News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-07-02

papers quoted and reported 1t. Lit
tie rills of men and burros we're flow
ing along the trails toward it; Lone
Pine blankets and shovels and frying
pans we're in the market. Roker's,
like all the rest, was stirred up about
it.
"You'll get the latest bulletin here
before the evenings out. It'll be yis-
terday's an day befores over ag'in.
Gold for the pickin' up When
we've heard it times enough, we'll be-
lave it, an we'll all go. The foot of
the rainbow's right there now"
"WelI, l want something else," said
Jack; land as you know so much,
maybe you will tell me what to do
about it,"
81 WILL" said Tom, positively. go
ahead"
"Old Howe's sick with mountain
fever. It's been on him for a week or
more now. We found him on the
way down. Somebody's got to help
him, or he'll just naturally perish
there all alone"
Big Tom was an authority at Ro-
ker's. He was six feet two, and a
man of unhesitating action. His
word carried weight. He was an in
valuable ally when his sympathies
were aroused.
Jack was glad they had found him.
He felt that as he and Burney were
the only ones who knew of Howe's
need, it was their move to do some
thing about it. He felt that in some
way he must appeal to the camp; but
he was not sure what it's temper or
resources would be, or what was the
best way to get at it.
Now Tom had committed himself
to the task of telling him what to do,
SO he would be sure to help do it.
''Auld Howe is sick!" repeated Tom,
slowly. How sick is he?"
He'd got up and got fire." said
Jack, "but he hadn't the strength to
cook, and just sat before it. We fed
him. Then he got back to his bunk.
He's bad enough. His mind isn't
very straight. He knows you we'll
enough; but he's been thinking so
much, while he lay there sick, about
his little girl and the old times before
he came to the mountains that he's
pretty near forgot about Roker's
altogether. Keeps saying-if he
could only see his girl once more be-
fore he dies. Maybe he'll die, maybe
he won't. | think if we could chip in
and send him out to Frisco before
the snow flies, he might get along
somehow. He amt fit to be in the
mountains any more"
Tom had been gazing intentIy at
one of the gorgeous pictures that
Shag had put on his walls; but he
was thinking of Old Howe, sick in
his dug-out, and heart-broken be-
sides. 1t was not just what he expect
ed when he told Jack that he would
tell him what to do. He was crsting
about in some uncertainty for the
right thing when Jack stopped.
n..-What has bAa2," heasked of lepgtn.
| Jack laughed little at the idea of
old Howe's assets.
mot cent, likely. He's got fry
pan, and a pick and shovel, and a
pair of mighty poor blankets. That's
about all"
"Oh, hold on" said Burney; he's
got burro."
"Well, so he has" admitted Jack; ga
little one"
cts a whole one, if it is little"
"He can't ride to Frisco on it,"
They were all silent a moment; then
Tom spoke
'I'll tell ye as | tould ye l would.
Go get his things, an his burro' if his
willing, and has the sense to know be
can't make use of them himself any
more. Bring them down here right
away. Well have an auction of them
tonight. The b'ys'll chip in, that
way. Go get the things. I'll fix it
with Shay"
Jack and Burney went out.
Shag was no phlanthropist, but one
of the most sordid of men. 1t was
not in the least to be expected that
he would let his room be used for an
auction, for the sake of helping any,
body; neither would persuasion
amount to anything with him.
This Tom knew wei! enough; but he
also knew that Shag would appreci-
ate the chance of getting the crowd
away from his rival at the Opera
House, on the other side of the street
and of selling them drinks after the
auction was done.
So it proved. Then, having ar
ranged that, Tom went about to ad-
vertise the affair; and by the time
Jack and his partner got back, the
camp was looking for them, and the
Club House began to fill up prompt
| ly.
1t would have sounded strange il
any one had said that Jack HarIing
was nervous over anything; but he
was, little, over this. He had just
to tell himself to go ahead and make
start. So he stood upon a settee,
and called the meeting to order.
"Boys," he begau, "we are going
to have an auction here this evening.
You all know Old Howe; he's down
on his luck"
"He never had no luck, anyhow"
interiected a listener.
CHATS right enough" admitted
Jack. "He never had. He amt no
capacity for luck. But this time he's
regularly beat. He's got mountain