The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-04-15
BY ROBERT w. McCULLoCH.
WE HAD been at work on survey

homes ick-ail but McGinrI>, the COCK.
Besides. we were furnishing for news
Our mail and the late papers ard maya
zines should have been sent to us ever!
two weeks, but for nearly two months
nothing had been seen of the old trap
per who acted az mail carrier. anG rO
messenger nor message of any kind had
reached Us from the outside world.
One night after supper We lOurged
OF our damp beds. ten Ct Us in one tent
waiting for beG;ime. The work of the
day had been unusually hard and the
hours long. We were too leg-wedry and
heavy Of spirit to 20 anything but the
little pntchr.g that was regularly neces-
sary ard to lounge.
McGinni> came over from the cock
tent to tel Us one CT his tales of 40 years
ago. His stories possessed one rare
quality. They were reminiscent Of the
wild life CT the mountains in the earlier
days. but McGinris played no promi-
nent par: in any Of :ihem. We were All
curious to learn something about the
old man. but our curiosity was never
satisfied. Frequently as a story in
which he figured gave promise of show
ing his younger self put to test of
strength or Of courage. he would break
off suddenly or change the entire trend
Of bis story. But he enjoyed spinning
lis yarns, and our silence of late had
afforded him the opportunity of life
time
"Well. | see yous are the same merry
crowd "a ever" he said. cheerily, as he
took the only chair in the tent "But
which Of YOU is it that's comm up the
slore yonder. I'd like to know?"
Several of us looked at him wonder
ingly. Those who were busy paid no at
tentiOn whatever.
The camp dog stretched. went lazily
20 the opening. then grew suddenly
alert and began to bark Almost in
stantly ten heads were crowded be.
tween the tent flaps
Sure enough, some one whom we
could not see clearly in the dim light
was coming up the valley. 1t was evil
IDENTITY mar. following the line of our
survey higher up the mountain slope,
though only short distance away.
We finally fell over one anotherin our
sudden excitement. Everyone seemed
moved by the same impulse. \ half
dozen pairs of wet and worn-out boots
disappeared from the passage between
tine two rows of hunks at the same in
slant. Some one ran out and shouted to
attract attention. Then everybody else
shouted. because there was suddenly
shouting in the soul of each.
McGinnis went quietly and lighted
the fire he had laid for morning in the
cook stove. The head chairman made
a place near the tent opening for an
other bed.
The rodman and the stake artist"
fell to wrestling and rolled about in the
tent and then out of it with most uneX-
pected agility and high spirits.
y voice said it was not the Cid mail
carrier, and we became still more Gu
rious. Not a member of the party
doubted that it was some one brinrinr
our mail.
Two or three of the boys went to meet
ashamedof the eagerness we had shown.
went back to thetent. threw ourselves
down on the beds and assumed attitudes
of Indifference
We heard McGinnis calling: "Come
over to the cook tent and eat before the
boys start you to talking; they'll never
let you stop after"
I've Ct" a strange voice answered.
We inside sat up again. our anticipa-
ton reawakened. A short, heavy-set.
square-]awed man, without grub pack
or blankets. limped painfully into the
tent and sat down on one of the beds.
He was evidently much trave,-worn. but
his small. beadlike eyes were intensely
bright. and their glance from one TO an
other of us was rapid and searching.
Didn't you bring any mail?" asked
the rodman. abruptly.
We all looked at the stranger eagerlv
and waited.
NO." he answered, in a disinterested-
ly calm voice that fingered unpleasant
" in our ears.
The stranger felt in. the inside pocket
of his coat.
"Only letter found i'm the trail at
the last creek crossing" he said. quietly,
as he again searched us with his small.
restless eyes.
Its for some one named Patrick Nc
Ginnis." he continued. holding up an
unopened letter.
DO you know him."
The old man reached for his letter and
silently held it TO the light of the near
est candle. Then we all saw that it was
crUmpled, and deeply stained.
''Widout my spectac.es. it looks like
blood on IT," said McGinnis. slowly.
Il thought it was blood, too, and
fresh" said the stranger.
The trail was torn up near where I
found it and the bushes beat down. T
hunted without finding anything; but
my foot was so lame couldn't get far
through the BRUSH"
There was sudden movement in the
tent. but no one spoke. The boys shook
out their coatsand put them Oh. Every
one understood what was to be done.
Those who owned rifles took them down
and provided themselves with car
tridges. Every weapon in camp was
hurriedly put in. readiness for use.
The chief CT the party had come over
from the instrument tent when our
guest arrived.
What kind of tracks were there?" he
now asked.
Il couldn't make OUT the stranger
answered.
TAKE the lanterns and plenty of can
This Is Your Opportunity.
On receipt of ten cents, cash or stamps,
a QanarOuS ga1ar,lo will ho x,,a:l.l e Al