The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, September 05, 1902, Image 7

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    i lie Hi lift.
By JOHN R. A1US1CK,
Author ol "AJytttrlou .Mr. Howard," "Thi
Dark Straer," "Clmrllo Alleiidale'i
Double" Etc.
CopjfUtH. 1MT, by ItOBHRT liO.VNtl'i Som.
All rtcbu reamed.
CHAPTER V. (Continued.)
M "Who,"
"Tho very men who robbed me"
The reaction which camp over the
ohl man was terrible to witness. Ho
recalled that after all he might lose
his beloved caitnln, whose life was
"till In danger, for he wan once more
a prisoner.
"Well, well, all may yet be lost!"
ho sighed. "Crack-lash, lot's go and
hunt him. Now that we know he Is
nllvc, we got something to hunt for.
nnd we'll hunt lilm. Come. Crack
loflh!" After considerable persuasion Paul
Induced him to wait until next morn
ing; so they built a camp lire and
prepared to pass the night.
Next morning they were early astir.
They had packed their knapsacks
and were about ready to start, when
Paul suggested:
"Perhaps the walrus hide will tell
something about this mystery. Let
us take a look at It."
He unrolled the walrus hide, and
the ex-sallor, who had hint; studied
the picture writing of the Alaskan
Indians, bent over It and began to
slowly and carefully decipher the pic
tures. The old man had to put all his
knowledge of picture writing to the
severest test to read. He made out
that the captain had discovered ric
gold diggings, but the walrus 1 - -1 o
could give them no hint as to the
whereabouts of the three men and
their prisoner.
Paul suddenly rolled up the walrus
hide and stulllng it in his knapsack,
said:
v "That piece of hide Is a key to mil
''Ions, I have no doubt, and In nil prob
ability the scoundrels were trying to
make him give It to them."
"Let's go, Crack-ladh. Let's go, fur
1 Itch to git my fingers about the
throats of the cusse.i."
They hastily packed up, broke
camp nnd were soon on their way up
the mountain, engaged In a dangerous
search, the result of which they knew
to be doubtful.
CHAPTER VI.
Horry's Success.
Wo will for tho present take leave
of Paul Italston and return to Horry's
party on their wny to the Klondyke.
They arrived II rat at Forty-Mile
camp, but here found nothing to do.
Clarence staked out a claim and
went to digging. It was n slow proc
ess and tho reward was poor. Ho
took out a little gold, but not
nearly enough to pny him for tho
hardships. Then enme reports of the
wonderful finds in the Klondyke dis
trict. "Now Is your time, Clarence," said
Ethel. "Go at once and make all you
can, while there are so few in the
Tcountry."
"What shall I do with you?" he
asked.
"Leave mo behind."
"Ethel, I cannot think of doing
that," ho declared.
"You must, Clarence. I will follow
as soon as possible, but hasten on
now nnd stnko out n claim for us.
Stake out two, one for you and ono
for mo. I fool that this Is tho turning
point In our careers."
And so It proved.
4 It was tho saddest day of his life
when Clarence Horry bade adieu to
his young wife nnd started nlono for
tho distant mining camp. The part
ing of tho husband and wife, as tho
reader may imagine, was affectionate,
but thero were no tears. Ethel re
strained them and smiled cheerfully
as long as sho was In sight, to run
Into her shanty and have a llttlo cry
the moment sho could see him no
more.
Tho river, which must lie crossed
before sho could reach tho Klondyko,
was already beginning to show signs
j of lloatlng Ice, anil sho know It would
only bo a short tlmo before It would
ho completely frozen over. So sho
worked with a will nnd got everything
packed and started on tho llttlo steam
er "Arctic" for the now land of gold.
Hor husband and his party joined her
on the wny up tho river.
It was lato in tho season when this
devoted, daring couple struck gold of
nny consequence. Thou It caio In a
torrent. All through tho winter Clar
ence Uerry was piling up wealth. His
wife was nt tho mines every day, and
ns tho great chunks of frozen earth
were dumped on tho ground hor fair
llngerfl were IniBlly at work picking
out tho nuggets. During tho season
sho picked out ten thousand dollars'
worth of goldon pcboles with her
fingers.
