Evening star., 1897-04-03
Written for The Evening Star.
Prologue.

Prologue.
The sun was going down on the Black
Spur Range. The red light it had kindled
there was still eating its way along the
serried crest. showing through gaps in the
ranks of pines. etching out the interstices OF
broken bouShs. fading away and then
flashing suddenly out again like sparks in
burnt-up paper. Then the night wind swept
down the whole mountain side. and he
gan its usual struggle with the shadows
upclinbing from the valley, only to lose
itself in the end and he absorbed in the
aII-conquering darkness Yet for some
time the pines on the long slope of Heavy
Tree Hill murmured and protested with
swaying arms: but as the shadows stole
upward. and cabin after cabin and tunnel
after tunnel were swallowed up, compete
silence followed Only the sky remained
visiDle-a vast concave mirror OF dull steel.
in which the stars did not seem to be set.
but only reflected
\ single cabin door on the crest of Heavy
Tree Hill had remained open to the wind
and darkness. Then it was slowly shut by
an invisible figureaftervard revealed by
the embers of the fire it was stirring. AT
first only this figure brCoding over the
hearth wa, shown, but as the flames lea p
ed up two other figures could be seen sit
ting mOtionlesS before it. When the door
was shut they acknowledged that interrupt
ton by slightly changing their position.
i ne one VINO nEu risen 10 smut uoOi
sank back into invisible seat, but the
attitude of each man was one of profound
reflection or reserve, and apparently upon
some common subject. which made them
respect each others silence. However, this
was at last broken by laugh. 1t was a
boyish laugh. and came from the youngest
of the party The two others turned their
profiles and glanced inquiringiy toward
him. but did not speak
Il was thinking" he began in apologetic
explanation, how mighty queer 1t was
that while We were working like niggers
on grub wages, without the ghost of a
chance of making strike, how we used to
sit here, night after night, and fapdoodle
and speculate about what we'd do if we ever
did make one; and Low, Great Scott, that
We have made it, and are just wallowing
in gold. here we sitting glum and
silent II we'd had a wash out! Why.
Lcrdi / remember one night-not so long
ago either-that you two quarreled over
the swell hotel you were going to stop
at in Frisco, and whether you wouldn' I
strike straight out for London and Rome
and Paris. or go away to Japan and China
ard round by India and the Red sea-
NO, We didn't quarrel over 1t, said one
of the figures gently; there was only a
little discussion"
Yes but you did, though returned the
young fellow. mischievously. land you told
Stacy, there. that we'd better learn some
thing of the world before tried TO buy it
even hire it, and that it was just as
well to get the hayseed out Of our hair and
mixed in polite society.
Well don't see what's the matter with
that sentiment now returned the second
speaker. good humoredly. only" he add
ed. gravely, we didn't quarrel-God for
biG.''
There was something in the speakers
tone which seemed to touch a common
chord in their natures. and this was voiced
by Barker, with sudden and almost pa
thetic earnestness- II tell you what, boys.
we ought to swear here tonight to always
IT! We ought to hold ourselves always at
each others call. We ought to have
kind of password or signal, you know, by
which We could summon each other at
any time from any quarter of the globe"
Come OF the roof, Barker murmured
stacy, without lifting his eyes from the
fire But Demorest smiled and glanced
toieTantiy at the younger man.
Yes. but look here, Stacy" continued
Barker. comrades like US, in the old days,
used to do that In times of trouble and
adventures Why shouldn't we do il in
luck?'
There's a good deal in that Barker,
boy, said Demorest, though as a general
thing passwords butter no parsnips and
the ordinary, everyday, single yelp from a
wolf brings the whole pack together for
business about as quick as a password
But you cling to that sentiment and put 1t
away with your gol1 dust in your belt
What / like about Barker is his COM
modiousness." said Stacy. Here he is,
the only man among that has his future
fixed, and his presumption lines laid out
and registered. He's already got a girl
that he's going to marry, and settle down
with on the strength of his luck And I'd
Ike to know what Kitty Carter, when