Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-25
feet to drive out the cold that crept

|
the brush, he Travelled for time
westward, up the hill.
"Hullo" he cried again. "Hey, there.
hullo"
This time smothered moan was
borne on the wind
across the gulch," he breathed,
and descended to the bottom of the
wrinkle in the mountain, and up on
| the further accliyity. Forward and
back he plodded, calling repeatedly.
At length nearly ready to give the
search over, he stood in the storm to
listen. Suddenly, less than three
feet away, hump of snow stirred
slightly.
Sturgis stopped toward it instantly,
pushed off the blanket of ice, and lift
ed up stiffening little form, cold and
helpless.
by graciousw said he, "but this is
too bad. The tunnels the nearest
place to so, and maybe l can light
fire."
"Divesting himself of his coat, he
wrapped it about the child, held him
close, and strobe away in the path of
the storm. Floundering here slipping
there, blocked under foot, confused
by the fight OF snow, he wandered
for an hour, up hill and down. BY
sheer good fortune he found himself
at last by the side of the uump of his
claim.
His hands were numb and as stiff
as wood; he felt that hardly a spot of
warmth was left in his body. AS he
labored up the side of the dump to
the top, he was confronted by q
hunching figure-a man, who, like
himself, had just achieved the scaling
of the pile.
Instantly the man stopped and drew
q pistol. 1t was Roberts. "Cuss the
coldw he growled. His hands We're
He threw it down in the snow. "Stur-
gis!" he growled, advancing; "git away
from here. Your claim is jumped.
You haven't done assessment. The
mine belong to me-savvy? y?-unless
you're better than me at a 1ight.'
Sturgis staggered triae backward,
and placed his burden quickly in the
snow.
you is it, Roberts?" he chattered.
"Stand away" He tried to draw his
pistol, but failed.
Crouching, the men circled about,
their great numb fists awkwardly
swinging, like frozen clods. Rushing
bonViIv i'm Pohartc InoIt tba vounonT,
man Il blow in the face, and they
clinched like bears, to struggle on the
rocky dump, scuhiing the snow with
their frozen boots.
They broke away and circled again,
Sturgis silent, Roberts savagely growl-.
ing:
BLAINE you, I'll learn you now!
Mary would have made a good moth
er to my kid, if it hadn't been for you.
She liked me first"
you lie," answered Sturgis.
Roberts's hands We're not SO stiff as
those OF his foe; he paved in the
snow q second for the buried reyoly-
er. Sturgis leaped to strike with his
leaden fist. Weakened and chilled,
| however, his muscles all but refused
to act. Roberts met him, grasped at
his throat, and pulled out the pistol
dangling from the others belt.
Look out for thatr' breathed Stur
gis, as they surged about, and lurching
Roberts backward, he made him avoid
| trampling on the child.
| This action gave Roberts an opening.
| Down came the butt of the pistol, and
without sound the miner sank in the
snow.
Il told you'd do you-up, if ever
you came to-Alder Creek,' painted
Roberts, 'and there-you are"
Pocketing the pistol, he moved to-
ward the tunnel, and stumbled over a
| small heap in the snow.
| Huh" said he. BLANKETS, hey? l
reckon l can use them myself" He
raised the bundle. 1t stirred; the coat
fell away from the white little face,
while a tiny hand dropped Imply
down, clutching a smooth round gourd
Lord! It's my little kid!' cried
Roberts. "Hey, little boy-it's Dad.
God, you're cold" he added, grooming
ly, terrible cold" and he held the
child wildly and fondly to his breast.
"Sturgis" he cried abruptly, ''he
fetched you.-fetched my boy-and
where was {? He done it, sure-my
Lord, but you're cold"
He stumbled toward the nine.
HE done it," he went on moaning
"l'll go and apologize-I will. I'll go
and fetch him III. 1 didn't know-I
couldn't have knowed."
| Fastening forth, after placing the
child on the warmer floor Of the tun-
mel, lie ahambled forward. Out on the
dump the figure of Sturgs was weak
ly attempting to rise. Crouching near,
stealthily advancing, a knife held
ready for deadly stab, was Stink, the
half breed, nearing the wounded min
er for a stroke.
'Heyw reared Roberts.
Jumping ahead like 4 naddelcl hull,
he threw himself on the savage. The