Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-03


 had been paid without question. Yet the man 1t had robbed had stamped 1t with that venomous hallmark Clearly the law had not stepped in, for here he was at liberty, owning his name. He had been let go, then, disowned, to car ry his badge of crime here into the will derness! And how had he lived since then?
 He stumbled to a chair and sat down, his frame rigid. He thought of the robbed sluice in the gulch be- low, of his own unhappy adventure of the night. How could he tell what he had done-what he might do? Min utes went by as he sat motionless, his mind catching strange kaleidoscopic pictures that fled past him into the void. At length he rose and went to the window. Far down the hillside a faint line through the mist spanned the gulch bottom. A groan burst from his lips.
 That is the hydraulic flume," he said aloud. Gold has been stolen there in the past again and again. Some was stolen two nights ago. How do l know but that I am the thief?' Was that what Prendergast had meant by the safe way to beat the gamer A shiver ran over him. How do I know" he thought. T can see n.y. self-the evil side of me-when the dark had fallen waking and active. I see myself creeping down there, steal ing from shadow to shadow, to scoop the gold from the rifles when the moon is under cloud. see men sitting from dark to daylight with loaded rifles across their knees watch ing. I see flash of fire. hear re- port I see myself there by the sluice boxes, dead, shot down in the act of thief, making good the name men know me byv'
 The figure of Jessica came before him, standing in her soft white gown, her hand against her cheek and the jasmine odors about her. The dream he had dreamed could not be-never, never, never! All that was left was surrender, ignominious flight to scenes barren of suggestion.
 At that instant shining point caught his eye. It came from the pan of gravel on the doorstep, on which the rain had been beating He thrust the draft into his pocket and seized a double handful of the gravel. He plunged 1t into a pail of water and held 1t to the light It slarkled with coarse, yellow flakes of gold He dropped the handful with a sharp ex- clamation, threw on his coat and rush. ed from the cabin.
 All day, alone on the fog soaked hill side, Harry toiled in the trench with out food or rest.
 
 It was fair, sweet evening, and the room where Jessica sat beside David Stires' bed. reading aloud to him. was flooded with the failing sun light. Since the old mans seizure in the night he had been much worse, and she had scarcely left his room. Today, however, he had sat propped by pil- lows, able to read and chat, and the deep personal anxiety that had numbed her had yielded.
 A knock came at the door, It was a nurse with letters for him from the mail. and while he opened them Jes- sica laid aside the book and went slowly down the hall to the sun parlor, where the doctor stood with the group gathered after the early supper, chat ting of the newest strike" on the mountain.
 'We'll be famous if we keep on," he was saying as she looked out of the wide windows across the haze where the sunlight drifted down fin dust of gold. "I've mind to stake out claim myself"
 we pay you better" said one of the occupants grimly. Anyway, the whole ul cLHOky iuouuthlu WdS bihktu Ill tne excitement a year ago. There's no doubt about this find, I supposeY
 "It's on exhibition at the bank" the doctor replied. more than $5,O00 cached in a crevice in the glacial age as neat as Christmas stockingr
 The talk went on about her.
 Where is the lucky claimT' some one asked.
 Just below this ridge" the doctor replied. Tt Is called the Little Pay 
 The name caught her ear. The Little Paymaster7 That was the name on the tree-on Hugh's claiml At that instant she thought she heard David Stires calling. She turned and ran quickly up the long hal. to his open door.
 The sight of his face at first startled her. for 1t was held captive of emotion, but t Eag An emotion of. 1ny.snQf ef