The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-08-25


proposition. My company for three
months had spoiled him, he said, foI
solitude.
He had worked alone before, SO tha
when the strike came 1t might bt
solely his. Now, he felt differently
He wanted a partner We would share
fortune. | agreed.
Then one night he came in and laiC
a specimen on the table. | paid nc
particular attention at first. Then
saw his face and picked up the speci
men,
There was no doubt about it. What
he had toiled for and hoped for and
! had never doubted had come at last
The vein passed all our hopes, dis
counted our fondest dreams.
The experts who came threw UP
their hands in wonder. The discovery
marked a new era. 1t meant new
towns, new people, new empire. 1t
meant new fever in mems blood for
the yellow coquette of the hills
1t meant love, joy, hate, envy mag
nanimity, charity, philanthropy, mur-
der
To Sam Spencer it meant the re-
alization of a dream, the proof of his
optimism. Beyond the mere affording
of possibility to do certain things. |
think the extravaganza of his sudden
wealth utterly escaped him.
In his great-heartedness he insisted
that we share and share alike was
on the point of refusing when looked
into his eyes. | agreed.
My fortune was made, but fingered
In the West. 1t was Spencer. had
grown to love the man, for the bigness
of him, for the wonderful something
that lifted him out of and away from
the material.
Superficlally he was not attractive,
silent, stern, wordless man of the
nils. But had lived In the same
room with him two years. l had eat
en- his bread, hoped the same hope
dreamed, though not SO perfectly, the
same dream.
Spencer came into my room in the
motel one night and | could see that
ne had something to say. An odd
KIND OF embarrassment had come upon
him and he hedged and countered and
hemmed and hawed and talked of com
monplaces for a half-hour. At last
he told me. 1t was part of the dream
II was, think, the mother of the
dream.
Ten years before, In small town In
one of the middle Western states, Sam
Spencer had loved a girl.
They had seen each other occasion
ally, had walked together in the won
derful spring of youth, had met at
church, at parties.
There had been very little oppor
tunity for talk, had not the youth been
so sorely tonguetied In the presence
or the little great god That part OF
1t was common enough.
That was why wondered about the
woman.
Sam Spencer had come to the seek.
Ing OF the golden fleece wherewith to
line his nest. Ten years he had
sought 1t with shrine in his heart
on which the fire had never died Ten
years he had labored and hoped and
dreamed and worshiped the goddess of
his sacrifice In secret.
And now the fleece was found, the
dream stood ready for fulfillment. 1t
made my blood cold to think of what
the years might have done.
| was with him when he posted the
letter which told of his winning
fortune. 1t was like participating in
some holy rite. 1t meant SO much to
Spencer 1t was 80 much a part of
MIN, the urge, | am now quite sure,
of all his endeavors.
| remember the stun, the sudden.
sfckening sink that came over me
when the telegram was thrust before
my eyes, telling Of the accident in the
Orc pass.
Spencer had gone for quick trip
to Boise, expecting to return in two
days. We had parted with joyful an
ticipations, having in common that
great secret which draws all men into
a common kinship. He would return,
and together we would read the reply
OF the woman.
Foolish, bearded children. Ten
years may do many things besides
wrest fortune from the unwilling
hills Ten years!
Sam Spencer was dead.
The Orc pass had taken 90 lives, of |
which his was one. 1t seemed to me