Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-08-02

""' III pam VicW, anu EuTl ShW tHhI
1t was sallow, with q fixed expression
OF cynicsm and lines Of dissipation.
"We'll start for the mainland day
after tomorrow" announced Stevens,
dlscarding his half-smoked cigar. can
we've got whole lot to attend to to-
morrow, so we'd better get to bed"
They climbed the stairs to their
room, which contained two beds.
Earl was tired and he lost no tlmc
about getting under the covers. There
was little conversation, but before
settling himself for the night Earl in
CURED casually:
"Say, who was that prosperous,
slckly looking person that walked into
the hotel and got key from the clerk
while We were talking dOwnstairs?"
Stevens pondered moment before
replying:
"Oh, yes, I know who you mean. !
didn't recollect at first who 1t 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 1t rich
three years ago; but they say he lost
his girl back In the States while he
was hunting gold In the Klondlke. an
he's been tryln' 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 picture Of a
contented laborer putting placldly at a
pipe, n dinner-pail on his arm hurry
Ing home to 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 regular
girl who cared for me I wouldn't be
,chasin' nuggets. Not me-"
"Good nightw said Earl.
"G00d night" Stevens responded,
with less emphasis, failing to catch the
hidden significance In his companions
expression.
Back in Gcmport a 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 ALTERING phantomlke
across the sky, presenting to her
/ minds eye 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 1t. Standing
there, with her eyes fixed on the arch
Of oscllatlng ghost.coumns of light
she stretched out her arms to the north
and issued silent. soul-lnsplred cal
to the man she loved.
Up where those phantom armies
moved, the man heard the call. While
he slept his lips formed the name
"Elsie," and smile wreathed his face
Her picture formed in his mind, but II
fingered only moment. Then his
thoughts ran rampant, and dream
fantasy caught him and whlsked him
about like chip In a whirlpool. He
gripped something. he knew not what
and succeeded In steadying himself
He found that he was In a theater
watching a screen play, In which q
laborer with a dlnnerpall and tall
expenslvely-garbed man, carrying a
cane on his arm and sardonic ex'
preston on his face, were the leading
characters. The play ended when the
laborer saddled and brldled Caldwell
Hurst and rode the latter toward
deep canyon, applying a whip mercl'
lessly. At the edge Of the preciplce
the laborer suddenly leaped from his
mount and steadied himself on the
brink, while the spender galloped into
space and dropped into the abyss.
Early in the morning Earl and his
friend dressed and went down to the
lobby.
"What'll you smoker" Stevens sug.
gested, as they stood before cigar
stand after eating substantial break
fast.
II want to buy brlar pipe and some
tobacco" said Earl.
Stevens took an expensive cigar and
both lighted from the same match
Earl drew slowly on the pipe, think.
ing hard.
"Say, Ed" he finally remarked, us
that John Pierce where you can reach
him?"
Stephens teeth wrenched some to-
bacco from the end Of cigar. and he
spat in cuspidor.
"why, yes" he replied, arching his
eyebrows. "Whyr
"Welf, it's this way" said Earl de
liberately, "you'd better see him and
take him with you. thought the spirit
Of adventure was still alive In me, but
I was mistaken. I've got enough
money to take me back to Washing
ton. and I'm going to be n mixer for