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〃It somehow does not seem to square with this 'gift of God' idea of
yours； does it？〃 said Stacy。 〃But we'll open the door and give
them a show。〃
As he did so it seemed as if the night were their only guest； and
had been waiting on the threshold to now enter bodily and pervade
all things with its presence。 With that cool； fragrant inflow of
air they breathed freely。 The red edge had gone from Black Spur；
but it was even more clearly defined against the sky in its
towering blackness。 The sky itself had grown lighter； although the
stars still seemed mere reflections of the solitary pin…points of
light scattered along the concave valley below。 Mingling with the
cooler； restful air of the summit； yet penetratingly distinct from
it； arose the stimulating breath of the pines below； still hot and
panting from the day…long sun。 The silence was intense。 The far…
off barking of a dog on the invisible river…bar nearly a mile
beneath them came to them like a sound in a dream。 They had risen；
and； standing in the doorway； by common consent turned their faces
to the east。 It was the frequent attitude of the home…remembering
miner； and it gave him the crowning glory of the view。 For； beyond
the pine…hearsed summits； rarely seen except against the evening
sky； lay a thin； white cloud like a dropped portion of the Milky
Way。 Faint with an indescribable pallor； remote yet distinct
enough to assert itself above and beyond all surrounding objects；
it was always there。 It was the snow…line of the Sierras。
They turned away and silently reseated themselves； the same thought
in the minds of each。 Here was something they could not take away；
something to be left forever and irretrievably behind；left with
the healthy life they had been leading； the cheerful endeavor； the
undying hopefulness which it had fostered and blessed。 Was what
they WERE taking away worth it？ And oddly enough； frank and
outspoken as they had always been to each other； that common
thought remained unuttered。 Even Barker was silent； perhaps he was
also thinking of Kitty。
Suddenly two figures appeared in the very doorway of the cabin。
The effect was startling upon the partners； who had only just
reseated themselves； and for a moment they had forgotten that the
narrow band of light which shot forth from the open door rendered
the darkness on either side of it more impenetrable； and that out
of this darkness； although themselves guided by the light； the
figures had just emerged。 Yet one was familiar enough。 It was the
Hill drunkard； Dick Hall； or； as he was called； 〃Whiskey Dick；〃 or；
indicated still more succinctly by the Hill humorists； 〃Alky Hall。〃
Everybody had seen that sodden； puffy； but good…humored face；
everybody had felt the fiery exhalations of that enormous red
beard； which always seemed to be kept in a state of moist； unkempt
luxuriance by liquor； everybody knew the absurd dignity of manner
and attempted precision of statement with which he was wont to
disguise his frequent excesses。 Very few； however； knew； or cared
to know； the pathetic weariness and chilling horror that sometimes
looked out of those bloodshot eyes。
He was evidently equally unprepared for the three silent seated
figures before the door； and for a moment looked at them blankly
with the doubts of a frequently deceived perception。 Was he sure
that they were quite real？ He had not dared to look at his
companion for verification； but smiled vaguely。
〃Good…evening；〃 said Demorest pleasantly。
Whiskey Dick's face brightened。 〃Good…evenin'； good…evenin'
yourselves； boysand see how you like it！ Lemme interdrush my ole
frien' William J。 Steptoe； of Red Gulch。 StepshoSteptoeis
shtayish stay〃 He stopped； hiccupped； waved his hand gravely；
and with an air of reproachful dignity concluded； 〃sojourning for
the present on the Bar。 We wish to offer our congrashulashen and
felishfelish〃 He paused again； and； leaning against the door…
post； added severely； 〃itations。〃
His companion； however； laughed coarsely； and； pushing past Dick；
entered the cabin。 He was a short； powerful man； with a closely
cropped crust of beard and hair that seemed to adhere to his round
head like moss or lichen。 He cast a glancefurtive rather than
curious around the cabin； and said； with a familiarity that had not
even good humor to excuse it； 〃So you're the gay galoots who've
