The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-24
A Dream Of Cold
AndWhat Came Of It
BY NARY II. COATES.

no work, no pay dirt-nO, not even
a sign of color have l ever found on
that claim"
Jim King looked across the gulch
to Prize Bar" claim, which, in the
wake of the latest gold stampede he
had hastily staked and to which, in
his haste and premature excitement,
he had brought his family.
prize Bari We ought to have
named it Prize Humbug,'" he NUT
tered from his seat ON a log doing
chair duty, and absently tossed bits
OF twigs and fir cones into the camp
fire as he summed up their situation.
Don't fret, dear" said his wife,
observing his downcast looks as she
came from the tent where she had
been putting the children to sleep.
Things may not really be as bad as
they appear"
Couldn't be worse; grub nearly
gone, money, too, and I've rustled
among the boys for a job, but none
of them really need a roustabOut.
No. couldn't be worse"
30, yes, they couId-but finish your
pipe, and come to bed. It's dark now,
but you know light comes in the
morning-who knows? sleep often
helps the brain to solve knotty
problems
The flames of the campfire fared
up fitfuliy. giving weird, white high
lights to the trunks of the IRIS in the
shadow; and above, their plumed tops
were yelled, in haziness by the wan
ing moon.
Under the influence of the balsam-
laden fragrance that floated up from
the fir boughs spread deep over the
tent floor. the remembrance of their
harassing situation faded from Mrs.
Kings mind. The tired body found
rest. and the weary brain was soon
lulled to sleep; but the dreammind
fitted on, here and there. weaving
mountain. forest and campfire into a
daednlous net work, which gradual
ly narrowed. through the dream
alembic. to fixed distinctness; and the
moonlight on the stretching firtops.
the hollow blackness beneath and
the glowing Goals became a sunlit
valley, a dark cave and down in its
depths glittered OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
what? The brightness of them
pierced her eyes.
With start she awoke and saw the
morning sun shining straight into the
tent through tiny opening in the
folds of the fly. Welt What a
dream Of gold it was.-and woven OF
nothing but sunshine. 1t must Ger
tainly portend good luck-but from
earth or sky-which. | wonder-that's
the point. O, for dream book! NV
kingdom for dream book" She SAID
under her breath, then louder: Jim
are you there?"
Eyes, and breakfast is nearly
ready. You were all sleeping st
soundly I thought l wouldn't disturb
you; but it's late enough"
We'll be there in a few minutes
Come children. breakfast is ready
Doesn't the coffee smell good?" ant
the quietness of the tent was at al
end-drowned in the children's laugh
ing chatter.
breakfast" called CHEEKY voice
again. and they trooped out. After
all had been served. Mrs. King wen
to the fire and began marking in thu
cool ashes with long stick.
Jim. is. there a valley anywhere
near that runs along so? High noun
, tains on this side. and scattered fl
trees on this ridge, and over here ;
great spur of rocks that dips into tn,
: chnparral below?"/ She illustrate.
!. with the right hand and with the lef
: carefully held her blue calico Skin
( back from the fire.
: "Of course" he answered, care
: lessly.
Really? Truly?" She spok
J eagerly. yet doubtfully.
( Certainly. You have pictured Bea
canyon quite correctly. 1t is over be
yond that peak where you see
{ broken tree standing alone. Why
\ what of it?"
Just this: I saw it in my dream
: asst night; and I'm going to ask yo'
y to go over there and hunt for a cav
Z and"
: 80, yes, I know" anticipating he
: recital. Gave, gold, pocket nugget
{ in sand ridge. um-wealthy, healthy
\ and happy ever after" checking OF
r with his fingers and ending in halt
: trilled bar from a popular minin
y song.
( We'll, you'll 60" ignoring tn
: thrusts.
: II think not. In fact, no use to &c
< There's no cave there"
= Eyes. my dear. there IT," confident
= " smiling.
: mo. Emily. there's no cave in tina
y canyon. Have some more coffee?" a
lie poured q second cup for himsel
and set the smoke-blackened COTE
y boiler on fresh Goals.
"But. jim? If saw the valley col
\ -ectly in my dream. why should no
= see the cave correctly, too?" sh
persisted.
y II agreed to the valley; but to tn
,ave-never! Can't explain it, Prot
: IDLY Morpheus took you to his abod
: asst night and while you were ther
< you were cast under some spell tina