Gloucester County Democrat., 1898-09-29

ended for him the hell on earth exist
ence in these solitudes. His future
course was plain. Mercilessly he would
engage III the war for wealth. His heart
must know but one love-the love Of
gold.
And the stake. it was not so much
after all. If he only had Tom share
tool The thought startled him, and he
looked furtively about as though already
ander surveillance. Well, why not?
What was Tom to him now? The old
man cared nothing for gold. He had
said as much. Why not begin the task
of wealth gathering tonight and double
his fortune by single coup? The skiff
was all ready for the morrow's journey
down the river. He could easily reach
North Fork by daylight, and miles of
distance would lie between him and
Tom before the latter could make the
trip across the almost impossible noun
tain trail. He weakened for a moment
as he thought Of Toms almost mother
ly solicitude, of how throughout their
wanderings the big hearted miner had
borne the brunt of the struggle. Even
when the treasure was discovered the
old mans first words were, "I'm glad
for your sake, Billy" Then he asked
himself if he, too, was growing senti-
mental, and tonight, Of all nights, on
the very eve of battle.
He walked back to the house. Tom
was fast asleep. The Pickering light of
IL, f,II
he lay, his powerful form half swathed
in the tattered blankets, his brawny
arms thrown above his head. The face
from which sleep seemed to have
smoothed away the deep furrows mir
rored the rugged honesty Of his heart
But the touching picture meant nothing
to Billy, who watched the sleeper for
an instant and then proceeded to put
his cowardly scheme into effect. It was
but the work of few minutes to gather
together the things necessary for the
short journey down the river and to
secure the treasure for safe transporta-
tion. There was look of cunning
triumph on his face as he completed his
preparations He was thinking of the
surprise awaiting Tom, who had been
HfooI enough to believe in human
friendship"
He made cautious step toward the
door of the shack, when slight noise,
real or fancied, caused him to glance
back over his shoulder. The next in
stant the bag of gold crashed to the
floor. while Billy sank on his knees, as
though felled by blow. Tom was sit
ting bolt upright in bed, his revolver
leveled at Billy's heart.
The two gazed at each other mo-
ment in utter silence. Billy's eyes, fix
ed with the penetration born of despair,
scanned the old man S face and read
there reproaoh and pity rather than a
thirst for swift revenge. This some
what reassured him, and be rose to his
feet.
"Well, !" he said bluntly, "what do
you intend to dof''
$780, said Tom with long breath,
81 wuz mistook in you after all To
think that I gave you my friendship an
you wan worth it. What be going
to do? What do men usu lily do when a
pardner turns thief?'
"You wouldn't shoot me, Tom?'
Why not? Mems been killed fer
less an this, an the world wuz well
rid of 'em +"
Then it did mean death.
AS Billy realized this his face turned
ashen pale, while palsying terror
struck through him, rending his bra
vado mask and revealing him as the
pitiable bastard he was. He covered
before the old man, pleading hysteric-
ally.
"Oh, spare me, spare me, Tom. You
said you cared nothin for gold, while
IL was mad with love Of it. It is my
god-my heaven-my everything. But
take it, take it all-only give me my
e-Tom-I-I-ean t-die."
"Git up" commanded the other
coldly. "Don't make me despise you
worse'n I do What would you do if
you wuz in my place? Shoot, wouldn t
you? You'd kill me now if you had the
chance.
But think, Tom, what life means to
me. I'm young and''-
''Think what friendship meant to
me, Billy. I'm old. =
In the momentary silence that follow
ed the pines and the river could be
heard singing their old, old song, un-
needing of the strife OF mortals for a
scrap of the treasure they guarded.
Tom heard the song, and his bitterness
seemed to go out with the weird melo-
dy. The hand that held the weapon
dropped listlessly to his side.
"I'll spar yer life,' he said hoarse-
ly. "You kin go.
Billy stood moment as though he
had not heard.
Yer free. Cor said Tom.
The boy glanced from the old man to
the bag of gold and then turned slowly
toward the doorway
You better take yer pile now, said
Tom quietly, as reckon you won t
be comm back.
DO you mean it?" gasped Billy.
Certainly. Half's yourn, amt it?
There's only one thief in this camp, an
lit amt me.
LON proceeded to open the bag and
roughly divided the contents.
You can take the boat; that goes
with your half. AS fer me, " he added
in a voice that wavered in spite of him
self, '.I'll do what I'd "a done if you'd
"a robbed me. I'll stay awhile longer
with the mountains an the river.
They're uncertain sometimes, an some
times they're dangerous, but mostwise
they re better'n men. y
Billy vaguely appreciated the nature
of the man with whom he was dealing,
yet he felt that such nobleness required
some acknowledgment. He sprang for
ward and tried to grasp the old man
hand
No, no--not thatl'' cried Tom
fiercely. Don't touch me- The gold is
yourn. Take it an go. But go quickly,
Billy-fer God knows-I'm only hu-
man. Leavenworth Macnab in Argo-
nork