Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-08

young man, digging with his fingers in the
bank, shouting that the water was his, and that
he saw his gold at the bottom Behind him his
famished dogs leaped and growled, waiting for
him to fall, and they barred their teeth hercely
when Lars whipped them back. Lars carried
the man to his cabin. He had seen men mad
from many causes. from the sudden finding of
wealth. from loneliness, and from the silence of
the North. His own strength had not dulled
him to the weakness of Others So he put the
young man into his own bed and gave him
medicine to calm his fever. That day he stayed
indoors, carving at Petronilla's chair.
1t was almost night when his guest awoke.
conscious. He croaked some hoarse words, and
Lars brought him water.
SO" said Lars, your dogs were starved,
and you perhaps? You have not travelled this
way much?"
The other shook his head "My name is
Matthews. Jack Matthews" he said Il have
never come north before. l thought l
getting to the end of the world, and two of the
dogs died, and the others tore them to pieces
He shuddered.
"Of course" said Lars, eff they were hun
cry"
- did not exactly expect them to bury their
dead brothers" said Matthews. with cracked
laugh; but it was horrible!"
You are weak yet" said Lars indulgently.
Then 1 went off my head. l don't know
where dreams stopped and reality began. l
know found the creek fellow had told me
of who prospected here once and drew
map OF the place, 1OTROLten corner, ne Sa1Q,
that no one believed in. l thought l found
this creek. and that man drove away"
Il am not the only man who found the
creek" said Lars slowly; but l am the only
man who stayed. You new to all this,
Matthews. staked the claim this spring. be-
fore went to Carson for supplies
$50 am out' said Matthews bitterly. He
rose from the bed. and tottering across the
room was about to seat himself in Petronillas
chair
Not here" said Lars gently; but the bench
over there
Matthews staggered over and flung himself
down on the bench.
mo one finds gold at once" said Lars, land
Even am making moose camp here; for the
gold is shallow enough The days of great
strikes are all gone; but you can look farther.
as did,
said Matthews pettishly You haven't told
me your name
Il am Lars Andersen"
Matthews gasped and sat upright. But
YOU but she said you were man made like
so much larger than l. after ALL
THE cabin is DIM said Lars, rising to
strike light. "You will find ne big enough"
WHEN the lamp was lighted he raised it
w above his head and surveyed his visitor.
Matthews was we'll made and tall, with ruddy
flush under his dark skin, and quick glancing
eyes.
80 Petronilla has told you of me. She sent
letter." he asked greedily.
Not a letter." said Matthews uneasily.
There was not time. 1 came suddenly. l
cannot be so far north as l thought. l sup
posed had passed beyond your cabin. I was
going to find the creek. and then come and find
you" He broke off under the others steady
scrutiny.
We'll have supper first" said Lars.
He went into the outer room, where he kept
his stores, and came back with bacon and a
tin of beans. Matthews watched his prepara-
tons broodingly. When at last Lars began
to brew the coffee Matthews said:
There is something l must tell you first"
mot yet" said Lars; I'VE will eat first"
He set the table and the other looked at him
uncertainty and ate sparingly. Lars said
nothing. He looked after his guests wants and
ate with his usual appetite. 1t not until
he had cleared the table and was sitting oppo-
site Matthews that he spoke.
What is Petronilla's message?"
Il don't know that it is a message" began
Matthews. and then broke off and turned
away his quick eyes. II am sick!" he fall
tered. Let US talk in the morning
For moment the two men eyed each other
Then Lars said quietly. In the morning, then"
He went into his storeroom and brought out
a pile of blankets. which he cast behind the
stove. For moment he hesitated looking at
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