Though nbsorbod In gold digging,
Bho nover forgot Paul, who with Glum
Ilalston had not boon henrd from
since those two porsons left In search
for tho bold men who had robbed tho
youth.
r ' Ono nfit as they sat about their
cheerful wo, thoro camo a rap nt tho
door of their shanty, and thoy found
Dick Ronold asking admission.
"Como In, Dick. What brings you
out such a night and in such a
storm?" asked Clarence.
"Didn't I hear yo say somothln
onco about knowln' tho feller called
Cracklash Paul, who usod to live back
thero in Fresno?"
S "Yes, Paul Miller," cried Ethel
eagerly. "Wo know him. What of
him?"
"Yon know they've got ono t tho
follows tight an' fast who tried to
help do up Paul. Well, tho feller's
coma since that nights .lec-n a little
rancid. 1 was set to guard him last
night, and his mental train for n min
ute or two scented on the track. Then
I leniembered seein' him In 'Frisco.
His name is Hclcher and he's one of
the men that the feller from Fresno
called Lackland hired the loom In
Frisco to talk with."
At the sound of Lacklund's name
Kthel was on her teet, gasping:
"Lackland! Lackland! Clarence,
he In Paul's rival and enemy! I nm
determined to see this prisoner called
Hclcher."
"When do you Intend to call on
him?"
"To-morrow."
"I will go with you." said Clarence.
Ethel Horry, with her husbnnd, en
tered the prison and gazed nt tho palo
yet tierce face of tho prisoner, and
cried:
"I know him, Clnrence; I know
him! 1 saw him In Fresno In con
sultation with Theodore Lackland.
They have planned the murder of
poor Paul."
With n fierce outh tho prisoner
leaped at his fair accuser, but tho
strong young husband seized him by
tho throat and hurled him to the op
posite side of tho room.
Two men, worn, tired and haggard,
surrounded by mountains of Ico and
gieat sleeping glaciers, had halted In
a valley where n few stunted pines
roared their heads above the eternal
snow.
"Let us rest, Crack-lash," said tho
older of the two travelers. "I glvo
In. shipmate. Your wind's better'n
mine, for you see my old hulk Is git
tin' waterlogged o lato years, an'
can't make as good headway as It
used to, you know."
The travelers were Paul Miller and
his quondam sailor companion, Glum
Italston.
Paul Miller gathered some dry
pines and made a lire on tho mossy
banks of a stream which ran closo
under tho cliff. Tho dry wood spark
led and snnppod, and tho blnzo throw
out a ruddy light. Tho pot boiled and
he put on beans to cook with a llttlo
moat, und soon had an excellent sup
per. "Ah, mate, that Is good," said tho
ex-sallor, as ho tasted tho coffee.
"We're running rather Bhort of feed,
though, and If wo don't come upon a
moose or reindeer soon I'm afraid
we'll suffer."
"Never fear, Glum, some kind of
game will come our wny."
Wrapped In his blnnket, ho sat at
the root of a tree still talking to Paul,
who was half asleep, when they woro
startled by a snort. In an Instant
both laid their hands on their rlllcs.
A pair of fiery eyes gleamed at them
and Paul, whoso vision was keener
than his older companion, saw a
small animal about four and a half
feet In height, which In tho dim, un
certain light appeared to bo a con
necting link between tho ox and
sheep.
Glum Ralston lifted his gun to his
face and fired. Thero Instantly fol
lowed a bellowing roar anil a rush
of feet. Tho tiro was scattered In
every direction and tho old sailor,
who was rising to his feet, was struck
a blow which sent him sprawling on
the ground.
Paul dropped his gun, nnd snatch
ing a pistol, fired a shot Into tho
thick hide of the furious benst, just
behind tho shoulder blade. It made
ono spasmodic leap forward and fell
dead, the bullet having penetrated its
heart.
Tho old sailor was staggering to
his feet, shaking himself to seo If he
had any broken hones.
"Arc you hurt? Aro you hurt?"
cried Paul, nnxlously.
"N-no, I think not. It was a fall
broadside though, and how tho honiB
missed ripping mo from stem to storn
Is a mystery."
Paul threw on some fresh sticks of
plno and tho fire blazed up, revealing
the beast ho had slain lying hut a few
paces away. Its long brown and
black hair gave It tho appearanco of
of a bear. Tho old sailor walked up to
it and said, philosophically:
"Its flesh Is good for food, and will
keep us nllvo a good long tlmo."
