The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-02-19

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 one Of
the hunks and threw over him q shah
by blanket
"My dear young lady" he said, "you
are q good Samaritan. How shall we
thank you. my poor friend here and
t.
Jessica had taken money from her
| pocket, and now she held 1t out to
him. He must have q DOCTOR" she
said. you must fetch one"
The yellow eyes fastened on the bill,
even while his gesture protested. You
shame me- he exclaimed. "And yet
you are right. 1t IL for him." He
folded 1t and put 1t into his pocket
GAS soon as / have built fre will
go for our local medico. He will not
always come at the call Of the luck
less miner All are not 30 charita Bile
as you
He united her horse and extended 4
hand, but she mounted without his
help. HE will thank you one day,
this friend of mine." he said, 'far bet
ter than can do
1T is not at all necessary to tell
him." she replied frieidly. The sick
are always to be helped in every cir
cumstance."
| ha xkA t.. oh
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 Frendergast stood listening
to the dulling hoof beats a moment,
then re-entered the cabin. The man on
the bunk had lifted to sitting posi-
ton. His eyes were open, dazed and
staring.
That's right" the older man said.
You're coming round. How does 1t
feel to be back in the old shebans7
Can't guess how you got here, can
your You were towed on horseback by
beauty, Hughey. my boy-a rip stav-
ing beauty! I'll tell you about 1t h the
morning If you're good"
The man he addressed made no an
aver. His eyes We're on the other, In
dustrious and bewildered.
Il heard about the row." went on
Prendergast They didn't II ink II
was in you. and neither did l." he
looked at him cunningly. Neither did
I tSforeau, 81. Ell You re a clever one,
Hugh. but the lost memory racket
won't stand you in anything. You
hadn't any call to get scared in the
first place. l don't tell all l know"
| He showed the candle nearer on the
table. There's a queer look in your
| face. Hugh he said, with a clumsy
| attempt at kindness. That rock they
| threw must have hurt you. Feel sort
Of dizzy, Ell? Never mind, Ill show
you sight for sore eyes. You went of
without your share Of the last swag.
but I've saved it for you. Prendergast
wouldn't cheat a palr'
From Granny in the clay chinkei
wall be took a chamo skin bag. It
contained quantity Of gold dust and
small nuggets. which he poured into
miners scales on the table and pro
ceeded TO divide in two portions. This
accomplished he emptied one Of the
portions On to a paper and pushed II
out
That's yours" he said.
Harrv's eyes were on his with a
piercing intensity now. as though they
looked through him to a vast distance
beyond. He was staring through a
gray midst at something far of. but
significant that eluded his direct
vision. The board table, the yellow
gold. the Pickering candlelight. recall
ed something horrifying. In some other
world. in some other life, millions Of
ages ago
He lurched TO his feet, overturnips
the table. The gold dust ratified to the
floor.
Your deal.' he said. Then. with a
vague laugh. he fell sidewise upon the
bunk.
August Prendergast stared at him
with look Of amazement on his vel.
low face. Hes crazy as a chicken"
he said
He sat watching him awhile. then
rose and kindled fire on the unswept
hearth. From a litter Of cans and
dented utensils in corner he pro
ceeded to cook himself supper. after
which he carefully brushed I'D the
scattered gold dust and returned II all
to ITS hiding place. Lastly he rum
mayed on a shelf and found a vial
This proved to be empty, however
and he set It on the table.
4 guess you'll do we'll enough with
out any pain killer he said to him
self Doctors are expensive. Any
way, III be back by midnight"
He threw more wood on the Are.
blew out the candle and, closing the
door behind him, set OF down the
trail to the town, where a faro bank
soon acquired the bill Jessica had Civ
en- him.