The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-29


a weaver of cloth from the cradle until
the fever of Klopdyke had entered his
blood and torn him away from his LOOM
His CABIN stood midway between sixty
Mile Post and the stuart River, and men
who made 1t a. custom to travel the trail
to Dawson hkened nun to a robpel baron,
percned IN has fortress and exacting tod
from the caravans that used his ill-kept
roads.
Une afternoon in April he sat by biz
door--for AL the world like a predatory
spider-marveling at the heat OF the re-
turning sun and keeping an eye on the
tiali Tor prospective Ties. The Yukon lay
at his teet, sea OF ice, disappearing
around two great bends TO the moth and
souIn ana stretching an honest two mileo
from bank to bank.
Jacob Kent was feeling particularly
good that afternoon. The record had
been broken the previous night. and he
had sold his hospitality to no less than
twenty-eight VISITORS. True, it had been
quite uncomfortable, and TOUR had snoied
beneath his bunk all night; but then II
had added appreciable weight to the sack
in which he kept his gold dust. Tha.
sick, with its glittering yellow treasure,
was at once the chief delight and the
chief bane of his existence. Heaven and
hell lay within its slender mouth. In the
nature of things, there being no privacy
TO his one-roomed dwelling, he was tor
tured by a constant fear OF theft. II
would be very easy for these bearded,
desperate looking strangers to mako way
with it.
e.nten he dreamed that such was the
case and awoke IN the grip OF nightmare
A select number of these robbers haunted
MIN through his dreams, and he came TO
know them quite WELL especially the
fSronzed leader with the cash on his
right cheek. This fellow was the most
persistent of the lot, and, because OF
him, he had, in his waking moments,
constructed several score OF hiding places
in and about the cabin. After COLI
cealnent he would breathe freely again,
perhaps for several nights, only to collar
the Man with the Cash III the very act
OF unearthiug the sack. Then, on
awakening in the midst of the usual
struggle, he would at once get up and
transfer the bs g to O new and more IN
genious crypt. So he continued to bleed
the unfortunates who crossed his TIRES
hold, and at the same time add to his
trouble with every ounce that went into
the SACK
As he sat summing himself thought
came to Jacob Kent that brought him to
his feet with a jerk. The pleasure of
life had eliminated in the continual
Weighing and reweighing Of the dust;
but shadow hsd been thrown upon his
pleasant avocation, which he had hither-
to failed to brush aside. His gold scales
were quite small; in fact, their maxi
mum was a pound and half-eighte'
ounces--while his hoard mounted up to
something like three and third times
that. He had never been able to weigh
it all at one operation. 1t was the So
luton of this prob en- flashing across his
mind that had just brought him to his
feet He searched the trail carefully in
either direction. There was nothing ia
sight, SO he went inside.
in few seconds he had the table
cleared away and the scales set up. TN
one side he placed the stamped disks to
the equivalent of fifteen ounces, and bal
anced it with dust on the other. Re-
placing the weights with dust, he then
had thirty ounces precisely balanced.
These, in turn. he placed together on one
side and again balanced with more dust.
BY this time the gold was exhausted,
and he was swes ting literally He trepl-
bied with ecstasy, ravished beyond meas
ure Nevertheless, he busted the sack
thoroughly, to the last least grain, till
the balance was overcome and one side
of the scales sank to the table. Eun'f-
Drum, however. was restored by the addi-
ton of a pennyweight and five sri ins to
the opposite side. He stood, head thrown
back, tEansfixed.
The sack was empty, but the potenti-
atty of the scales had become immeas-
urable. Upon them he could weigh any
amount. from the tiniest grain to pounds
upon pounds. Mammon laid hot fingers
on his heart. The sun swung on its wes-
tering way till it flashed through tie
open doorway, full upon the yelow-bur
dened scales.
''Gawd blime me! but you've ave the
maxim OF several guild there, 'aven't
you?'
Jacob Kent wheeled about, at the same
time reaching for his double-harreled
shotgun, which stood handy. But when
his eyes lit on the intrrder's face he
staggered back dizzily. 1t was the face
OF the Man with the Cash.
Thc msn looked at him curiously.
oh, that's all right, ne sald, waving
his hand derrecatingly. "You needn't
think as I'll arm you or your blasted
dust. You're a rum 'un, you are" be
added reflectively, as he watched the
sweat pouring from of kents face and
the qliavering of his knees. why don't
you pipe UP and say somethin'?" he went
on. as the other struggled for breath.
'.Wots gone wrong O. your gaf? Any
think the natter"
"W-w-where'd you get it," Kent at
last managed to articulate. raising a
shaking forefnger to the CHASTITY scar
which scanned the others cheek.
''Shipmate stove me down with a mar
linspike from the main royal, An now 81
you ave your fgger'ead in trim, wot
want to know is wot's it to you? That's
wot I want to know wot's 1t to you?
Gawd blime me, do it 'urt you? Amt
1t SNUG enough for the likes O you?
Thats what ! want TO KNOW
No, no" Kent answered, sinking upon
a stool with sickly grin. II was Just
wondering"
Did you ever soc the like?" the other
vent on trueulentlv.
NO