The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-10-01
For The Times Children
Just Before It's Bedtime
BEN BROWNS BATTLE.

~ LOVELY the little steamer puffed
its way up the river and slipped
~ into the wharf built In the shad-
ow Of the great Alaskan noun
tsins. And as Hal winston left the
deck with his father. he wondered at
the strange land OF the North to which
he had come and then at the rough
clothing of the miners who had gath
cred about the ship.
Mr.. Brown and his son Benny, who
was just twelve. greeted Mr.. Winston
and Hal MS soon as they stepped
ashore. and the party was soon tramp
ing up the ragged path to the little
tent on a peak Of a far-off mountain.
Mr. Brown had borrowed money from
Mr.. Winston in order to try his luck
in Alaska, agreeing to share In any
strike he made. He and Benny had
been in the country but q few months.
and we're now to show It to Mr.. Win
ston. who had come up from San Fran
cisco to see what a gold camp looked
like.
A hard tramp II was up the mountain
side. but Benny found 1t interesting.
But Hal, who was dressed In the latest
fashion. sneered at the muddy boots
and the rough shooting suits Of the
Browns.
A few weeks went by and II was time
for the Winstons to return to California.
And II was with a sad heart that Mr..
Brown saw them prepare. For In spite
of his work. he had found nothing.
Other men had struck 1t right almost
before his eyes. but day after day he
returned TO the cabin in despair. Then
Hal was beginning to sneer about the
foolish investment his father had made
In loaning money on such q chance. So
gradually there grew up an unfriendly
feeling between Benny and Hal.
On the morning OF the day before the
Winstons were to leave Hal started out
alone for a tramp through the maunt-
aims. Benny warned him It was a dan
gerous thing to do, but Hal only spoke
slightingly OF the fact that some people
are cowards." and left Benny alone.
In the afternoon one OF the sudden.
early autumn billiards came up with
a wind. and a whirl of sleet and snow
that would blind any traveller. Mr..
Brown and Mr.. winston were in the
town to make arrangements with the
ship, so Benny was alone In the cabin
on the lonely mountain. A big fire roar
ed and there was a-pienty to eat, but
as the storm grew worse. Benny be-
came frightened about Hal. II seemed
to be certain death to venture out him
self, but Benny strapped a fur coat on
his back and set out In the direction in
which Hal had started.
1t seemed useless to fight against the
wind that threw him back. Then the
cold began to chill his blood as he wan,
dered on down the rocky path. stumb-
ling over fallen trees and climbing huge
boulders. Below was a vast sea of
snow-above the huge peaks like shad-
ows In the sleet. For an hour he
tramped on through the storm. wonder
ing II he would ever see his father
again. At last, overcome by the wind
and sleepy from the cold. he leaned
against a tree to rest. Out from the
hollow of a rock near came a faint
moan.
Dropping on his hands and knees
Benny followed the sound and crawled
through a narrow passage into a kind
OF cave. which had evidently once been
worked by a miner. On the floor he
saw Hal stretched out, unconscious
Benny rubbed him well. then wrapped
him up warmly In the fur coat. In the
cave II was much better than outside,
and the boys were sheltered from the
storm. So when Hal opened his eyes
Benny told him that 1t would be best