THE PATTON COURIER [The TRAIL OF 98 A Northland Romance '}| by ROBERT W. SERVICE Illustrations by Irwin Myers WNU Service STORY FROM THE START Athol Meldrum, young Scots- man, starts out to seek his for- tune. He arrives at San Fran- J cisco practically broke and meets I} a fellow adventurer whom he dubs the Prodigal. With Jim Hubbard they join the gold rush to Alaska. On the boat Athol meets Berna, a young woman traveling with her grandfather and a hard looking couple named Winklestein who figure as her aunt and uncle. Landing at Skag- way, Athol's party at once takes the trail. In a snowslide on the Chilcoot trail, which Berna and her companions had taken, hun- dreds of lives are lost. Fearful for Berna’s safety, Athol hastens to the scene. He finds the old | man dead. At Bennett, Berna comes to Athol, confesses her love, and begs him to marry her, to save her from the harsh fate she foresees, He is unwilling to taka such a decisive step, and Jl} tells her they must wait. Some days afterward Berna tells Athol {|| Madam Winklestein plans to sell her to “Black Jack” Locasto, \ millionalré miner of evil reputa- tion. Reaching the gold fields, d Athol and his party find the claims all taken. Unable to lo- J] cate Berna, Athol seeks infor- mation from Locasto, “Black Y| Jack” disclaims knowledge of her whereabouts, and lures Meldrum to a lonely spot and beats him into unconsciousness. Through a lucky chance Athol finds Berna, They set a date for their mar- riage, the first of June. CHAPTER VIII —10— “You'd better quit,” said the Prod- gal. It was the evening of my mishap, and he had arrived unexpectedly from town. “It just fits in with my plans. I'm getting Jim to come in, too, I've realized on that stuff I bought, made over three thousand clear profit, and with it I've made a dicker for a property on the beach above Bonanza, Gold hill they call it. I've a notion it’s all right. Anyway, we'll tunnel An and see. You and Jim will have a quarter share each for your work, while I'll have an extra quarter for the capital I've put in. Is it a go?” I said it was. Next day found us all three survey- ing our claim, The first thing to do was to build a cabin. Right away we began te level off the ground. The work was pleasant, and conducted in such friendship that the time passed most happily. Indeed, my only worry was about Berna. I schooled myself into the belief that she was all right, but, thank God, every moment was bringing her nearer to me. We had hauled the logs for the cabin, and the foundation was laid. Every day saw our future home near- er completion. Ome evening 1 spied the saturnine Ribwood climbing down the hill to our tent. He hailed me: “Say, we want a night watchman up at the claim to go on four hours a night at a dollar an hour. You see, there's been a lot of sluice-box rob- beries lately, and we're scared for our clean-up. There's four hours ev- ery night the place is deserted, and Hoofman proposed we should get you to keep watch.” “Yes,” 1 said; “I'll run up every evening if the others don’t object.” They did not; so the next night, and for about a dozen after that, | spent the darkest hours watching on the claim where previously I had worked. | It was the dimmest and most un- certain hour of the four, and I was sitting at my post of guard. As the night was chilly I had brought along an old gray blanket, similar in color to the mound of the pay-dirt. There had been quite a cavity dug in the dump during the day, and into this § crawled and wrapped myself in my ‘blanket, From my position I could gee the string of boxes containing the riffles. By my side lay a loaded shot- gun. “If the swine comes,” Ribwood had sald, “let him have a clean-up of lead instead of gold.” Lying there, I got to thinking of ¢ghe robberies, They were remark- able. All had been done by an ex- pert. Each time the robber had cleaned up from two to three thou- gand dollars, and all within the past month, There was some mysterious mastercrook in omr midst, one who vperated swiftly and surely, and left absolutely no clew of his identity. 1 was quiet for a while, watching freamily the dark shadows of the dusk. Hist! What was that? Surely the bushes were moving over there by the hillside. 