The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1915-03-15

his half-roussd brain. sang In his
blood. sent him flying to the frosted
window to peer through It on the new
day-ths day no had never thought
would dawn for Lastluck Lake.
After breakfast he and Rider went
with Sophy to the spot where abe hsd
stumbled on the gold. Haxard's ex-
pert knowledge told him the value Of
the find. He said:
You're all right. Miss Ridgewsy.
You've struck Il! Here's luck to your
mine!"
Luck" shouted Rider scornfully.
TITS another Klondiks-that's what
II Isl" He dropped on his knees and
scrabbied with both hands In the pay
gravel. TITS not only the big bits.
either; It's every bit Of II pay dirt,
right down to the bed rock-and Lord
knows how far that Ii! look here"--
and blew into II carefully-''look at
that!"
why. It's sawdust," shrisksd
Sophy. horrified. as the grains shifted.
Rider laughed. IT'S gold; good
soid-and enough Of It to keep Us
washing for two years. after we've
got out the big stuff; and
And whatf" demanded Hazard.
And no more good 70 US than 80
I'VE can't work II. Mr.. Hazard; the
men won't work II. They wouldn't
even turn out for me this morning.
They mean going. ard We can't do
anything without them. Hupposing
We 60. too. and come back next spring
-where'u our gold be thenf Some
bodyll have heard Of II and got out
before u. And we can't make out to
stay by 1t. either; IFS all come too
Good Lord. Rider" Hazard turned
In evaporation. don't croak! We
can stay II We want to-"
And II We do. this stuff'll have our
bones lying In II: it's like laughing at
us now" cried the man unexpectedly.
For whatll be the good of 1t to any
one but Ridgeway. when we've kept
her"-he pointed over his shoulder to
the GIL above them and out Of hear
You're going to stay-work itf"
Sophie demanded.
II gueas we'll get the claim staked."
returned Hazard dryly. We'll get at
II right after dinner"
why on earthf We're . million
miles from people"
Il dare say. But wen stake her
right now. all the same. Four-inch
s ssaSss;v TOO ;.. and vel see they're
Ing TO break into the debOuches OF a
couple more gullies. You two go back
to camp"
He was an hour at his breaking In,
and he had not thought that when he
climbed out Of his third hole he would
be shaking; but he was. II he was
not a particularly unselhsh person.
his first thought was that Sophy need
hever have another care In this world
was even willing that Ridgeway
should be rich. too; nothing mattered.
first Of all. but Sophy. As for him
self. he could do with all that was
coming TO him. Rider should work
on share.
II the men would only stay on the
same basis, then that way he would
bribe them to it-and trust to luck to
feed them. No hardships or him
ORANGES would matter. when once that
gold was bullion. But II was odd that
somewhere underneath his elation lay
y queer thought that II would not be
bullion easily; and as he happened
to lift his eyes to the hard rim OF
hills that was his only horizon, some
thing In the look OF them smote Has
ards mind TO dumbnsss.
THE Lord knows I'll have plenty
10 fight without looking for trouble"
he thought. forgetting he had been
sure that 6ophy's was not the first
foot on the gold, and for the first
time he knew what Rider meant
when he said the nuggets laughed at
them.
II was the terrible wilderness
round him ne had to nSht--aHd
mAstee--aot the mea. or Dooslble
claim. Jumpers. Thsrs wss somssslnq