, 1898-09-19

Of wealth gathering tonight and double
his fortune by . single coup? The skiff
was all ready for the morrow's journey
down the river. he could easily reach
North Fork by daylight, and miles of
Tom before the latter could make the
trip ACROSS the almost impossible noun.
tain trail. He weakened for q moment
n he thought Of Toms almost mother
ly solicitude, Of how throughout their
wanderings the big hearted miner had
borne the brunt Of the struggle. Even
when tho treasure was discovered the
old mans first words were, 'I'm glad
for your sake, Billy" Then he asked
himself II he. too, was growing senti-
mental, and tonight, Of all nights, on
the very eve If battle.
He walked back to 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
moothed away the deep burrows, mir
rored the rugged honesty Of his heart.
But the touching picture meant nothing
to Billy, who watched the sleeper for
IN instant. and then proceeded to put
his oowardly 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 treasure for safe t%ransporta-
t1Nu~ nI,nrn N-no n vnnb Nf Or1Vnp
triumph on his face as he completed his
preparations. He was thinking of the
surprise awaiting Tom, who had been
fool enough to believe in human
friendship"
He made a cautious step toward the
door Of the shack, when a slight noise,
real or fancied, caused him to glance
back over his shoulder. The next in
slant the bag Of gold crashed to the
floor. while Billy sank on his knees, as
though felled by q blow. Tom was sit
ting bolt upright in bed, his revolver
leveled at Billy's heart.
The two gazed at each other a mo-
ment in utter silence. Billy's eyes, FIX
ed with the penetration born Of despair,
scanned the old mans face and read
there reproaoh and pity rather than q
thirst for swift revenge. This some
what treasured him, and he rose to his
feet.
"Well," he said bluntly, "what do
you intend to dot"
49," said Tom with q long breath,
II wuz mistook in you after all. To
think that I gave you my friendship an
you want worth It. What be l going
to do? What do men usu'lly do when a
pardner turns thief"
"You wouldn't shoot me, Tom?"
"Why not? Mems been killed fer
less AN this, Al the world wuz we'll
rid Of EN-"
Then 1t did mean death.
As Billy realized this his face turned
ashen pale, while a palsying terror
struck through him, rending his bra
vado mask and revealing him as the
pitiable bastard he was. He covered
before the old man, pleading hysteric.
ally.
"Oh, spare me, spare me, Tom. You
said you cared nothin for gold, while
IL was mad with love of it. It is my
god-my ~heaven-my everything. But
take it, take it all-oniy give me my
fe-Tom-I-I-can't-die.
cit up" commanded the other
ooldly. Don't make me despise you
worse'n I do. What would you do If
You wuz in my place? Shoot, wouldn't
you? You'd kill me now II you had the
chance"
"But think. Tom. what life means to
me. I'm young and"-
"Think what friendship meant to
me, Billy. I'm old"
In the moMentary silence that follow
ed the pines and the river could be
heard singing their old, old song, un-
needing of the strife Of mortals for a
scrap of the treasure they guarded.
Tom heard the song, and his bitterness
seemed to go out with the weird melo.
dy. The hand that held the weapon
dropped listlessly to his side.
'I'll spar ser life," he said hoarse-
ly. "You kin CO."
Billy stood q moment as though he
had not heard.
Eyer free. Cor said Tom.
The boy glanced from the old man to
the bag Of gold and then turned slowly
toward the doorway.
"You better take yer pile now" said
Tom quietly, "as I reckon You won't
be comm back"
"Do you mean itY" gasped Billy.
Certainly. Halls yourn, amt it?
There's only one thief In this camp, an
lit amt me
Tom proceeded to open the bag. and
roughly divided the contents.
"You can take the boat; that goes
with your hall. As fer me-" he added
In a voice hat wavered in spite Of him
self, "I'll do what I'd. "a done if you'd
"a robbed me. I'll stay awhile longer
with the mountains an the river.
They're uncertain sometimes, IN some.
times they're dangerous, but mostwise
they're better'n men,"
Billy vaguely appreciated the nature
of the man with whom he was dealing,
yet he felt that such nobleness required
some acknowledgment. He sprang for
ward and tried to grasp the old mans
hand.
"No, no-not thatl" cried Tom
iercely. Don't touch me. The gold is
yourn. Take It an go. But go quickly,
Billy-fer God knows-I'm only hu-
man. "-Leavenworth Macnab in Argo-
naut.
TRIEnnIAl coacLAVE KNIGHTS
TEnPlAR.