made the big strike？ Thought I'd meander up the Hill with this old
bloat Alky； and drop in to see the show。 And here you are； feeling
your oats； eh？ and not caring any particular G…d dn if school
keeps or not。〃
〃Show Mr。 Steptoethe whiskey；〃 said Demorest to Stacy。 Then
quietly addressing Dick； but ignoring Steptoe as completely as
Steptoe had ignored his unfortunate companion； he said； 〃You quite
startled us at first。 We did not see you come up the trail。〃
〃No。 We came up the back trail to please Steptoe； who wanted to
see round the cabin；〃 said Dick； glancing nervously yet with a
forced indifference towards the whiskey which Stacy was offering to
the stranger。
〃What yer gettin' off there？〃 said Steptoe； facing Dick almost
brutally。 〃YOU know your tangled legs wouldn't take you straight
up the trail； and you had to make a circumbendibus。 Gosh！ if you
hadn't scented this licker at the top you'd have never found it。〃
〃No matter！ I'm glad you DID find it； Dick；〃 said Demorest； 〃and I
hope you'll find the liquor good enough to pay you for the trouble。〃
Barker stared at Demorest。 This extraordinary tolerance of the
drunkard was something new in his partner。 But at a glance from
Demorest he led Dick to the demijohn and tin cup which stood on a
table in the corner。 And in another moment Dick had forgotten his
companion's rudeness。
Demorest remained by the door； looking out into the darkness。
〃Well；〃 said Steptoe； putting down his emptied cup； 〃trot out your
strike。 I reckon our eyes are strong enough to bear it now。〃
Stacy drew the blanket from the vague pile that stood in the
corner； and discovered a deep tin prospecting…pan。 It was heaped
with several large fragments of quartz。 At first the marble
whiteness of the quartz and the glittering crystals of mica in its
veins were the most noticeable； but as they drew closer they could
see the dull yellow of gold filling the decomposed and honeycombed
portion of the rock as if still liquid and molten。 The eyes of the
party sparkled like the micaeven those of Barker and Stacy； who
were already familiar with the treasure。
〃Which is the richest chunk？〃 asked Steptoe in a thickening voice。
Stacy pointed it out。
〃Why； it's smaller than the others。〃
〃Heft it in your hand；〃 said Barker； with boyish enthusiasm。
The short； thick fingers of Steptoe grasped it with a certain
aquiline suggestion； his whole arm strained over it until his face
grew purple； but he could not lift it。
〃Thar useter be a little game in the 'Frisco Mint；〃 said Dick；
restored to fluency by his liquor； 〃when thar war ladies visiting
it； and that was to offer to give 'em any of those little boxes of
gold coin； that contained five thousand dollars； ef they would
kindly lift it from the counter and take it away！ It wasn't no
bigger than one of these chunks； but Jiminy！ you oughter have seed
them gals grip and heave on it； and then hev to give it up！ You
see they didn't know anything about the paci（hic） the speshif〃
He stopped with great dignity； and added with painful precision；
〃the specific gravity of gold。〃
〃Dry up！〃 said Steptoe roughly。 Then turning to Stacy he said
abruptly； 〃But where's the rest of it？ You've got more than that。〃
〃We sent it to Boomville this morning。 You see we've sold out our
claim to a company who take it up to…morrow； and put up a mill and
stamps。 In fact； it's under their charge now。 They've got a gang
of men on the claim already。〃
〃And what mout ye hev got for it； if it's a fair question？〃 said
Steptoe； with a forced smile。
Stacy smiled also。 〃I don't know that it's a business question；〃
he said。
〃Five hundred thousand dollars；〃 said Demorest abruptly from the
doorway； 〃and a treble interest。〃
The eyes of the two men met。 There was no mistaking the dull fire
of envy in Steptoe's glance； but Demorest received it with a
certain cold curiosity； and turned away as the sound of arriving
voices came from without。
〃Five hundred thousand's a big figger；〃 said Steptoe； with a coarse
laugh； 〃and I don't wonder it makes you feel so dd sassy。 But
it WAS a fair question。〃
Unfortunately it here occurred to the whiskey…stimulated brain of
Dick that the friend he had introduced was being treated with scant
courtesy； and he forgot his own treatment by Steptoe。 Leaning
against the wall he waved a dignified rebuke。 〃I'm sashified my
ole frien' is akshuated by only businesh princ