The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-06-01

/
Of the room, but the young man shook
his head.
E@ E@ give me a minnit, . he said. 81
guess I've got to thaw'a bit afre i can
say another word. .
Pie old man placed asthree legged
stool by the freside and sat there for a
few moments in trembling silence.
Then he rose, writhing his arms in the
air, as if unable longer to bear the nerv-
.ons strain.
"Whar are the others:'' he cried.
sDeadl' r. was the hard reply.
what! Joe an Fire Headed Dick an
French Bill, all gone under?" He
ciutched his thin hair as if in mortal
agony, and his bosom heaved as, with
lips parted, he awaited the answer
All gone under. .
! All:''
Yes, all. They're lyin in the snow
ON the Wambdazona, fruz to death. .
"Alll Ny poor boy with 'em, . walled
the old man. can yew?" he asked.
Have jew brought anything to eat?''
.sThar's nuthin that flies or walks
alive or the mount in. I've brought
nuthin but this. y
With that he painfully removed the
leather satchel which hung from its
strap across his shoulder. Itwas heavy,
and 1t fell on the deal tabls with dull
thud. The old man leaped toward it
and tore it open greedily. A number Of
uneven gIittering yellow Jumps rolled
ON the board.
WHAT'S this?'' yelled the old man.
ss'What, in the name Of God, is this"
"It's gold, Daddy Hays. goldl" was
tie even toned reply.
\ The old frontiersman raised his bony
arms heavenward.
81 sent yew an the others to fetch
food, an yew bring me stones. My poor
gell is dyin in thar. Thar's bin no food
in this house nigh ON a week now. I've
billed the bark Of the cottonwoods an
eaten it, as If wos a boss Day an day
a,a night an nig1t I've waited an said
to myself: Panther Harry will live
through it all Panther Harry will
bling me meat for my gell, acos he
loves her. Panther Harry will save my
Nellie, if he'll reach my doorstep to die
on it. An yew've come back alone, an
yew've left ever yewr rife on the road,
an yew bring ne this filthy gold. Can
yew eat gold? Can yew eat it? Speak,
il yew'r re not dumb. Take it out OF my
sight. Away with it,
He grasped feeble handful of the
shining fragments and flung them into
the fire, where they rang against the
hard baked clay Of the chimney, Then
he sat down and buried his face in his
hands, and his low means filed the
room as with calls Of gaunt death.
The young man stood there, with his
dark, pain stretched face clouded by
the old mans accusation. With slow
apa dif6dent step he stole toward him
and laid one of bis blood stained hands
gently on his shoulder.
"Dcn't speak SO hard, Daddy Hays. .
ne said, with heartbreaking quiet.
'sWe found nuthin that we could bring
on ourselves, but we found this. There's
bushels whar this comes from, an
when the wind slows down it'll pay
fetchin. I didn't think I'd live through
it, an I'm nigh dead myself, but the
instant minnit I can use my limbs I'll
take that rife an start out ag'in. I
cayn,t go out with these things on. I'd
die on the road, an thar'll be pieces Of
my skin comin away with 'em as it is.
But cheer up. Daddy. Nellie won't die,
if Panther Harry kin save her, an /
will save her STILL
The old pan remained dumb in his
grief and doubt, while Harry, with
agonized efforts, stripped off his ice
covered clothing. In the corner by the
fireside hung striped Navajo blanket
and couple of mountaineer's buckskin
shirts and trousers. Harry strapped the
blanket around his waist and tied strips
of fresh rag around his wounded and
bleeding limbs Then he sat down by
the fire, facing Hays.
can Nellie:" he asked at last
"Whar is she:''
Daddy Hays looked up.
"In thar he replied-"dead, may
be. amt had the courage to look this
hour past. -
.tShe amt had nuthin to eat-for
how long ncw:" inquired the young
man, feyerish determination gleam-