The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-08-15


was In plain view, and Earl saw that
1t was saliow. with fixed expression
OF cynicism and lines OF dissipation.
sven stRrt for the mainland day
after tomorrow" announced Stevens.
discarding his half-smoked cigar. "An'
we've got n whole lot TO attend to to-
morrow. 30 we'd better get to bed"
They climbed the stairs to their
room, which contained two beds.
Earl was tired and he lost no time
about getting under the covers. There
was little conversation. but before
settling himself for the night Earl In
quired casually:
"Say. who was that prosperous.
sickly looking person that walked into
the hotel and got key from the clerk
while We were talking downstairsT
Stevens pondered n moment before
replying:
~Oh. yes. I know who you mean. !
didn't recollect at first who II was you
referred to. but I remember seeing
Caldwell Hurst come in during our
palaver. Yep. that was Caldwell Hurst
an he's Just as prosperous as he looks.
But he squanders his cash like 1t was
water. mostly for booze. He's got
plenty OF 1t. cause he struck II rich
three years ago; bu. they say he lost
his girl back In the States while he
was hunting gold 10 the Klondike. an
he's been tryin' to drown his sorrow
ever since. He hasn't any home 'cept
this hotel and the saloons"
Earl turned over and closed his eyes.
Into his mind flashed a picture OF
contented laborer. putting placidly at a
pipe. a dinner-pail on his arm. hurry
ing home to a loving wife and cheerful
fireplace. Earl was drifting to sleep
when he heard Stevens remark phllo-
sophically:
"He'd Better have kept the girl and
enjoyed peace Of mind than to have all
the wealth Of all the Kingdoms Of the
earth. You can bet II ! had a reg'lar
girl who cared for me ! wouldn't be
chasin' nuggets. Not me-"
"Good night I" said Earl.
Good night" Stevens responded,
with less emphasis. failing to catch the
hidden Significance In his companions
expression.
Back in Gemport q dark-eyed girl
tossed restlessly In bed. her brain
racked by fitful fever that would not
permit sleep to come. At last she got
out Of bed and went to the window,
which faced the north. The aurora
borealis was fiittering phantomiike
across the sky. presenting to her
minds eye a picture Of Icebergs heav-
Ing and tossing. surging back and
forth, as restless as her own soul.
A cool breeze swept In through the
window and enveloped her In draft
but she did not notice II. Standing
there. with her eyes fixed on the arch
Of oscillating ghost-columns Of light
she stretched out her arms to the north
and issued n silent. soul-inspired call
to the man she loved.
Up where those phantom armies
moved, the man heard the call. While
he slept his lips formed she name
''Elsie." and smile wreathed his face
Her picture formed In his mind, but II
fingered only a moment. Then his
thoughts ran rampant, and a dream
about like chip In whirlpool. He
gripped something. he knew not what
and succeeded In steady!ng himself
He found that he was In a theatel
watching screen play, In which Q
laborer with n dinner.pail and a tall
expenslvely-gnrbed man. carrying 4
cane on his arm and sardonic ex
preston on his face, were the leadjni
characters. The play ended when ths
laborer saddled and bridled Caldwell
Hurst and rode the latter toward q
deep canyon, applying a whip merci
lessly. At the edge Of the precipic,
the laborer suddenly leapcd from hi,
mount and steadled himself on tn,
brink. while the spender gallcped int
space and dropped into the abyss.
Early in the morning Earl and hi
friend dressed and went down to tn,
lobby.
"Whatn you smoker Stevens sug
gested. as they stood before cigal
stand after eating a substantial break
fast.
~ want TO buy briar pipe and som,
tobacco" said Earl.
Stevens took an expensive cigar ant
both lighted from the same match
Earl drew slowly on the pipe. think
ing hard.
"Say. Ed" ne finally remarked. 1i
that John Pierce where you can reacl
himr
stephens teeth wrenched some 10
bacco from the end Of cigar. and h,
spat In a cuspidor.
"why, yes" he replied. archlng hii
eyebrows "Whyr
"well. it's this way" said Earl de
liberately. "you'd better see him ant