Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-03

Deea'se knowed you belonged to ono
life an me another. but now you are
fat O. yore back, sir. I'm yore friend"
Craig's face beamed. He pulled his
beard; his eyes danced III
':1'tn glad there are men in the world
like you, Baker," he said. y say I'm
glad, and mean it." g.
Fincher had begun to look over the
figures in his book and walked to the
front.
"Oh, my friendship amt with moth
in'," said Pole. II know that. never
was in the shape to hep nobody, but
know when q mans treated right or
wrong"
"Well, If you ever need assistance
and can help you, don't fail to call
on me-" Craig spoke with tone of
sincerity.
Pole took deep breath and lowered
his voice, glancing cautiously into the
house, as If fearful Of being overheard.
'Wen, do. need advice, Mr.. Craig"
he said-~not money nor nothin' ex-
pensive. But I've laid awake night
after night wishin' at could run on
some man of experience that I could
ak fer advice an that I could trust.
Mr.: Craig, I'll be blamed eff dou't
feel like tellin' you some'n' that never
has passed my lips"
Craig stared in interested astonish-
ment. "Well, you can trust me, Ba-
ker," he said, land, if can advise you,
MI, 40
There was a cotton compress near
by, with it's vast sheds and platforms,
and Pole looked at it steadily. He
thrust his hand into his pahts pocket
and kept it there for a full minute;
then he shook his head, drew out his
hand and said: II reckon I won't both
er you today. Mr.. Craig. Some day
I'll come in town an tell you. butt
Pole looked at the sun. Il reckon I'd
better be goin'."
Hold onv' Craig caught Poles arm.
The ex-banker was q natural man.:
Despite his recent troubles be had his
share of curiosity, and Pole,s manner
and words had aroused it to unwonted
activity. Hold on" he said. whats
you have"
Pole hung his head for q moment in
silence; then he looked the old man in
the face. Mr.. Craig" he began in even
lower voice, do you reckon thar's
any. gold in them mountainsY' Pole
nodded to the blue wave in the east.
Craig was standing near bale of
nj IN
ing the tails of his long, black coat. ;:
II don't know: there might be-" he
said, deeply interested and yet trying
to appear Indifferent There is plenty
of it in the same range farther down
about Dalonega."
Pole had his hand in the right pocket
Of his rough jean trousers.
lis thar anybody in this town that
could tell piece O gold ef they seed
1t?' he asked.
"Oh, good many, reckon said
Craig, a steely beam of excitement in
his unsteady eye. II can myself. I
spent two years in the gold mines of
California when was young man."
"You don't say! never knowed
that" Pole had really heard Of that
fact, but his face was straight. He had
| managed to throw into it q most Won
derful blending of fear and overcau-
tousness.
"Oh, yes; I've had good deal OF ex-
perience in such things"
"You don't say!' Pole was looking
toward the compress again
Craig laughed out suddenly and put
his hand on Poles shoulder with a
| friendly, downward stroke.
''You can trust me. Baker" he said
persuasively, land it may be that /
could be Of assistance to you"
There was something like an actual
tremor of agitation in Poles rough
hand as he drew his little nugget from
its resting place at the bottom Of his
pocket. With a deep, indrawn breath
he handed it to Craig. us that thar lit
| tie lump gold or notT' he asked.
ITO BE CONTINUED IN NEXT
WEDNESDAYS EDITION..
Business brevities.