The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-06-08

the Tezlina was just beginning to feel the
mood from the foot OF the melting glacier.
He stood uncertain. looking into the dark
ness He knew how n trial might result.
Justice was dealt out with swift hands on
the trail Il was the boast OF the camp
that one might leave a full pocketbook
anywhere the snow and ind Il again
untouched after days. He recalled the poor
devil who had made on with a side OF
bacon-they buried him under two feet OF
frozen ground the other side Of the
divide.
On the Hopeless
Backward Trail.
He went to his tent and lay down in his
sleeping bag. Shortly after midnight he
was up. Il didn't take him long TO roll up
his canvas and pack Il on hts sled with a
bag OF beans. another OF bacon. some salt
and tea. his mining tools and blankets.
He slipped the rope over his neck and
under his arms. and with moccasined feet
making no noise the crust started or
around the bend toward the Tanana His
and the Copper River
His fifteen hundred pounds Of stun
were lost to him: that was the price OF the
NTH ace. He tried 20 figure out how the
unlucky heart had fallen at his feet. The
one-eyed man he knew for a square fellow,
the mail carrier OF the country, who took
his life In his hands every day for a dollar
letter. lie Set his teeth and cursed his
luck. I'm through he said and was
startled at the sound OF hts own voice.
He'll think OF mortEaginE the old place
for this" He laughed harshy inwardiy
click at the thought. lie kept on mushInR
until long after daylight. stopped In a
hollow 70 light IRE and cook a little
Breakfast. and then rolled himself up IN
his blanket and slept until late afternoon.
Dragging one hundred and nifty pounds
sounds easy. but II Is no sinecure when
the path is unbroken and unknown HIS
plans to build boat and noat down the
Tezlina 20 Copper Centre were out Of the
question now. lie must 60 Il afoot, ana
try 10 meet UP with prospectors who didn't
know him.
For ten days he pushed on over SHOWS
that were fast melting. fordinE streams
that threatened 10 sweep him on his feet
and putting mile after mile between him
and the spectre that hung over Jackass
Flats The Ice on Lake Marguerite was
beginning 20 break as he worked his vav
along the shore. and light laden he reached
the front OF the lake In half the time he
had set aside 20 get there.
Tales Of Gold,
But Only Tales.
There were men ahead % him: men WIEN
tales OF gold. but no gold. The rainbow
now hung far away over the Tanana HIIs
beyond the clay banks OF the Copper.
Gormley pitched his tent and rested. The
surface snow was gone. there was no more
shedding. Back Of the new camp lay acres
OF fallen trees. round. shining. smooth with
the wear and tear Of snow and rain ani
weather. their bases cut on as clean a.
wheat after the scythe.
The nights were getting shorter. ana 4,
the haif dark with men rowing on the
lake and lights twinkIing from many tents.
with songs coming from ight-hearted ad-
venturers 20 the accompaniment OF a banjo
ono might have thought he was on an
island lake back insths states only the
ID
bic for few moments over the tops OF
white peaks Jared on tho ESQ and broks
the Imagination az on wheel.
GormIey saw pictured on many ~ these
nights In inc silence that followed tho
enEinE-an almost tangible sfI.Iu@as-t1e
utlo farm in Indiana. his wife ana tts
two children sitting by their mother on
the farm wagon waving their hands az che
train pulled out bearing him into the un-
known. There we're hundreds who coufd
couture 90 similar visions TTs went over
the scene in LumIeya tent ana wondered
n Do might not have been Tor the best
now HnI aE1.n prnHprrfIra rarard on
ffrIr "ay back aii with tales or The riches
~ fhf "orfn All with stories ~ how
thrg IesH f1r'Hr7fs than their fellow t,f
I8st mlsred tHe lucky claims g.-r.Ieg
looked about 'h- circle chat listened .r.r-
n'I'hnI '7 these fsbrIraf1ra u Eeslfb
DO. by "a hairs breadth. and shrugged nl.
Shoulders
one n.rht there was stirring IN mo
camp Three men had come Ir vrh a.,
s'f'l1f ~ rich nr1 In fha hills rrsro
81 paris ~ iHr IftIa town NJ tents f,rr,.
bfFfr i' appear armed with pick ana
sh't''' lNff In their eyes. lnpstencs tn
thet Fali The cavaIcade started. no one
could have f'i1 under whose direction "a
~ dav UEht vas haIf way 10 fr ft.
n2'n'aina over rwanps across f.Ids ~
crIfs-rr'as"d fallen trunks. among b44f-
asra % threaded ra uay. ss'rr co.d bacon