1 strained my eyes. I was right: they were, I watched and waited. A man was parting the bushes. Cautiously, crawling like a snake, he worked his way to the sluice-boxes. None but a keen watcher could have seen him. Again and again he paused, peered around, listened intently, Very care- fully, with my eyes fixed on him, 1 lifted the gun to my shoulder. I had him covered. I waited. Somehow 1 was loath to ahoot. My nerves were a-quiver. ‘Proof, more proof, I sald. I saw him working busily. lying flat alongside the boxes. How crafty, how skillful he was! He was disconnecting the boxes. He would let the water run to the ground; then, there in the ex- posed riffles, would be his harvest. Would I shoot . . . now , ., now, « «+ Then, in the midnight hush, my gun blazed forth, With one scream the man tumbled down, carrying along with him the disconnected box, The water rushed over the ground In a deluge. I must capture him. There he lay In that pouring stream. , . , Now I had him. In that torrent of icy water 1 grap- pled with my man. Over and over we rolled. He tried to gouge me. He was small, but oh, how strong! He held down his face. Fiercely 1 wrenched it up to the light. Heavens! it was the Worm. I gave a cry of surprise, and my clutch on him must have weakened, for at that moment he gave a violent wrench, a cat-like twist, and tore him- self free. Men were running in from all directions. “Catch him!” I cried. goes.” But the little man was shooting for- ward like a deer. Right and left ran his pursuers, mistaking each other for the robber in the semi-gloom, yelling frantically, mad with the ex- citement of a man-hunt. And in the midst of it all I lay in a pool of mud and water, with a sprained wrist and a bite on my leg. “Why didn’t you hold him?” shout- ed Ribwood. “I couldn't,” I answered. “I saved your cleanup, and he got some of the lead. Besides, I know who he is. Pat Doogan.” “You don’t say. Well, Pm darned. We'll get him, I'll go into town first thing in the morning and get out a warrant for him.” He went, but the next evening back he returned, looking very surly’ and disgruntled. “Well, what about the warrant?” sald Hoofman, “Didn’t get it,” snapped Ribwood. “Look here, Hoofman, I met Locasto. Black Jack says Pat was cached away, dead to all the world, in the backroom of the Omega saloon all night. There's two loafers and the barkeeper to back him up. What can we do in the face of that? Say, young feller, I guess you mistook your man.” “YT guess I did not,” I protested stoutly. They both looked at me for a mo- ment and shrugged their shoulders. » * *® » * * » Time went on and the cabin was quietly nearing completion, The roof of poles was in place. It only re mained to cover it with moss and thawed-out earth to make it our fu- ture home, More and more my dream hours were jealously consecrated to Berna. How ineffably sweet were they. How full of delicious imaginings! How pregnant of high hope! O, I was born to love, I think, and I never loved but one. This story of my life is the story of Berna. It is a thing of words and words and words, yet every word is Berna, Berna. Feel the heartache behind it all. Read between the lines, Berna, Berna, The Prodigal was always *snoop- ing” around and gleaning information from most mysterious sources. One evening he came to us. “Boys, get ready, quick. There's a rumor of a stampede for a new creek, Ophir creek they call it, away on the other side of the divide somewhere. A prospector went down ten feet and got fifty-cent dirt. We've got to get in on this. There's a mob coming from Dawson, but we'll get there be- fore the rush.” Quickly we got together blankets and a little grub, and, keeping out of sight, we crawled up the hill under cover of the brush. Soon we came to a place from which we could com- mand a full view of the valley. Here we lay down, awaiting developments. On the far slope of Eldorado, I saw a hawk soar upward. Surely a man was moving amid the brush, two men. a dozen men, moving in single file very stealthily. I pointed them out. “It’s the stampede,” whispered Jim. “We've got to get on to the trail of that crowd. Travel like blazes. We can cut them off at the head of the valley.” “Throw away your blankets, boys,” said the Prodigal. “Just keep a lit- tle grub. We must connect with that bunch if we break our necks.” It was hours after when we over- took them, about a dozen men, all in the maddest hurry, and casting behind them glances of furtive apprehension. The leader was going like one pos- sessed. We blundered on behind in the same mad, heart-breaking hurry, mile after mile, hour after hour, con- tent to follow the man of iron who was guiding us to the virgin treas- ure. We had been pounding along all night, up hill and down dale. The sun rose, it was morning. Still we kept up our fierce gait. Would our leader never come to his destination? By what roundabout route was he guiding us? We panted as we pelted “Yonder he on, parched and weary, faint and foot- sore. But still our leader kept on. Suddenly the Prodigal said to me: “Say, you boys will have to go on without me. I'm all in,” He dropped in a limp heap on the ground and instantly