Two days after thoy had killed tho
musk-ox thoy camo again upon a dim
trail, and again began to tako heart.
Tho trail led them through an un
known pass toward tho seashore.
"Crack-lash, they're goln' seaward,"
said tho ox-sailor. "I can smell salt
water already, and I fool bettor for
It."
Three days later, as thoy woro
climbing over a hilltop, they saw two
men several hundred rods In advanco
nnd gnve chase.
They woro within long rifle range
when the two fugitives discovered
thorn and began to run.
Tho two men darted Into a ravlno
and thoy saw them no more. Glum
Ralston was of tho opinion tho men
they chased woro two seal hunters,
who had wandered into tho woods In
senrch of moose or deer.
Thoy continued toward tho coast,
following a faint trail. At last thoy
camo upon ono of thoso bays that ox
tend Inland, and snw great, floating
Icohergs glistening In the light of tho
sun. Suddenly tho old man stoppod
nnd pointing to somo tracks lu tho
snow cried:
"Look, Crack-lash. There's big
gamo."
"What do you mnko it out to ho,
Glum?" Paul asked.
"Nothln' more nor less than a polar
bear."
Paul had heard much of thoso flnrco
beasts, hut never scon ono. The
near proximity of this ono rotiROd bin
sporting blood, and In an excited man
nor ho asked:
"Can't wo find him? Tie seems to
bo a monster. Glum, nnd I must hnvo
a shot at him."
Paul hurried In the (mil of tho
bear, and dreamed not of danger.
Suddenly there cnine from beneath
his feet n loud cracking sound HKo
the report of n battery of nrtlllery
Hied lu unison, and tho great Ice lloo
on which he stood began to tremblo
nnd rock.
Dumb with amazement he stood nnd
trembled with some unknown dtead.
It was several seconds before Paul
comprehended his danger, nnd then
It was too late. The Ice floe with Its
glittering spires lind pnrted from tho
shore and wns drifting out to sen.
Already It wns too fnr for him to
reach the land on which his compan
ion stood wringing his hands lu
despair.
A terrible death seemed staring
him in the face, when a now danger
arose. On his ears there hurst a
fierce growl, and looking up on nn
elevated portion of tho Ice lloo rapid
ly drifting with ti I tit toward tho sea,
he beheld a monster polar bear glar
ing at him with the fiery eyes of rage
und hate.
"God hnvo mercy on my soul!" tho
youth gronned, nnd prepnred to meet
his late with tho courage of a hero.
CHAPTER VII.
Glum Rulston's Return.
After tho frantic effort on tho part
of Hclcher to seize Ethel Uerry for
discovering him to have been In Lack
lnnd's employ, the wounded man grow
sullen. Tho miners were nnxlous to
hnng him nnd to have It over with,
but cooler heads prevailed. "It will
nover do," said Clarence Horry, "to
destroy the only hope we have of
recovering Paul's gold and solving
this mystery, which deepens with
every now development. Resides, wo
have had no lynching yet lu tho Klon
dyke, and lot us not have any If wo
can avoid It."
Ono evening after tho simple re
past was over, Clarence and Ethel sat
discussing tho probable fate of Paul,
who was never out of Ethel's mind.
"Poor Paul, ho must bo dead," sho
said, her eyes tilling with tears. "I
must write to Laura; I must tell her
his awful fate."
After a few moments' silence ho
heaved a sigh and said:
"It will bo very bad news."
"She must know It some tlmo,
Clarence."
"That Is true, and perhaps the
knowledge of his fate, awful ns It Is,
will not equal tho .suspense."
"I will write to-morrow. When
can the letter get through?"
"Not before spring you need not
hurry," ho answered, with a sad
smile.
Suddenly the door was caused to
quako by the thump from a giant
fist, and, opening It, they found their
nightly visitor, Dick, but ho was not
alone this time. Gld Myers was at his
side. Tho faces of the two men woro
looks of nnvlety.
"What Is the matter?" asked Clar
ence. "Wo want yor gun, Clnrenco," said
Long Dick, as soon as ho could re
gain his breath. "I want to tell yo
on tho dead that there's either somo
man. a bear or old Nick up on tho
hill."
