Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-14
:. The !.
Stampede
By REX BEACH.
Copyright by Otis L. Wood.
By REX BEACH.
Copyright by Otis L. Wood.

li Ill COpyf18nI NY ou0 L. "OOQ.
rNROM their vantage on the dump
the red gravel Of which ran
Il like q raw scar down the
mountain side, the men looked
out across the gulch, above the west
ern range Of hills to the yellow set.
ting sun. Far below them the creek
was dotted with other tiny pay dumps
Of the same red gravel over which
men crawled, antlike. or upon which
they labored at windlass. Thin wisps
Of smoke rose from the cabin roofs.
bespeaking the supper hour.
They had done hard days work,
these two, and YEARLY descended to
their shack which Rugged the hillside
beneath. @
Ten hours with pick and shovel in a
drift where the charcoal gas 6ickers
a candle flame, will reduce ones
artistic keenness, and together they
slouched along the path needless alike
OF view or color.
As Crowley built the fire Buck
secured himself in the wet snow be.
side the door, emerging from his alb.
lutions as cook. The former stretched
upon the bunk with grouting luxury,
Gee whiz! I'm tuckered out. Twelve
hours in that air Is too much for any.
body"
Sure growled the other. bet, !
sleep good tonight, all right, all right.
What's the use anyhow" he continued
disgustedly. I'm sore on the whole
works. If the Yukon was open I'd
chuck it all"
WHAT Go hack to the States; give
upT'
"well, yes, If you want to call it
that, though I think I've shown amt
a gutter. Lord! I've rustled steady
for two years and what have l got?
Nothing except my interest in this
paupenzed hill claim"
III two years of hard luck gives you
cold feet, you amt worthy Of the dig.
nifty Of prospector.' This here is the
only honorable calling there is. There's
no competition and cuttin' threats in
our business nor we don't rob the wild
ders and orphans. A prospector IL de-
fined as a semi-human being with q
low forehead but high sense Of
honor; stummick that SHES at salads
but q heart that's full Of grit. They
don't never lay down, and the very
beauty Of the business Is that you
never know when you're due. Some
day 4 guy comes along. I hit her over
yonder, b. says he. whereupon you
insert yourself into a pach strap,
pound the trail, and the nextyo know
you're a millionaire, or two"
Bah! 10 more stampedes for me.
I'VE killed myself too often-there's
nothing in 'em. I'm sick Of 1t, I tell
you, and I'm going out to Gods coun-
try. No more wild scrambles and hard.
ships for Buck"
A step sounded on the chips without,
and slender. sallow man entered
"Hello. Maynard" they chorused.
and welcomed him to seat.
what are you doing out hereT
"D'you bring any chewing with you?"
Evidently he labored under excite
ment, for his face was flushed and his
eyes danced nervously. He painted
from his climb, ignoring their ques.
lions.
There's been big strike-over on
the Tanana-four bits to the PAN"
Forgetting his fatigue. Crowley
scrambled out of his bunk while the
cook left his steaming skillet.
"WhenY'
How d'you know"
Its this way. met a fellow as
came out from town-he's just come
Overcome of the discoveries. He
showed me the gold. It's coarse; one
nugget weighed $500 and there's only
six men in the party. They went up
the Tanana last fall, prospecting. and
only Just struck it. Three Of 'em are
down with scurvy, SO this one came
over the mountains for fresh grub.
It'll be the biggest stampede this camp
ever saw" Maynard became incoher.
ent
''How long ago did you meet him7"
Crowley inquired excitedly.
about an hour. came on the run
because he'll get into camp by II, and
midnight will see 500 men on the trail.
Look at this-he gave me map" The
speaker gloatingly produced a scrap
Of writing paper and continued. Boys,
you've got five hours start Of them"
1--WE can't go; we haven't got any
dogs" said Buck. "Those people from
town would catch us in twenty miles,"
you don't want dogs" Maynard an.
swered. tits too soft You'll have to
make quick run with packs or the
spring breakup will catch you. Iwish
! could 60. It's big, I tell you. Lord,
how wish could goF'
They were huddled together, their
eyes feverish, theiE fingers tracing the
pencil markings. A smell Of burning
food filed the room, but there Is no
obsession more absolute than the gold
lust
"Get the packs together while me
and Buck eats a bite. Well take the
fox robe and the Navajo. Glad I've
got . new pair of mukiuks, cause we
need light footgear. But what will
you wear, boy? Them hip boots is too
heavy-you'd never make it,
Here said Maynard. TRY these"
he slipped OF his light gossamer sport
Ing boots, and Buck succeeded in
stamping his feet into them.
Little tight but they'll co.
They snatched bites of food, mean.
Vhi1o col1oct;nO tIo;. ,oro~ho,a,I,.