The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-01-02

the kitchen boxes. Not Bolt hisself
may sit on my riggings," said the old
gray cargador.
81 thought" said Brooke quite kind
ly. that this harness was mine"
"A half-interest," said mother,
surely"
Il fear" said Brooke, you sort of
misunderstood. Old Taylor did say
something about your usefulness as a
working partner, and. of course, II we
hadn't Cancelled that preposterous con-
tract with the Hudson's Bay Company,
there's do doubt your knowledge of
the country up north would have been
worth paying for. 1t was, as you say,
damned awkward about his being
blind as bat; in fact, l was put to
quite a lot of trouble getting the agree
ment witnessed. However" he pro-
duced a document which mother
snatched, its all there in black and
white, and there's the old FOOLS sig
nature-holds good in any court of
law-proves that I've bought and paid
for the whole atajo. You needn't
claim l haven't clear title-so you
needn't stare at me as if I'd forged the
signature. It's straight goods, l tell
you
Mother reeled backward, while she
grabbed Pete's shoulders so that the
agreement fluttered to Brooke's feet.
She steadied herself, then with a
husky croak, you made Bolt sign
that-blind, dying, so he dunno what's
on the paper"
Can you prove that?" asked
Brooke indulgently, as though he
spoke to children. "If you say things
like that, it's criminal libel, and you're
both liable to the Skookum House.
However" he shrugged his shoulders,
and put the agreement away, II don't
want TO be hard on you, Pete"
Mister Mathson," mother Kissed at
him.
Pete, with whispered word to
mother, rose from his bench, and with
out appearing to see Mr.. Brooke,
walked past him across the sunlit
yard, and on slowly up the great lift
ing curve of the road to Hundred Mile
House.
The sun was setting behind him
when Pete rested at last upon the
snowclad summit, and dusk lay In
lakes of shadow far below him. At
the Hundred he found the lamps
alight, and, as usual, Billy offered him
drink. II amt drinking" said Pete
huskily, as he lurched past the bar
into the dining-hall, and on to the lit
tie room on the right where Captain
Taylor lay.
"Bolt!" he whispered.
"That you, Pete? Sit down." said
the boss cheerily. "How's the claim,
Pete? Getting coarse gold, eh?"
Gold? Say. Bolt, what's the mat
ter. old fellow"
Matter? Why, nothing, Pete" the
blind eyes shone keenly; "of course I'm
not nearly to bedrock yet. and as to
what / owe you've jolly well got to
wait. How's old Calamity? got
Lost Creek Jim to work at last"
Was the boss dreaming of old times
on Lightning Creek?
'Watty's in the mall" said Bolt.
Watty had been dead these thirty
years.
Then Pete sat down on the bedside,
and the two miners prattled about the
new fiume, and the price of -four in a
camp now overgrown with jungle.
A word to Billy would have been
enough to get the aparejos to a place
of safety, pending the settlement of
Pete's Just claim as partner. But the
cargador knew we'll that death had
come to take the one man he loved.
This was no time for sordid business,
disturbing Bolt Taylor's peace, 1t was
better to go quietly.
The sky was full of stars as Pete
went homeward. The stars were big
and round; the forest in an ecstasy
kept vigil all alert. all silent, and the
little streams of the thaw we're saying
their prayers before the frost sleep
Of the later hours. The man was at
peace. 1t is not so very much to be
cargador; but 1t is a very big thing
indeed to be unselhsh. The trees kept
vigil, the little streams crooned sleepy
prayers, the stars in glory humbly
served as lamps, and the man made
no cry in his pain. Far down In the
valley he say a red flame rise.
.
Mother saw Brooke rid of to in
spect his Star mules in their pasture
far away down the Fraser Canon. She