The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-03
1 thank you. You've been,a good friend
b meme and;Suei 3,yf
""rhere, there" sud trspted Mills, "it's

and a tri6e embarrassed, concealing hi
emotions By . sudden display Of energy.
Not another word was spoken. Soon al
was ready, an open lamp applied to tn
waiting fuse, and the men retreated t
the open.
I'm five minutes, pardner," Mills said
as they went along, well be couple O.
them capitalist chaps"
"And Sue too" amended Rube.
"Yes, Sue too" assented the senio
member Of the firm. "You see, she'i
nachelly one Of them heirs an assign
forever which the document would men
ton, 30 be we had one'
He started for the cabin, but Rube lin
gered. Better come to grub" counseled
Mills. "The old hole won't be fitten tc
live in fur an hour"
Rube seemed to assent, but he did not
follow. As Mills reached the cabin there
was muffled sound, tremor Of rock
as the granite mountain quivered, and
out from the slope rolled a cloud of
smoke. Mills was soon in the cabin get
ting supper.
In 20 minutes the coffee had been
made, the bacon fried, and biscuit were
crisping in the oven. Still RUDE did not
come. II wonder where he u.s." said
Mills. "Boys is so reckless" And with
an uneasy feeling he started back up the
| trail.
"Rube, come to supper" he called.
His voice bounded from side to side of
the canyon, but there was no response.
The heart Of Mills sank with the thought
Of impending evil. Calling again and
a0Aiu hn In hn ~ H.
out Of which an acrid vapor foated, HOY
ering In the air. I'm afeared RUDE
went in" conjectured Mills, and, hastily
removing his coat, he dropped it in
powder key Of water, swathed it about
his face and started blindly down the
slope.
At the foot of it. held down by cruel
block, he found RUDE, inert, apparently
lifeless. With giant effort he almost
hurled the block aside and, taking Rube
In his arms, staggered, stumbled, crept
to the outer air. Oh, the blessed balm
Of that air as 1t touched bis face! He
took one breath, laid his burden down
and fell beside It, prone, motionless. The
sun was giving the Hottest peak its fare
well caress. Below bird was singing a
good night song. The rosy glow passed;
the bird was STILL the shadows crept
higher. But there lay the dead and the
stricken.
The inquest was short. resulting In the
finding that Reuben Jackson had come to
his death by dispensation of Provi-
dence, "aided and abetted by his own
carelessnsss, for which. he being boy,
we do not blame him."
There was a funeral, too, picturesque
and pathetic, where the music was the
harping Of the wind in the pine tops and
the finest tribute the tears Of John Mills.
Then the grave was rounded over, the
partioipants-all but one-withdrew, and
that night the moon shone down on
solitary figure sitting by mound, his
head bowed in his hands. "Too late, too
late" the figure murmured. "We're rich,
my pardner and me, and it won't do him
no good" Nor was Mills speaking idly,
for, clutched In the rigid fingers of Rube,
John had discovered a fragment of quartz
threaded and bound by wires Of virgin
gold.
The next day Mills was in Denver. |
His first visit was to mining expert
somewhat familiar with the district,
THE Millennium" said John, pointing
over his shoulder in the general direction
Of Rocky canyon, she's fur sale. The I
price is two hundred thousand. Take her
or leave her"
Next he took his wav IN n lswvor
"Draw me nm ono ~ than nanor. :" ho
said, mailing over to Susan C.mnhs,, ~
Missouri a half interest in tho Million.
MUM"
"What consideration p, ssked tho man
of business.
Consideration? Wbv for INV n.rdr.r
of course"
NECESSARY exnlonat,ons ,o,,ovod aud
the consideration was n,sood a, SIn
which Mills consc,ent;oralv tool out ~ ~
one pocket and nut into another DPS
best to have eyerytbing on Tho s,ror,n
be thought,
swami this recordedw con+i,rod ,ho
LAWYER when the dins snur, ond onnlos
had been described with Technical nicstv
mot fur a SPELL" replied Mills. "Iest
,;vo II r. mo A. hepa I g.. n.i h jest
In east bound train.
He reached a little town T., n,;ssour;
As he walked the streets he thought
With strange thrill, NJ afsect;or , ,h.t ha
vas where Rube had been thorn and
aised." Every yillager knew tho raSi.
lence Of Henry Campbell. and soon Mills
vas ringing the bell. The door was
pened by a young woman-suei Rmt
ureIy not the Sue of Rube's dreoms and
lis own imaginings. She was nrettv in
careless way, but her wranner was ba.
rimed her slippers. one Of which nro.
ruded, displayed a hole, and her hair
vas in papers. Mills was shocked md
uzzled. The girl said Good n,orn;no,i
nd awaited DEVELOPMENTS.
I'm from out west" said the visitor.
Colorado" Then, after A pause. con.
cious of an ,mnorto nj on;ss;pn ~ ~
a, my names John Mills "