The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-09-15
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
The temperance of Chivers in the
mill with Collinson, and the brief an
nouncement that the prisoner had con-
scented to a satisfactory compromise,
was received at first with half con-
temptuous smile by the party; but for
the commands of their leaders, and
possibly a conviction that Collinson's
fatuouS cooperation with ChiverS
would be safer than his wrath, which
might not expend itself only on Chivers
but imperil the safety of all, it is prob
able they would have informed the
unfortunate prisoner of his real rela-
tons to his captor. In these circum-
stances, Chivers' half satirical sugges-
ton that Collinson should be added to
the sentries outside. and guard his
own property, was surilly assented to
by Riggs. and complacently accepted
by the others. Chivers offered to post
him himself-not without an inter-
change of meaning glances with Riggs
-Collinson's own gun was returned to
him, and the strangely assorted pair
left the mill amicably together.
But, however humanely confident
ChiYers was in his companions faith
fulness, he was not without a rascaPs
precaution, and determined to select a
position for Collinson where he could
do the least damage in any alteration
of trust. At the top of the grade above
the mill was the only trail by which
party in force could approach it. This
was to Chivers obviously too strategic
a position to entrust to his prisoner,
and the sentry who guarded its ap
proach, 500 yards away. was left un-
changed But there was another
fpoi nr
through the thickest underground Of
the woods, known only to his party.
To place Collinson there was to insure
him perfect immunity from the ap-
proach of an enemy. as well as from
any confidential advances of his fellow
sentry. This done. he drew a cigar
from his pocket. and, handing it to
Collinson, lighted another for himself,
and, leaning back comfortably against
a large boulder, glanced complacently
at his companion.
''You may smoke until I go, Mr.. Col
linson, and even afterward if you keep
the bowl of your pipe behind a rock so
as to be out of sight of your fellow SEN
try whose advances. by the way if
were you, l should not encourage. Your
position here you see is rather pc
culiar one. You were saying, 1 think,
that a lingering affection for your wife
impelled you to keep this place for her,
although you were convinced of her
death?"
Collinson's unaffected delight in Chiv7
ers' kindness had made his eyes shine
in the moonlight with a dog-like wist-
fulness. L reckon I did say that, Mr..
Chivers,' he said, apologetically,
though it amt goin' to interfere with
you usin' the shanty jest now"
son." returned Chivers, with a large
equal enjoyment in his companions
evl 'en' admin alton Of him; ''but it
struck me that your remark, neverthe-
less, implied some doubt of your wife's
death, and l don't know but that your
doubts are right"
'Wots that?" said Collinson, with a
dull glow in his face.
Chivers blew the smoke of his cigar
lazily in the still air. Listen" he
said. ''Since your miraculous CONVEX
sion a few moments ago l have made
some friendly inquiries about you, and
[ find that you lost all trace of your
wife in Texas in 50, where number of
her fellow immigrants died of yellow
fever. Is that SOP
Eyes" said Collinson, quickly
well it so happens that a friend of
NINE" continued Chivers, slowly, was
in a train which followed that one, and
picked up and brought on some of the
survivors"
THAT was the train wot brought the
news" said Collinson, relapsing into
his old patience. That's how 1
knowed she hadn't come"
Did you ever hear the names of any
of its passengers?'' said Chivers, with a
keen glance at his companion.
Mary one! / only got to know it
was small train of only two wagons,
and it sorter melted into Californy
through a southern pass, and kinder
petered out, and no one. ever heard of
it agin, and that was all.
''rhat was not all, Collinson," said
Chivers lazily. Il saw the train ar
rive at South Pass. / was awaiting a
friend and his wife. There was lady
didn't hear her name, but l think my
friends wife called her Sadie. l re-
her as a rather pretty woman
tall, fair, with a straight nose and a
full chin, and small, slim feet l saw
her only a moment, for she was on her
way to Los Angeles, and was, I be-
lieve, going to join her husband some
where in the Sierras."
The rascal had been enjoying with
intense satisfaction the return of the
duh glow in COllinsonS face, that even
seemed to animate the whole length of
his angular frame as it turned eagerly
toward him. So he went on experience
ing a deviliSh zeSt in this description
of his mistress to her husband, apart
from the pleasure of noting the slow
awakening of this apathetic giant,
with a sensation akin to having
warmed him into life. Yet his triumph
was of short duration. The fire
dropped suddenly out of Collinson's
eyes, the glow from his face, and the