Evening star., 1909-09-12

once was the most those mountains received.
Van made an early start from the Laughing
Water claim to deliver Beth's letter IN Star
light Her note to himself he read once more
as his pony logged down the descent:
DEAR Mr.. VAN.-I wonder If dare to ask
a favor from one who has done SO much al
ready? NV brother. in Starlight, IS Ill. He has
hurt himself | do not know how badly. a
letter sent has never been received, and | am
worried. The effort made to see him-well, at
least IN glad made the effort. But meantime
what of poor Glen? Some little fear have may
be groundless; shall therefore keep it to my
self, but | have it, perhaps because | am
woman | must know the truth about my
brother r-how he is, what has been happening.
1t is far more important than dare confess. L
have written him letter and send it to you In
the nope YOU may not find it impossible to carry
it to Glen in person. If | am asking too much,
please do not hesitate to say so. l am you
will be friendly enough for that,-to say no, if
need be, to another friend, your friend,
beth KENT"
She did not regret that desert experience!
That almost enough for him to know. He
had lived in glow since that wonderful night,
and this letter provided another. He rode like
proud young crusader of old, with his head in
a region of sunshine and gold, his vision trans
fixed by a face. Her love had become his Holy
Grail-and for that he would ride to death
itself
HIS way he shortened, or thought to shorten,
- by dropping down from the reservation
heights to the new-made town a mile below.
He came upon the place abruptly, after dipping
once into canon and looked with amaZement
on the place. In the last twelve hours it had
doubled in size and increased twentyfold in
its fever. The face of the desert was literally
alive with men and animals. Half of Goldite
and practically all of dozen lesser camps were
there. Confusion, discomfort, and distraction
seemed hopelessly enthroned. The rush was
written in mems faces. in their actions, in their
baggage, words, and rising temperature.
A dozen stalwart stampeders pounced upon
Van like wolves They wanted to know what
he thought of the reservation,-where to go;
whether there was any more ground like that of
the Laughing Water claim; what he had heard
from his Indian friends; and what he would
take for his placer: The crowd about him rap
idly increased Men in a time of excitement
such as this flock as madly as sheep, wherever
may lead. Anything is news, any man is of
interest who has in his pocket piece of rock
or has in his eye wink. No man is willing to
be left outside. He must know all there is to
be known.
1t was utterly useless for Van to protest his
ignorance of the reservation ground. He owned
a deposit of placer gold. Success had crowned
his efforts. 1t was something to get in touch
with a man who had the yellow metal.
His friends were there in the red faced mob.
They said they were his friends, and they
doubtless knew. Some were, indeed old ac-
quaintances whom Van would gladly have
assisted toward needed change of fortune.
He was powerless, not only to aid these men,
but also to escape. Despite his utmost endeav-
ors they held him there an hour, and to make
up the time he chose the hottest, roughest
trail through the range, when at last he was
clear of the town.
THE climb he made on his pony to slice few
miles from his route was over mountain
and through gulch that was known as the
Devils Slide. 1t gravel that moved from
under foot with never failing treachery, gravel
made hot by the rays of the and finging
up scorching heat while it crawled and
scorched under foot. On midsummer days men
had perished here, driven mad by the dancing
of the air and the dread of the movement
where they trod. The last two miles of this
desolate slope Van walked and led his bronco.
He entered Solid Canon finally and mount
ing more let Suvy pick the way between
great boulders, where gray rattlesnakes
abounded in exceptional numbers These were
the hardships of the ride, all there were that
Van felt worth the counting. He had reckoned
without that far-off storm which had ragged in
the darkness of the night.
He came to the river, the ford between the
banks where he and Beth had found shallow
stream. For moment he stared at it speech
lessly A great. swiftly moving food was
there, tawny, rolled with the mud torn down
and dissolved in the waters violence, and foam
ing still from plunge it had taken above.
It was ten to twenty feet deep. This Van
realized as he sat there on his sweating horse,
,neas,,rino IN the hanks The denth had on