Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-03-28
THE SHADUW UN THE WALL



strong. but after tramping alone for
days without the faintest sign Of sue
cess, he became heartsick and weary.
and determined to seek some resting
place for the night. and return to camp
the following morning.
When he arrived at this conclusion
he was in an exquisitely lovely valley
between mountain peaks that seemed
to touch the sky. The autumnal col
oring Of the foliage, the brilliant wild
flowers. the babbling of a noisy brook
and the clear atmosphere seemed to
render this desolate place a yeritable
paradise to the wanderer. 1t was in
the cleaning that Carroll Jones hur-
riedly noticed these beauties of nature,
as he anxiously surveyed the valley
for a place of shelter. Its loneliness
seemed excessive, and very undesira-
BILE for many reasons In mining re-
gion ut once so wild and desolate, aud
open to the observation of the reckless
characters whom he believed might be
prospecting in that direction as well
as himself. Besides, with his expert
ences of atmospheric changes in the
Big Horn mountains, however soft and
balmy the evening air might be for
the moment, he felt sure that sud
den and violent storm was impending.
So he hurried on, crossed the brook
and discovered that what In the dis
lance he had supposed to be some
rocks covered with gayly hued, trailing
vines was in truth very small, dilap-
idated, tumble-down cabin-a miners
cabin he at once pronounced 1t.
The sky, so clear and blue a few mo-
ments before. was already becoming
overcast, and examining the little
house, he found Ii had one very small
window and door that seemed secure
~ fastened. Yet there was not the
faintest evidence that this ruined
abode had been occupied in many
years, the vines having everywhere so
completely interlaced themselves over
1t that at any other time he would
have passed 1t unobserved.
During tbs Investigation OF the
premises rushing. roaring wind came
from the gorge through which he had
entered the valley. He recognized II
as the first Indication Of the approach
ing storm, and Ii seemed like the moan
of human being as IL shook the vines
and ratified the door He could not
break open that abandoned house. 1t
was too utterly forsaken and lonely,
and a superstitious dread of being de-
tanned there induced him to quit its
threshold and hurry on, whittier he
knew not. Before he had proceeded u
dozen steps a terribly sudden and
awful crash of lightning, followed by
| a torrent of rain, made him realize his
folly in abandoning any sort Of shelter
from the elements. AS he retraced his
steps the wind or something opened
| the door, and he saw the interior Of
the cabin when 1t was lighted up by
an electric fash.
There was a fireplace with a wide
hearthstone, damp. moldy walls and a
broken floor. He entered with a shud-
| der, and chill seemed to penetrate
| his very marrow bones as he stepped
\ over the broken doorsill. Pausing for
a moment, he felt rather than saw that
q heap Of dust in the middle of this
wretched room had gone up in a whiri
to the ceiling and fallen In a wider
circumference than 1t had previousl y
occupied.
He understood what that indescriba-
BILE and awful whirl of dust indicated
In the abandoned cabins of miners. II
was the ashes Of some human being
who had persisted there.
The rain, the bewildering lightning,
! the peals and crashes of the reverber.
ating thunder were nothing In com
parison to the horror which came over
him In this reflection. He would. In
spite of the tempest, flee from this
| tomb Of some brother miner. But Just
then the wind shut the door and In his
nervous haste he could not open 1t.
After a few seconds he recovered from
what he mentally termed a wOmanish
and absurd cowardice, and he resolved
to stay there over night il it killed
him.
Suppose his comrades, IL he ever re
turned to them, he whispered half.
aloud, should learn that ne, Carroll
Jones, strapping, great fellow, whc
had hunted for weeks alone, and In
their company, through the wilds oil
the forests, and had had his expert
ences with the red men and wild AMI.
| mals-should learn that he was afraid
to remain in an old deserted cabin fol
| few hours. BAH He would make
| q fire, cook his supper and 20 10 sleep
In this most desirable frame Of mind
he Herewith gathered some bits OF
wood together, that were already on
the hearth and about the floor, and
drawing a match. set them IN n blaze
As this illumination grew and gath
cred in strength the lightning Utmost
ceased and the rain was still falling
In torrents.
He began to feel more comfortable
cooked his supper, made $. me coffee
and smoked his pipe, and in the cCzy
warmth Of the fireplace lie wrapped
himself In his blanket AID lay down
with his feet close to the glowing en-
beers.
How long he slept he could not tell
but he gradually awoke an dopened
MS eyes He was lying ON his right
side, and as he looked toward the wal
facing him there was shadow on it
the distinct outlines Of man. and tn.
man must he behind him and between
him and the fire. He remained per
fectly still, shut his eyes and tried Il
believe he was dreaming, but he coult
not NO deceive himself. The PATTERN,
of the rain was too audible as II feI