Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-04-21

luck SIo1y, UuC Win
cheerfIIness and a childlike trust that
fnasmuch as their whole lives mad
been honest and true, the way would
not be found closed in their hour OF
need
And it was this trust that led them
across ten miles of timber-clad divide
"a very long way from home for
them-to Mariposa Creek, OF Wnlch
Hugh Mccarthy, their old friend, was
almost sole owner, and in his way
king. Somewhat out of breath, they
slowly climbed the trail to the river
bank Whereon Mccarthy stood.
Mccarthy, a stocky giant with iron
gray hair, was contentedly watching
the work below. The years had gone
we'll with him. Time, knowing his
kindly heart, had dealt nothing but
caresses The Ahpalino, whereon for
many years he had neighbored with
the two old partners, had yielded We'll
and now for five years this new find
had added wealth and promise.
Twenty men worked in the cut be-
low, directing great streams OF water
that in the sunlight showed as streaks
of molten silver shifting with terrific
force the red banks, uprooting stumps,
tossing boulders, and sending muddy
torrents through sluices which caught
and held the heavy gold.
A voice, ringing with the thin sweet
ness of an aged bell, high pitched,
broke in upon McCarthy's reverie:
''Howdy Hugh! We're lookin' for
a job"
Before its echo had begun, another
voice, in equal pitch of plaintiveness,
reiterated: YES, we're lookin' for
Job"
Mccarthy, startled, pivoted on the
heel of his rubber boot, and in aston
tsbment looked at the two old men
who, bearded, dressed, and statured
alike, had addressed him. His dark
eyes twinkled from beneath his gray
thatch of eyebrows, and his hands
came from his pockets to grasp theirs,
which they simultaneously proffered.
'Abner and Ezry, as I'm livin'," he
said, his face melting into great
smile; "and lookin' for job! Well
you've got it."
That was about all that was said
The partners, like automatons pulled
by the same string, took off their
coats, carefully folded and laid them
on the bank Then they rolled their
shirtsleeves to the elbow, took prodi-
giOus chews of tobacco, started their
jaws and white boards to work, and in
five minutes were hard at it,
The work was very old to them, be-
cause in their thirty-fve years Of part
nership this had most always been
their lot. True, it was one Of the first
times in all their lives wherein they
had worked for wages and drawn pay
for the toll of their hands. Most men
would have felt, in commencing life
all over again at seventy years, that
fate had dealt harshly, but not so
with them. To them the hills and
forests were home, the good God in
heaven a very close friend, and to
work was natural.
In this same simple way they had
always worked, or passed their days
on desert and plain, in the noun
tains depths or the forests shelter;
had fought side by side when in
brave hearts lay their only hope; had
loved the same woman when love
came to them; had together buried
and sorrowed over her when deaIh
interposed, and now that fortune haG
turned her face were glad to be alto
gether in toll, where they could share
each others WEAKNESS.
It isn't for any one to know how
bitterly they must have suffered in
leaving the quiet little cabin on the
Ahpalino, with it's truck patch, it's
flowers, and the little cross on the
hill beneath which rested their dead.
Even the worked-out ground, which
for more than twenty years had held
them to the only home they had ever
known. must have been very dear,
and the outer world very cold.
Hugh, who better than any one
knew their joys and sorrows, was
now wealthy, and would have gladly
given them dust enough to pave with
ease all the remaining days of their
lives; but he understood them too
we'll for that Knew that such an Of
fer would be sturdily declined.
Now, as he stood on the bank above
and watched them steadily handling
their sluice-forks and dumping small
er rubbish from the sluices, he was
perpiexed He knew that the light
est work he had to give was all too
heavy At seventy the heart may be
young and the toil-worn hands willing,
but youths store of strength is gone.
That day witnessed McCarthy's
first falsehood, and he loved the
truth After he had made an excuse
that they might quit work earlier,
knowing how tired they must be. he
told them there WASH room for them
30 sleep in the mess-house, so had
cots olaced for them in his own cabin.
1T was pretty bold. because there were
ten empty hunks. it only proved