The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-09
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5 0N-Litle Brown { Company

NAMED wholly -unmoved by it.
! But to no one in the city was the
! influence of the moon more potent
| than TO Ben Darby. once known as
Wolf Darby through certain far
| spreading districts. and now newly
come from the State capital. walking
! Seattle's streets with sis ward and
/ benefactor, Ezra Melville.
! Forest had given over the case; it
was Melville's time for experiments
tonight. All the way out he had
watched his patient, sounding him.
studying his reactions; and all that he
! had beheld had gone to strengthen
! his own convictions.
ct don't see any harm in tellin
| you that the guesses you've already
made are right. Your name is Ben
as Wolf Darby-for reasons that
sooner or later you may know. Alb
ner Darby was your father. Edith
Darby was your sister that amt no
more. You went awhile to MacLean's
| College in Ontario.
Now, Ben, I'm going to put
proposition up to you. I'm hoping
you'll see fit to accept it. I don't
see it makes a whale Of lot Of diff
ference whether you get your memory
back or DOT.
''The reason I'm goin' to take you
where I'm goin' to take you is for
your own good"
I'm willing to take your word for
| that. Mr.. Melville" Ben interposed
quietly.
And I might say, now's as good a
time as any. to let UP on the Mis-
| ter Ny name is Ezra Melville, and
I've been known as 'Ezram' as long
as I can remember, to my friends
/ The Darbys in particular called me
that. and you're a Darby.
I III say in the beginning I can't do
for you all I'd like to do, simply be
cause I haven't the means. On this
expedition to come we'll have to go
on the cheaps. No Pullmans. no no
teIs-sleeping out in the hay when
we're caught out at night"
Ben tried to cut in to ask questions,
but the old mans words swept his
own away.
'"ro begin at the beginning, I've got
a brother-leastwise I had him few
weeks ago-Hiram Melville by name"
Ezram went on. He was prospector
I'D in a place called Snowy Gulch-a
town way up in the Caribou Mountains
in Canada. Some weeks ago 1 got
letter from him. The letters right
here.
I'm mighty glad that I've got some.
thing, at least worth Ioolxin' into, to
let you in on. I only wish it was
more"
why should you want to let me in
on anything" Ben asked clearly.
The direct question received only
stare of blank amazement from Ezram.
why should /" he repeated. seem
ingly surprised out of his life by the
question. "Shucks, and quit inter
ruptin' me. Maybe I'm gettin' a little
too old to do much. want a buddy
some one who will go hal: way with
me-"
Therefore I suppose you go to the
/ pen to find one" Ben commented,
wholly unconvinced.
I'm going to make this proposition
good" Ezram went on as if he had
not heard. Listen to this"
Opening the letter, he read labori-
ously:
Snowy Gulch, B. c.
Dear Brother Ezra:
I rite this with what think is my
dying hand. It's my will too. I'm at
the hotel at Snowy Gulch-and not
much more time. You know I've been
hunting a claim. Well. I found it
rich a pocket as any body want. worth
a. quarter million any how and in a
district wheIe the Snowy Gulch folks
believe there amt a grain of gold.
It's yours. Come up and get It
quick before some thieves up here
jump it. Look out for Jeffery Nelson
and his gang; they seen some of my
dust. I'm too sick to go to recorder
in Bradleyburgh and record claim
Get copy Of this letter to carry, put
this in some safe place The only
condition Is you take good care Of
Fenris, the pet 1 raised from a pup.
You'll find him and my gun at steve
Morris's.
1 felt myself going and just did get
hear. You set supplies horses at
Snowy Gulch go up Poor Man Creek
through Spruce Pass over to Yuga
River. Go down Yuga River past
first rapids along still place to first
creek you'll know it cause there's an
old cabin just below and my canoe
landing. Hale mile up. in creek bed.
is the pocket and new cabin. And
dent tell no one in Snowy Gulch who
you are and where you going
Go quick brother Ez and put up a
stone for me at Snowy GuIch.
Your brother
Hiram Melville.
"And you haven't heard-wnether
your brother is still alive?"
II got a wire the hotel man sent
me. 1t reached me weeks before the
letter came. and I guess he must have
died soon after he wrote it, I sup
pose you see what no means when he
says to carry a copy of this letter, in
stead of the original"
"Of course-because it constitutes
his will your legal claim. Just the
fact that you are his brother would be
claim enough. I should think, bus this
sImplifies matters for you. You'd bet
ter make a copy of 1t and you can
leave it in some safe place And
OF course this claim is what you of
fered to let me in en-"
That's it. Not much, but all what
1 got. What l want to know is
If it's go"
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