, 1898-09-19
THE YELLOW GOD.
Goodby.

the shack. "Seems to me, Billy" he
said slowly, THAT hopin to find it is
better'n finding it,"
Dull 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 q
marked contrast indeed to the hand
some. patrician features of Billy Bailey,
his Junior partner.
"Findin, Billy, means q%uittin. It's
an end to the wants AN privations I've
knowed fer nigh 20 year. But somehow
I've come to like these still ole noun
tains, an the singin of the pines an the
river. They've growed like friends, an
I'm never lonesome among 'em. Listen,
you can hear 'em now. Maybe it's the
las time they'll ever sing fer me-"
"We're goin back to civilization"
continued Tom, unheeding the others
lack Of sympathy with his reminiscent
mood, IAN that means separation. I
know you like me, Billy. A Teller
couldn't want a better pardner than
you've been fer the two year I've know
cd you. But with your eddication, an
your young blood, an your ambitions, you
amt my kind in civ lization. We can't
be the same down there. l couldn't ex.
poet 1t. But I think a powerful deal of
You, Billy. r.
"Oh, come, Tom" broke in his CON-
panion impatiently, you're in the
dumps tonight. Take a drink and brace
up. Should think you'd look on the
bright side Of things now. We've work
ed and starved in these cursed wilds for
gold until at last we've got it. Think
Of the oity's 10, 600 pleasures hat this
stake an buy for us. There's no life in
these id solitudes. It's there in the
crowded streets, and it a all be ours
when we've got such q god-the god Of
gold-to see us through"
Billy laughed gloatingly in anticipa-
tion. Then once more he fixed his eyes,
with q glittering intensity, on the yell
low heap, which meant for him all that
life can mean to q selfish, love lack ma
ture.
"But it amt fer me. persisted Tom.
''I'm past them things. II it want fer
the hope Of findin the old woma down
there in Frisco an maxim her comforta.
bic, I'd stay. / don't care fer the gold
after all. I've found it. an my hungerin
fer it's satisfied"
Billy made no answer. He had long
since become resigned to the diversity
Of their tastes 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
ard dumped the nuggets into a gunny
aAck. Then he arranged his blankets
for the night.
"Put It away safe, Billy" he said
3ocularly. "We're already on the edge
Of civilization an must learn to be PER-
tickler."
''I'u look after 1t, never fear" said
tho other shortly. Good night"
Billy finished his task, but his mind
was still busy with thoughts Of the fu-
ture. He rose and stepped out into the
night. At his feet the turbulent river
rushed blaokly along. its foam crests
cleaning like dull silver in the clear
Starlight. Behind him lowered in silent
majesty 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 hardships and
hopeles@ess, the river was only q high
way 10 civilization. He lit his pipe and
began 10 pace up and down the shelving
ahore.
There was none Of the stuff Of which
heroes are made in Billy Bailey's COM
position. Had the fates seen fit to con
Hnus their kindly beginning he would
probably have developed into u of the
hords Of whited sepulohers that so
largely make up what the world is
pleased to term the respectable OF hu.
manity-those who observe the nve
lions to the letter, indulge every desire
with . studied rare that wins the ap-
peuval Of men, and, dying, are respect
tally hurled and speedily forgotten. On
tie contzary. tate had preferred giving
BILLY . chance to prove his mettle. His
college career cut short by the melting
sway a his fathers fortune, he awoke
ome incoming TO find himself face to
49, with the world. his wits his only
GnpttAl.
n remembered tonight his struggles
= maiutain his social, position, the
seaiights heaped upon him by erstwhile
AM ccmpanions, the gradual sinking
uSl6 q hope until, with starvation
eea93ng him in the face, he had shipped
voasA bound round the Horn.
a ~ Npu were curses for the friends