The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-17

there, blocked under foot. confused
by the flight Of snow, he wandered
for an hour. up hill and down. By
at last by the side of the uump of his
claim.
His hands were numb and as stir
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 a
hunching figure-a man. who, like
himself, had just achieved the scaling
OF the pile
instantly the man stopped and drew
n pistol. 1t was Roberts. "Cuss the
cold!' he growled. His hands were
so stiff he could not cock the revolver
He threw 1t down in the snow. "Stur-
gls"' he growled, advancing; "glt 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 ut a iightp
Sturgls staggered trlAe backward,
and placed his burden quickly In the
snow.
"You is 1t, Roberts?" he chartered.
Stand awayr' He tried to draw his
pistol, but failed.
| Crouching, the men circled about,
their great numb fists awkwardly
swinging, like frozen clods. Rushing
heavily in. Roberts dealt the younger
man blow in the face, and they
clinched like bears, to struggle on the
rocky dump, scuffling the snow with
| their frozen boots.
| They broke away and circled again.
Sturgis silent, Roberts savagely growl-
ing:
"Blame 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 were not so stiff as
those of his foe; he paved in the
snow n second for the buried revolv-
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' breathe1 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. land there-you are"
Pocketing the pistol, he moved to-
ward the tunnel, and stumbled over q
small heap in the snow.
Huh" said he. Blankets, hey? 1
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 kidw 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.
"Sturgls!' he cried abruptly, "he
fetched you!-fetched my boy--and
where was 1? He done it, sure-my
Lord, but you're coldv'
He stumbled toward the mine.
HE done it," he went on moaning.
"Tll go and APOLOGIZE will. I'll go
and fetch him in. didn't know-I
couldn't have knowed."
Fastening forth, after placing the
child on the warmer floor of the tun-
mel, he shambled forward. Out on the
dump the figure of Sturgis was weak
ly attempting to rise. Crouching near,
stealthily advancing, knife held
ready for deadly stab, was Stink, the
half-breed, nearing the wounded min
er for a stroke.
'Heyw roared Roberts.
Jumping ahead like a maddened bull.
he threw himself on the savage. The
knife was batted endways, but the
Indian trlpped Ip the white mans
feet and together they rolled over
the snow-rlated rocks, locked in a
| deadly embrace.
The savage it was now whose bony
| fingers searched about the miners
belt and whipped out the pistol. He
rose on one knee and swung the weap-
on backward. Roberts, hot with rage,
butted him humping blow with his
head, bowling him partially over.
The two struggled to their feet to
wrestle and fight for the weapon. The
Indian, wrltbipg like snake, eluded
the grasp of his foe, bent the miner
backward with a tSrust-out hand, and
struck with the heavy revolver.
Roberts instantly dropped to a knee.
and clutching the leg of the treacher-
Gus Stink, jerked it outward with a
vengeful haul.
The half-b.eeds blow failing to
land, and swinging him about, helped
to fetch him down. He struck on the
back of his head in the rocks, with a
shiver, slowly Strengthened out-dead.
Bleeding and painting, the miner
stood for moment, prepared for
further struggle. Then he made his
way to Sturgis, who was sitting in the
snow. weakly.
"Sturgis," blurted Roberts, II arolo-
| glze-I do. ] didn't-know you had
saved the little-kid. I'd like-to
shake your-paw and apologize-which
| | never Sono-fo INV mon haP,,.o