Fearing their excited imagination
had conjured up a monster from n
wandering polar henr, though thoso
animals were seldom seen in that part
of the country, Clarence took down
his Winchester rifle nnd accompanied
his companions to tho foot of tho hill,
whore the mysterious crenturo had
been soon. A tall, gaunt object with
a warm bearskin coat hanging loosely
about his shoulders was coming
slowly clown the hill. The approach
ing stranger had his gun strapped on
his bad;. A hatchet was In tho bolt
at his side with his pistols, and no
was leaning heavily on a long, stout
stick. Ho camo slowly, as If very
weary.
Curiosity gave way to pity, and they
hurried up to moot him.
(To bo continued.)
KITTEN BLOCKED SIDEWALK.
Everybody Dodged the Dirty Feline
Until a Banker Appeared.
At noon to-day, when Park Row,
Manhattan, was crowded with hungry
mortals, looking for their fnvorlto
eating place, a half-starved black and
whlto kitten made its appearanco on
tho sidewalk. It might hnvo wander
ed out of somo cellar or somo tattorod
newsboy dropped it, hoping to seo
somo fun. Tho ball of dirty fur land
ed directly In front of a clerk. He
mndo a frantic effort to avoid stepping
on the kitten and was successful. A
young woman following stoppod to
ono sldo. Tho crowd followed hor
lead. Then, at tho rato of a hundred
or so a minute, people woro turning
aBldc lest they Injure tho kitten. Any
ono of the number could easily have
ralsod the llttlo mass of bones on his
or her too and tossed It Into tho gut
ter. Tho kitten hold full possession
of tho sidewalk for fully flvo minutes.
Then a banker, whoso tlmo Is worth
sovcral dollars a minute, caught up
tho llttlo fellno, worthless from al
most everybody's point of view, nnd
carried It a dlstanco of twenty foot
and tenderly deposited It In an alloy.
And yot somebody tho other day
accused Now Yorkers of lacking ten
derness of heart. Hrooklyn Eagle.
Potatoes the Greatest Crop.
Potatoes form tho world's greatest
slnglo crop, 1,000,000 bushels being
produced annually, equal In hulk to
tho onttro wheat and corn crops.
American Girl Painters.
Tho American girls whoso paintings
aro exhibited In the Pnrls salon thin
year havo Interested tho art centers
of tho world.
Truly Royal Gifts.
From the Society News "The gift
of the bride's father was nlmply stun
ning In Its magnificence. Immediate
ly after the rop-moiiy a hui; wnnon
hacked up to the house and n ton of
coal was dumped on the pallor floor,
while a porterhouse steak was caie
fully carried In nnd glvni the pla-e
of honor among the other present.
In deep chnsrlii the father of th
groom wns p.. to sele the certified
check he hud given the happy couple
and tear It Into fini'.mcnts."
Queer Food.
One time n little boy went to the
grocery store, which was crowded
with people, nnd said:
"Huriy up, Mr. Clark, my mother
wnnts the things for Mippor."
When the clerk asked him what ho
wanted he said: "due pound starch, u
bnr of soa.i and a click of stove pol
ish." A Sweet Youth.
Momma-So you want to give your
dear teacher a present?
Tommy Yes. ma; I'd like to glvo
her some or that cheap candy like I
hud the other day.
"Why, 'tommy, that was what mado
you so 111."
"Yes, ma, I know It was."
PROBABLY
Mrs. Quarrels You, John! Whnt'B
John Hie look out bed's goln'
to jump on th' next time it comes
How Juvenile!
"Now. Willie, after listening to this
story of tho nnclent King Damocles,
who caused a man to bo surrounded
with every luxury, but with a sword
nhovo his head held up by a slnglo
hair, to show him the duugers of be
ing king, toll mo what lesson do you
drnw from the story."
Willie hnd been rjatllng the papers.
"That tho overhead wires ought to
be burled, ma'am."
Brought Him to Terms.
"I suppobe to educate your daugh
ter In music costs a great deal of
money?"
"Yes; but I havo a good return for
It."
"Indeed?"
"Yes. I'd been trying to buy out
my next-door neighbor at half prlco
for years, and could nover bring him
to terms until my girl began to loarn
to play."'
Rapt.
