29 chapters
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29 chapters
1894
1894
“Beneath yon rocky peak that hides In fleecy clouds its snow-flecked crest; Beneath those crimson crags abides The fairest queen of all the West.” CONTENTS PREFACE. PARTIAL LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. CHAPTER I.—VANCE GILDER. CHAPTER II.—THE OLD MINER. CHAPTER III.—THE BANNER FORCE. CHAPTER IV—A SUPPER PARTY. CHAPTER V.—AN ODD CHARACTER. CHAPTER VI—THE TOWN BOOMER. CHAPTER VII.—A VISIT TO WATERVILLE CHAPTER VIII.—AT THE MINE CHAPTER IX.—THE STAGE DRIVER. CHAPTER X.—PROPERTY HAS GONE UP. CHAPTER XI.—O
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WILLIS GEORGE EMERSON.
WILLIS GEORGE EMERSON.
ELM REST, August 20, 1894. No. 1363 Central Park Boulevard, Chicago....
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CHAPTER I.—VANCE GILDER.
CHAPTER I.—VANCE GILDER.
ANCE GILDER had an ambition. It was to be a great journalist. The sunshine that gleamed in at his western windows disclosed most luxurious apartments—indicating refinement and culture. The bric-a-brac; the leathern walls stamped with gilt; the frieze of palm-leaves; the chandelier; the richly carved book-case, filled with tawny-covered volumes; the upright piano, and a guitar which stood sentinel-like in a retired corner; together with India rugs and tiger skins on the floor before an open grate
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CHAPTER II.—THE OLD MINER.
CHAPTER II.—THE OLD MINER.
ROOM in which we have introduced Vance Gilder to the reader, in the home overlooking Central Park, had been his from childhood, and furnished by his father in its present luxurious style, as a reward for his devotion to the profession of journalism. His father had invested his income in real estate, and in the lapse of years found himself possessed of a fortune many times greater than he had ever anticipated. He traveled a great deal over the west, and at Gold Bluff, Idaho, he found in Ben Bonif
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CHAPTER III.—THE BANNER FORCE.
CHAPTER III.—THE BANNER FORCE.
GREAT metropolitan journal like the Banner , has a tendency to swallow up individual characteristics in its own self-importance. A man may be ever so clever with his pen, and contribute the most readable articles day after day and year after year, and yet not one reader in ten thousand has any idea whose composition he is perusing. Vance Gilder was only one of the force, and yet he was a favorite with his associates. He sometimes dreamed of promotion, and the time when he would be a corresponden
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CHAPTER IV—A SUPPER PARTY.
CHAPTER IV—A SUPPER PARTY.
T TEN O’.LOCK the following morning, Vance sent in his card to the chief, and was immediately admitted to his presence. “Good morning, Mr. Gilder.” “Good morning, sir,” was Vance’s prompt reply. “I sent for you,” said the chief, as he industriously looked over a bundle of papers on his desk, “To discuss a matter I have had in mind for some time.” “Yes, sir,” was Vance’s laconic reply. The chief having found the paper he evidently had been searching for, motioned Vance to be seated, and turning t
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CHAPTER V.—AN ODD CHARACTER.
CHAPTER V.—AN ODD CHARACTER.
TRIP from New York to the inter-mountain country of the west, with the present railroad facilities of palatial Pullmans and dining cars, is now an every-day affair. The traveler is surrounded by every comfort. Vance Gilder was more than ever in love with the change, as the cars rumbled on through dell and forest, across broad stretches of beautiful valley country, and ever and anon rushing over an iron bridge that spanned some beautiful stream of water, some of them calm and peaceful, and others
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CHAPTER VI—THE TOWN BOOMER.
CHAPTER VI—THE TOWN BOOMER.
