Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-10


is there-nan who has life to exchange for gold
and here and there he has dug we'll for the gains
thereof are abundant. Gold Circle camp is thirty
one miles from the nearest approach OF
a railroad. The space between is a hfelesS
desolation, spanned by road through
alkali and dust, with single well at the -
station in the center of the desert where Ax1s
man and beast may drink.
Val Maynard sat on a box in the glare
of the sun at the Bright Hope mine in
Gold Circle camp, where he and his part
ner had delved for gold, and he
grimv accepting defeat. He tall
gray-eyed young Hercules whom the
passing months had been marked by
growth of beard. He was bronzed and
toughened; his hands were swelled and
calloused; he was Pent with force and
courage; but through the quvering atmOs
phere, this afternoon, he could see no
CLEAN of golden hope. The mining shalt
which he and Blake had broken in solid
adamant was a rugged hole as barren of
gold as the paving blocks of Wall Street, z
and their ca pital was gone
There nothing for Maynard to do
but to sit there and wait for Blake to
return from the town, half mile below
That there would be no results, however,
from the assays of rock which Blake had recently
taken from the claim Maynard thoroughly
convinced Yet, despite it al-the months of
privation and toll, and the futile expenditure
of money-the man felt an eager impatience in
his veins and glow of happiness burning in his
breast at every leap of his memory that carried
him back to Helen Woodruff and the letter he
had dared to write and send her. Could Blake
only bring HIM word or two from her-SOme
tremulous half encouragement of his 1ove-the
world would be world of gold and his heart its
living treasury.
He was far awav in thought and mood when the
crunch of Blake's footsteps the rock-strewn
hillside aroused him from his dreams. Blake came
up the final rise of the slope deliberately He was
young and large as Maynard, but his gaze was far
less steady.
To all appearances the man was calm enough
as he dropped himself down to rest upon a timber
by the mine; but the gold-seeker's fever was upon
hff11 his NISOn nd
and touching his latent avarice with flame. More
over molten stream of jealousy was coursing in
his veins, and his loyalty to Maynard had suffered
violence.
For moment after his partners arrival Maynard
remained unmoving on his box. He was looking at
Blake and the smile of a conrade played in his
eyes Well he said finally, you We had a pretty
hot climb from the camp, Howard. Any luck? Any
gold in the rock? Any letters?"
Blake hesitated for a second, then told double
No letters he said mo luck"
In his pocket lay letter addressed to Maynard
in Helen Woodrt1ffs hand-such a letter as MAYNARD
had hardly dared to dream she might have sent 1t
was opened and Blake had read its lines And beside
the letter lay folded sheet of paper which the
camps most dispassionate assayer had written
terse report the sample of rock which Blake
and his partner had submitted for the test of acid
and fire. 1t declared the rock to be rich-worth
five thousand dollars to the ton.
Maynard felt the rays of happiness fade from his
nature. A dullnesS into his eyes. " Well
| didn't expect much else, he said after moment
pause; but our luck might have changed little
at last"
Blake watched him furtive1y I've got prop
osition an offer for the lease he said. I'VE can
drop everything just as it stands and sell our
lease the claim for five hundred dollars. The
moneys on deposit at the bank
Maynard looked at his partner incredulously
I'VE can sell lease for five hundred dollars? ?"
he echoed Somebody wants to go digging here
where we have failed?"
That's what l said answered Blake, without
meeting his partners gaze We've gone broke
theV md
haps. That's all there is to it. If you don't care to
sell"