New-York tribune., 1906-06-10

- trowning rock. the valleys are absolutely
WaterlesS. barren. and lorGdding. But man
Is there--nan who has lie TO exchange for gold
and here and there he has dug well tor the gains
thereof are abundant. Gold Circle camp is thirty
one miles from the nearest approach of
"a railroad. The space between Is 4 hieless
de~olauon Spanned by q road through 4
a4a>ai and dust with single we'll at the -
station IN the center of the desert where a~
man and beast NAV 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 was
g-Inly accepting defeat He was tall
gray-eyed Young Hercules whom the
passing months had been marked hv
growth Of beard. He was bronzed and
coushened; his hands were sweled and
cllloused; he was pent with force and
courage but through the quIyerlng atrnoS-
phere, tins afternoon he could see no
gle4u OF golden hope. The mining shaft
which he and Blake had broken in solid
ad-mant rugged hole a barren OF
gold as the paving blocks OF Wall Street.
and ther capital was gone.
There nothing for MAYNARD TO do
hur 10 SIT there and wait for Blake 10
return from the town, half a mile below.
That there would be no results however.
from the assays Of rock which Blake had recently
taken from the claim. Maynard was thoroughly
convinced. Yet. despite il an-the months OF
IrIVatlon and toll. and the futile expenditure
ot money-the man felt an eager impatience in
hlS VEINS and d glow Of happiness burning in his
breast Al every leap OF his memory that carried
hrn back 10 Helen Woodruff and the letter he
mad dared TO write and send her. Gould Blake
only bring hlIn a word or two from her-sOme
trenulOus. hall encOurag cement OF his love-the
world would be a world OF gold and ms heart its
living treasury.
He was far away in thought and mood when the
crunch OF Blake's footsteps the rock-strewn
hillside aroused him from his dreams. Blake came
UP the 1lnal rise OF the slope deliberately He
as young and large as Maynard but his gaze far
less steady
To all appearances the man was calm enough
he dropped himself down TO rest upon timber
bv the mine but the gold-seekers fever was upon
hn. bluTrIng ms VISION and duIhng ms conscience
and touching his latent aVaTICe with flame More
over a molten stream OF jealousy COursing in
ms veins, and his loyalty to Maynard had suffered
violence
For moment after his partners arrival, Maynard
remained unmovlng on his box. He was looking at
Blake, and the smile OF a cornrade played IN his
ewes. Well, he said, finally, YOU 've had pretty
hot climb from the camp, Howard. Any luck Any
gold in the rock ANY letters
Blake hestated for a second, then told double
lie.
No letters" he said e" 10 luck"
In his pocket lay letter addressed TO Maynard
IN Helen Woodruff hand-such letter as Maynard
had hardly dared 10 dream she might have sent 1t
was orened and Blake had read its lines And BESIDE
the letter lay folded sheet OF paper on which the
oa-7rs most disrlass ssionate assayer had written
-erse report on the sample OF rock which Blake
and his partner had submitted Tor the test OF acld
and IRE II declared the rock TO be rlch-Worth
FIVE thousand dollars TO the ton
MAYNARD felt the ravs OF happiness fade IRON ms
nature a dullness came into his eyes. wen
] didn't expect much else, he said after moment
pause, " bat luck might have changed Htle'
Blake watched him furtively, I've got prop
osi,ion an offer for the lease, he sad We can
drop everything Just as II stands ana sen our our
lease On the claim for tve hundred dollars. Inc
moneys deposit at the bank
MAYNARD looked his partner lncredulouslE:
d" We can sell lease for 1--WE hundred dollars
he echoed Somebody wants TO 60 on digging mere
.rra- -ls.TF