South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-30


Far ahead. in a momentary clearance OF the
blizzard that had begun to rage. he made out
a gray object that was strange to HIS eyes
Calling on his dogs to follow. in another AZ
teen minutes he had reached the spoe. It was
a sort Of rigged-up shelter
Halo. inside!r he challenged and was an.
swered only by a piteous groan. A man lay in
a fur sleeping-bag. his head turning from side
TO side, his eyes fixed on vacancy Lancaster
drew up his sledge and embarrassed his dogs:
they wrapped their tails about their noses
and promptly went to sleep. as II recognizing
that the time for rest had come. Then the
entered the little habitation and gazed
about him. Lancaster possessed medical com.
forts amongst his stores. and he set to work.
Inside An hour FIRE was blazing brandy had
been poured down the mans throat. food WAS
preparing. All that night Lancaster tended
his find, and with the morning came conscious
ness and speech.
Cad! I'm done'~ gasped the man "Peterej
out; can't go any further"
Never say die" said Lancaster. cheerfully
What you've done already isn't the work OF a
coward. The man who's come so far isn't going
to give in now" The man groaned mournfully s.
Il don't know who you are. but you're
white man. he said. Many another would
have left and gone on. But there's no need
to wait: my feet have given out" Lsuncester
knew that well; he had attended to them over
night. But it not his plan to dishearten
this striver after success
You'll be all right in no time" he said
Look here, I'll stay with you for day. the
dogs need a rest anyhow" The mamie said
his name was Jellicoe-shook his head
IF you stayed till the thaw you couldn't do
any good. I'll not be able to walk for .
month yet; and my foods given out killed
dog and ate him; and the other one-it must
have known-it ate its traces and boIted.
wouldn't have cared for myself; It doesn't seem
to matter whether live or die But there's
Mamie-Mamie and the kids"
who's Manner" Anything that dealt with
human intercourse was OF interest TO the man
who had not spoken to one OF his own coloring
for clear month. The Arctic lights were
hickering wanly in the semi-darkened skv the
while he listened to the commonplace story.
"Mamies my wife; and the kids. they're
ours. II does a man good to talk about EN-
all; but. God knows. talking won't help EN-
want to get on where the gold is" He started
to a sitting posture. but Lancaster forced him
back
Talk about them" he said; and the man
talked.
Me? I was a stoker on one OF the ferry
boats when 1 got bitten by the craze. had to
go; there wasn't any get-out for me I'd
dreamed ever since was married of giving
Mamie proper home-not rooms-and hired
girl She washed been brought up differ
ent; lady's maid she was Refined and all
that; best part of a lady herself She didn't
want me to come, but l had to think OF her
and the kids. There's my boy; he's eight He
wouldn't have got education worth a cent
couldn't go any higher. And knew Mamie
wanted that boy to be different. He couldnt
be stoker on a ferryboat. you see"
Yes. ] see Lancaster was remembering
his own youthful ambitions
So came 1t was the fighting chance. end
took it. Death a fortune for Mamie. This
Is the end of it-grub gone dogs dead. and
hlondyke as far off as ever" He talked on
more, giving unsupported glimpsss OF the real
affection he bore his wife and children. and
Lancaster grew very thoughtful The man
was so desperately in earnest in all he said. Ne
made light of his own su1erings and priva-
tons, submerging himself completely In tho
thought Of others
And ] came here thinking only OF myself
ran Launcesters thoughts He's better man
than am. this ferryboat stoker far better
man"
Lancaster possessed enough food to take him
to Dawson, by dint Of the strictest economy
and the thought Of taking this helpless man a.
a passenger could not be harbored for 2 mn
ment With extra mouth to feed the pro
visions would be expended long before the goa
was reached. He had done all that could be
expected Of any man in succoring him so far
Stay. though. Had he done his utmost?
OF course, he had. What was this whispering
in his brain? The man had no claims on him
Lancaster himself must work out his own
salvation. But. curiously enough the thougf,
that golden goal was fading in his mind
he had striven he had made good. and thee
vas nothing on in front. For he knew that
Beatrice could never be his She could not
marry her husbands murderer
The stoker had fallen asleep and was 1putter.
ing softly 10 himself The listener caught
Mamie, little lass" and slow tears filed his
eyes He filed and liz q pipe and thought
hard. What did concrete gain matter 10 him
II could not bring him his hearts desire
Whereas this man here-it was Just possible
i suppose I'm a fool" thought Launcest.r
after many hours. But I might as well be