West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-11-21
CHATTER XII


A RAW, gray day, with n driving
~ dr,zZle from seward and n
~ leaden rack of clouds drifting
low, matched the sullen. fitful
mood OF Glenister.
During the last month he had chafed
and fretted like an animal in leash
for word Of Wheaton. This uncertainty.
this impotent waiting with folded
hands, was maddening TO one of his
spirit. He could apply himself to no
liked duty, for the sense of his wrong
preyed on him fiercely. and he found
himself haunting the vicinity of the
Midas, gazing at IL from afar, grasp
inG hungrily for such scraps of news
rs CHANGED TO reach him. Mcnamara
allowed access to none but his min
ions, so the partners knew but vague
" OF what happened on their prop
erty, even though, under fiction OF the
law, ii was being worked for their
protection.
No ctcps regarding n speedy hearing
OF the case were allowed. and the col
fusion between Judge Stillman and the
receiver had become so generally rec
ogniEei that there We're uneasy NUT
terings and threats In many quarters.
Yet. although the politician had by
now virtually absorbed all the richest
properties in the district and worked
them through his hirellngs. the people
OF Nome, as whole. did not grasp the
fun turpitude OF the scheme nor the
systems perfect working.
Strange to say, Dextry, the fire eater.
had assumed an oriental patience quite
foreign to his peppery disposition and
spent much OF his time In the hills
prospecting.
On this day, as the clouds broke
about noon. close down on the angry
horizon drift OF smoke appeared.
shortly resolving Itself into steamer.
SIZE lay to in the ofing and through
his glasses Glenister saw that It was
the Roanoke. As the hours passed and
no boat put or, he tried to hire a crew.
but the longshoremen spat wisely and
shook their heats as they watched the
surf
There's the devil Of an undertow
settin' along this beach" they told
him. "and the waters too cold 10
firm hands upon his impatiehce.
Every day meant many dollars To
the watcher. and yet II seemed that
nature was rcsolute in thwnrtiuy him
for Chat night the wind freshened and
daylight saw the ship hugglng the lee
OF sledge Island miles to the west.
ward while the surf. white as boiling
mix. doomed and Numbered against
The shore.
Word had gone through the street
that Bill Wheaton was aboard with a
writ or a subpoena or an abb or what.
ever was necessary % put the "klboshp
on Mcnamara, so public excitement
grew. Mcnamara boarded his gold ln
the Alaska bank, and Il was taken for
granted that there would He the scene
Of the struggle. 80 one supposed for
an instant That the usurper would part
with Che treasure peaceably.
On the third morning the ship Jay
abreast Of the town again. and n life
boat was seen 10 make on from her.
whereupon the idle population stream
I'd toward the beach.
Shell make 90 o. the surf all right
but then watch out"
wed better make ready 90 haul 'ern
out said another Trs mighty dan.
rerous.' And. sure enough. ne tho
SKIN came rushing iu through the
breakers she was caught
She had made it past tbe frat limo
soaring over the bar On f9amv roller
crest like a storm driven gull winyl1z
IN toward the land. Tho wi-y agr-a
Of BIZ Wheaton croUched ln the stern
while two sailors fought with their
oars. As they gathered for their rush
through the last zone Of frotI q great
combor rose out Of the sea behind
them, rearing high above their heads
The crowd ON the gurf8 edge shouted
The boat w0rered, sucked back into
the oceans angry nav. and with
crash tho deluge cnguIfcd them. There
remained nothing but "a swiring food
through which The llfeb1at EMERGED
bottom up, amid a tangle OF oars. graf
ings and gear.
Men rushed into the water. and the
next roller pounded them back UPON
the marble hard sand. There came the
sound u splitting wood. and then n
group swGrmed in waist deep and bore
out a dripping figure. II was a hemp.
en- headed seaman. who shook the wa