The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-02-27
CHAPTER X.
The Lonely Battle with the Storm.

CHAPTER X.
The Lonely Battle with the Storm.
A fierce April storm, the severest Of
the year! Wei snow, melting almost
as it fell, wrapped the town in a sheet
OF red mud.
Ii was wearing toward dark, and the
stage, sever hours late, had not yet
arrived. Stella stood alone by the
hotel office window looking up at the
mountain peaks, which doomed dis.
tant and ghostly through the fitful
flakes. Rarely did snow fall at that
altitude; and it's untimeliness, after
two months Of summer-like spring.
doubled Stella's depression. She was
worn with anxiety. This vas Uncle
Billy's trip.
The wires had gone down. The last
word had been from Coburn's, where
he had passed safe and on time. But
Coburn's was only at the eastern door.
step of the Sierras, Along Donner's
frozen shore, zigzagging up the awful
valley where the summer road lay
twice a coach's length beneath the
winter snow road-Stella trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Billy's passengers might be men Of
courage and strength, young men.
Poor Uncle Billy, He was so old.
Fifty, forty-eyen the prime of life
is old age to youth so lately embarked
on the souls voyage.
Stella turned from the dark land
scape to read again Gideon's letter
that had come the day before, an
other perturbing portent.
1t was dated at Virginia City. For.
tune has been good to me, sweet
Star" he wrote: so good that | pour
libations to her shrine and trust her
to give me in due time the one great
gift that is all of life for me.
I'm glad | dared fate. Such in.
credible luck I've had. / was pros.
pecting in the gorge just above your
fathers old, worked-out mine. and in
a %dilapidated cabin-built since we
left there, it was-I found a cigar box
with a lot of bullion in it. Ii must
have been years there; for it was half
covered with pine needles fallen
through a hole in the roof.
II came to this city, sold the stun,
bought stocks, sold them, bought
again, and have now S 5000 good
money in the bank. besides more that
I've saved and my stock. That Ave
thousand shall not be touched. Ii Is
10 found a home, our home. I'm
studying men. I'm trying. to learn the
things you'd have me know, and do
something that you won't be ashamed
of. | think it will be teaming. There
are a couple of outfits here that go at
sheriff's sale tomorrow. IL / can get
them cheap enough. and trusty men,
III buy. aud lease other teams
And soon I'm coming to you-when
I'm used to my cane; and my clothes
and | are older friends; and when I've
picked MP a few more points on stocks
and men.
There's some secret on foot. Cad
wallader has peer here for a week or
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago.; said
Virginia was doomed, mines worked
out. and a lot more. That means
something's in the wind. | look for a
strike somewhere-the announcement
OF it, rather, 1t has already happened,
I'm sure: but the owners are keeping
dark till they can buy in all the stock
at bedrock figures.
Goodnight. little Star. These long
weeks have been years to me. When
/ come you'll see a different Gideon
the same heart. tbough-and youIl
think me better than the old Gideon,
your lover always"
IL was his first mans letter to Stel-
la. She marveled at his fuency. yet
recalled their childish game of post
Office and his smoothly worded though
ink-blotted epistles.
Who was Gideon? Many times she
had asked this question OF him. once
of her father. He told her that Gideon
was a waif. and babe her think Of
something else.
She started from the window with
sudden. unaiming energy, as IL she
would shake free a hand already
geasping her. The sharp rap and dull
thump OF Alvin's alternating crutch
and shoe came down the street. VEL
come sounds to her.
Like q draught OF cool air on q hot
cheek came his merry voice.
Are you here, Miss Stellar" he
asked. poking his head through the
door into the dim room. You stood
At the window q minute ago"
Yes; and so glad TO see you. AL
yin.zCome In"
Il can't stop : minute. Here's some
stun that's been on my mind ever
since 1t ven through on the wire be-
fore daylight yesterday. It's Choctaw
IN me. Somo mansc ripher all right.