Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-04-02
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in on which she had so often peered
down during those past weeks? And
with this chosen cronyi
She touched Prendergast's arm. HE
is Ill, l say" she repeated. HE must
be cared for at once. Your cabin is on
the hillside, isn't it'll"
His cabin" he corrected. "a rough
place, but it has sheltered us both.
am but guide, philosopher and friend"
She bit her lips. Lift hin on my
horse" she said. She stopped and put
her hands under the twitching shout
ders. 81 will help you. | am quite
strong"
With her aid he lifted the swaying
form on to the saddle and supported
1t, while Jessica led the way.
Here is the cutoff" he said pres
emily. "Ah, you know it?' for she had
turned into the side path that led
along the hill, under the gray, snake
like flume-the shortest route to the
grassy shelf on which the cabin stood
The byway was steep and rugged,
and rhododendron clumps caught at
her ankles, and once she heard a snake
slip over the dry rustic of leaves, but
she went on rapidly, dragging at the
bride, turning back now and then
a~nxiously to urge the horse to greater
speed. She scarcely heard the often
sively honeyed compliments which
Prendergast offered to her courage.
1t seemed an eternity they climbed.
In reality it vas scarcely twenty min
utes before they reached the grassy
knoll and the cabin. whose crazy
swinging door stood wide to the night
air, She tied the horse, went in and
at Prendergast's direction found
matches and lit a candle. The bare.
two room interior it revealed was IN.
kempt and disordered. Rough hunks.
a table and a couple of hewn chairs
were almost its only furniture. The
window was broken and the roof ad-
mitted sun and rain. Prendergast laid
the man they had brought on n of
the hunks and threw over him a shah
by blanket.
my dear young lady," he said, you
are a good Samaritan. How shall WE
thank you. my poor friend here and
II"
Jessica had taken money from her
pocket, and now she held 1t out to
him. "He must have a doctor" she
said. "You must fetch oLa."
The yellow eyes fastened n the bill,
even while his gesture protested. you
shame mew he Observation-Disclosures
- winhf IL 90 for him ~ TIo
folded 1t and put 1t into his pocket.
"As soon as I have built a fire will
go for our local medico. He will not
always come at the call of the luck
less miner. All are not so charitable
as you"
He united her horse and extended a
hand. but she mounted without his
help. "He will thank you one day.
this friend of mine," he said, ''far bet
ter than l can do"
at is not at all necessary to tell
him." she replied frigidly. 1.-The sick
are always to be helped in every cir
cumstance."
She gave her horse the rein as she
spoke and turned him up the steep
path that climbed back of the cabin.
past the Knob, and so by a narrow
trail to the mountain road.
August P%rendergast stood listening
to the dulling hoof beats a moment.
then re-entered the cabin. The man on
the bunk had lifted to a sitting posi-
ton. His eyes were open. dazed and
staring.
THAT'S right" the older man said.
you're coming round. How does ii
feel to be back in the old shebangi
Can't guess how you got here, can
you? You were towed on horseback by
a beauty, Hughey, my boy-a rip STAY
ing beauty III tell you about it in the
morning if you're good"
The man he addressed made no an
swer. His eyes were OF the other, in
dustrious and bewildered.
81 heard about the row." went oil
Prendergast. "They didn't think i
was in you, and neither did l." HI
looked at him cunningly. Neither di,
Moreau, eh, Ell? You're a clever one
Hugh, but the lost memory racke
won't STAND you IN anytn<ag. YOU
hadn't any call to get scared in thu
first place. | don't tell all | know"
He showed the candle nearer on th'
table. There's a queer look in you.
face, Hight" he said, with a clumsy
attempt at kindness. THAT rock they
threw must have hurt you. Feel sor
of dizzy, eh? Never mind, I'll show
you a sight for sore eyes,. You went of
without your share OF the last swag
but I've saved it for you. P~rendergas
wouldn't cheat a pal!'
From a Granny in the clay chinkeC
wall he took a chamois skin bag. l
contained a quantity of gold dust ant
small nuggets, which he poured int
a miners scales on the table and pro
ceeded to divide in two portions. Thi.
accomplished, he emptied one of tht