The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-04

IT Somehow, does not seem TO squars, will
this Git o God idea of yours. does II . sait
a SHOW" 'r'' . wv ""N '''"
As he did 80, it seemed as II the night wer,
threshold to now enter bodily, and pervedo III
things with its presence. With that cool. frnE
red edge had gone from Black Spur, but it was
even more clearly defined against the sky in itf
lighter, although the stars still seemed mere ro
Elections OF the solitary p'n;,pointS OF light scat.
,SEGa t 9buon soo 6hS ep pHstfDI S Nihi' 81 P ISs S;,m miihsi; Ysi
penetrstingly distant from il, arose the stimu;
l"tinE breath Soun 81 Of tho pines ncloW ri, siill hot and
Intense. The far-off barking Of n dog on the in
visible river bar nearly q mile beneath ihom
had risen, and. standing In tho doorway, by COM
mon consent turned their faces to, the east. 1t
boring miner, and II gave him the browning
glory Of the Wow. For. beyond the pinc-hcarscd
sky, lay a thin. white cloud like q dropped por.
ton of the milky way. Faint with nm lndcscrib.
in tseif P above r Snd Sey yGs % ali smrr SnTIfn 20 ob STsGF.
II was always thcrc. 1t was the snow line OF tho
They turned away, and silently resented them
selvcs--the same thought In tho minds of each.
Here was something they could not tnkc away
behind-left with the healthy life they had bccn
leading, the cheerful, cpdsayor, the qpdying
Was what they were taking away worth it
And oddly enough, frank and .outspoNen as they
thought he u slhMT fcm SiDe u t I!Hf Even MI" Barker rEPcrH was
silent; perhaps he was also thinking. OF Kitty!
ao s@ = a Gf t 1wo sa tTimresr The %pp cfieSt w in sfS If5y
upon the partners, who had only Just Iescatcd
themselves, and for a moment they had forgot.
ten that the narrow band OF light which shot
forth from the open door rendered the darkness
on either side of it moro imGs,netr%ble; and that
guided by the light; the figures had just emerged;
Yet one was familiar enough: It WAS the HI
"aFNRisEs; i'iSE ,n or ln Of as h stil TG more Ssi sSa:
cinctly by the Hill humoris,s "Alky Hall"
Everybody lind seen that soddcn: PUFFY, hnt
good. humored face; everybody had felt tho fiery
eShalations of that enormous red heard. which
always seemed to be kept in a state of moist, un-
the absurd dignity of manner and attempted pre-
cision of statement with which be was wont 10
ever, knew. or cared 10 know. the pathetic
Wenlri1ess and chilling horror that sometimes
He was evidently equally unprepared for the
three silent figures before the door. and for n
moment looked at them blankly with the doubts
sure that they were quito rcali He had rot
dared to look at his companion for veritication,
Whisky Dick face brishtsncd. = food oven
william J. Steptoe. Of Red Gp!ch; stsnsho15
hiccoushed, waved his hand sravely; and with an
air OF rcproachful dignity, concluded: 80
iio 10 nfTar cm for tho hDg PRESENT os on the sDS ba F:,,. we Tish
@ doorn he PAUSED aSS5 again and, leaning against the
and, pushing past Dick. entered the cabin Hcwas
a short. powerful man. with n closely cropped
crust of beard and hair that seemed to adhere
to his round head like moss or lichcn. He cast a
g~lencc-furtiyc rather than curious.aronnd the
even good humor to excuse it, so you're the
ggasy salo9,s who,vo made the btg strike
bIoat 1lky, and drop in to see the show. And
here you are feeling your oats, ert and not
caring any particular Cd d-n II school keeps
Show Mr.. stcptoe-the whiskcy," said
Demorest to Stacy. Then quietly addressing
Stcptoe had ignored his unfortunaic companion,
he said: You quite STARTLED me- at first. We
did not sec you come up the trail"
steptoe,, who wanted to see around he cnnbtin."'
Indifference toward tho whiskey which Stacy
WAS Offering to the stranger.
facing Dick almost%b rutally. You know your
tangled legs wouldn't take you straight M the
f noih, and q you had to make a GiiEepmsondib%ns rs:
top you'd have never found it,"
No matter! I'm glad YOU did find it, Dick"
liquor good enough to pay you for the trouble"
Barker stared AT Demorest. This extraordinary
tolerance of the drunkard was something new
in his partner. But at 2 glance from DemOrcst
he led Dick to the demijohn and tin cup which
stood on a table, in the corner. And in another
moment Dick had forgotten his companions
rudencss.
Dclnorest remained by the door, looking out
ting down his emptied cup. "trot out Your
strike; reckon our eyes are strong enough TO
vague pile that stood in the corner and Disco.
cred a deep tin prospecting pan, 1t was hcaped
the marble whiteness OF the quart and tho
glittcring crystals of mica in It's veins were the
m nonld n sea iSs 5n,i 4g ItI Is they ne yo dTiW gr closer The they G$I
composed and honeycombcd portion Of the rock
as II still liquid and molten. The eyes OF the
| nm Z ~ nrls1 ltln fhn nya "a ~ .
Barker and Stacy. who were already familiar
with the treasure.
in n thickeninRv voice.
Stacy pointed ii out.
Why, It's smaller than the others"
"Heft 1t In your hand" said Barker. with hoy
ish enthusiasm.
with a certain %nquiline suggestions; his whole
arm strained over IL until his face grew purple,
but he could not lift it.
Mint, said Dick. restored TO fuency by his
liquor. when thar war ladies Visiting ii, ana
dollars. 81 they would kindly III i from the
thnn one of these chunks; but, Jimminy! you
onghter have seed them gals grip and hchvc on
didn't know anything about The paei-Gici thee
speshlf--" He stopped with great dignity, and
sdded with painful precision, "tho specific gray
pr MP% aid sstsp,oe r%onFlhhIy:, Then turn,
-. - -" '..-' $3.50 Ns.'' ''"'.
1--WE sent II to Boolnvillc this morning. You
see we've sold out our claim to n company who
take II up tomorrow and put up n mill and
s,amps. III fact, it's under their charge now;
They've got y gang of men on the claim already
And what mout ye hcv got for 1t. IL It's n fair
question 4, said Steptoe with u forced smile.
Stacy smiled also: 81 don't know that it's n
business question" he Bnid.
Five hundred thousand dollars" said Dem:
crest from the doorway, land n treble interest"
Tho eyes OF tho two men met. There was no
mistaking the dull fire of envy in Steptoo's
glance. but Demorcst received 1t with n certain
cold curiosity, and turned away as the sound of
arriving voices came from without.
Five hundred Thousands h big fggcr,' said
Steptoc with n coarse laugh, and | don't won
der i makes yo9 feel 80 id sassy. But it ras
IL fair question:"
Unfortunatclyi II here occurred to tho whiskey.
stimulated brain of Dick that the friend nc had
introduced was being treated with scant cour-
tesy, and he forgot his own treatment by Stop
lifi Ag rehuRss. Df "Tm s am Toi'' m ny % oio iri g %'f Is
akshunted by only ,buslnesh principles" TO
paused, rcCollcctcd himsclfa and added with great
precision: when ] say he himself has "a valua-
bio claim In Rcd Gulch and to my shertain