gruff reply; "ye may
need 'em."
In the early gray dawn a lonely figure
left the little cabin, equipped for travel
| ing. and weDded its way p the mountain
! trail.
Babes Jim had gone prospecting.
| ADEIrNF f. KNApp