BOUT TWO WEEKS after Vance Gilder arrived in Butte City, he noticed one morning that everybody was talking about a new town, and each was asking the others what they thought about it. Glancing at the hotel register, he saw the name, Homer Winthrop, of Waterville, Idaho. In looking over the Butte City Miner and the Inter-Mountain Blade , both healthy dailies and well edited, he was somewhat astonished to find a full-page advertisement in each of the papers, setting forth in blazing splendor the g
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CHAPTER VII.—A VISIT TO WATERVILLE
CHAPTER VII.—A VISIT TO WATERVILLE
NEW WESTERN TOWN is usually provided with a public square, and the business houses and shops are arranged along the four sides of it in sentinel-like position, the corner lots going at a premium, and where the most substantial buildings are erected. Waterville, however could not boast of a public square, but it had two iron bridges spanning the Thief River. A large stone grist mill had been built on the side of the river opposite the town, and on the elevated ground beyond, it was said the State
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CHAPTER VIII.—AT THE MINE
CHAPTER VIII.—AT THE MINE
HE next morning Vance was rather late in rising. Soon after he had taken his seat at the breakfast table, he was joined by an individual small in stature but tastily dressed. His eyes were restless, and he seemed on the point of making an observation several times before he finally did so. “Very pleasant morning,” said he, looking up at Vance and then hastily glancing at the sunshine that streamed in at the window. “Yes, delightful,” was Vance’s reply. Presently the stranger observed: “Sunny day
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CHAPTER IX.—THE STAGE DRIVER.
CHAPTER IX.—THE STAGE DRIVER.
ROM Gold Bluff Vance sent to the Banner one of his strongest descriptive letters. The inspiration of the new west, with its gorges, mountains, beautiful valleys and gurgling streams abounding with trout, tinged its every sentence. His vivacious style, which had won for him the place he occupied on the Banner , was reinforced with the new and intoxicating sights of the picturesque. For two weeks he did little else than tramp through valleys, following up mountain streams on fishing jaunts, and fe
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CHAPTER X.—PROPERTY HAS GONE UP.
CHAPTER X.—PROPERTY HAS GONE UP.
MMEDIATELY after breakfast the following morning, Vance was waited upon by Col. Bonifield. The old miner bore a troubled expression on his face. Vance invited him to his room. “Mr. Gilder,” said the old miner, as he raised himself to his full height, and with the dignity of a general addressed Vance: “I assure yo’, suh, I am greatly pained at the uncalled fo’ remarks which my sister made in yo’r presence last evening; I am indeed, suh. “I assure you,” replied Vance, “there is no occasion to refe
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CHAPTER XI.—OWNER OF THE PEACOCK MINE.
CHAPTER XI.—OWNER OF THE PEACOCK MINE.
HE next morning Vance was up at an early hour for a morning walk. He followed the winding road up the hill-side toward Gray Rocks. The air was fresh and invigorating; the sun was just rising over the eastern mountains. Robins and mountain thrushes were twittering gaily their morning songs. He mentally compared the stifled life so prevalent in the great cities to the healthful and exhilarating prospect about him. A shadow flitted across his mind. It was J. Arthur Boast’s inquiry in regard to Loui
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CHAPTER XII—TROUT FISHING.
CHAPTER XII—TROUT FISHING.
RRIVING at the lake by a circuitous path, they found themselves on the banks of a lovely sheet of water, several hundred feet wide and perhaps a mile in length. The distinct reflection of the foliage, trees and mountains, which rose several hundred feet on the opposite side, made a double picture of enchanting loveliness. “We have been waiting for you,” said Bertha Allen, in a flute-like voice. She was a cooing sort of a young lady, with a dainty lisp, which she evidently regarded as becoming. S
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CHAPTER XIII.—THE STAGE RIDE.
CHAPTER XIII.—THE STAGE RIDE.
HE following morning Vance forwarded to the Banner office a two column article, which he considered the finest of all his western letters. The chief was at Buzzard’s Bay enjoying a much needed rest, when Vance’s letter was received. The assistant managing editor did little more than glance over the manuscript and observe to the dramatic critic, as he hung the copy on the hook, that “Young Gilder was sending in some excellent articles from the Northwest.” The article was headed “Two Honorable Exc
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CHAPTER XIV.—THE TOWN COMPANY’. MEETING.
