The Elbert County tribune., 1914-04-10

BIdou5l Iete b snOufuerS SO tnat the
agreement fluttered to Brooke's feet
She steadied herself. then with a
husky croak. You made Bolt sign
that-blind. dying. 80 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 Skockum House
However" he shrugged his shoulders.
and put the agreement away. Il don't
want 10 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 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. '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 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 fiume, and the price of -four in
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 well 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 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
| cargador; but 1t is a very big thing
indeed to be unselfsh. 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
blacked the stove with malice, she
shook the bedding in enrnity. set the
furniture to rights as though 1t were
being punished. then sat on the damp
floor brooding. while twilight deepen
ed over a world OF treachery, Brooke
was thief, the lying boss had used
Pete and thrown him away wrung
dry. And Pete was an old fool who
woulo forgive.
She had dreaded the lonely summer
when she was left with only squirrels
for company Now Pete would be
"settin'" around. ruined. and out of
work, the man who had been used and
thrown aside, the laughing-stock of
the teamsters who saw his pride
brought low.
The frontier breeds fierce women,
with narrow venomous enmities to-
ward the foes OF the house Even IL
Pete suffered, Brooke should not pros-
per, or the boss who had failed her
man. Mother dragged two five-gallon
cans of petroleum from the lean-to.
and staggering under their weight,
poured the oil over all Brooke's har-
ness. Breathing heavily with her la
Dor. she carried loads of swampy hay,
and cord-wood. until the aparejos
were but part of bonfire. Then with
brand fiom the stove she set
the hay alight. There should be ne
public shame to break Pete's heart.
there should be no pack-train unless
he were cargador.
Pete stood beside the ashes, search
ing mothers face with his slow brood
ing eyes. Her burning rage was gone.
and she was afraid. for now she
thought too late of all his loving pride
in the work. the greatness of the
thing which his knowledge and skill
had made. That she had burned.
Understanding how love had made