fell asleep. Sev- eral of the others had dropped out, too. They fell asleep where they gave up, utterly exhausted. We had now been going sixteen hours, and still our leader kept on. It was about four in the afternoon when we reached the creek. Up it our leader plunged, till he came to a place where a rude shaft had been dug. We gathered around him. “Here it is, boys,” he said. “Here's my discovery stake, Now you fellows go up or down, anywhere you've a no- tion to, and put in your stakes, May- We Had Now Been Going Sixteen Hours, and Still Our Leader Kept On, be you'll stake a million-dollar claim, maybe a blank. Mining's all a gam- ble. But go ahead, boys. I wish you luck.” So we strung out, and, coming in ro- tation, Jim and I staked seven and eight below discovery. Then I threw myself down on a bit of moss, and, covering my head with my coat to ward off the mosquitoes; in a few minutes I was dead to the world, I was awakened by the Prodigal. “Rouse up,” he was saying; “you’ve slept right round the clock. We've got to get back to town and record those claims. Jim’s gone three hours ago.” I was sleep-stupid, sore, stiff in ev- ery joint. Racking pains made me groan at every movement, and the chill night air had brought on twinges of rheumatism, but we started off. It was about nine in the morning when we got to the gold office. There was quite a number ahead of me, and I knew I was in for a long wait, I will never forget it. For three days, with the exception of two brief sleep- spells, I had been in a fierce helter- skelter of excitement, and I had eaten no very satisfying food. As I stood in that sullen crowd I swayed with weari- ness, and my legs were doubling un- } somehow. They've sent some one out der me. 1 suggered forward amd straightened up suddenly. I was near the wicket. Only two were ahead of me. A clerk was recording their claims. One had thirty-four above, the other fifty-two below. The clerk looked flustered, fatigued. It was my turn, “I want to record elght below on Ophir,” I said, “What name?” he asked. I gave it. He turned up his book. “Eight below, you say, Why, that's already recorded.” “Can't be,” I retorted. “I just got down from there yesterday after plant- ing my stakes.” “Can't help it. It's recorded by some one else, recorded early yesterday.” “Look here,” I exclaimed; “what kind of a game are you putting up on me? I tell you I was the first on the ground. I alone staked the claim.” “That's strange,” he said. “There must be some mistake, Anyway, you'll have to move on and let the others get up to the wicket. You're blocking the way. All I can do is to look into the matter for you, and I've got no time now. Come back tomorrow. Next, please.” The next man pushed me aside, and there I stood, gaping and gasping. A man in the waiting line looked at me pityingly. “It's no use, young fellow; you'd better make up your mind to lose that claim, They'll flim-flam you out of It now to stake over you. If you kick, they'll say you didn’t stake proper. Them government officlals 1s the crookedest bunch that ever made fuel for hell-fire, I was stunned with disappointment. “What you want,” he continued, “‘is to get a pull with some of the officials, Get a stand-in, young fellow.” “Well,” I said, “I'm not going to be cheated out of my claim. If I've got to move heaven and earth—" “You'll do nothing of the kind. If | you get sassy there’s the police to put | the lid on you. You can talk tiil | you're purple round the gills. It won't cut no figure. They've got us all | cinched. We've just got to take our | medicine, It’s no use goin’ round bellyaching. You'd better go away and sit down.” And I did. * e * . . LJ * I had to see Berna at once. Already I had paid a visit to the Paragon restaurant, that new and glittering place of resort run by the Winkle- steins, but she was not on duty. In the evening I returned. I took a seat in one of the curtained boxes. The place was brilliantly lit up, many- mirrored and flashily ornate in gilt and white. In the box before me a white-haired lawyer was entertaining a lady of easy virtue; in the box be- hind, a larrikin quartette from the Pavilion theater was. holding high revelry. There was no mistaking the character of the place. In the heart of the city’s tenderloin it was a haunt of human riff-raff, a palace of gilt and guilt. And it was in this place Berna worked. She waited on these wan- tons; she served those swine. She heard their loose talk, their careless oaths. She knew everything. Oh, it was pitiful; it sickened me to the soul. I sat down and buried my face | in my hands. “Order, please.” I knew that sweet voice. It thrilled me, and I looked up suddenly, There was Berna standing