Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-09-01

THE YELLOW GOD.

Il \
( THE YELLOW GOD. I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tom Jenkins ran his hand through
the COLO that lay heaped on the floor
ct the shack. Seems to me, Billy"
he said, slowly, that hopin' to find it
Is better'n finuin' Y"
Dull CLEANS Of light from smoky
lantern fell athwart the face Of the
old miner, rugged, homeiy, deep-fur-
ruwed by time and hardships, and Of
fering a marked contrast indeed to
the handsome, patrician features OF
Billy Bailey. his junior partner
"Findin', Billy, means quittin'. It's
ar end to the wants an privations
I've knowed for nigh twenty year.
But, somehow, I've come to like these
still ole mountains, an the singin' OF
the pines, an THE river. They've grow
ed like friends, an I'm never lone
some among EN- now. Maybe its the
las time they'll ever sing for me"
We're going back to civilization"
continued -om, unheeding the others
lack OF sympathy with his reminiscent
mood, IAN that means separation. l
know you IKE me, Billy. A Teller
couldn't want better partner than
you've been fer the two year I've
knowed you. But with yer eddica!
ton, an yer young blood, and yer
ambitions, you amt my kind in CIV
lization. We can't be tine same down
there. | couldn't expect it. But
think a powerful deal OF you, Billy,
l."
oh, come, TOm," broke in his COM
panion. impatiently, 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 an starved in these cursed
wihs for gold until at last we've got
1t. Think Of the city's 10000 pleas
ures that this stake can buy for US.
There's no life in these damned soil
tudes. Its there in the crowded
streets, and it can all be ours when
we've got such god-the god OF gold
to see us through"
Billy laughed gloatingly in antici-
patton. Then once more he fixed his
eyes with glittering intensity on the
yellow heap which meant for him all
THAT life can mean to o selfish, love.
struck nature.
But it amt fer me" persisted Tom.
I'm past them things. If it want fer
the hope OF findin' the old woman
down there in Frisco an maxim her
comfortable, I'd stay. don't care fer
the gold after all. I've found it, an
my hungerins fer it's satisfied"
Billy made no answer. lie had long
since become resigned to the diversity
of their tastes, and tonifht he was il
no mood for argument. lie got out
some materials, and began to repair
a rent in his coat. Tom rose pres
emily, 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
dt Utilization, an must learn to be
pertckler."
"Ill look after it, never fear" said
fhe other, shortly; good night"
Billy finished his task, but his mind
was still busy with thoughts of the
future. He rose and stepped out into
the night At his feet the turbulent
river rushed blackly along, its foam
crests cleaning like duh 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 mountains awakened memories
OF hardshlps and hopeessness; the
river was only highway to civilza-
ton. He lighted his pipe and began
to pace up and down the shelving
shore.
There was none of the stuff of
which heroes are made in Billy Ball
ey's composition. Had the fates seen
hit to continue their kindly beginning.
he would probably have developed
into one OF the horde OF whited sep
ulchers that so largely make up what
the world Is pleased to term the re-
spectacle of humanity-those who OBJ
serve the conventions to ,he letter, in
dulge every desire with a studied care
that wins the approval of men, and
dying are respectfully buried and
speedily forgotten. On the contrary,
fate had preferred giving Billy
chance to prove his mette. His col
lege career, cut short by the melting
away of his fathers fortune, he
awoke one morning to find himself
face to face with the world, his wits
bis only capital.
He remembered tonight his strug-
gle to maintain his social position;
the slights heaped upon him by erst-
while boon companions; the gradual
sinking away OF hope, until, with
starvation staring him In the face,
he had shipped in vessel bound
"round the horn. On his lips were
curses for the friends who had failed
him. In his haarf q rpsnlva some dau