Image provided by: Scio Public Library; Scio, OR
About The Santiam news. (Scio, Linn County, Or.) 1897-1917 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1911)
"Th»!’» th« Law, Aln‘t it?" cu»’*«»*/" or ¿ o urwtcvrr <u I CHAPTER I. Th* westering «on was casting lengthy shadow» among the gaunt Vines an<J sturdy aspens along the strep upward slope of a certain wild canyon In the Nevada Hierras. l ive hundn d feet |>. low the dry fl' or of. • he g . i. h ■*: i. h I.- r ■ w d< • • I to a narrow valley, was Oiled from wall to wall with a motley huddle of rough cabins. Jigsaw cottages, a glaring red brick oppra house, hotel, »nd bank all In one, and a pair of clapboarded. whitewashed churches I’pon the sultry and drowsy air of a summer afternoon there arose the confused hum and the hoarse murmur of strenuous Industry, above which, like the footstep« of the animated e<>o<' statue In "Don Juan,” the In «latent note of the busy "stamps,” at work night and day. three "shifts" In each II hours, dominated all other sounds Thia was the little mining town of Meleen, named In honor of Its found er. who was likewise the discoverer, manipulator, and chief owner of the rich Peacock lode, which gave employ ment to 300 men and netted over a million a year for Its stockholders. Rough and ready. Ignorant and shrewd, was old Andrew Meleen Originally a Welsh miner in Cardiff and later In th» Pennsylvania coal fields, he by turns had been volunteer soldier, pioneer, prospector, and Anal ly many times a millionaire, after weary years of fortunechasing up and down the gold and silver country of the great west. For the crude affairs of this typical raw western camp, with its bizarre sd mixture of civilisation and savagery, we have only a passing Interest in that It la the starting point of the story In hand Our present and most vividly human concern Is with th» creator of all this Industry and po tential wealth—and be lay adying. Far up the eastern hillside com manding the town, whence one could almost fancy he was looking over the next divide to where the flaming sun was setting amid cloudy billows In the wide Pacific miles beyond, on a sort of bench or plateau an acre In • stent, stood a curious and rambling woodvu structure, in triple part log cabin, bunting ranch, and modern country house. This unique huddle of divers styles of pioneer architecture really repre sented as many different periods In rhe fortunes of Its eccentric owner. The rough, unbarked logs of the ortg tnal single roomed cabin which formed a prominent wing or angle marked tbe poor prospector stage; then, with more prosperous times, came an addition framed by a wander ing Yankee carpenter and eheatbed with boards of red wood, now beautb f'.ilv w ■ th, red to a r!< ’■ : n? ,r v hue; finally, as If to mark the ultimate rise to affluence of the occupant, a two story structure had been added, shingled as to walls and roof, while upon three sides a covered veranda wide enough for a fashionable cotillon, approached by generous steps and a peaked porch, gave comfortable as aurance of cool shade and a constant breete shifting with the sun Around and above porch and cabin there clambered festoons of grape vines and wild creepers, the dark green leave« lending a deeper tinge to the background of cedar and redwood posts snd walla. From thia eyrie the old man who was Its chief occupant could easily toss a lump of his own shining ore on the roofs of the little town bo rn ath, viewed by day. the smoke of its furnaces went winding sway in long spirals and ribbons of vapor; at night, the spurts of . colored flame from the chimneys of retort house and smelter lit up the opposite sides of the canyon In fitful flashes or murky red. or paled to an orange glow under the wan light of the moon. Tbe solitary dweller on tbe hillside never wearied of the changing pic ture. It was his; he had called Into being the town and its throbbing In dustries; h<> loved It with the pas sionate. yearning love of a wifeless and childless old man. For him the cities of the coast—Ix»s Angeles or Ran Francisco. Portland or Heattie— possessed few charms. They only served to bank his constantly Increas ing millions The rough little town, with Its «mating monthly output of gold and silver and copper, stood to him in place of wife and child, the queer old ranch overlooking It all was his real home—his pride, his pas slon. his delight And now the time was come when he must leave It all