Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-09-18

| NNN SNDAc lof TWO hours. but lis
tather-in-iaw wouldn't let him in the
boat.
Then Blankenship limped Up the
creek trying to think Of something to
90. He spent the rest Of the day and
That night in meditation. 1t was bit
ter night and his hosts had neglected
10 provide him with'a blanket. Also
he was hungry.
The next morning some gravel in
the creek bed interested him. He
picked up a double handful. Then he
got down on both knees and spent most
Of the day in that posture digging up
gravel with his frost-bitten hands.
The next day he went down the
creek to his boat and got in. His
father--in-law grinned for the first
time since Blankenship had left Chill
kat. Blankenship rowed until he came
to the store at the mouth Of Copper
river.
There he produced a small gold
nugget or two and bought provisions
and such an outfit as the store af-
forded. He said nothing about the
80 or 40 more nuggets in his hip
pocket. But the unimaginatiye store
keeper was not interested in gold
digging.
"Blankenship reached the gravel
bank again and set up a modest es-
Enlistment of his own. Then he
found in an inside pocket the two
dozen worn and water-defaced pow
ers Of attorney which he had collect
ed in Chilkat. After a weeks care
full prospecting he staked out claims
to the extent that he and his Chilkat
friends were entitled 10. Then he
dug.
HE dug for six months. When he
grew tired his father in-law prodded
him in the back with a sharp stick.
when winter came ON he rowed
down the river again, leaving his out
fit behind. Besides himself and his
father-in-law, who weighed nothing
his boat carried as big a load as she
would float under, in gold-some ESQ
pounds. From the mouth Of the
river, Blankenship rowed across like
fool to Hinchinbrook island and
caught the Sitka steamer at Nuchek.
From Sitka he travelled up to
ChillSat like a gentleman and bought
in most Of the claims he had staked
on his powers of attorney, for a
small cash consideration each. Then
he entered the world Of finance.
"The next year he sold out his In
terests in his Squaws' Creek diggings.
He cleaned up $4,000 and the com
pany that bought him out got such
a good thing that they're talking now
Of building a railroad from the
mouth of Copper river up past Mount
Wrangel to Eagle City on the Yukon
by this time Blankenship hadn't
seen his father-in-law for year and
a half. 1t occurred TO him that IT
would be a pleasant diversion to go
back to Portland, Me-, and have some
talk with his wife whose labors in
the mill he had heard Of Then he
could come to New York and other
pleasant places and spend his money.
"He dropped in on Mrs. Blanken-
ship one night unexpectedly. she
lived in one room with a cooking
stove and a bed and a very few other
things in il. She had one of the chill
dren with her; the other one had
died.
Mrs. Blankenship looked worn, but
until Blankenship brought her to
her senses she seemed glad to see
him. Then he enjoyed himself huge
". He showed her his diamonds and
his money, and gave her a definite
idea Of his resources and all it meant.
He said he hoped she would think Of
him occasionally while she and the
girl were grubbing in the mill.
Mrs. Blankenship was not proud
woman. She said she hoped he would
do something for them. She was
sick and tired, she explained, but she
didn't mind that so much; she was
thinking Of the little girl.
Guardianship told her she'd prob
ably be a great deal sicker and more
tired before she got a vacation. Then
he went back to his hotel, leaving her
weeping large tears QUITO the cook
ing stove.
Guardianship went TO bed. He was
going to take an early morning train
before Mrs. Blankenship could get
any advice that might cause him an
novapce. The hotel burned down two
hours later.
"Blankenship woke up at the first
alarm. grabbed his valuables and
node for the door. His father-in-law
s+ood in the doorway and beat him
tack II was their first meeting for
nearly two years.
Guardianship ran over TO climb out
~ the window. His father-in-law
licked him in the stomach, swearing
disgracefully. II grew hotter in the
room than the trip from Chilkat had
been cold.
..Tbev identified Blankenship's
,odv though IL was badly charred.
I1;s widow and daughter had no
+ronble in proving their rights of in
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