The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-06-28
18th tiny specks Of unmlstakable free

FROM the grass TOOtS dOWn, ne
muttered in an awe-stricken 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 II was almost like clay.
and here the gold was richer than
ever. II was a veritable treasure
chamber. For a hundred feet up and
down he traced the walls OF the vein.
lie even climbed over the canyon.lip
10 look along the brow OF the hill for
signs OF the outcrop But that could
wait. and he hurried back TO his find.
He toiled on In the same mad haste,
until exhaustion and an injolerGble
ache in his back compelled him 10
pause. He Strengthened up with even
a richer piece OF gold.laden quartz.
STOPPING. the sweat from his forehead
had fallen to the ground. II now ran
into his eyes. binding him. He wiped
Il from him with the back OF his hand
and returned TO scrutiny OF the gold.
II would run thirty thousand TO the
ton. fifty thousand. anything-he knew
that. And as he gazed upon the yell
low lure. and painted for air, and
wiped the sweat away. his quick vision
leaped and set 10 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 qcartz-crusher.
Likewise. the whole mine grew before
him and beneath him-tunnels. shafts.
aud galleries. and hosting 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
abruptly that what he wanted was
a drink-whisky. cocktails. anything.
drink. And even then. with this new
hot yearning for the alcohol upon
him. he heard. faint and far. drifting
down the green abyss OF the canyon.
Dede's voice. crying
Here. chick. chick. chick. chick.
chick! Here. chick. chick. chick!"
He was astounded at the lapse OF
time. She had left her sewing on the
porch and was feeding the chickens
preparatory TO getting supper. The
afternoon was gone. He could not
conceive that he had been away that
long.
Again came the call: Here. chick.
chick. chick. chick. chick! Here. chick.
chick. chick!"
II was the way she always called
first FIVE, and then three He had long
since noticed It. And from these
thoughts OF her arose other thoughts
that caused great fear slowly
to grow in his face For It
seemed to him that he had almost lost
her. Not once had he thought Of her
In those frenzied hours. and for that
much. at least. had she truly been lost
to him. He dropped the piece Of
quartz. slid down the slide and start.
ed w the trail. rum Ing heavily. At
,hc edge of the clearing he eased
down and almost crept TO a point Of
vantage whence he could peer out.
himself unseen. She was feeding the
chickens. tossing to them handfuls OF
grain and laughing at their antics.
The sight of her seemed to relieve
the panic fear into which he had been
flung. and he turned and ran back
down the trail. Again he climbed the
slide. but this time he climbed higher.
carrying the pick and shovel with
him. And again he toiled frenziedly.
but this time with a different purpose
lie worked artfully. loosing slide after
slide OF the red soil and sending II
streaming down and covering up all
ne had uncovered. hiding from the
light OF day the treasure he had dis
covered. He even went into the woods
and scooped armfuls OF last years
fallen leaves. which he scattered over
the slide. But this he gave up as 4
vain task. and he sent more slides OF
soil down upon the scene OF his labor.
until no sign remained of the OUTPUT
ting walls OF the vein. Next he re-
paired the broken pipe. gathered his
tools together. and started up the
trail He walked slowly. feeling
great WEAKNESS. as Of n man who had
passed through frighttul crisis He
put the tools away. took great drink
OF tho water that again flowed through
the pipes. and sat down on the bench
by the open kitchen door. Dede was
inside. preparing supper. and the
sound Of her footsteps gave him q
vast content.
He breathed the balmy mountain air
In great gulps. like diver ffesh-riscn
from the sea. And. a. he drank IN
the air. he gaxed with all his eyes at
the clouds and sky and valley. ~ 4