and go hence, for Andy Meleen was dying, and chiefly of that moat incurable of diseases, o'd age. while his vast wealth must de scend to an heir whom be bad never seen. Vpon a curious contrivance of d> mettle devising, half bedstrad, half re clining chair, set upon casters so that It could readily bo wheeled indoors and out, lay the old millionaire. Each livelong day, from sunrise to sunset, be Insisted on being placed In his wide porch, whence be could still overs»-« bls beloved town, and gate at the noble prospect, with Its con stantly shining panorama of lights and shadows. Only nightfall drova him within doors. Rugged and gnarled as his own na tive hills, originally of great girth and nighty In stature, he was now shrunk en to mere skin and bone. All the life and virility of the man seemed to have retreated to the masslvs bead. a« beleaguered for«-«« tat« reft-g« :n some strong keep for a last drapers'» rally From beneath a square for«- head and a thatch of grlxxkd eye brows a pair of piercing gray blu« eyes flashed Imperiously, while from the heaving chest there still Issued tones surprisingly strong for one so There was evidently near hla end no sign of srolllty when h« «hot curt query at his only servant, an old . pioneer like himself, who sat tn the i doorway stolidly cleaning a rifle. of sight but within call. "Putty nigh tlm that lawyer fellow i was here, eb?" said Andy over bls |- «boulder, striving vainly Io raise bls ! head from the high b«ap*d cushions, but only succeeding In moving It from side to »Id* Evan rose «nd went to th« railing of the veranda, whence one could •«• the winding read, scarcely more than r well trodden trail which led from the town to th« house on th« hill. Shading his eyes from the blinding glare of the nearly level sun rays, he peered downward for some moments before responding. Then, saying I« conically • "Jest cornin' up the rise." be re turned to bls stat snd bls task. Shortly there became audible the soft thud of hoof beats and the creak ing of straining leather, punctured by the cracking of a «hip and the en couraging “cluck cluck” of the driver The road curved behind the house, and as the sounds drew away Meleen followed them with a hearkening, rolling motion of the head Infinitely pathetic In Its yearning helplessness snd Impotence. R<*on there wss the sound of foot steps within the bouse, and there ap peared upon the veranda tbe long ex pected arrival. Phlnesa Carboy, a well- kuown Han Francisco practitioner tn the law. whose firm had transacti-d most of Andrew Msleen’s affairs sine« he had been wealthy enough to afford the luxury of eminent legal advice Never In bls life had he needed It more than now. Ills eyes flashed with feverish I tn I >’ ■ nee as he responded to th« law- yer v forms! irr* * tii,»:« Hardly *"« be Mated, note book In hand, than tbe dying man rapped out curtly: “Are y’ ready?" "Quito so. Mr Meleen," was the rea|H>nse; know Ing bls man. Mr. far- boy wasted no words on lormal coo dolen ac » or tamo civilities. "Vnerstand what I want done?” was the n> xt question "Y<*ur telegram Intimated that you desired to give me Instructions for your Ins' will and testament" "Inst ructions yes— ye’ll g< t enough of them!” v-lth a grim sc He; "but I w ant the thing fixed up this blissed night My time's short, as y’ see. Can y' do It—will ft stand?" Mr Carboy nodded gravely, and with pen ready poised looked « x pectantly at hla client But the 1st- ter'» next words were not » xactly those ho anttclpsivd "How much sb'd you •ay I wui wutb. Carboy, if everything w ua cleaned up an* turned into cash?" in qutred the old man. Tbe legal mind hesitated, but only for an tnstanL "Twenty-five or thirty million dol lars at tbe very hast," was lbs quiet reply "I guess that's about It.” sighed Andy Meleen "Now. man. stick a pin through this: I'm going to leave all that I'm wuth to a feller I've ulv'ir seen!" He shot a keen glance at Mr Car boy to Judge of the effect of this som»- w hat startling announcement, but the lawyer was too well trained to show any mark of surprise beyond a alight contracting and lifting of tbe eye brows "You' know hla name. I presume, and where he can be found?" "No, I don't!" was the reply snapped back, "that’s for you t' find out. Thia Is the way of It: 1 had an only sister over there in th* old country named Mattle. She kem t‘ Ainerlky ten year after I did. an' I heard she wux mar ried an' had a son But I've forgotten her husband's name If 1 Iver knew IL Ha'n’t seen her since she wus a slip of a girl. Course, she may be dead, an' the boy, too, though she wus younger’n me by four or five year, but you’ve got to try an' find ’em." "You never saw your slater after »he arrived In this country, and held no communication whatever?" asked the lawyer, making note«. Meleen shook hla bead. ”1 wus mighty poor myself In those days. Car boy. an*—oh. well. I'd troubles of tuy own. an’ then I drifted west an' out here." "Where was this sister living when you last heard of berf* ”N’ York." "How many yv-ars ago would that her "’Bout 10. 