New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY .. I9IO

vo,,nq man. digging with his fingers in the
hank shouting that the water was MS. ana tila.1
he saw his gold at the bottom. BEHIND MN MS
famished dogs leaped and growled, waiting IIl I
him to fall and they barred their teeth hefceiy
when Lars whipped them back. Lars carried,
the man To his cabin. He had seen men mad
from many causes, from the sudden hndlnS ot
wealth from loneliness and from the silence y, ,
the North. His own strength had not duilgu t.I
him to the weakness OF others. 80 ne put Ihe
Young man into his own bed and gave nm,
medicine to calm his fever. That day ne Stayeu
indoors. carving at PetrOn1lla CHAIR
1t was almost night when his guest aWoKe;
conscious. He croaked some hoarse words. ana
Lars brought him water
so" said Lars. your dogs were starved
and YOU perhaps? You have not Travelled TINS
The other shook his head. My name IS
Matthews. lack Matthews, he said. nave
never come north before. | thought l was
Dettino 10 the end OF the world. and two OF the
dogs died. and the others tore them TO pieces
He shuddered.
--Of course said Lars. if they were hun
Cry .,o., 90 ,,,,-,. their
dead brothers," said Matthews, with a cracked
laugh; but it was horribleI
You are weak yet said Lars 1ndulgently
Then went off my head. | don't know
where dreams stopped and reality began
know I found the creek fellow had told me
of who prospected here once and drew me a
map of the place; forgotten corner he SAID:
that no one believed in | thought | found
this creek. and that a man drove me away
Il am not the only man who found the
creek. said Lars slowly; but l am the only
man who stayed. You are new to all this
Matthews | staked the claim this spring. be-
fore I went to Carson for supplies. -
so | am Quit" said Matthews bitterly He
rose from the bed. and tOttering across the
room was about to seat himself in Petronllla 5
chair.
:. Not here said Lars gently; but the bench
over there =,
Matthews staggered over and flung himself
down on the bench.
:" No one finds gold at once said Lars. and
it is more profitable to keep a camp or a store
Even | am making a moose camp here; tor the
gold Is shallow enough The days OF great
strikes are all gone; hut you can look farther,
as | did
Il thought this was the ultimate place. .
said Matthews pettishly- - You haven't told
me your name.
i am Lars Andersen
Matthews gasped and sat upright. But
you-but she said you were man made like
a bull. large, very large. Why. You are not
so much larger than l. after all.
The cabin is dim. said Lars. rising to
strike light You will find me big enough
WHEN the lamp was lighted ne raised it
w above his head and surveyed his visitor.
Matthews was well made and tall. with ruddy
flush under his dark skin, and quick gIanc1ng
eyes.
so Petronilla has told YOU of me. She sent
letter." he asked greediy.
Not a letter, said Matthews uneasily.
There was not time l came suddenly l
cannot be so far north as | thought. | sup
posed | had passed beyond Your cabin | was
going TO find the creek. and then come and find
YOU" He broke off under the Others steady
scrutiny.
Well have supper first said Lars
He went into the outer room, where he kept
his stores, and came back with bacon and
tin of beans. Matthews watched his prepara-
tions broodingly. When at last Lars began
to brew the coffee Matthews said
There is something | must tell you first.
Not yet, said Lars; we will eat first.
He set the table and the other looked at him
uncertainty and ate sparingly- Lars said
nothing He looked after his guest wants and
ate with his usual appetite 1t was not until
he had cleared the table and was sitting oppO-
site Matthews that he spoke.
What IS PetronillaS 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 fal-