Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-23

Il " despised h. m:
What had been
"Tm gong 10 cooE his career? How
Bou some bredl;- had he become
fast" '" ,rd
by what miracle had he been so altered
MS to look upon himself with loath-
ing?
He lifted himself upright, dropping
his feet to the floor. At the movement
the man on the doorstep rose quickly
and came forward
You're better. Hugh" he said. TAKE
1t easy though. Don't get up just yet
I'm going to cook you some breakfast
He turned to- the hearth. kicked the
smoldering log ends together and set
ger when you've got something be-
tween your ribs" he added.
"Iiow long have I been lying hereT'
asked Harry.
"Only since last night. You've had a
fever"
where is my dog:'
"Dog;" said the other. 81 never
knew you had one
IIarry's lips set bitterly. 1t had Jared
( more hardly, then. than he. 1t had
been ready object for the crowd to
wreak their hatred upon. because it
belonged to hm-becausc it was Hugh
Stires' dog.
rs this your cabin. my friend:"
The figure bending over the hearth
Strengthened itself with jerk. and
the blinking yellow eyes looked hard
at him. Prendergast came close to the
bunk
That's the game you played in the
town." he said, with surly sheer.
ITS all right for those that take 1t
in. but you needn't II go bamboozle
me- pretending you don't know youl
own claim and cabin I'm no such
| fool"
A dull flush came to Harry's brow
Here was a page from that Ubiquitous
past that faced him. Ills own cabin
And his own claim. Well. why not?
You are mistaken" he said calmly
II am not pretending. I cannot re
member YOU"
Prendergast laughed in an ugly. de
risive way. Il suppose you've for
! gotten the half year we've lived here
/ together and the gold dust we've gath
cred in now and again--slipped 1t all
have you:'
Harry stood up. The motion brought
temporary dizziness, but it passed
He walked to the door and gazed on
on the pleasant green of the hillside
On tree near by was nailed rough
weather beaten board on which wa:
scrawled, THE Little Paymaste1
Claim" He saw the grass grow
gravel trenches. evidence of abandon
cd work He had been a miner. Tha
in itself was honest toll.
"The claim is good. then" he sait
over his shoulder. I'VE found th
pay?"
ment in grim silence, with scowl
you're either really fuddled. Hugh.
he said then ''or else you're a sta
play actor and up to something deer
Well. have it your own way-it's al
the same to me. But you can't pul
the wool over my eyes long,
There were mockery and threat Il
his tone; but, more than both, the evi
intimacy in his words gave Harry
qualm of disgust. This man had bee
his associate. That one hour In tn
town had shown him what his ow
life there had been.
What should he do? Forsake for
ever the neighborhood where he hat
made his blistering mark? Fling al
aside and start again somewhere AM
leave behind this dsgraceful present
with that face that had looked int
his from above the dusty street?
II fate intended that. why had
turned him back? II such was tn
bed he had made, he would lie In II
He would drink the gall and vinega
without whimpcring. Whatever a.
behind be would live it down. Thi
man at least had befriended him.
He turned into the room. perhaps
shall remember after awhile" He too
the saucepan from Prendergasts hand
I'm cook the breakfast" he said.
prendcrgast filled his pipe and watch
ed him. II guess there nre bats in you
belfry, sure enough, Hugh" he said n
length. You never offered to do You
stint before"