The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-02

step would he more drastic than that
of killing the sheep. He advised him
to cross the ridge with the sheep left
to the eastern slopes. 1t would be a
hard journey and most Of the sheep
might die on the way. but it was thu
only chance. Then he rode off into
the night.
Grimly. in silence. Solder made his
preparations. and the next morning. at
the first hint of dawn. they COM
n'enced the march. There a not
much courage in Seider's heart, for
the wealth that had almost been his,
after the long s%trussle, had beer
on a brave face and went ahead.
They mounted slowly up into the big
hills. The feed for the sheep grew
sparse. and some dice on the way.
Billy Magee was the ony n who
grew cheerful. The sight of the bare
rock showing gray about him, the
%nearness Of the higher peaks, the
crunch of the rotted granite. the soft.
mush of sand. these seemed to interest
him. He would take the sand and let
1t run through his fingers. and he
would smile and talk to himself.
They entered a narrow ravine. The
sheep filed in front, plaintively calling.
back OF him Seider. sick at heart, was
aiding his. wife. whose courage had
failed. and whose heart, too, had
weakened under the long march and
the hopeless quest.
Suddenly Seider stopped. and his
wife n he stared at Billy Magee. He
had drawn back and was staring at a
little open place at the right: his lips
We're moving rapidly and his hands
were drawn up. tightly to his head.
With a wild cry Billy dashed across
the narrow trail and disappeared.
Seider started forward. for his disap-
pearance had been so sudden 1t SEEM
ed impossible.
Where Magee had disappeared was
a narrow cut. Through this Seider
hurried to see the insane man. scram.
bling up higher AMONG the rock. Sci
der followed around a little bend. In
a space followed ont among broken
rock and gravel he saw Magee kneel-
ing and scooping up the broken ma
ing hoarsely. Its all around-it's
all around" Seider recoiled. It was
all around-gold.
Dizzily Seider looked about him. 1t
once had been the deep pocket. of a
mountain stream and the gold wash
There were fortunes in sight.
He turned back with trembling
steps to see Magee outstretched on the
sand his white, gaunt face up turned.
1t was days before Magee recovered.
Carefully and tenderly Seider watched
and took care Of him and slowly the
sick mar fought back to life. and into
his eyes ann the light of intelligence.
1t was a moment Of supreme wonder
to Solder when Magee spoke the first
sane word and asked them the mean
Ing Of their presence.
Solder told him the whole story of
his coming to them and he, in the
tone of recalling something very
diml' remembered. told of his hunt
and of his finding the mine. Then.
weakened by his long effort. Of falling
in the ravine and Of remembering no
more until something had rippe6
through his brain and, finding him.
self again in the pocket. Of losing con-
seriousness. only to wake up again to
find himself with them.
Magee looked at, Seider as he fill
ished. II have you to thank for INV
life." he said. There's gold up there
to put the sheep business in the shade.
Well form a partnership-Seider &
Sfmonds. How's that? Dig it and
then-well. We'll make some dreams
come true" ''