before me, She gave a quick start, then recov- ered herself. A look of delight came into her eyes, eager, vivid delight, “Oh, I am so glad to see you again.” “Berna,” I said, “what are you do- ing with that paint on your face?” “Ob, I'm sorry.” She was rubbing distressfully at a dab of rouge on her cheek. “I knew you would be cross, but I had to; they made me. It's just a little pink—all the women do it. It makes me look happier, and it doesn’t hurt me any.” (TO BE CONTINUED) BOE E SHOE o> o Oo ¢ Knockout Ended Duel Between Rival Hares An English naturalist describes a duel which he witnessed in the moon- light between two hares, the cause of their dissension being a third, which was a female that went on nib- bling grass during the encounter with- out paying the least attention to the contest. The battlers were facing each other in a real fighting attitude, their forepaws held in front looking like human fists. Standing on their haunch- es these two fighters went all out. They boxed in fine style, their little “fists” darting in and out like flashes. Some blows were cleverly parried, others went well home, and as they fought footwork was not absent, for they circled round, but always faced each other. One lost his balance and sprang lightly aside, to be instantly Nicest Auto Ride Dessa had the toothache. She had been troubled in the same way only a few times before in her thirteen years. This time she came home from school crying and her mother prompt: ly took her to see the dentist. He said the tooth had been neglected too long and must come out, advising that she take gas. Telling Dessa to “be a fine brave girl,” mother stepped out into the waiting room, while the dentist and anesthetic went into action. In what seemed but a few seconds, the door opened and the dentist announced smilingly “All over.” Dessa sat up, blinking, as mother took her hand and asked, “Did it hurt much, honey?” “Well,” sald Dessa, “it kept right on aching until the epidemic took effect, and then I had the nicest automobile ride.” . Sr @ ao < followed up, and the punching was re- newed. Apart from the soft noise of the blows going home there was no sound. The end came quickly, It was almost a knockout, but I am afraid our rules would have put it down as a foul. One hare slipped down, land- ed on all four feet, and quick as light- ning his opponent turned and gave him a kick that landed him many yards away. Sr e——— Virgin Gold In an unknown cave on the Auck- land islands lie the remains of a ship which contained more than $10,000,000 worth of virgin gold and nuggets, Some seventy years ago she sailed from Melbourne, loaded with miners return. |, ing with their gold from Ballarat, Becalmed among the islands, a cur- rent drifted her into a great cave. Her masts, striking the roof, were driven through the hull and she sank. A few survivors reached the coast of New Zealand, but no search has yet discovered the cave in which lies the hull of this valuable treasure ship, Tinfest Church Found England’s tiniest church has been found at Culbone. It is only 30 feet long and 12 feet wide. There is no pulpit because of insufficient space, In the church parish are only 30 people and the village has only two houses, so that at times the congregation is almost nil. Fame We are told that the only thing woman has not yet vanquished is the revolving door.—Bostom Transcript, | | mettr——————————— NEED FOR SUPERIOR MANHOOD By REV. W. H. WEIGLE, JR., Chaplain Episcopal Actors’ Guild. HE need of America is superior manhood, personalities and indi- viduals who will counteract our materialistic tendencies and who will listen to the voice of God instead of the ring of the almighty dollar. The truth and hope of any time must always be sought in minorities, All history, whether in the field of religion or art, is a record of the power of minorities, There needs but one wise man in a company and all become wise, 80’tapid is the contagion. Great men exist that there may be greater men. As Christians we were never meant to be lost in a crowd. We are to speak, act, and live differently than the multitudes. In a democratic country it requires an unusual amount of courage to draw apart and rise above the common herd. : There are disquieting signs in our national life today. We may not be worse than our ancestors, but I doubt very much if we are any bet- ter. There is a danger that we mistake license for freedom, and that we select the laws we choose to follow and scorn the others. In America we have been constantly exposed to religious influences, but with it there have been only sputters of righteousness. There is a tendency to accept institutional religion and organized Christianity