The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-09-19
The K|0ldyke Gold Mystery.
By JOHN r. MUSICK,
Author of mysterious Mr. Howard" 9TH
Dark Stranger" "Charlie AlIendaIs's
Double" Etc.
Copyright, 1897, By ROBERT BoSyEH's soss.
All rights reserved.
CHAPTER II.
The Storm Bursts.

turb the young pleasure seekers, who
had come out from Fresno, California
to have a good time One tall, grace
full girl whose golden hair and deep
blue eyes would have attracted any be
holder, was standing in the shadow OF
a tree, whittier she had wandered
alone. She took very little interest in
the sports of her youthful companions,
no more youthful, however than her
self. AS she strolled under the shades
of the pines her pale blue parasol half
concealed face that was exquisite in
its loneliness.
"Oh, Laura, why are you alone?''
asked a pretty, dark-eyed girl leaning
\ on the arm of her lover as she passed.
There are plenty of young fellows
who would be glad to take Pauls
place. Shall tell them they CAM"
THANK you, Nellie; do not want
them" while faint smile fitted over
her face.
At this moment another couple
passed where the three stood, their
faces half hidden behind a pink en-
brella. Nellie, smiling, said:
There goes Clarence and Nellie
Bush. People say they are to be mar
ried in the spring and start for the
Klondike."
Laura sighed and her little friend
went on. The gaze of Laura Kean was
now riveted on Clarence Berry and
Ethel Bush. The rumor that they were
going to that strange, far-off northern
country awakened in her mind a new
interest in them. Ethel Bush was one
of her dearest friends, and Clarence
and Paul had been boys together.
|. AS Clarence and Ethel sat in the
shade of tree, they built anew their
air castles amid the glaciers and ice
bergs of the frozen north.
II hope / don't intrude," said a
sweet, silver-like voice, and, looking
UP, they beheld their friend Laura
Kean standing near, smile on her
pretty face. "My excuse for coming
is to discuss your intended journey to
the Klondike. l have heard you are
going in the early spring"
1--WE have so decided" Clarence
Berry answered.
"And if agreeable l have decided to
accompany you"
Ethel Bush was delighted, and de-
\ clared if they could find preacher in
Alaska the wedding would be cele-
brated in the frozen north. The three
sat on the green and planned and
talked with increasing enthusiasm, and
Laura, with her pretty face beamine
with happiness, arose, left the lovers
to themselves, while she strolled down
the grove, that her mind might con
lure I'D her lovers joy and surprise
at meeting her in those faraway re
gions.
Unconsciously she strolled deep into
the wood and was lost to the sight Of
her friends, when a footstep neal
caused her to start in surprise If moi
alarm. Before her stood young mai
of twenty-eight, with pale cast o.
countenance and keen blue eye. He
was of figure that might have beer
called handsome, but to Laura Kear
he was repulsive. She gave him
glance and gasped:
"Mr. Lackland!"
Theodore Lakeland had followed
Laura to this picnic and into this Woo
with a set purpose in his heart. H.
was wealthy, young man of goo'
family and reputed ability, but nal
of firm and fixed purposes. To accom-
plish an end he would go to almos
any limit. He had known Paul Mile
long before he set off for the Klondik
and hated him because he loved Lauri
Kean. Why should this beautiful girl
the only woman whom he had eve
loved, prefer this rude, penniless cour
try boy to himself?
Mr.. Lakeland failed to realize wha
so many have in this life-that it |
the soul that attracts and not the fac
and figure. There is no freemasonr
so subtle as the freemasonry of tn
soul.
81 am pleased to see you happy, Mis-
Kean," he said. There has Away
been something wrong with me, an
while others are happy l am sad"
Surely it is a morbid fancy" sal
Laura. The light was dying out l
her eyes. She made one quick dowl
ward look at the path, as if wishin
to pass him. He observed her glanc
and said:
mo, no, Laura, wait moment;
have something of great importanc
to say to you, which l must say now.
81 have just been told that yo
have decided to go to Alaska in tn
spring." He looked earnestly into tn
girls glowing face, and added, wit
elaboration:
Laura, there are reasons why yo
should not undertake such journey
What reasons?"
"a million natural obstacles are
the way"
IF Ethel Bush can go, why not II"
He did not answer Immediately, bl
stood at the side of the path carelessl
kicking the leaves with the toe of h
boot Az last he ansWAsed.