The searchlight., 1912-05-03

gold.
From the grass roots down." ne
muttered In an awestricken voice. as
he swung his pick into the yielding
surface.
Sometimes he started small slides
OF earth that covered up his work and
compelled him to dig again. Once
he was swept fifty feet down the can
yon-side: but he floundered and scram-
bled up again without pausing for
breath. He hit upon quartz that was
SO rotten that 1t was almost like clay.
and here the gold was richer than
ever. 1t was veritable treasure
chamber. For q hundred feet up and
down he traced the walls OF the vein.
He even climbed over the canyon-lip
to look along the brow of the hill for
signs Of the outcrop. But that could
watt. and he hurried back to his flnd.
He toiled on In the same mad haste.
until exhaustion and an intolerable
ache In his back compelled him to
pause. He Strengthened up with even
a richer piece Of gold-laden quartz.
STOPPING. the sweat from his forehead
had fallen to the ground. It now ran
into his eyes. binding him. He wiped
1t from him with the back Of his hand
and returned to a scrutiny Of the gold.
It would run thirty thousand to the
ton, fifty thousand. anything-he knew
that. And as he gaxed upon the yel
low lure. and painted for air, and
wiped the sweat away. his quick vision
ieaped and set to work. He saw the
spur-track that must run up from the
valley and across the upland pastures.
and he ran the grades and built the
bridge that would span the canyon.
until II was real before his eyes.
Across the canyon was the place for
the mill. and there he erected It; and
he erected. also. the endless chain OF
buckets. suspended from a cable and
operated by gravity. that would cross
the canyon to the quartz-crusher.
Likewise, the whole mine grew before
him and beneath him-tunnels. shafts.
and galleries. and hoisting plants. The
blasts OF the miners were In his ears,
and from across the canyon he could
hear the roar Of the stamps. The
hand that held the lump of quartz
was trembling, and there was a tired.
nervous palpitation apparently In the
pit Of his stomach. II came to him
abruptly that what he wanted was
\ drink-whisky. cocktails. anything. a
drink. And even then. with this new
hot yearning for the alcohol upon
him. he heard. faint and far, drifting
1own the green abyss of the canyon.
Dede's voice. crying
Here, chick, chick. chick, chick.
,hick! Here. chick. chick. chick,"
He was astounded at the lapse of |
line. She had left her sewing on the
porch and was feeding the chickens
to getting supper. The
afternoon was gone. He could not |
that he had been away that
ong.
Again came the call: Here, chick,
,hick. chick. chick. chick! Here. chick,
.hick. chick!"
1t was the way she always called
lrst five, and then three He had long
ince noticed It. And from these
Of her arose other thoughts
hat caused great fear slowly
o grow In his face. For It
eemed to him that he had almost lost
Ter. Not once had he thought OF her
n those frenzied hours. and for that
much. at least. had she truly been lost
o him. He dropped the piece of
uartz. slid down the slide. and start
d up the trail. running heavily. At
he edge Of the clearing he eased
own and almost crept to a point of
antage whence he could peer out,
imself unseen. She was feeding the
tossing to them handfuls of
rain and laughing at their antics.
The sight Of her seemed to relieve
he panic fear into which he had been
ung. and he turned and ran back
own the trail. Again he climbed the
lide. but this time he climbed higher.
arrying the pick and shovel with
i'm. And again he toiled frenziedly.
ut this time with different purpose.
Ie worked artfully. loosing slide after
lide OF the red soil and sending II
treaming down and covering up all
e had uncovered. hiding from the
ght Of day the treasure he had dis
overed. He even went into the woods
nd scooped armfuls Of last years
lllen leaves. which he scattered over
,e slide. But this he gave up as a
ain task. and he sent more slides OF ,
'il down upon the scene of his labor.
ntil no sign remained OF the out-jut-
ng walls OF the vein. Next he re-
aired the broken pipe. gathered his
'ols together. and started up the
all He walked slowly. feeling 4 ,
reat weariness. as Of a man who had
assed through q frightful crisis. He Z
Ut the tools away. took a great drink ,
the water that again flowed through ,
le pipes. and sat down on the bench
, the open kitchen door. Dede was
side. preparing supper. and the ,
'und Of her footsteps gave him q /
Int content. II
He breathed the balmy mountain air
great gulps. like . diver fresh-risen !
ON the nAa And "A ha Ar>uk su, / !.