CHAPTER XIV.—THE TOWN COMPANY’. MEETING.
ARLY the next morning Dick Ballard rapped on Vance’s door, and being admitted, greeted him warmly, and assured him he was mighty glad to see him again. “There’s goin’ to be a meetin’ of the Town Company.” “Is that so?” said Vance. “Yes; the hul kit and bilin’ of ‘em are here,” replied Ballard. “There’s Colonel Alexander, Homer Winthrop, General Ira House and his brother, Jack House, B. Webster Legal and Marcus Donald. Donald is the resident director of the Town Company.” Vance said he would be g
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CHAPTER XV.—MISS VIRGINIA BONIFIELD.
CHAPTER XV.—MISS VIRGINIA BONIFIELD.
|ANCE had become so thoroughly interested during his first visit to Waterville, that he was prepared, in a degree, to share in a general way the enthusiasm of the citizens and the members of the Waterville Town Company which prevailed after the meeting adjourned. Buoyant with hope of the future, without hardly understanding why, and with a blind belief that his investment would yield him a splendid return, he began to feel that it was indeed a lucky day when the chief of the Banner sent him to t
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CHAPTER XVI.—THE OLD COLONEL’. DISAPPOINTMENT.
CHAPTER XVI.—THE OLD COLONEL’. DISAPPOINTMENT.
HE FOLLOWING morning Vance took the stage for Gold Bluff. As he neared that little mining town, he found himself experiencing an impatience once more to see Louise Bonifield that was strangely at variance with any former sensation of his life. It seemed to him the stage coach was traveling at a snail’s pace, and even the good natured, “honest intentioned” Steve Gibbons, with all his droll talk of frontier adventure, failed to interest him. Arriving at the hotel, he found the old miner, Ben Bonif
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CHAPTER XVII.—An AWAKENING.
CHAPTER XVII.—An AWAKENING.
ANCE GILDER was not of a morose nature. The following morning he ate as hearty a breakfast as ever, and while smoking his morning cigar, acknowledged to himself that he had fallen in love with the picturesque scenery of the mountains, rivers, valleys and everything about him was restful, while an alluring contentment stole into his heart. He congratulated himself that he was far away from the hot and crowded metropolis of the Atlantic seaboard. Here, far removed from “the busy marts of men,” and
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CHAPTER XVIII.—VANCE RETURNS TO WATERVILLE.
CHAPTER XVIII.—VANCE RETURNS TO WATERVILLE.
T was on an October morning that Vance started for Waterville. A light frost the night before had made the air sharp and crisp. The frost disappeared, however, before the genial warmth of the rising sun, while the russet leaves grew brownerer and as the wind stirred them, sang brokenly of old age. October is the scenic month in the mountains. You seem to stand in Nature’s picture gallery. The box-alder leaves are as changeable in color as a blushing maiden. From the low foothills on up the sides
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CHAPTER XIX.—THE INDIGNATION MEETING
CHAPTER XIX.—THE INDIGNATION MEETING
ANCE had been in Waterville something over a week, and his enthusiasm was noticeably subdued. One evening he discovered that a great many citizens were assembling in the Town Hall. He joined the crowd, and found it was composed of representative of nearly every family in Waterville. The meeting was called to order with J. Arthur Boast in the chair. It was an indignation meeting. Instead of huzzaing for the Waterville Town Company, its members were being vigorously denounced. A speaker addressed
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CHAPTER XX.—THE STAGE IS ROBBED.
CHAPTER XX.—THE STAGE IS ROBBED.
HE next morning Vance met his old acquaintance, Hank Casey. “Good morning, Mr. Casey,” said Vance, cheerily. “Hello, pardner,” was the laconic and somewhat dejected reply. “I haven’t seen you for some time,” said Vance. “No, I’ve been prospectin’ round these ‘ere diggin’s, but I guess I won’t stay much longer. The court decided agin Steve Gibbons an’ me. I think I’ll go back to Butte City afore long. She’s the pertest minin’ camp in the ‘hull country.” “You say the court has decided against you?
