Gold Seekers of 49 | Page 9

no way to talk, sir," reproved Mr. Adams, sternly. "Would you
rob a helpless stranger? Not in this house, sir!"
"He's not dead. He's only fainted," informed Mrs. Adams, indignant.
"But he gave the stuff away, didn't he?" demanded the long-nosed man.
"Sure he did. Supposing he dies on your hands, you count on getting all
he has, I reckon! But you won't."

"He told me to keep it, anyway, didn't he?" retorted Charley.
"He didn't mean you to keep it for yourself, Charley," corrected Mr.
Adams. "That's foolishness. He meant that you should keep it safe until
he could use it."
"Of course," nodded Mrs. Adams. "What had we better do with him,
George?"
"Let him sleep, if he wants to. His feet are getting warm. He'll be all
right."
"Lookee here," blustered the long-nosed man. "I come in for half,
remember. I helped fetch him in. If it hadn't been for my help he'd have
frozen solid where he was, or else the watchman would have picked
him up and taken him off. I'm going, now. I've got business to tend
to--same as before I was interrupted. I left a business errand, to help
fetch him here. Understand? My time's worth money. I know where
this house is, and I know your names; and I'm coming 'round again, to
see what's what. Half that dust is mine, or I'll make you trouble."
"If he doesn't use it, himself, it will go to his kin, sir," returned Mr.
Adams.
"Kin!" snorted the long-nosed man. "He's from the gold fields. Look at
that shirt, and those whiskers and boots; and the dust itself tells the tale.
As like as not he hasn't any kin, within reach; and if he has, you're a
blamed fool to summon 'em. We've got things in our own
hands--understand? Think it over. I'll be 'round. Good-night."
"Good-night," they answered. "Open the door for him, Charley," bade
Mr. Adams.
With a grunty grumble the long-nosed man passed out into the night.
Charley hastened back to look at the unknown again.
From the California gold fields! Think of that! And with two sacks of
gold dust! Who could he be? Where was he going in St. Louis? What

had he seen and done, in California? But here he lay, in a stupor, with
Mr. Adams rubbing his arms and legs, and Mrs. Adams hovering over
with the glass and pitcher.

II
HURRAH FOR THE GOLDEN WEST
As the evening wore on the stranger tossed and murmured more and
more, until it was evident that he was ill with something graver than
mere exposure.
"Charley, I think you'd better go for the doctor," said Mr. Adams,
finally, about eight o'clock, after they all had done what they could.
"This man's getting no better. He looks as though he might have a
fever."
"Yes; that's what I've been thinking, too," nodded Mrs. Adams. "Hurry
on, Charley. And if the doctor isn't there leave word for him to come as
soon as he can."
Out into the cold again, and into the darkness as well, bolted Charley,
donning cap and scarf and mittens as he went. The adventure was
growing more exciting. What a shame if the man should not recover
and they would have to guess all about him!
Old Doctor Paulis, the Adams family doctor, lived but three blocks
away, and through the snow and the night Charley ran the whole
distance. The doctor said that he'd be along immediately, or as soon as
he had finished his supper; and arrive he did, when Charley had been
home only a few minutes.
He examined the stranger very carefully.
"It's a case of fever--a kind probably contracted on the Isthmus or on
shipboard, if he returned that way," at last pronounced the doctor. "I'm
afraid, after his exposure to the cold, that I may not pull him through;

but I'll do what I can. Meantime if you can get in communication with
any of his relatives or friends, you'd better do so."
The doctor left a quantity of medicine, to be given at such frequent
intervals that somebody must be up all night. However, Charley went
to bed and slept, and dreamed that the mysterious stranger was sitting
on the sofa and was telling them that in California gold dust was
shaken from the trees and shoveled into flour-sacks.
But the mysterious stranger was by no means sitting up, when after
breakfast Charley saw him. He was quieter, to be sure, and he seemed
to be partially conscious; he even appeared to recognize Charley; still,
he was terribly weak.
It was Charley's turn to stay with him. Mrs. Adams went out to do some
marketing; Mr. Adams lay down, to rest. Charley sat near the sofa, to
give the medicine, and