rather than the compelling person of the Galilean Peasant. We have become so familiar with the outward aspects of the manifestations of Christianity that our attention and devotion and consecration have been weaned away from that which is most lasting and vital—an individual and personal relationship with the Risen Christ. TEACHERS AND LABOR UNIONS By MARY C. BARKER, President American Teachers’ Federation. Through struggle of body and soul the workers of the world have attained, or are attaining, their right to associate for the advancement of their just interests. We know that the labor movement fs not just a selfish demand on the part of a particular group for something that it does not have, but wants to possess. It is a humanitarian movement, whose watchword could be stated thus: Help yourself to attain the con- ditions necessary for you to function as a human being, as a worthy mem- ber of your community. Help others to help themselves. We teachers are in a real sense a labor organization. We are one of those 100 or more national and international unions that make up the larger part of the American Federation of Labor. We are part of the labor movement, and we are so organized because we believe that the principles of organized labor are sound, that organiza- tion of workers into unions is a necessary part of the human machinery that has been set up in the world to promote human progress. We acknowledge our debt to organized labor for the conditions that make it possible for us to operate in this way. It is our privilege, along with all other workers of today, to build upon a foundation that was laid by the struggles of those who have preceded us. Labor’s program is our program and labor’s interest is our interest, for what labor wants is that the interest of no group shall be subservient to the interest of any other group, that all shall share justly in the good things of life. : BURDEN IMPOSED BY EDUCATION By DR. ALBERT PARKER FITCH (Presbyterian), New York. The educated person faces life with certain handicaps and burdens which are the price of the knowledge he has acquired. Along with the great value that it brings, education brings into life a great burden, and with the burden, sorrow. Even though a man has a large store of general knowledge there is a danger for him in the present day tendency toward specialization. A genuinely educated man must keep his mind on the whole human scene. The insistence upon highly specialized training is turning upon the mod- ern American world educated men and women with small minds. There is a pitfall into which the man falls who knows just enough to find a flaw in everything, the temptation to retire into one’s mind and watch the world go by. As though any knowledge is ultimate without action! It is nothing without the power to beget ideas, to beget action. The habit of dealing in “universal concepts rather than realities,” is a handicap, too, in that it makes its addicts “forget that man faces condi- tions, not theories.” And finally there is disillusionment. Unless they make their “minds the accomplices of their prejudices,” the learned, even though they would, cannot share the soothing convictions of the untutored, for they look on history realizing that man, though he had made material gains, remained always just the same. The genuinely educated man rises above “the burdens that education has to carry” as did Jesus, “the consummate genius.” IDEA OF UNIVERSITY TRAINING By DR. ROBERT M. HUTCHINS, President-Elect Chicago University. My view of university training is to unsettle the minds of young men, to widen their horizons, to inflame their intellects. It is not a hardening, or settling process. Education is not to teach men facts, the- ories or laws; it is not to reform them, or amuse them, or to make them expert technicians in any field; it is to teach them to think, to think straight, if possible; but to think always for themselves. I would advise young persons contemplating entering school “to know the fellows” and to get a diploma, because it is the open sesame into the | | eled extensively, now in reduced circums company of persons who matter, and to join their local country club or fraternal organization. ’ These bodies have high ideals. They are organizations for mutual improvement. Their dues are lower than those of most colleges. You get to know the fellows in one. It would seem plausible to suppose that | excess weight. 