"Ho was delighted with tho servlro
at your church last Sundny. He told
mo that at certain portions of It ho
felt actually transported; absolutely
oblivious to his surroundings."
"Yes, I noticed his obliviousness
when tho plate was being passed."
7 JJk MET iKv j fa
POLITENESS.
Exasperated Mother You good-for-nothing children, you mado ro
much noise whllo Mrs. Smith was horo that I couldn't hear myself talk.
Now, which ono shall I Bpank first?
Tommy Please, mamma, tako Emma. Ladles arc always served first,
you know.
In Hard Luck.
-Kin I seo do lady uv
Tramp
house?
do
Servant No. Sho's engaged.
Tramp Dat's Jest my luck. Ev'ry
tlmo I gits In do matrimonial mood do
lady pleads or proverous engagement.
8afer Any Way.
Ukordek Nothing Is better In a
tlmo of danger than prosonce o
mind.
Gobang Oh, think It over. What's
the matter with absence of body?
MS
The Henevolonl Lady You ought
you to tnliu a nickel, a petty llttlo
Tho Kid Yes'm, I am; hut that
SUNSTROKE.
the matter?
'roun' th' room llko a train. I'm goln
around.
HOG
She Who was It said 'Tho pen
Ho Somo pork packer, I guess.
It's Route.
"Whoro will tho Isthmlnn canal
run?" asked tho man on tho crackor
bnrrol.
"From the treasury department to
tho contractor," stated tho man with
tho Incandescent whlskors.
Tale of Two Cities.
Gautham "Havo you anything hero
worth seeing except your stock
yards?"
WIndlalttI "Yes, hut nothing olso
that would appeal to a Now Yorker."
EXCUSE.
to he nshnmod, a great big hoy llko
five-cent piece, from this Biuall child!
was all ho had, mum.
Careful Feeder.
"I don't know nny man," nnld Mrs.
Wabash, "that's as careful about hla
eatln' as my husbnnd Is."
"Afraid of dyspepsia, Ib ho?" In
quired Mrs. Hronx.
"No, It ain't that. Hut, for Instance,
whenever ho puts a Unlfoful of poaa In
his mouth he never turns tho knlfo
over to lick It llko nomu pcoplo, for
fear o' cuttlu' himself."
Martha's Bravery.
Kate Martha has got hersolf a
daisy rainy suit. She's what I call a
bravo girl.
Edith A bravo girl simply hocauso
sho Is going to wenr a short skirt In
public? I don't seo whoro tho bravery
comes in; tho thing Is qulto common.
Kate Guess you nover havo boou
Martha's feet.
Had to Keep In Practice.
He I know It! I feel It! You havo
been flirting with some other man.
She Hut, my dear, I waa bo lonely
without you.
PEN.
is mightier than the sword'?
History Rewritten.
Cortes had boon telling his frlonds
about his first volw of tho Pacific.
"But why," thoy Inquired, "Did you
stand silent upon tho peak of Darlon?"
"Absent-mlndodness," ho repllod,
with a furtive glanco. "I thought for
a moment that Senora Cortes was
with mo."
Horoupon his better half arrived on
tho scone, and tho result was anything
but pacific.
Thoughts Not Cheap.
Nowed A penny lor your thoughts,
darling.
Mrs. Nowed Oh, they will cost you
more man tnat.
Nowed What woro you thinking
nhoiu?
Mrs. Nowed Tho dross I ordered
yesterday.
An Embarassment.
"Why don't you pralso your wife's
cooking onco lu a whilo and cheor hor
up?"
"I'm afraid to try. Every tlmo I say
anything is particularly good It turns
out to bo somothlng that was pur
chased at tho grocery."
v
Charitable.
"Did ho marry hor for hor money?"
asked tho girl lit whlto.
"Well, lot's bo charitablo, and say
ho did," nnswerod tho girl In gray.
"Thoro's no uso cnstlng aspersions on
his taste and Judgment."
A Newport.
SheYou must aot klsa mo until
wo aro formally engaged.
Ho Do you mean to say that you
always Insist upou that rule?
Sho I'vo always tried to. JuC.K) i
5t
)t
It
if
r
in
lb
v
insr
-t.
fiyrfsfl
$mmmmm
W mMr w u&y1
t-Sffl1
ip jl'
.." .'?
wont to A
.., ., -w-. .- Jf JwPl