Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1904-03-10
CHAPTER /.
"Give Me My Dreams Again"
By
Tom Gallon

at best, of a mushroom growth, and
sprang up, if not exactly in a night
at least in a feverish fashion in a few
days.
The name of the town does not con
Germ us; you will not find it on any
map. A boom created it; a lying re
port concerning certain unworked sill
yer mines was responsible for its
birth. Coming into existence SO sud,
denly and with such great prospects,
il had of necessity to be built in a
hurry; so that its tumble-down houses
are of wood. 1t had originally several
saloons and a dancing hall; in that
first mad rush streets were designed
and I've finished; a lath and plas,
ter hotel was run up that never got a
of the struggling streets was a little
house of wood, standing quite apart
from the unfinished town, as though
waiting. shyly enough, for the town to
come out and meet il. With that
house we are intimately concerned,
for a matter Of one night-a hot and
MINDLESS night in summer. Within
the little house a light shone, and an
old man-thin and shriveled and dried
up-sat with his elbows propped on a
table, staring straight before him.
His eyes were bloodshot and heavy
and wild; his thin, knotted hands
were clawing at his lips, as though he
hungered for something and dreamed
he might get it.
The man was not really old; only
something had withered the flesh off
his bones, and cracked and yellowed
his skin until II looked like parch
ment. In one corner of the room in
which he sat was an old SOFIA gaudy
thing, that had been brought in the
first flush of supposed prosperity to
the place, and remained, incongrouos-
ly enough, as the one ironical note in
the furnishing of the room; for the
rest, the room held only wooden
chairs and an u%pturned box or two
and the deal table at which the man
sat.
On the gaudy couch lay a young girl,
covered over with an old and tattered
blanket. The mans back was to-
ward her, yet he shuddered every now
and then, as she turned restlessly and
muttered and moaned unintelligible
things. He knew that she was dying
and he could do nothing to help her.
They had come q long way for this;
II was the bitter end of a weary jour-
ney-and the end was death.
Down below in the ruined town a
few lights shone-the last pickering
signals, as it were, that had been set
hopelessly enough at the end Of a
hopeless day. For a few derelicts
still fingered in the place, and man
aged to exist in some mysterious
fashion; even one saloon kept open,
and from within it could be heard the
sounds of a battered and jingling pi-
ano, all out of tune. Occasionally a
shadow fitted across the street, or
one stridant voice called to another.
From somewhere out Of the depths
of 1t a wreck Of a nan had got to the
little house twice that day-a man
who once had called himself Doctor.
and had not quite forgotten what he
had learnt; and this wreck Of a man
had shaken his head and had given no
hope. Save for this young girl, there
was no woman about the place; she
was to die alone, just as the hopeless
day was dying over the ruined town.
Then from the north of the town
coming out Of the dark and MINDLESS
night like two spectres descending
upon it-came a man and a woman.
riding hard. From the dust upon them
and from the heavily breathing horses
they had evidently come a long way;
the woman, though she rode well, yet
dropped owe her saddle. and had to
shake herself now and then. or be
encouraged by a sharp word from the
man who rode with her, to keep go
ing at all. The mar was a dark-eyed,
handsome fellow - reckless-looking,
and with certain gay adornments to
his picturesque dress. and certain
bright buttons about 1t, that bespoke
the dandy. And In his face as he rode.
and in the quick glances he gave from
time to time behind him, was a dead
ly fear that had gnawed at his heart.
and at the heart Of the woman. for
many hours.
Hold up, Joyce!" he cried. sudden
ly. I'VE stop at the next place, wher.
ever It Is: we can 30 no farther, even
II we have to get food and horses at
the muzzle Of one Of my shooters.
Hold up!"
"Save your breath; I'm all right
said the woman, doggedly. did You
ever know me to give In yet? Did
you ever know me to turn back from
anything I'd put my hand tor Do you
think I've come so far as this only to
turn back now?"
'No-you're all right" said the man.
IF they were all like you l wouldn't
mind. You will stick to me, Joyce?a
I'm doing it--and not talking about
II" she said. sharply: and they rode
n ntlence