The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-19

Il
| train a stock of groceries to the new
| district. Prices were high enough in
| Sacramento. Before Michigan Bluffs
was reached a ham came to be worth
good part of its weight in gold
The next day and each succeeding
| day saw Barney at work upon his
claim. Week by week he became more
and more feverishly active with the
saw and adj. Yard by yard his sluices
grew. All day long he worked upon
them, and when there was moon some
times half the night. His visits to the
store became more and more infre-
quent.
"AI right, old man." he would say to
himself; next week we will have the
water running, and then we'll have
some dust
| Next week came and the week after.
| Still was there no water. Provisions
were growing perilousy low. Barney
could but work the harder. His cheeks
| became pinched, and his face took on
| lines of anxiety.
Yet another week. he told himself.
Another week and everything will be
shipshape. One more week and Wen
have the water"
That night he made another trip to
the town across the canyon.
1Ou u DSllGI 10y III NOuL "lAllCH
stores advised the merchant. "Therel1
come snow some of these days that'l
block things"
''I'll be over next week." said Barney.
MY sluices will be running by that
time"
With that he returned to his cabin
on the ridge. He had spent his last
cent, and bore with him provisions for
two weeks. His sluices were all but
completed. A few days more and he
would be a producer instead of a con-
| sumner.
The next morning he continued his
labors, and the succeeding days. On
the evening of the third day he placed
in position the last section of sIuice.
He turned on the water The system
worked perfectly. There was scarcely
a leak in the entire line.
I'm the morning 1 shall begin work
in earnest he said.
That night the wind changed and 1t
blew in cold from the east. Then it set
in to snow, and before morning dawned
| the sluices were frozen solid, and the
white mantle of winter lay wrapped
| about the hills. The frost king had set
his seal upon earths treasures. Hardy
must he be who would break that seal.
1t was three weeks later and the day
OCAOAC I'LL ISIIIl1S. OpOn d COuCn Idly
the wasted figure of a man who was
lingering a loaded musket.
IT'S pretty desperate Odds" NUT
tered the thin lips, but 1 guess it
would go if 1 worked it right. 1 could
slip up to the door of his store and get
a drop on him easy enough Then help
myself, say I. Stealing's no crime for
starving man"
The wasted form sat upright and in
serted fresh primer in the firearm.
Then it stole to the window and looked
out.
1t was the day before Christmas.
Something's wrong over at Barney's,''
said the stOrekeeper of Michigan Bluffs
to his assistant. He hasn't been over
for three weeks. Put on your snow
shoes. I'm going to investigate
An hour or two later there was q
great hallooing and calling at Barney
Riley's cabin across the canyon. Only
the roof and tiny corner of one win
dow projected from the snow.
| 'Hello-O-o! O-o-oh, Barney!"
A pinched face appeared at the win
dow, behind the muzzle of rife.
I've got the drop on you" snarled
the face. Move on, now. 1 don't allow
nobody on my ranch to spy out my af-
fairs"
Come, come! Put up the gun. We're
no claim jumpers. We've come to see
you. You know me. I'm the storekeep-
er. We've brought you some goods
II didn't order any goods"
That's all right, Barney. I thought
likely you'd need them, so 1 brought
! them over"
Il tell you it's no use. haven't any
dust, or any money, or anything
Il knew you hadn't. That's why I
brought them"
You brought the stuff and knew I
couldn't pay for it?''
You can pay me next summer"
"And you're going to trust me? You
are not afraid of me?"
81 am not afraid of you"
We'll. gentlemen" said Barney, and
his voice choked with emotion, its a
Gods blessing for someone to have
faith in a man"
Shall we hand you the things
through the Window" asked the store
keeper.
Barney broke down completely.
Gentlemen" he said, Il was desper-
ate. 1 hadn't bite to eat in the house
1 didn't mean you no harm; indeed I
didn't. 1 wouldn't have hurt you; not
a hair of your head. Only I was des-
perate. When a mans desperate hun
cry he isn't responsible is he now?"
The clerk thought he had reference
to the incident of a few moments be-
fore. That's all right" he said. You
thought we were claim Jumpers
81 swear l wouldn't have hurt you.
All 1 wanted was a bite to eat. I had
it all planned for tonight. 1 was so
fearfully hungry. A man isn't so much
to blame, now, is he, if he holds up
I store when he's so fearfully hungry?''
Come" said the merchant, you're
out of your head. You mustn't talk
any more. 1 don't know what you're
talking about, and 1 don't want to.
You're out of your head. A cup of hot
coffee will do you more good than any
thing else just now. See that you take
care of yourself or you'll be sick. I'll
send you some more stuff next week.
Don't do any more worrying now. Get
well. I'll see you through"
With that the merchant returned to