Cañon City record., 1910-03-24

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of prospecting in that vicinity.
They had found Peter In an uncoo-
scious condition, lying near the bodies
They rolled him in blankets and car
ried him to fire they had kindled-
Pour the whiskey down his throat"
cried one of the men. Rub his hands.
there seems to be no feeling In them
Heat up a can of soup as soon an pos
sible Pile on more blankets. Bring
him to life 50 he can then explain
Poor devils. they must have had
lively scrap"
As the blood gradually circulated IN
his veins one OF the men scrutinized
the features OF Peter with eagerness
and surprise. why. bless my soul. II
it isn't Peter Stiles. as sure as I'm
alive" he exclaimed. Boys" he sx-
claimed. there is some deep mystery
about this business. and the blood OF
these men Is not on Peter Stiles
hands. / have wintered and summer
ed with this man and he has a heart
as loving and tender as a womanL
No officer of the law can take him In
to custody. Any coroner's jury would
vindicate him II they knew him NJ
know him"
Turning his head he saw the i'm
provised monument and quickly sur
missed the reason of its existence
Look at that shaft OF snow-none but
the loving nature OF Peter would ever
think of placing such n tribute to
dead friend. We must bury the bod
les OF the other men In the same spot
and fashion for each n monument OF
snow.
For days Peter raved In the delir1-
um of fever. broken sentences OF en-
treaty. sobs and means telling OF some
of the suffering and agony OF the days
that had passed.
Poor boys. they tried to kill ma.
They were crazed. Whore are theyr
Tell them l do not blame; want 10
shake hands and tell them that FOR
give them
But Help Came Tee LsAe-
One morning his head was clear.
He recognized the men and coald
speak in q connected manner. In an
unfaltering tone he told bis story. rs-
veaiing the tragic end OF his oompan-
ions In misery. and then confessed the
horrible temptation that had posssss-
I'd him when hunger had transformed
the man into an animal.
God bless you boys. for saving me
from this deed. terrible beyond sx-
PRECISION Bitter has been the price
that has been paid for tho gold vs
sought" Don't talk. Pete; donS get
excited. We believe you." the mea
said.
"As God 10 my vit.ess am telling
you the truth. Life has come back 10
me 10 show the love ana tenderness
which exists In human hearts: my
poor crazed friends were denied thfs
privilege. Let me feel shs warm grasp
OF your hand within my own. God
has been Kind 20 me: be saved me
from the brutal Instincts which for .
moment overpowered me. We were
all good mates In camp: we workca
fair and square together. with no cd
nshness. We had almost completed
our sssessment work on our claim
II Is n good one: take 10. boys. and n
IL ever can be done. ereo, a lasting
monument over the graves OF those
who bore no malice or unkind thought
toward each other.
"I tried TO cheer them up: they ns-
tened and strove hard with proud
spirits ana brave courage. In another
world" he whispered. there 10 ~
hunger. no SHOWS. no clouds. no night.
no suffering In search for gold. ! N
satisfied all 10 bright. boys
Just as the morning sun was J
tinging the mountain peaks with the
beautiful pink glow which marks its
rising spiendof the soul of loyal Peter
was waited to the arms OF his maker.
They placed him beside his friends.
awaiting the time when n granite slab
hewn from the rocks on which he had
died. would mark his resting place
and proclaim to the world. There
lies man In the true sense OF the
term"
As the rcscuing party left the scene
OF this human tragedy they descended
the mountain slope. With 1. backward
look they gazed again upon the place
to see against the horizon tho shafts
OF pure white snow. rising as senti-
nels, pointing toward heavcn.