The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-12-12
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My Friend Jardln



Copyright. 1905, by c. H. sutcliHe-l
Ny friend Jardin and had been to
gether nine years when we separated,
he 10 20 west with an uncle and / "a
enter d law Office ct home. We wrote
each other weekly for three years and
we're as faithful as lovers. Up 70 this
time we had both been poor, depend
lag on. ourselves more than on our IA
there but now a relative died and left
ME 10000 In cash. Ny nrst letter to
JardIn after receiving the news was to
offer him present Of 5000.
lie replied that he was doing well In
the mining business and did not need
aud would not accept the money, but II
wanted TO double II in six months be
would show me how and take share
q the profits After some further cor
re5?oa.ence started for the west with
my legacy In my pocket
! found Jardin serving as assistant
superintendent In gold mine, and we
greeted each other as two old friends
should. He had prospectsd bit and
made great find
II was q week before we were on
the mountain where his find was 10.
Gated and where my money would be
needed TO make wagon roads, purchase
machinery and bring In q staff Of la
borers. On the forenoon OF the second
day our pack horse met with a fall and
was famed, and w decided to lay by
for a day to give him a chance to re.
cover.
At 3 o'clock In the afternoon Jardin
started out TO scout around the camp
aud over the trail we were to follow
the next day, and | spread blanket
over the pine needles and lay down
Tor a nap. 1t was still. quiet day.
and was doing when the thought
suddenly flashed over me that IardIn
meant IT. !. end found myself SIT.
ting ~ before knew 1t. laughed
aloud at the thought. II my own
mother had been there and told me
that he meant me Ill would not have
believed H. lay down again, and
then II struck me that he had acted
rather queer and constrained since
starting. He had written me to bring
gold from Denver. He had made sure
that brought $4,000. He had almost
hidden mo away in the mining village,
and he had insisted that I take another
name and conceal my home address.
His excuses at the time seemed more
than enough, but now when began 70
argue things point by point was
rtunncd. Taking the case wholesale,
:, rou might say. believed In him as.
p - other man, Taking It point by
point, had TO conclude that be had
,os..9 evil scheme on hand.
agGin was absent for two hours and
IN returned to report all quiet. u
5csAn to watch him now, and knowing
la a. well as did | soon saw that
? WIS ~ at ease. He no longer look
I'd re in the eyes a. Of old. he was
aervous and furtive. found a dozen
reasona for suspectlng him.
To the west OF our camp the side Of
the mountain rose sharply, and there
were several great powders almost
towering over as. II Il had been the
rainy season I should have feared that
some Of them might have become loos-
ened and fallen down OH us. After
supper we smoked, talked Of old times
and cared for the horses. and about o
o'clock Jardin suggested that we turn
In 30 a. to get an early start IN the
morning. We had pitched our small
tent and gathered pine needles for a
bed. and the night was one for sleep.
Jardln seemed 10 fall asleep almost at
once. but could nst sh';t my e.es
didn't Sigh and kick about aad jar
din must have believed me 60 ha sound
asleep when be finally rose M with the
utmost care. looked at me for a mo
ment and then, taking the crowhar
from the pack. walked toward the
powders, What on earth he was go
ing to do was beyond me until slyly
followed him to see with my own eyes.
found him digging and prying BE-
hind tho biggest bowlder. and that
hoWider was right ln line with the tont
and only ffty fest away. thought At
arut that he waa locking Ter gold: shat
he was developlng come sort Of . md
20 ahow me n the morning, I held taI
thls Idea Tor three or four minutes and
was about 10 address him and give him
the laugh whsn another idsa entered
my head and brought ont the geoaa
noah ell over my body.
Jardin was wOrhlng b ron nat giant
bowldar down upQn the tsne and me a.
I alepel II waa q matter not 10 Be ar
gued Il was murdsr ~ had been con
tsmplating ever since he had written
me % come westl Some men might
have acted diffsrentiy n my place
They might have made their presence