The Red Cloud chief., 1908-02-21
away md drowned IN the storm.

coat.
''Is the dynamite aboard?' the old
man questioned.
'Surc. Enough TO ballast Il battle
ship"
As the train crcpt out OF the camp
and across the river bridge. its only
light or glimmcr the sparks that were
snatched and harricd by the blast, the
partners seated themselves on the pow
der cases and couvcrsed %guardedly,
while about them sounded the low
murmur of the men who riskCd their
all upon this Try ~ duty. who stakcd
their lives and futures upon this hu2.
it right.
We've made a good fight, whether
we win or lose tonight" said Dcxtry.
Roy replied, MY fight is made and
won.''
What does that mcan?"
My hardest battle had nothing to
do with the Midas or the mines of An
vii. l fought and conquered myself"
awful wet night for philosophy"
the first remarked ITS apt to sour on
you like milk in Il thunderstorm.
S'poSe you put ovcralls an gum boots
on some Of them Boston ideas an lead
'em out where I can look 'cm Owe an
find out what they're up to-"
Il mean that | was Il savage till I
met Helen Chester and She made Il
man of me. II took sixty days, but ]
think she did a good job. | love the
wild things Just rs much as ever, but
I've learned that there are duties II fol-
low owes to himself and 10 other PEG
pie. il he'll only stop and think them
ont. I've found out, too. that the right
thing Is usually the hardest to do. Oh,
I've improved Il lot"
Gee, but you're popular with your
self. I don't see as ii helps your looks
any. You're rs homely rs evcr-an'
what good does it do YOU, after all:
She'll marry that big guy"
~ know. That's what ranklcs. for
he's no more worthy Of her than am.
She'll do what's right, however, you
may depend upon that, and perhaps
she'll change him the way she did me.
Why. she worked a miracle in my at
titude toward lifc-my manner
"Oh, your manner are good enough
as they lay interrupted the other.
You never did eat with your knife"
II don't believe In harakiri,' Glen
lister laughed.
NO, when Ii comes 10 intimacies
with decOrum. you're right OH the job
along with any OF them customers.
watched YOU close at them Frisco
hotels last winter. ard, say, you know
as much as II horse. Why, YOU was
wise to them ,ablewarcs and pickle
forks equal To a head waiter. and II
give me confidence Just to be with you.
I remember putting milk and sugar IN
my consonime the first time. 1t was
pale and in Il cup and looked like tea.
but not YOU. No, sir. You sawed
plenty and squeezed u lemon into
yours, to clean your fingers. reckon"
Roy slapped his partners wet back.
for he was buoyant and clnted, The
sense of nearing danger pulsed through
him like wine.
THAT wasn't just what | meant, but
IL goes. Say, II we win back nur mine,
wen hit for New York next. ch?"
NO, I don't aim to mingle with no
higher civilization than | got In
Frisco. I use that word higher like
1t was applied to meat. Not that
wouldn't seem aprOpos. I'm stylish
enough for Fifth avenue or auywhercs,
but | like the west. Spcakin' Of modes
an STYLES, when I get all lii up In that
gray woosted suit of mine, | guess
make the faded sightSeers set up an
take pOticc, eli? Somcthin' dCin' every
minute In the cranin' of necks. what?
Nothin' gaudy. but the acme of neat
ness an form. as the Teller said who
sold II TO me"
Their common peril brought the
friends together again. into that close
bond which had been theirs without
interruption until this recent change
in the younger had led him To choose
paths at variance with The old mans
ideas; and now they spoke, heart to
heart. In the half serious, half testing
steal irony was that mutual love II
understanding which had conSecrated
their partnership.
Arriving at the end NJ tue road, the
~vIgIlantes debouchcd ana went into the
darkness of the canyon behind their
leader, To whom The trails were famil-
iar. He babe them pause finally and
gave his last instructions.
They ARE on the alert, so you want
a It-fI l-.o t.vn 40 4