Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-29

men were prospecting for gold In Cali
furnia. They met with incredible luck,
and in less than a year had made their
pile.
one day they went together on
shooting expedition. The younger oil
the two. Phil Mason, was accidentally
shot by his companion, and badly
wounded.
For some hours Phil was tenderly
uursed by his companion and then he
fell asleep.
When he aWOke he was alone. At
first he could not believe he had been
deserted. but as the hours passed che
horrible truth sank sntO MS mind. He
had been left TO die.
The ang0ny OF thirst and the pain Of
his wounds made him deliriOus. To
relate what he suffered would only pro
vide grewsome reading; and, after all,
il IS past and done with these forty
years and more. Besides, the subject
is to me a peculiarly distasteful one,
for 1 was Phil Mason, though l am
known by quite another name today;
and the horror OF those lonely hours OF
torment filed my soul with a bitter
hate rhat lasted five and twenty years.
Enough. then, to say that was res
cued by a black fellow, and that fort
night later / was back among men,
able to get about. though only shad-
ow Of my former self
on making inquiries found that my
chum had cleared out of the country,
taking with him our united savings.
PenniIess and weak in health, l
could not follow him. and when some
months later had got little money
together. all trace OF him had disap-
pearei.
So the years passed in this endless
quest. interrupted by spells of hard
toll.
Then one day, after five and twenty
years. the knowledge which l had
sought SO hungrily came to me by acct
dent
A careless conversation, overheard
by a mere chance. told me the present
name and habltatiOn of the man who
had wrOnged me.
Il was nearly 10 o'clock at night
when I presented myself at the door of
the handsome house in Hammond
square. the residence Of Arnold Grange,
the eminent banker.
Not for a moment did I anticipate
any trUubIe I'm obtaining an interview.
The man would not dare to send me
away.
I was right. In a few moments the
old butler returned and conducted me
t0 his master.
/ found myself in a large, richly fur
nished room. lighted only at che farther
end By a shaded electric lamp on a bic
open desk covered with papers.
At The desk stood a man with his
head turned towards me. but could
not at first see his face. Quietly
walked across the room to him, and for
a moment We confronted each other in
silence.
Prosperity had changed him, even as
adversely had changed me.
For one thing, he did not look his
years. He could have passed for As
and yet I knew he must be well over
so.
He wore a well trimmed beard an0
mustache and his skin was white
When / had known him he was clean
shaver and deeply brOnzed.
You don't recognize me, Tom Warn
err" I said at length. addressing him
by his old name.
He kept a bold front, but I thought
detected a lurking fear I'm his eyes.
1T IS long since we met" he said in
low tones.
Long. indeed" I replied, with bit
ter laugh. 1t is twenty-five years
since you left me. a wounded lad, q
die OF thirst i'm the mountains. Tween
ty-dvC years since you robbed me OF
the gold had worked and sweated
forI"
He fdgeted nervOusly. but offered
no defense, no excuse.
But I have hunted you lown al
last, Tom Warner-Or Mr.. Arnold
Grange. II you prefer that. l have
hunted you down, and by heaven you
shan't escape me nOw!"
4 sea case OF blaczmail!" he said
C0olly.
I took a step towards him, and
think the look in my eyes frightened
him.
There. there." he said hastily
I'VE need not quarrel. The past is
dead. Let's forget IL. Come and see
me tomorrow and we viii go into fig
ures. Meanwhile here Is something "a
60 on with"
He took from his pocket a thick roll
81 bills and counted me out $500.
took the bills and recOunted them
Thank you" said. as placed them
On my pocket Il viii call upon you
t0mrrow: but understand this, I shall
not be satisfied with a cent less than
the half Of your fortune II you try to