The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-09-15

IL is now five weeks since | came to
this place to satisfy what am begin
ming to believe is nothing more than a
mere whim. My friends thought it a
strange freak for a man engaged to one
of the reigning bellies of the city to
leave suddenly in the height of the sea-
son for an extended hunting trip in the
heart of the mountains.
l have been here five weeks. hunting
a httie, and wandering around a great
deal more. | found this little cabin in
the raN1ne a few rods from the old
stage trail. There was another, a larg-
er house. built of logs also, but I
burned it up. l began on it the first
night camped here, building a fire
Of its logs each night as I returned
from my trips over the mountains.
Last week, the last log of the other
having been consumed, began on this,
and tonight, when ! came in, l found
there was just enough timber left for
n more night, and gathering it to-
gether set fire to it. Tomorrow l will
pack up ard go back to civilization and
my bride.
Tonight, as l raked the Goals togeth-
er. a stranger came over the top of the
ledge abov, the fire and, after standing
looking at me for IA moment, climbed
down the' ,cky path to my camp.
knew him in an instant, but felt
safe in my disguise of fashionable
clothes and smooth face. Tie could not
recognize me now!
After he had shared my supper we
pulled out pipes from our pockets and
smoked. l had him at d disadvantage,
for l knew him. and could study the
emotions that swept over his face as
the freight illumined it. He was ten
years older than when ! saw him last,
and he was thinner and more haggard.
led ma NAY and after. "a time he be-
gan talking about his odd evidence
Of human life out in the wildS of the
Rockies.
1 assented and he went on.
"TwelNe years ago this was probably
the most God-forsaken mining camp in
the world. A rougher set of men it
would be hard to find. But it all
changed for the better. and then for the
worse again. You would hardly ues
1t. but even out here. hcmmed in by the
Rockies, the course of this reformation
and of the relapse was-woman, and
the same M
lone day there was an accident to
the stage up on the trail and a woman.
wha was the only passenger, was
brought down by the driver to be kept
over night while he went back for help.
She was a sort of Presbyterian mis-
sionary on her way out to some Indian
tribe or other She stayed that day
anu llt IlcAl, anu DS ne I'LL LIZ dllN-
er returned the man had induced her to
promise to remain for a few weeks as
she said. Nothing would induce her to
stay permanently, although the leader
Of the camp told her they needed
preaching as much as n one-oi
which there could be no doubt-and
promised all manner of reforms if She
would stay.
"Shc did work a rapid change ir
those men. They built her this los
house we are using as tirewood, ant
she lived in it. Their they Quilt her {
church. and on Sundays they all gath
cred in it while she preached to them
They gave up gambling n they gav'
up drinking. 1t was getting to be f;
model community. For every man il
that ann was madly in love with he
unless it was one, but'he was of n
account.
A OF o sudden it changed. The wo
man going through the camp one even
ing at sunset heard the old-time oath
and saw the old time drinking an
gambling. She went into one of tn
tents II the men shamefacedly pu
away the cards. But her power owe
them was gone and She realized it.
THAT night the woman was awaken
ed from her sleep by a mob of men a
her door. which UP to that time ha'
been sacred. She asked what wa
wanted and they old her to dress an
come out: they wanted her at tn
church