The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-01-14

Prendergast lOungfngealn the doorway
smoking. while the younger man
worked. leading trench along the
brow Of the hill to bring the water
from its intake. which Harry's quick
eye had seen was practicable.
The spectacle of Hugh Stires. who
had been used to pass his days in the
saloons and his nights in even less be-
coming resorts. turned practical miner
added a touch Of opera bouffe to the
situation that to degree modulated
the rigor of dispraise. It was the con-
sensus of opinion that the new Hugh
Stires seemed vastly different from the
old; that if he were playing game"
it was curious one.
On the one side was black record.
exemplified In Prendergast- clouded in
fanny. shuddering adherence of his
past self as he saw it through the pitt
less lens of public opinion; on the other
was grim constancy of purpose. a pas
sionate wish to reconstruct the warped
structure Of life of which he found
himself the tenant, days Of healthful,
peace inspiring toll. woman's face
that threaded his every thought. AS he
welded his pick in the trench or labo-
rlously washed out the few glistening
grains that now were to mean his dai.
~ sustenance he turned often to gaze
up the slope where, set in its foliage,
the glass roof of the sanitarium spar
kled softly through the Indian haze.
Strange that the sight should mysteri-
Ously suggest the face that haunted
him!
| Prendergast saw the distracted re-
gard as he came up the trail from the
town. He was in an ugly humor. The
bag of gold dust which he had shown
to Harry he had not returned to the
hiding place in the wall, and with this
in his pocket the faro table had that
| day tempted him. The pouch was
empty now.
Harry's back was toward him, and
the gold pan in which he had been
washing the gravel lay at his feet.
With noiseless, mirthless laugh Prem
dergast stole into the cabin and reach
ed down from the shelf the bottle into
which each day Harry had poured his
scanty findings. He weighed it In his
hand-almost two ounces, little less
than $50. He hastily took the empty
bag from his pocket.
But just then shadow darkened the
doorway, and Harry entered. He saw
the action and. striding forward, took
the bottle from the others hand.
Prendergast turned on him, SIMS
ter snarl under his affectation of sur
prise. Cant you attend to your own
rat killing?' he growled. II guess I've
got right to what need"
mot to that" said Harry quietly.
1--WE shall touch the bottom Of the
-four sack tomorrow. You expect to get
your meals here, presume"
II still look forward to that pleas
ure," answered Prendergast, with an
evil sheer. Three meals day and a
rotten roof over my head When /
think Of the little I have done to de-
serve it, the hospitality overcomes me.
All have done is to keep you from
starving to death and out of quod at
the same time. I only taught you a
safe way to beat the game, an easier
one than you seem to know. and to
live on Easy street"
II am looking for no easy way re
sponded Harry. whatever you mean
by that. I expect to earn my living as
I'm earning it now. It's an honest
method, at all events"
you've grown all fred particular
since you lost your memory" retorted
Prendergast his eyes narrowing.
"You'll be turning dominic one of these
days. Perhaps you expect to get the
town to take up with you and to make
love to the beauty in the green riding
habit that brought you here on her
horse the night you were out Of your
head
Harry started. What do you mean ~
he asked thickly.
Prendergast's oily manner was gone
now. His savage temper came upper
most.
II forgot you didn't know about
that" he scotfed. II made neat story
Of it in the town. They've been CAB.
bling about it ever since''
Harry caught his breath. AS through
a mist he, saw again that green habit
on the hotel balcony-that face that
had haunted his waking consciousness
1t had not been Prendergast alone
then. who had brought him here. And
her act Of charity had been made. no
doubt, thing for the tittering of the
town, cheapened by chatter. coarsened
by joke!
II wonder if she'd done it If she'd
known all know" continued the 9th
er malevolently. You'd better go up
to the sanitarium, Hugh. and give her
a nice sweet kiss for itv
A lust of rage rose in Harry's throat.
but he choked it down. His hand fell
like iron on Prem
dergast's Shout = IN
der and turned
him forcibly to-
ward the open - ~
door. His other, @3 r.
hand DOinted and SH Zs%>