The San Francisco call., 1906-07-01
CHAPTER XXXII.
Martin Young Tells What He Saw.

Those were dull days at Jacks. Jack
was like a surly old lion; he showed
lis teeth TO every one who got gay"
Whoever had a story to tell told it in
an undertone. inefectively, missing the
point, and winning only faint. half
hearted response. AS for singing, there
was none of il.
Who could enjoy a glass under such
circumstances! 1t was whispered
around among the frequenters of the
salon that Jack would have to go out
Of the business.
Late that hcilly November afternoon,
however. after the 6ray day when the
superintendent of missions called on
Vaughan, a crowd had gathered such
as had not been seen at Jacks in
weeks All the old set were there and
many others who came but seldom.
Barker. Winslow. Ned Wilkins. as well
as Jo and Dick and Tim Noonan. This
was partly due to the weather. which.
like the crack of a whip, on the first
cold nights is apt to drive human ami
mails hero ing together. And it was due
also. in part, to the report that
the superintendent Of missions was
in town, had come, in fact. to
patch up matters for the Par
son. Some said the thing couldn't be
done, others contended that the Parson
would be more popular than ever in a
into groups and discussed the situation
not before Jack; he would not allow a
word on the subject to be said at any
time in his presence He went from
group to group, now. and, as soon as he
drew near, the topic of conversation was
changed About o'clock. as one and
another threatened to go home for
grub" Martin Young stumbled up the
steps and almost fell into the room.
For Gods sake give me a drink,
somebody" he called. His hand shook
as it received the tumbler and he
spilled very nearly half the contcHts on
his clothes.
"seen a ghost. Mart?" inquired a
jaunty young miner.
Ghosts be damned" returned Martin
solemnly.
CT me another he called. holding
out the empty tumbler.
BY this time he had become the center
of interest. Every one pressed forward.
curious to learn what Martin Young
saw The second glassfui followed the
first and then he turned and faced them,
his small reddish eyes redder than ever,
his bristling beard avry.
Come on, les hear! What did you
see. Mart?" they urged. What was it?'
He glanced toward Jack. standing by
himself aaprt from the crowd, grave,
watchfuI his brows bent in the anxious
frown they perpetually wore, those
days.
II see a norful sight" he said i'm
pressively, wiping his mouth with the
| back of his hand II sea man-push
woman-over the Geiger Grade-an
then-jump over hisselfp
! What MANI
What man."
| what woman
They crowded him. 1ostied him. Bar
ker and winslow and Ned Wilkins rub
hing elbows with the rest. What man.
What woman they repeated. But they
! knew what man and what woman
Only Jack remained aloof and silent
eripping a chairback till the knuckles
of his great hands stood up white a9d
hard.
asked again
Martin locked at Jack before he an
swered, "The Parson-an'-an'-
before he could finish Jack was in the
midst of the group. shaking Martin as q
| terrier shakes a rat. "Ye lo%-livec
curn, he growled between his teeth
Eye damn Iiarv
ITS the truth, fore Gawd' declared
Martin, rolling UP his eyes until very
little more than the whites showed
..Lemme go. Jack. It's Gawd truth
Hone may die if it amt! Yo go 'rount
bv the lower road an you'll find EN-!
Boys" called Jack. one hand still OF
Martins collar, there's been an-acci
dent. Who'll go along O. me on
/ search?'
II Will" said Dick promptly.
1 "So'n T." said 10.
Half dozen stalwart fellows Joine'
them. Lanterns, ropes. ladder wer
nrocured Now" said Jack jerkini
Martin into the front of the line. lea
on; and IL we've lied, it'll be as muel
as your damn neck's WORTH
Martin led the way, down the din
streets of Eureka. up the hill. over tn
brow of It, by a sudden turn to tn
right. over a narrow. dipping pathwa
that wound and clung TO the side o
the mountain. Now and then a MAJ
I fell over a tree root or stone, 5wo-
deeply. picked himself up and wen
on, grumbling; otherwise they marche
in silence. The swinging lanterns sen
their rays out. this side and that. re
vealing glimpses of the gray sage
brush and huge licksn- -blistered rocks
There was nothing else.
They were almost at the end or tn
path, when suddenly. Dy common i'm
pulse, the instructive turning toward
a presence. every man looked up. hold
ing his lantern high over his head. .
lrnurmur ran down the line, There the