Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-10-08

folks talk agin you."
"Oh. it's Bakerv' exclaimed the ex-
banker, shaking hands with Pole and
beaming on him. well, l don't know
n man I'd rather have for a friend"
he said smoothly.
Pole tossed his head and looked
straight into the speakers eye. I'm
fer human justice, Mr.. Craig" he said,
IAN don't think folks has treated you
right What man is thar that don't
now an then make mistakes, sir1
You've always had means, an I never
was anything but pore mountain boy.
but I've always looked on you as q
good man, law abdin' man, an I
don't like to heer folks try to blanc
you fer what another man done. When
you had plenty. never come nigh you,
beca'se 1 knowed you belonged to one
life an me another. but now you are
fat O yore back, sir. Fin yore friend"
Craig's face beamed. He pulled his
beard; his eyes danced.
I'm glad there are men in the world
like you. Baker" he said. 81 say I'm
glad, and I mean it,"
Fincher hGd begun to look over the
figures in his book and walked to the
front.
ooh. my friendship amt with moth
in" said Pole II know that. l never
was in the shape to hep nobody, but
know when q mans treated right or
wrong"
"Wcll, II you epr need assistance
and can help YOU. don't fail to call
on me-" Craig spoke with a tone Of
sincerity.
Pole took a deep breath and lowered
his voice, elancng cautiously into the
house, as if fearful of being overheard.
"Well, | do need advice, Mr.. Craig"
he said-"not money nor nothin' ex-
pcnsive But I've laid awake night
after night wishn' at 1 could run on
some man of experience that l could
AK fer advice an that I could trust.
Mr.. Craig, I'll be blamed Of 1 don't
feel like tcllin' you some'n' that never
has passed my lips"
Craig stared in interested astonish-
ment. "Well, you can trust me. Ba-
kcr." he said, land, if l can advise you.
why, I'll do it with pleasure"
There was cotton compress near
by. with its vast sheds and platforms,
and Pole looked at it steadily. He
thrust his hand into his pants pocket
and kept it there for a full minute;
then he shook his head. drew out his
hand and said II reckon 1 won't both
or you today, Mr.. Craig. Some day
I'll come in town an tell you, but
Pole looked at the sun. Il reckon I'd
better be gon'."
Hold on.' Craig caught Poles arm.
The banker was a natural man.
Despite his recent troubles he had his
share of curiosity, and Poles manner
and words had aroused it to unwonted
activity. Hold on" he said. Whats
your hurry: I've got time to spare if
you have"
Pole hung his head for moment in
silence; then he looked the old man in
the face "NIr. Craig he began in even
a lower voice, do you reckon thar's
any gold in them mountains" Pole
nodded to the blue wave in the east.
Craig was standing near Il bale of
cotton, and he sat down on it, first part
Ing the tails of his long, black coat.
Il 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 Daloncga.'
Pole had his hand in the right pocket
of his rough jean trousers.
as thar anybody in this town that
could tell a piece o gold eff they seed
it, he asked.
"Oh, a good many, l reckon" said
Craig, a stccly beam of excitement in
his unsteady eye. Il can myself.
spent two years in the gold mines OF
California when was a 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 a most won
derful blending of fear and oyercau
tiousness.
"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 q
/ friendly. downward stroke.
/ you can trust me, Baker, he said
| persuasiyely, 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, as that thar lit
| tie lump gold or notE' he asked.
Craig started yishly as his eyes fell
on the piece of gold. But he took il
indincrently and examined it closely.
"Where did you run across that?' he
asked.
Il want to know Of it's the puore
thing answered Pole.
Craig made another examination, OBJ
viously to decide ON the method he
would apply TO a situation that claimed
all his interest
Il think it is" he said-"in fact.
know it is
Pole took it eagerly, thrust it back
into his pocket and said:
MIR. Craig, / know whar thars a
vein o that stuff twenty yards thick
runnin' clean through a mountain
"You doF' Craig actually paled un
der his suppressed excitement.
yes. sir. an | kin buy ii, lock, stock