The Red Cloud chief., 1912-03-28

'FrOm the grass fOOts uo""' ~
multcred in an awestricken voice. us
he swung his pick into the yielding
surface.
Sometimes he started small slides
of earth that covered up his work ana
compelled him to dig again once
he was swept fifty feet down the can
yon.side; but he noundered 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 veritablc treasure
chamber. For hundred feet up ana
down he traced the walls OF the vein.
He even climbed over the canyon'np
To look along the brow Of the hill for
signs OF the outcrop. But that couid
wait. and he hurried back to his ma.
lie toicd on in the same mad haste,
Until exhaustion and an intolerabie
ache in his back compelled him TO
pause. He Strengthened up with even
richer piece of goldladen quartz
Stopping. the sweat from his forehead
had fallen TO the ground. 1t now ran
into his eyes. binding him. He wiped
It from him with the back Of his hand
and returned to n scrutiny OF the gold.
It 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
leapcd and set to work. lie 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 IL 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 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. It came to him
abruptly that what he wanted was
Il 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
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 MOI
| conceive that he had been away tha
! long.
Again came the call: Here, chick
chick. chick. chick. chick! Here. chick
p chick. chick"
n II was the way she always called
, first five. and then three. He had lonI
since noticed II. And from thes'
. thoughts Of her arose other thought
, that caused n great fear slowl
- to grow In his face. For
|
:. her. Not once had ne thought Of he
:, In those frenzied hours, and for tina
. much. at least. had she truly been los
=, to him. He dropped the piece {
=. quartz. slid down the slide. and star
" ed up the trail, running heavily A
the edge of the clearing he ease
down and almost crept to point {
~ vantage whence he could peer on
himself unseen. She was feeding Il
ap chickens, tossing to them handtuls
III grain and laughing at their antics.
III The sight of her seemed to relic,
re the panic fear into which he had be,
H. flung, and he turned and ran BAT
'n down the trail, Again he climbed Il
re slide, but this time he climbed hight
ea carrying the pick and shovel wi
cn him. And again he toiled frenzied
o' hut this time with different purpos
He worked artfully. loosing slide alt
NV slide Of the red soil and sending
streaming down and covering up
Pc he had uncovered. hiding from t
el. light of day the treasure he had d
a covered He even went into the woo
tly and scooped armfuls OF last yea
1t fallen leaves, which he scattered o,
ac' the slide, But this he gave up as
in vain task. and ne sent more slides
ere soil down upon the scene OF his lab
in. until no sign remained OF the out'1
ith ting walls Of the vein. Next he
er. paired the broken pipe. gathered
ex. tools together. and started up
me trail. He walked slowly, feelini
I'm. great WEAKNESS, az OF a man who
up. passed through a frightful crisis.
md put the tools away. took a great dr.
ub. OF the water that again flowed thro,
md the pipes. and sat down on the bel
ily, by the open kitchen door. Dede '
Ike inside. preparing supper, and
its sound OF her footsteps gave hin
nee vast content
ing lie breathed the balmy mountain
'wn In great gulps. like diver fresh.ri
mi from the sea. And. as he drank
..., - co,-A ,x,tth oil hls avoe