234 lbs, $1.25, 158 BE. 26th S 2 M; 4 Si y Acidity The common cause of digestive diffie culties is excess acid. Soda cannot alter this condition, and it burns the stomach. Something that will neue tralize the acidity is the sensible thing to take, That is why physicians tell the public to use Phillips Milk of' Magnesia. One spoonful of this delightful prep~ aration can neutralize many times ite volume in acid. It acts instantly; re- lief is quick, and very apparent. All gas is dispelled; all sourness is soon gone; the whole system is sweetened, Do try this perfect anti-acid, and re~ member it is just as good for children, too, and pleasant for them to take. Any drug store has the genuine, pres scriptional product. HILLIPS Milk of Magnesia 10 Acre Farm, 12 miles Atlantic City, near White Horse Pike, 6 room house, stable, g e, tool house, chicken house, 25 chicks 3 fruits, grapes, all farm machinery, des livery truck; $5,600. Write A. L. Waite, Broker, Germania Gardens, Cologne, N. J. Five Hundred for One, Piles Ended Each day brings increasing orders and inquiries, many coming a long ways, asking about Drysorb, a new, safe and better way that science has found to end, practically all forms of Piles quickly. The quick results that Dry- sorb gives is amazing. John Kenrick, of Dallas, Texas, says: “After using every known remedy, I ended a serious 27-year-old case of Piles in 5 days with one bottle of Drysorb. I consider that $1 profited me five hundred.” Drysorb is now estcelished, and has proven a successe ful home remedy, and is now Regis= tered, U. S. Gov't Office. Drysorb is Greaseless, Odorless, Stainless and is guaranteed. Its action is mild and comforting. Yet its effects are imme- diate—lasting. Drysorb is sold Direct. ‘Write today for free information spe- cially prepared for each case. Give nature and age of trouble. Address Drysorb Co., 900 DeMenil Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. You certainly would feel glad to be free from Piles. Drysorb has established this record. This scien~ tific discovery is Monarch of all rem edies that quickly ends Piles at home. No specialist, knife or operation neces= sary. Drysorb gives a quick verdict, Corsica’s Good Bandit Banditry in Corsica does not nec. essarily mean robbery and murder as for many years the country was practically ruled by a recognized bans dit, who permitted plunder and blood shed only in the case of the vendetta, which was regarded as a sufficient excuse for any kind of outlawry as long as it was confined to the prin- cipals and their following, This ban- dit was Romanetti, whose edicts and wishes were recognized throughout the country although he had no offi- cial capacity. Sure Enough “These chickens were hatched in an incubator!” “My goodness! real ones.” They look just like A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she will. Boston’s Newest Residence Club for Women The “Pioneer 410 STUART ST., BOSTON Permanent or transient rooms with os without bath. Write or telephone KENmore 7940 for reservation Dining room and cafeteria Membership not required Health Giving Qumnshin All Winter Long Marvelous Climate = Good Hotels = Tourist Camps—Splendid Roads=—Gorgeous Mountain Views. The wonderfuldesert resortof the Wess Write Cree & Chaffey Paim Sprimg CALIFORNIA FREE—FREE In order to make 500 more housekeepers ac- quainted with our new plan of free gift give ing, we will send absolutely free all charges prepaid a 25c article very useful in every home. We are doing this to advertise this new plan of giving free bed sheets, lamps, rugs, silk hosiery, cake and berry sets, ta- blecloths, ete. Big surprise, Just send name and address on postal today. You will be glad you did. APEX COMPANY 261 South Main = = Wilkes-Barre, Pa. $1,000 Saving! Without traveling troubles. Iodine Bromine Saline baths recover health, rejuvenates beauty, charming figure, reduces Association New York. Learn to Be Newspaper Correspondent; help ful instruction sheet of 2,500 words by an old timer for $3. Malcelm Chase, Box 655, Worcester, Mass. Widow Near 50, Honest and Decent, trav- | stances, would be grateful for any kind of anyone can get from them most of the things one gets at the university, i if one goes to the university because it #8 the thing to do. — help. C., BOX 485, JEFFERSON, OHIO, Start Barbecue Business, Big money, no ins vestment, prepare in own kitchen, Old time southern recipe, Send stamp for particulars, Bobs Southern Barbecue, Delray Beach, Fla. Boys! Girls! Make Mon ling Article every housewife buys. Live wires $3 ly. Also bi- cycles, diamond rings. 30¢ gets samples and Instructions. Burns Laboratory, Cincinnati,O. Letters That Will Bring You Results; I write them; promptness; discretion. Send details in any language; enclose $1 per letter, MISS ROSE. 139 HE. 45th St. New York. WELL, YOURS EARLY THIS FELIX P00 } Clan in aN (od =F. le JRC!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers