The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-29

Sald Slowly, that hopin' TO ma II is
better'n fndin' it,
DUH CLEANS of light from a smoky
lantern fell athwart the face of the old
miner, rugged, homely, deep furrowed
by time and hardships, and offering
marked contrast, indeed, TO the hand
some, patrician features of Billy Bal
ley, his junior partner.
"Findin', Billy, means quittin'. It's
an end to the wants an privations I've
knowed for nigh 20 year. But, some
how, I've come to like these still ole
mountains, an the singin' of the pines,
an the river. They've growed like
friends, an I'm never lonesome among
'em. Listeni You can hear 'em now.
Maybe it's the las time they'll ever
sing for me"
We're going back to civilization"
continued Tom, unheeding the others
lack of sympathy with his reminiscent
mood An that means separation. l
know you like me, Billy. feller
couldn't want a better partner than
you've been for the two year I've
knowed ye. But with yer eddication,
an yer young blood, an yer ambi-
tions. you amt my kind in civilization
We can't be the same down there. l
couldn't expect it. But I think pow
erful deal of you, Billy. r
II, L
paniOn, impaIientlY, you're in the
dumps tonight Take drink and brace
up. Should think you'd look on the
bright side of things now. We've
worked hard and starved in these
cursed wilds for gold, until at last
we've got it, Think of the city's ten
thousand pleasures that this stake can
buy for US. There's no life IN these
damned solitudes. It's there in the
4 Oor n al 10
when we've got such a god-the god of
gold-to see us through"
Billy laughed gloatingly in anticipa-
ton. Then once more he fixed his eyes
with a glittering intensity on the yell
low heap which meant for him all that
life can mean to a selfish, love-lack
nature
But it amt fer me" persisted Tom.
I'm past them things. If it want for
the hope of findin' the old woman down
there in Frisco an maxim her comfort
able. I'd stay. I don't care fer the
GOLD at ali. I've found it, an my
hungerin' fer it is satisfied"
Billy made no answer. He had long
since become resigned to the diversity
of their taste, and tonight he was in
no mood for argument. He got out
some materials. and began TO repair a
rent IN his coat Tom rose presently
and dumped the nuggets into gunny-
sack. Then he arranged his blankets
for the night
Put it away safely, Billy" he said,
jocularly; we're already on the edge
of civilization. an must learn to be
pertickler.
TIL look after it. never fear said
the other shortly; good night"
Billy finished his task. but his mind
was stin busy with thoughts of the
future. He rose and stepped out into
the night. At his fee. the turbulent
river rushed black3y along, its foam
crests cleaning like dull silver in the
clear starlight Behind him lowered
in silent mystery the rugged, wooded
mountains. The air was heavy with
the breath OF the pines. But Billy saw
none of the beauty of the night. The
hardships and hopelessness; the river
was only highway to civilizations
He lit his pipe and began to pace up
and down the shell ing shore.
There was none Of the stuff of which
heroes are made in Billy Bailey's COM
position. Had the fates seen fit to con-
tinue their kindly beginning, heSwould
probably have developed into one of
the horde of whited sepulchres that
so largely make up what the world is
pleased to term the respectable of hu-
manity-those who observe the cOnven-
tons to the letter, indulge every desire
with studied care that wins the APP
prevail of mel, and, dying. are respect
fully buried and speedily forgotten. On
the contrary, fate had preferred giving
BILLY chance to prove his mettle. His
college career, cut short by the melt
ing away OF his fathers fortune, ne
awoke one morning to find himself face
to face with the world, his wits his
only capital.
He remembered tonight his struggle
to maintain his social position; the
Sights heaped upon him by erstwhile
boon companions; the gradual sinking
away of hope, until, with starvation
staring him in the face, he had shipped
in a vessel bound round the Horn
On his lips were curses for the friends
who had failed him; in his heart a re-
solve some day to retaliate. He re-
called his hardships on the western
frontier, his final falling in with old
Tom Jennings. and the hopeless search
for gold until a week ago, when the
gravel Of dried-uD mountain stream
unexpectedly yielded them their for
tune and ended for him the hell-on-
earth existence in these solitudes. His
future course was plain Mercilessly
he would engage in the war for wealth.
His heart must know but one love
the love of gold.
And the stakei It was mot so much
after all. II he only had Toms share,
too. The thought startled him, and
he looked fUrtively about, as though
already under 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 a single
coup? The skiff was all ready for the
journey down the river. He
could easily reach North Fork by day
light, and miles of distance would lie
between him and Tom before the latter
could make the trip across the almost
Impossible mountain trail. He weak
ened for moment as he thought of
Toms almost motherly solicitude; of
how, throughout their wanderings. the
miner had borne the brunt
of the struggle. Even when the treas
ure was discovered, the old mans first
words were, I'm glad for your sake,
Silly" Then he asked himself if he,
too, was growing sentimental, and to-
night, of all nights, on the very eve
of battle.
He walked back into the house Tom
was fast asleep. The Pickering light
OF the lantern fell aSlant the corner
where 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 fur
rows. mirrored 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. 1t was but the work of a
few minutes to gather together the
things necessary for the short journey
down the river and to secure the treas