1 reckon. "And her son. If living. Is to have everything T’ "That’s It!" was the emphatic reply. "Gosh! I’ll bet he'll be astonished wherever and whoever he Is!" "Doubtless!” was Carboy’s dry com ment. "Rut had you no other kin. Mr. Meleen?” . "Nary a kin," was the reply. "There was on’y me an’ Mattle, an' we wus left orphans »bill 1 wua no biggsr’n a shovel "No cousins, for ln»tas~s?" pw Stated Mr Carboy "Nary a cousin " ”W»-r«- you rv«r msrr'ed yvmrself?’ was tbe next query Simple and n»< reaary as it was under the ein urn stances, and put In a co orless. matter of fset manner, Its effect on the re cumbent figure of old Andy Meleen was like that of a galvanic battery ap plied to a corpse III» nervous snd shrunken frame twttrt r.«-d snd quiv ered; the once mighty chest heaved as thouch It would burst «•under great beads of sweat broke out on face and forehead. and bls strong mouth and chin trembled with emo lions entirely apart from cause« due Mr Carboy to age and weakness was genuinely distressed at th« ef fret be had so unwittingly produced Something In tbe question had touched Andy on the raw In halting and fragmentary phrases he said: "God forgive me. Carboy. I wus mar rled. an' to the sweet* st llttlv wo >man that ever trod God A'rolghty’s foot stool! I wua a man full grown then —<5 yearn old -old ‘nuff to know bet I ter! I wus workln' In the Rem nay I i vanla coal mines A month after ■ tbs ! weddln we ha<l a ma(u bitter quarrel I There keto a strike, an' I went out along o’ the rest o the boys Minna didn’t like my tn In' out o' work, an told me so There wua hot words, an In a blindin’ rag» I struck ber an' left the bouse, swearin' I'd never go back! Then, like a ful<>, I went an’ 'listed for t'nrle 8atn.( At the fightln' In th* Wilderness, my fust battle. 1 got bit In three or four places, an* th' am bylancea left me on th« field for dead llut an old farmer picked me up. an after putting In a year o' hospital I kem out putty nigh as fit as ever Th wur 3us over, an' then I heerd that my wife, my Minna, had died In her time o' trouble an' her girl baby with her As heaven's my witness. I've nlver squared myself with myself for leavin’ her alone at such a time I tramped west- nlver showed my ugly face cast ag'lu an you know tbe rest." "Forgive mo for arousing such pain fui memories. Mr Mei« < n." said t ar boy. "but the Inquiry was Im vltable. we must know where we stand.’* Old Andy signified that he board and appreciated The strain of this long recital bad come mighty near to parting bis mortal coil then and there, snd he lay as one indeed very near to death Mr Carboy walled a few mtn ute«— he was not yet done with bls At ivi.Kt I. probings into the past. Meleen opened bls eye, once more «nd turned them mutely on bis in qulsilor, who Interpreted that as a sl»n for him to proceed. "I presume these matters can be verified—th« Huie and place of your marriage and the date of demise of your wife and child?" For answer the old miner produced a well worn ivatber wallet from un>ie* the blanket which covered ' "You’D find th' dates there,” h« said faintly Anythin' more y" want f know?" "One other point must bo setthd: Suppose this nephew of yours is dead, or canwot be found- who is to Inherit In that case?” Another spasm contorted Andy rugg< d features ' ll goe« to the state. I s'poae; that's the law, ain't It?" Carboy nodded (TO III ' »NTINT’KD.r THE KEYSTONE TO HEALTH IS HOSTETTER’S STOMACH BITTERS You will find lhe Bitters worthy of your confidence in cast s of Poor Appetite, Indigestion, Dy s p e p s i a, (olds. Grippe «.nd Malaria. It has given satisfaction for over 57 years. Try a bottle and lie convinced. Prosperous Out ook "Since bein' tn the city." the mil- vtlle man wrote to his home folks. "1 have been hit by three automobiles, and ef my lawyer tells me true, I'tl g<-t enough money In damages to fetch the whole family for a good long stay, an’ ef the balance of you kin continue to git run over we’ll be able to buy a big farm an* live happy ever aftor- ward"—Atlnnta Conetltutt -n. for Anv Dtveave or Injury to the eye. use PETTIT’S EYE SALVE, absolutely harmless, acts quickly. All dru^ista or Howard Bros., Buffalo, A Sensitive Ear. TT.e pc»t Malherbe. th.» founder or Zho purity of the French Iringuuge. was very sensitive on the score of diction. W!.».