West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-17


There's gold. gold. gold everywhere
more than ever was I'm old Solomon's
mines-and there's mystery and peril
and things unknown"
Let US make haste" said the girl.
II have something 1 must do tonight.
After that i can learn to know these
things"
Securing a small boat they were
rowed ashore. the partners plying their
ferryman with eager questions. Hav-
ing arrived five days before, he was
exploding with information and volun-
teered the fruits OF his ripe experience
till Dextry stated that they were
sour dougbs" themselves and owned
the Midas. whereupon Miss Chester
marveled at the awe which sat upon
the man and the wondering stare with
which he devoured the partners. to
her own utter exclusion.
"Surerin' cats! Look at the frelghtw
calculated Dextry. 'If n storm como
up, II would bust the community
The beach they neared was walled
and crowded TO the high tide mark
with ramparts OF merchandise, while
every incoming craft deposited It's quo
Ia upon whatever vacant foot was
close Mt hand till bales. boxes, boilers
and baggage OF all kinds were con-
fusedly intermixed I'm the narrow space.
Singing longshoremen trundled burdens
from the lighters and piled them on
the heap, while yelling, cursing crowds
fought over II all. seleo ting, sorting,
loading.
There was no room for more. yet
hourly they added to the mass. Teams
splashed through the tapping surf or
| stuck In the deep sand between hill
locks Of goods. All was noise, pro-
family. congestion and feversh hurry.
The burning haste rang In the voice
| OF the multitude showed In Its violence
| OF gesture and redness OF face. per.
msated the atmosphere with a mag.
netic. electrifying enorgy.
tits somethin' fierce ashore" said
the oarsman. II been up fer three
days nm nights steady. There amt no
room nor time nor darkness TO sleep
In. Ham an eggs Is n dollar an
half, an whisky's 4 bits throw" He
walled the last sadly. as a complaint
unspeakable.
ANY trouble doin'?" inquired the old
man.
you know itr the other cried col.
ioquially. There was massacre In
the Northern last night"
"Gamblin' rowT
It."
"Shor' said Dextry. 81 know him.
He's bad actor" All three men nod
ded sagely, and the girl wished for
further light, but they volunteered no
explanation.
Leaving the skin, they plunged into
turmoil. Dodging through the tangle,
they came out into fenced lots where
tents stood wall to wall and every
inch was occupied. Here and there
was vacant spot guarded jealousy
by Its owner, who gaxed sourly upon
all men with the forb.dding eye OF
suspicion. Finding an eddy In the
confusion, the men stopped.
Where do you want to go" they
asked Miss Chester.
There was no longer in Glenister's
glance that freedom with which he
had come to regard the women OF the
north. He had come to realize duly
y
strong purpose into n position repel-
lent to her. In man OF his type her
Independence awoke only admiration,
and her coldness served but to infiame
him the more. Delicacy in Glenister
was lost In n remarkable slngleness Of
purpose. He could laugh at her Ioath-
ing, smile under her abuse and remain
utterly ignorant that anything more
than his action In seizing her that
night lay at the bottom OF her dislike.
He did not dream that he possessed
characteristics abhorrent to her, and
he felt keen reluctance ut parting.
She extended both hands.
II can never thank you enough for
what you have done-you two-but I
shall try. Goodbyw
Dextry gazed doubtfully at his own
hand, rough and gnarly, then taking
hers as he would have handled n rob-
ms egg waggled 1t Imply.
1--WE Amt goln' to turn you adrift
this-a-way. Whatever your destination
Is, Wen see you TO IT."
II can find my friends" she assured
him.
This Is the wrong latitude I'm which
to dispute lady; but, KNOWN this
camp from soup to nuts, as do, / SUI
gests a male escort"
Very well. wish TO find Mr.. Strive
OF Durham & Strive, lawyers"
I'll take you to their Offices" said
Glenlster. you see 10 the baggage,
Dex. Meet me at the Second Glass in
half an hour. and Wen run out to the
Midas" They pushed through the tan
gle OF tents, past piles OF lumber and
emerged upon the main thoroughfare,
which ran parallel to the shore.
Nome consisted OF one narrow street,
twisted between solid rows OF canvas
and half erected frame buildings. its
every other door that OF saloon.
There were fair looking blocks which
aspired 10 the dizzy height OF three
stories, some sheatbed in corrugated
iron, others cleaning and galvanized.
Lawyers signs, doctors. surveyors,
were In the upper windows. The street
was thronged with men from every
land Helen Chester heard more dia-
lects than she could count Lapianders
In quaint three cornered padded caps
idled past. Men with the tan Of the
tropics rubbed elbows with yellow
haired NOrsemen, and near her n care
fully groomed Frenchman with riding
brooches and mOnocle was in panto-
mime with a skin clad Eskimo. To
her left was the sparkling sea, alive
with ships OF every class. To her right
lowered timberless mountains, unpeo-
pied, unexplored. forblddlng and desc
late, their hollows inlaid with snow.
On one hand were the life and the
world she knew, on the other silence,
mystery. possible adventure