Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-05-23


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 aside; but he foundered and scram-
bled up again without pausing for
breath He hit upon quartz that was
so rotten that It was almost like clay.
and here the gold was richer than
ever. 1t was veritable treasure
chamber For 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
wait and he hurried back to his find.
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
richer piece of gold-laden quartz.
STOPPING. the sweat from his forehead |
had fallen TO the ground. 1t now ran |
into his eyes. binding him. He wiped |
ii from him with the back of his hand
and returned to a scrutiny of the gold
1t would run thirty thousand to the
j ton. lliN tIOQFdUus an lnlIE -ht hAtN
that And as be gazed upon the yell
low lure. and painted for air and
wiped the sweat away. his quick vision
leaped 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 It was real before his eyes.
Across the canyon was the place for
the mill and there he erected II; and
he erected also. the endless chain OF
buckets. suspended from 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 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
pit Of his stomach. 1t came to him
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.
I 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
b preparatory TO getting supper. The
afternoon was gone. He could not
4 conceive that he had been away that
S long
Again came the call: Here. chick
chick. chick. chick. chick. Here. chick
q chick chick"
= II was the way she always called
:, first FIVE and then three He had Ions
since noticed It, And from these
thoughts Of her arose other thought:
that caused great fear slowl,
- to grow in his face. For 1
) seemed to him that he had almost los
, her. Not once had he thought OF he
:. In those frenzied hours and for tina
II much. at least. had she truly been los
to him. He dropped the piece O
- quartz. slid down the slide. and start
10 ed up the trail. running heavily. A
the edge of the clearing he ease
down and almost crept to point o
* vantage whence he could peer out
himself unseen She was feeding tn
n chickens. tossing TO them handfuls c
m grain and laughing nj their antics.
In The sight of her seemed to reliev
re the panic fear into which he had bee
n flung. and he turned and ran bac
IN down the trail Again he climbed tn
re slide, but this time he climbed highe
20 carrying the pick and shovel wit
IN him. And again he toiled frenziedl.
OF but this time with a different purpos
He worked artfully. loosing slide afts
w slide Of the red soil and sending
streaming down and covering up a
,e- he had uncovered hiding from ii
ell. light OF day the treasure he had oil
a covered. He even went into the Woo
.ly and scooped armfuls of last year
II fallen leaves. which he scattered ov'
&c. the slide But this he gave up as
in vain task, and he sent more slides
re soil down upon the scene OF his labo
In until no sign remained OF the out-j'
Ith ting walls OF the vein. Next he 7
err haired the broken pipe. gathered b
ex. tools together. and started up q
ne trail He walked slowly. feeling
in. great wearfuess, as OF man who HI
lp. passed through a frightful crisis.
nd put the tools away. took a great drill
nb. Of the water that again flowed throuI
nd the pipes. and sat down on the ben
ly. by the open kitchen door. Dede W
Ike inside, preparing supper. and
its sound OF her footsteps gave him
ice vast content
Ing He breathed the balmy mountain
wn in great gulps. like diver fresh-ris
mi. from the sea. And. as he drank
un. the air. he gazed with all his eyes