-n d'nt-.g Ms l-».-,t moments hie cotifvs... r. by way of encouraging him, : v 11 to enlarge on the j< / h <>t para- <ib< h ’’op." cried Malherbe ' Your ui rranir atlcal sty!» is giving m» a dlstAiite for them’" Injunction Erred. "What." «aid tbe little girl. Ths father la something cf a fastldlan as to speech, and he «aid to the five- year-old: "You should never say 'What” my dear; always say: I beg your pardon ’" That the Injunction erred on the side of •wvepInKnera was conveyed to him later, when tha lit- tie girl, pointing to a bioMsom. »aid: " I 1.» g your pardon* la the name of that Cower?" Mothers wfh od Mrs. Winslow*« «.*. thio, kyriii '»• l*-st remedv »■•« M tb«ir-«U-lres tuna, the IcnlLiu« period. To Cnurcn on a I faction engine, Jim Nixon went to church last Hun- flay on bls steam thresblng traction engine Jlrn said be Il an got K .1 and darned tired of taking to the ditch with his horse and wagon ev- ary time he met one of those dod- blasted automobiles, anl thought he would ride down tbe read In a rig they couldn’t Jar Hedge Corner« Masai I!«—" Care of Screens. Window and door scr«>ens usually get very dusty during the latter |«rt of the summer, and It Is poor econ omy to put them away In that condi tion; neither la it a good Idea to wash them Just before storing unless they are moat carefully dried to pre vent rusting Kerosen- applied with a paint brush cleans the wires better than water — - -«••nts rustlnx The Ultimata Aim. Life la given us primarily to develop character, to unfold and evolve the soul, and the physical organism, our body. Is the testing ground and gym nasium for Its development, says the Philadelphia Record The ultimate aim. then, of living should be making tbe life b<autltul BEAUTIFUL POST CARDS FREE within, which always Insures loveli «« ,, ( mt fi.» MBtncUeof «».» ,rr> !*•» I..U4 ness without The masterful conquest » •.•»--• t «««, i -a I - ■ iS»-.J i. '.'»i--i- >• • 1 U,..«» of the lower nature, the willlug re ost l*uac < B«l * • J w * kw s, . ¡«.( b A* S a > nunciatlon of trifling and unnecessary habits; love of the true and perfect H«r On, Condition. and avoidance of ths untrue and Im He VV ild y->u be satis:>d to give perfect; a realisation that whatever up your present beautiful home and else others may do or be, that our con live In a little white cottage? «clous universe will be made for and chi I might. If there was a little, by ourselves. The key of life and red automobile hitched tn front of the the art of living are expressed In the door.—Montreal Star words mastery and attainment. This can be done by right thinking, by If Abe Martin Has No Objection, finding our soul center. We will claim link Gllk-nwsur says no man ktn our divine birthright, our royal privi be rellgb. s when he's break!«’ In a lege of standing erect and free with pair o' new st.. .-« m ei t,M|f o- brow bared to th« white light of truth, coc. .nuts ain't wot they’re cracked veritable sons and daughters of God up to be. Indepenc jnes of a Turkish Princess The young I’rlnceaa Chadye, daugh ter of the ex Sultan Abdul Hamid, has refused to accept All Namlh Hey. son of the eg grand vlxlcr, to marry whom she was recently brought from Ralou lea to Constantinople. She has written Io the papers pro testing thst she was not consulted In the matter, and the papers have pub fished her letter. The princess Is only 16 years of age, but she has displayed so much energy In this affair that In order to avoid scandal an official com munlque baa now been made to th« press announcing that the engagement has been broken off Don’t overdo a thln< unleu are also prepajpü to do It orar. MUN YONKS r PAW-PAW LIVER PILLS I want any «arana whu «ugna with In I a, nan—, canatipattaw. tnd «aataan ar an« tirar ar blond ad. mani, ta try my Paw-Paw Uver Pilla. | ruaran, tee <h*T will purify tha Nmd and put tba lia»« and >t<awarh Into a tMWlthfel t-mdiuoa and wig ««atti.aly rara btl^aanra» and r-matipation. ari wtll refund year money— MVNYON.
