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

at Prendcrgast's direction found
matches and lit n candle. The bare.
two room interior 1t revealed was TIN.
kempt and disordercd. Rough hunks.
a table and Il couple Of hewn chairs
were almost its only furniture. The
window was broken and the roof adj
mittcd sun and rain. prcndergast laid
the man they had brought on one Of
the hunks and threw over him a shnb-
by blanket.
"My dear young lady" he said. "you
nre good Samaritan. How shall we
thank you. my poor friend here and
H.
Jessica had taken money from her
pocket, and now she held 1t out to
him. HE must have n 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 is for him." He
folded 1t and put it into his pocket.
"As soon as I have built fire will
60 for our local medico. He will not
always ccEle Mt 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. "IIe will thank you one day.
this friend Of mine" he said, "far bet
ter than | can do"
at IS not at all necessary to tell
him" she replied friGidly. The sick
nre 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 Prendergast stood listening
to the dullng hoof beats moment,
then re-entered the cabin. The man on
the bunk had lifted to a sitting posi-
zion His eyes were open. dazed and
staring.
That's right" the older man said.
feel TO be back in the old shebang?
Can't guess how you got here. can
you? You were towed on horseback by
n beauty. Hughey. my boy-a rip STAY
ing beauty! I'll tell you about 1t in the
morning IL you're good"
! The man he addressed made no an.
, swer. His eyes were on the other, in.
{ dustrious and bewildered.
l.. Il heard about the row." went on
, Prendergast. They didn't think it
t was in you. and neither did l." He
3 looked at him cunningly Neither did
| Moreau. ell. oh? You're n clever one,
: Hugh. but the lost memory racket
: won't stand you in anything. You
, hadn't any call to get scared In the
l first place. don't tell all know"
He showed the candle nearer on the
table There's queer look IN your
! face. Hugh" ha said. with n clumsy
: attempt at kindness. THAT rock they
: threw must have hurt you. Feel sort
{ of dizzy. eh? Never mind. I'll show
= you sight for sore eyes. You went of
without your share of the last swag
r but I've saved it for you. Prendergast
, wouldn't cheat pail
From n Granny in the clay chinked
> wall he took cha mois skin bag. 1t
i contained quantity of gold dust and
| small nuggets. which he poured into
. n miners scales on the table and pro.
ceeded to divide In two portions. This
accomplished, he empt!cd one of the
, portions on 20 Il paper and pushed II
ont.
. That's yours" he said.
Harry's cyec were on his with n
v,iorf.i1.r in ~ fho,,rh hov
looked through Lin to n vast distance
beyond. He was staring through a
gray MiG., NJ something far of. but
Significant that eiuG2d his direct
vision. The beard table. the yellow
gold. the Pickering candc!.ght. recall
ell something ho:r.f. iHg. In some other
world. In some other lie. millions of
. ages ago
He lurchcd to his fcct. overturnlnG
the table. The solI dust ratified to the
floor.
Your deal"' he said. Then. with q
vague laugh. hc fell sdewise upon the
bunk.
. August lTcndergast stared ut hin
with look Of amaZement Oh his vel
!, log face. Hes crazy as chicken
. he said.
He sat watching him awhile. thor
, rose and kindled Il fire on the unswep
hearth From litter Of cans and
; denied utensils In corner he pro
ceeded to cook himself supper, after
, which he carefully brushed up the
, scattered gold dust and returned it al
to Its hiding place. Lastly he rum
O mayed on shelf and found vial
I This proved to be empty. however
, and he set 1t OH the table.
Il guess you'll do well enough with
il out any pain killer" he said to him.
I solf Doctors are expensive Any.
+" way, III be back by midnight"
r He threw more wood on the fire
Il blew out the candle and, closing the
|. door behind him. set Off down tho
q trail to the town. where a faro bank
soon acquired the bill Jessica had Civ
~ en- him.
H<=a