art feeling with one worthy of his
confidence, so he believed.
Frontier Samson remained silent for a few minutes after the confession
had been concluded.. He looked straight before him off among the trees
as if he saw something there. Reynolds wondered what he was thinking
about, and whether he considered him a fool for becoming so infatuated
over a mere girl.
"I must seem ridiculous to you," he at length remarked. "Would any man
in his senses act as I have?"
"Ye might do worse," was the quiet reply. "I am sartinly interested in
what ye've jist told me, an' I thank ye fer yer confidence. Me own
heart was stirred once, an' the feelin' ain't altogether left me yit.
But ye've got a difficult problem ahead of ye, young man. Ye want that
lass, so I believe, but between you an' her stands Jim Weston."
"And the girl, why don't you say?"
"Sure, sure; she's to be considered. But a gal kin be won when she
takes a fancy to a man of your make-up. The trouble'll be with her
dad, an' don't fergit that. But thar, I guess we've talked enough
about this fer the present. I'm dead beat an' want some sleep. We
must be away early in the mornin', remember."
"What! are you going my way?" Reynolds eagerly asked.
"Sure; if ye'd like to have me along. I'm bound fer Big Draw meself."
It was just what Reynolds desired. He liked the old prospector, and
now that he had confided to him his tale of love, he was drawn closer
than ever to this wandering veteran of the trails.
CHAPTER VI
A SHOT THAT TOLD
The life at Big Draw mining camp on Scupper Creek did not appeal to
Reynolds. He watched the men at work upon their various claims, and
noted how meagre was their success. They toiled like slaves, lured on
by the hope of a rich strike that never came. The principal place of
meeting was the roadhouse, where "Shorty" Bill held sway. He lodged
men, served meals, and conducted a bar. He was a good-hearted fellow,
rough and uncouth, but well liked by all, and a genial companion. It
was, therefore, but natural that at this place many of the men should
congregate at night, and at times during the day, for a brief respite
from their labors. It was here, too, that news would occasionally
drift in from the outside world, which would be discussed by the men as
they played cards, the only amusement for which they seemed to care.
When the mail arrived, as it did at irregular intervals, all work on
the creek was suspe
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