The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-07-12
CHAPTER II--Continued

Huh" he calculated when | had
finished. I'm glad by the grace of
God I've been the means of givin' you
hand-up. Better come to my room
an stop with me till sOmethin' turns
up. I'm gOin' north in three days.
I'm gOin' TO join this crazy rush TO
the KlOndike. I've been minin' for
twenty years. Arizona, Colorado, all
over, an now | am a-goin' to see if
the North hasn't got stake for me- :
In his room be told me of his life.
I'm saved by the grace of God. but
I've been a Bad Man. I've been ev-
erything from city marshal to boss
gambler. have gone heeled for two
years, thinking TO get my pass to hell
at any moment It's all over now.
an I've seen the evil of my ways, but
I've got TO talk once in q while I'm
Jim Hubbard, known as Salvation
Jim,' an | know minin from Genesis
to Revelation. Once | used to gam.
BILE an drink the limit. One morning
l got up from the card table after
sitting there thirty-six hours I'd
lost five thousand dollars. | knew
they'd handed me out cold turkey.
but took my medicine.
Right then I said I'd be a crook
too. l learned to play with marked
cards. l could tell every card in the
deck. went after the suckers.
There was never a man did me dirt
but | paid him with interest OF
course. it's different now. The Good
Book says: DO good unto them that
harm you guess would but
wouldn't recommend no one to try
and harm me. | might forget"
The heavy, aggressive jaw shot for.
ward; the eyes cleaned with fear
less ferocity. and for moment the
man took on an air that was almost
tigerish. could scarce believe my
sight; yet the next instant 1t was the
same cheerful, benevolent face, and ]
thought my eyes must have played
me some trick. Er
Perhaps 1t was that sedate Puritan
strain in me that appealed to him
but We became great friends. He told
me of the girl he married and wor
SHIPPED, and Of the man who broke up
his home. Once more saw that fit.
ting tiger-loOk appear on his face and
vanish Immediately. He told me of
his wild days. ..
- 81 was always fighter, an l never
knew what fear meant. ! never saw
the man that could beat me In a
rough-an'-tumbe scrap. was IN
common husky an as quick as cat
but ii was my tierceness that won out
for me. I've gone up unarmed to a
man ! knew was heeled to shoot me
on sight, an I've dared him to do II
just by the power of the eye I've
made him take water. Then. as the
drink got hold of me, | got worse and
worse Glory TO God! I've seen the
evil of my ways"
One day was paying my usual Wis
II to the post office, when some one
gripped ME by the arm.
"Hullo Scottyl By all that's won.
derful. was just going to mail you
letter"
II was the Prodigal. very well
dressed and spruce-lOOking.
"Say, I'm so tickled ! got you
we're going to start in two days"
-Startl Where?" | asked.
"Why, for the Golden North, for
the land Of the Midnight Sun. FOR the
treasure.troves of the ElOndike Val
ley"
{ "You may be."-I said soberly; but
can't"
"Yes you can, and you are, old
sport | fixed all that Come on,
want to talk TO you. went home
and did the returned prOdigal stunt
The old man was mighty decent when
told him 1t was no good. ! couldn't
go into the glue factory yet awhile He
staked me handsomely. and gave me
year 70 make good. So here / am
and you're In with me. I'm going to
grubstake you. Mind. it's business
proposition. I've got to have some
one, and when you make the big
strike you've got to divvy up. OF
course. if you're afraid Of the hard.
ships and so on"
No." ] said quickly, "Ill CO."
Hal" he laughed, you're too much
of coward TO be afraid Well
we've got to get busy over our out.
fits. We haven't got any too much
time"
bethought me of Salvation jim
and l told the Prodigal of my new
friend.
why" said the Prodigal. THAT'S
just the man we want Wen ask him
to join u.s."
brought the two together. and Il
was arranged. So IL came about that
we three left San Francisco on the
fourth day of March to seek our for
tunes In the Frozen North