The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-03-11

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shipped in vessel bound round the
horn." On his lips were curses for
the friends who had failed him: in his
heart resolve some day to retaliate.
He recalled his hardships on the west
ern frontier, his final falling in with
old Tom Jenkins, and the hopeless
search for gold until week ago, when
the gravel of a dried-up mountain
stream unexpectedly yielded them
their fortune, and ended for him the
hell-on-earth existence in these soli-
tudes. His future course was plain.
Mercilessly he would engage in the
war for wealth. His heart must know
but one love-the love of gold.
And the stake! it was not so much
after all. If he only. had Toms share,
too! The thought startled him, and he
looked furtively about, as though al
ready under surveillance Well, why
not? What was Tom to him now?
Inc Old man cared nothing for gold
ne had said as much. Why not begin
the task Of wealth-gathering tonight,
and double his fortune by a single
coup? The skiff was all ready for the
morroW's journey down the river. He
could easily reach North Fork by day.
light, and miles of distance would be
between him and Tom before the latter
could make the trip across the almost
lmpassable mountain trail. He weak
eneo Tor a moment as he thought Of
Toms almost motherly solicitude-of
how throughout their wanderings the
b1g-hearted miner had borne the brunt
or the struggle. Even when the treas
ure was discovered the old mans first
words were: I'm glad for your sake,
Billy. Then he asked himself if he,
TOO, was growing sentimental, and to-
night, of all nights, on the very eve
of battle.
lie 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.
Ihe face, from which sleep seemed to
have smoothed away the deep burrows,
mlrrored the rugged honesty of his
heart. But the touching picture meant
nothing to Billy, who watched the
sleeper for an instant and then pro-
ceeded to put his cowardly scheme in
to effect. It 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 treas
ure for safe transportation. There
was a look of cunning triumph ON his
face as he completed his preparations.
lie was thinking. of the surprise await
ing Tom, who had been fool enough
to believe in human friendship"
He made cautious step toward the
door OF the shack, when slight noise,
real or fancied, caused him to glance
back over his shoulder. The next in
stant the bag of gold crashed to the
noor, while Billy sank on his knees,
as though felled by blow. Tom was
sitting 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,
fixed with the penetration born of de-
spair, scanned the old mans face and
read there reproach and pity, rather
than thirst for swift revenge. This
somewhat reassured him. and he rose
to his feet.
"Well," he said bluntly, what do
you intend to do?"
49," said Tom, with a long breath,
Il wuz mistook in you, after all. To
tnlnK that l 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, an the world wuz we'll
red of EN-
Then it did mean death.
AS Billy realized this his face turned
ashen pale, while a palsying terror
struck through him, rending his brav-
ado mask and revealing him as the
pltiable bastard he was. He covered
before the old man, pleading hyster-
ically.
'Oh, spare me, spare me, Tom. You
said you cared nothing for gold, while
II was mad with love of it. It is my
god-my heaven-my everything. But
take it, take it all-only give me my
e-Tom-I-I-can't-
"Git up!" commanded the other.
coldly. 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 if 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 fol-
lowed the pines and the river could ce
heard singing their old song, unheed-
ing of the strife of mortals for scrap
Of the treasure they guarded. Tom
heard the song, and his bitterness
seemed to go out with the weird mel
ody. The hand that held the weapon
dropped istlessly to his side. #
.'I'll SPAR yer life," he said, hoarse-
ly; 'you kin go"