The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-04-15

covering tina, had sheltered the gold hunt
er's burden
Gornlley returned with his hat full OF
berries. TO find the sick man almost as he
had left him. The gathering dark hid
from view the perspiration on his face. and
the glitter in his eyes.
No bear" called Gormley. but. Lord.
what raft of berries. Try some" He
held out the hat. Into 1t Lumley thrust
shaking hand and ate.
There was telling how far they had
yet TO go. Gormfey could only see by the
broadening OF the stream that they must
be somewhere near the mouth. The white
top OF Mount wrangel doomed deceitfully
near. They had met no one and the silence
was absolute. Gormley sat in tho stern
smoking Lumley's pips and glancing now
and again at his companion.
Look here" said the injured man.
you've been on the square with me and
I'll De on the square with you. P'raps you
thought was playin' crooked in that poker
game on the Flats. 1t wasn't me. bur
Jennings done the business droppin that
ace by your foot Didn't you see him ask
Mellor 10 pick 1t up?"
ia like to meet him. said Gormley.
He was on the bank above Copper"
said Lumley. II seen him. but didn't
callate TO make no more trouble"
IT'S all right" replied Gormley. maybe
I'll run up with him yet. II debut say.
do you want your pipe: feelin' filter ain'e
you?"
The other nodded. Reckon could take
a puff he said.
Gormley handed 1t over. and then leanins
over. filled his hand with water. spat 1t
out and stared at Lumley. by God" he
cried, It's salt" The other stared too.
They were nearing the end OF their Jour-
ney. The river grew broader. but CORN
ley kept to the middle to get the full force Of
slackening current. 1t late the next
afternoon he ms wat
The boat was fling-Lumley saw 1t. too
The wonder was that the ill-made craft
had stood the strain long, Gormley
dropped the oars into the pins and started
to pull ashore. He had not gone half way
when he saw that 1t useless with his
heavy load.
Can you swim?" he shouted at Iumley.
The other. terrified. shook his head. 1t
was a foolish question with the water ice
cold. Gormley hesitated but only q mo-
ment. Hope died out Of his heart. Then
he cut the rope that bound the canvas
bundle to the seat and threw 1t overheard.
too overwrought to notice its loss OF
weight 1t vanished and the boat brought
up bar.
Luck and lust
Retributiou
sit STILL" he yelled to Lunsey IN :
vicious voice he felt the bar with his
feet. Steadytng himself, he baled with tho
saucepan ana found the leak.
Gormley forgot to eat. He began to
think Of the gold he had left. He faced
Lumiey, Can you get on alone" he asked.
Lumley leaned forward. you wouldn't
quit me now?' he asked.
"Of not" answered Gormley. TIL
you through"
They started on the last leg OF their
journey. The salt air came now in fire.
quent whifs. and in the distance a line OF
smoke. lazy crooked. tilted against the
blue. Gormley saw 1t lis.essly. the other
eagerly.
the salmon canneries when tho fiat bot
toned boat beached. A white man came
down to fine boat.
Hello" he said Where from"
Gormley got out and turned to help
Lumley. The other hesitated and shook
his head, pointing to his pack.
iii carry that" said Gormley. ana
moved to the bow. Suddenly, Lumley, for
getting his broken leg, started forward.
trpped On seat and fell, striking his
temple. Both men bent over him.
Got doctor here?" asked Gormley.
His leg is broke an -
The other called to some Chinese and
motioned to the company's house. He fol-
lowed them as they carried the uncon.
scious prospector. and called back to CORN.
ley: Fetch his stun. itll be stolen there"
Gormley sat down to think He was In
had hailed them. Keep that dunnage." he
said. hes dead. Pard OF yours? Here's .
pack Of cards spilled out OF his coat the
way up"
NO. he warnt no pard Of mine." said
Gormley
Glad to hear that" said the other.
Ever stack up against him in a card
game? Nor Good thing. Ave aces in this
pack. two Of EN- hearts" He ran the cards
over as he spoke.
HELL said Gormley- The other threw
down the pack and walked of. Gormley
pulled at the dead mans bag 1t was hard
to move He jerked out a blanket. and .
stream of nuggets came with 1t.
His hand trembled His eyes stared. He
dumped the bag out and then replaced the
gold. stuffng the blanket on top.
Hey. he yelled to the retreating figure
Of the canneries man. "Whens the next
boat go?"
The other turned back. What's thatr"
"Whens the next boat go?"
Three weeks; want TO work."
Can I my way backs"
Sure" said the canneries man. therein
be lots Begin to do that before the month
Is past"