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CHAPTER XXI.—REACHING THE 400 FOOT LEVEL.
CHAPTER XXI.—REACHING THE 400 FOOT LEVEL.
N the excitement incident to Col. Bonifield’s cross-cutting into the vein, the stage robbery, and the bewildering evenings spent in the society of Louise, Vance quite forgot about his hopes and fears relative to his investment in Waterville. One evening he was out for a walk near the Bonifields’. Louise was standing on the porch. He lifted his hat, and she waved a dainty little handkerchief, and came down the road to meet him. There was a troubled expression on her face which Vance had never see
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CHAPTER XXII.—STARTING THE BOOM.
CHAPTER XXII.—STARTING THE BOOM.
IXTEEN hours a day for three days was Vance’s first experience on the Prospector . All day and far into the evening he set type and made up forms, until finally the paper was ready to be brought out. It contained the retiring proprietor’s bow to the public, and Vance’s announcement. The next evening he called at the Bonifields’. Louise greeted him more kindly than ever. The Colonel, after assuring him that excellent progress was being made on Gray Rocks, turned the conversation to Vance’s new ve
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CHAPTER XXIII.—RUFUS GRIM S AMBITION.
CHAPTER XXIII.—RUFUS GRIM S AMBITION.
UFUS GRIM was not pleased with Vance’s management of the Gold Bluff Prospector . A number of items had appeared in the columns of that paper which tended to vindicate Steve Gibbons from all suspicion or connection with the stage coach robbery. Grim considered this an indirect thrust at himself. His money had made him a lion among the people of Gold Bluff, but for some unaccountable reason he was unable to secure Vance Gilder’s good opinion. He secretly had an ambition to represent the people of
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CHAPTER XXIV.—THE GOLDEN MAUSOLEUM.
CHAPTER XXIV.—THE GOLDEN MAUSOLEUM.
GRIM was a happy man. He would conceal his joy for one short year, and then—and then—. He had at last reached the top-most craig of all his worldly hopes. Wealth was his, and now he had secured the promise of Bertha Allen to be his wife. He called at his lawyer’s office the next day and told him he wished to add a codicil to his will. He spoke in his usual loud and confident way, and seemed to constantly remember that he was not only the richest man in Gold Bluff, but, by big odds, the most fort
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CHAPTER XXV.—CROSS-CUTTING IN THE MINE.
CHAPTER XXV.—CROSS-CUTTING IN THE MINE.
HE next day Rufus Grim was missed from the Peacock. His manager could not understand it. Never before had he absented himself from his office without giving the most detailed instructions in regard to work in the mine. When the following morning came and he was still absent, the manager’s fears ripened into genuine alarm and soon all the people of Gold Bluff were discussing the mystery of Rufus Grim’s disappearance. A vigorous search was instituted, which resulted a few days later in finding his
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THE RUFUS GRIM MURDER.
THE RUFUS GRIM MURDER.
The history of Rufus Grim’s demise, though still shrouded in mystery, will doubtless, when the facts are known, startle the people of Gold Bluff even more than the murder itself. It is true that Steve Gibbons is accused and languishes in the county jail, and that a warrant is out for the arrest of his old associate, Hank Casey. In the excitement of the hour, our people may have interpreted circumstantial evidence as proof of guilt. As a matter of fact, not one jot or tittle of damaging evidence,
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CHAPTER XXVII.—AT LAST!
CHAPTER XXVII.—AT LAST!
EFFECT on the people of a mining camp of one of those fabulously rich “strikes” like Gray Recks mine proved to be, may be imagined but cannot be described in words. Shopkeeper, citizen and miner alike, go wild with enthusiasm over so important a discovery. Congratulations were showered upon Colonel Bonifield and Vance from every quarter. Every one in Gold Bluff felt it his privilege to call at Colonel Bonifield’s home and pay his respects to one who had lived so long in their midst, and who had
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