Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-16

"Theres gold there, stranger, but you re
bolder man than am IL you strike a
pick In Truefitt's claim"
"Why soip
"Theres bad luck goes with II, and
wouldn't see any chap take hold of the
thing with his eyes shut.
at began before l came with young
Gale Truehtt, who staked out the claim.
"He was a good natured sort, always
doing kind turn to strangers that came
into camp and getting little or no thanks
for It.
"Well, he picked up partner out Of
the lot, a smooth talking chap, who had a
desperate bad streak In him, for he knock
ed Truefitt over the head one night after
they had been working six months together
and ran away, taking their pile.
"Gale had a tough head, and IL carried
him through. He got to work again, but
1t was In downhearted way, and by and
by he confessed that there was a girl wait
ing for him whom he had promised TO go
back TO inside Of year, and his time was
almost up.
"Well, you'd have thought the luck
was on his side when he struck a nugget
that went a great way toward making up
the pile he had lost.
"He started out of the camp as happy as
a king and half way TO Denver was stop
ped by robbers and cleaned of his last bit.
"Didn't seem as IL he had any heart left
to begin again, and the last that was
heard Of him he was doing odd jobs about
town.
"The claim didn't lay long idle, but the
next man that took hold OF it got into a
squabble before he'd had It "A week and
was shot dead.
"Of the next two one got mountain
fever and died. and the other turned out u
horse thief, who was followed up and
made to stretch hemp In the end.
"Folks were shy OF taking hold of IL,
and nobody disputed him when along
came Chinaman and dropped into the
hole.
"If you'll believe IL, he went tearing
mad and jumped over High cliff one night,
smashing to u Jelly on the rocks at the
bottom.
"There's been a dozen who have tried
It, and not one of them got off scot free.
"One chap had his leg broke by cave
In, another got the blue devils after him
and took poison, and the last one made his
pile twice over and lost 1t both time card
playing"
"And diedf asked the stranger.
he saw the folly of 1t and quit In time,
and there's no telling what may happen to
him yet. Take my word for it, stranger,
no good will come II you take up True
fits claim"
But the stranger was either not i'm
pressed by the list Of calamities which had
overtaken his predecessors or he cared lit
tie whether good or i'll followed upon his
efforts.
Trusftt' g claim turned out well In his
hands, yet il was evident that he cared lit
tie for the rich yellow dust.
For days together he would not put in a
stroke of work.
At such seasons he was usually away
with his gun, tramping among the hills,
cou rting fatigue and hardship, for which
the game he secured was q most made
QuSte return.
Tn ese expeditions grew longer and long
er, and at last one day the miners were
startled TO see new face looking at them
from Trueftt's claim.
1t was the dark, haggard face Of man
who had been hanging about the place for
a week, taking silent notes and making sly
inquiries where he could without drawing
especial attention to himself.
The miners looked at each other In half
awed questioning, but no, the well known
figure of their comrade stalked into the
place as they wondered and confronted the
interloper.
"what might you be doing here. mis-
teri'
Jumped you. Your times up this
morning according to what these gents
say"
It was true. Grown careless in his Sc
curity OF possession, he had forfeited his
rights, but warning cloud passed over
his bearded face.
- reckon you know the story of this
here claim, stranger" he remarked quiet
ly. Its good time for you and me TO
see how much truth there is in IL for us. "
81 haven't come here to make trouble"
the new claimant protested, "but IL there's
any one among you was here five years
ago you'll know that l am Gale Truefitt
himself Don't that sort of give me q
right, seeing that this chaps out fair and
square OF his own doingf"
"You are Gale TrueittS"
What was it in the others tone that
made the claimant OF the name turn palet
"I'ye n wife and little child starving
down In Denver. I've been in hard luck,
and 1t was my last chance coming up here
for their sakes, but II l go under they
haven't friend left In this world"
"I.iarl' came from between the set lips
of his adversary Friends, judge between
us. am Gale Trueftt. This is the rascal
who robbed me first Of my gold, afterward
of the girl who was TO be my wife-robbed
me of her and left her when he got tired
Of a respectable life.
~ found her down In Denver six months
ago-too late TO save her-and the little
one had gone before. I've had the hate OF
him burning in my heart ever since. It's
given me no rest, but i didn't hunt him
up for revenge. tried to beat the feeling
down and TO work 1t off, but it's no use
we can't both live"
While he spoke the hand OF the other
went furtively to his pocket, but Truefitt
detected the movement.
His own weapon was drawn on the in
slant. Thare was dull report and dou-
BILE fall.
Trueftt's claim was once more owner
less. s.--Boston Globe.