The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-11
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- NIX B. RRAcR
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(Continued from Last issue. J,

them out before him curiously, becom-
| ing conscious for the first time that the
| left one was swollen and discolored
and fearfully painful. He noted il
| with impersonal interest. realizing its
need of medical attention-so left the
cabin and walked down into the city.
He encountered Dextry and Simms on
the way. and they went with him. both
flowing with the gossip of the camp.
Lord, but you're the talk of the
town" they began. THE curlo hunt
ers have commenced TO pull Strives
office apart for souvenirs, and the
Swedes want 10 run you for congress
as soon as ever we get admitted as a
state. They say that at collar an elbow
holts you could lick any of them east
crn senators and thereby rastle out a
lot Of good legislation for us cripples
up here"
"Speakn' OF laws goes TO show me
that this here country Is gettin' too
blamed civilized for white man." said
Simms peSsimistically, land now, that
this fight is ended up II don't look like
there would be anything dom fit to
claim the interest of n growed up per-
son for long while. I'm goin' west"
West. Why, you can throw a stone
into Boring strait from here" said Roy.
smiling.
"Oh. well, the worlds round. There's
schooner outfittin' for Sibeery two
years cruise. Me an DeX is figgerin
on gettin' out toward the frontier fer
a spell"
SURE" said DeXtry. I'm beginnln
20 feel all cramped up hereabouts OWN
TO these fllymonarch orchestras an
French restaurants and such dlscrep
ancies of scenery. They're putin n
pavement On Front street. and there's
n shoe shlnln' parlor opened up. Why,
I'd like to get where could stretch an
boiler without disturbin the pensive-
ness OF some dude in dress suit. Bet
ter come along, Roy; we can sell out
the Midas"
I'm think ii over" said the young
man.
The night was bright with n full
moon when they left the doctors office.
Roy, in no mood for the eXuberance of
his companions parted from them. but
had not gone far before he met Cherry
Malotte His head was low, and be
did not see her till she spoke.
well, boy, so it's over at last"
Her words chimed so perfectly with
his thoughts that he replied, Yes: it's
all over. little girl"
You don't mind my congratulations
you know me too well for that. How
does il feel TO be a winnerT"
II don't know. I've lost"
Lost whatT'
Everything-except the gold mine"
Everything except see, You
mean that she-that you have asked
her. and she wontl" lie never knew
,the cost at which she held her voice 80
steady.
more than that. It's so new that IL
hurts yet. and II will continue to hurt
for long time, | suppose. But to-
morrow | am going back TO my hills
and my valleys. back TO the Midas and
my work. and try to begin all over.
For a time I've wandered in strange
paths, seeking new gods. as it We're,
but the dazzle has died out of my eyes
and | can see true again. She isn't
for me, although | shall always love
her I'm sorry can't forget easily. as
some do. It's hard TO look ahead and
take an interest In things. But what
about you? Where shall you goY'
81 don't know. II doesn't really
matter-now." The dusk hid her white,
set face, and she spoke monotonously.
IL am going to see the Bronco Kid. lie
sent for me. Hes ILL.,"
Hes not bad sort" said Roy.
"And | suppose he'll make a new
start too"
Perhaps" said she. gazing far out
over the gloomy ocean. 1T all de-
Ponds" After moment she added,
What a pity that we can't all sponge
Off the slate and bcgin afresh and
forget
Its part of the game" said he. 81
don't know why it's so, but it is. I'll
see you sometimes, won't II"
mo, boy; think not"
Il believe | understand" he muir
INJURED. land perhaps it's better So"
He took her two soft hands in his one
good right and kissed them. God
bless you and keep you, dear, brave lit
tie Cherry"
She stood straight and still as he
melted into the shadows, and only the
moonlight heard her pitiful sob and
her hopeless whisper:
"Goodby. my boy, my boy"
He wandered down beside the sea.
for his battle was not yet won. and
until he was surer Of himself he could
not endure the ribaldry and rejoicing
of his fellows. A welcome lay waiting
for him in every public place, but no
one there could know the mockery of
1t, no one could gauge the desolation
that was his.
The sand, wet, packed and hard as
pavement, gave no sound TO his care
less steps. and thus it was that he
came silently upon the one woman as
she stood beside the silver surf. Had
he seen her first he would have skunk
past In the landward shadows, but,
recognizing his tall form, she called
and he came, while II seemed that his
lungs grew suddenly CONSTRUCTED, as
though bound about with steel hoops.
The very pleasure OF her sight panied