The state herald., 1914-04-17

agreement nuttereo 70 brook0's feet.
She steadied herself. then with
husky croak. You made Bolt sign
that-blind, dying. 70 he dunno what's
on the paper"
"Can you prove that?" asked
Brooke indulgently. a. 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 Missed At
him.
Pete, with a 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
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. 81 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. "Hows the claim.
Peter Getting coarse gold. eh7"
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 mail" said Bolt.
Watty had been dead these thirty
years.
Then Pete sat down on the bedside,
and the two miners prattled about the
new iume. 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 q place
OF safety. pending the settlement Of
Pete's just claim as partner. But the
earsador knew well that death had
come to take the one man he loved.
This was no time for sordid business,
disturbing Bolt Taylor's peace. II was
better to 20 quietly.
.
The sky was full OF stars as Pete
went homewnrd. The stars were big
and round: the forest In an ecstasy
kept vigil all alert. all silent. and the
little streams Of the thaw were saying
their prayers before the frost sleep
OF the later hours. The man was at
peace. II Is not SO very much to be
carrador; but II Is 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 on to In
spect his Star mules In their pasture
far away down the Fraser Canon. She
BACKED the stove with malice. she
shook the bedding In enmity. set the
furniture to rights as though II were
being punished. then sat on the damp
floor brooding. while twilight deepen.
ed over world Of trcachery. Brooke
was n thief. the lying boss had used
Pete and thrown him away wrunS
dry. And Pete was an old fool who
would forgive.
She lind dreaded the lonely summer
when she was left with only squirrels
for company. Now Pete would DO
"rcttin'" around. ruined. and out OF
work. the man who sad been used and
thrown aside. the lsughing.st stock OF
the teamsters who saw his pride
brought low.
Tho frontier breeds fierce women.
with narrow venomous enmities to.
ward the foes OF the house. Even II
Pete suffered. Brooke should not pros.
per. or the boss who had failed her
man. Mother dragged two nve-gallon
cans OF petroleum from the lesn.to.
and staggering under their weight.
poured the oil over NIL Brookcs hnr.
ness. Breathing heavily with her In.
Dor. she carried loads OF swampy hay.
and cord.wood. until the aparejos
were but part OF a bonfire. Then with
n brand from the stove she SGT
the hay nlight. There should be me-
public shame TO break Pctc's heart,
there should be no pack.train unless
he were cnrgndor
Pete stood beside the ashes. search
lnk mothers face with his slow brood
ing eyes, Her burning rage was gone.
and she was afraid. for now she
thought too late OF nil his loving pride
In the work. tho greatness OF tho
thing which his knowledge and skiil
had made. That she had burned.
Understanding how love had mndc
this blundrr. Pete said no word. lie
only knew that bolt had paid him