-{ TO CARIBOO AND BACK }- |

thought that after all they might have come
that long, long way in vain.

“Wanted me to grubstake him, he did,’ the
proprietor went on. “Grubstake him to go
prospecting at Williams Creek. And I’d a done
it, I would, if the man hadn’t been so darned
unlucky by his own telling. I’d seen too much
o’ bad luck already, and so I advised him to stick
around where he could make enough for food
anyhow. But that wouldn’t content him nohow. .
He’d heard how they was shovellin’ out gold at
Williams Creek, and he’d made up his mind to ~
get there. Which, ma’am, he was plumb crazy
to try without money, and without grub for
more than a few days. Howsomever off he
goes, and that was two, three months ago. I
never heard tell that he reached Williams Creek,
and I see all the pack trains as go by. And so
I reckoned he couldn’t make it, ma’am. There’s
a many as died and been buried by the coyotes
between here and there. What can they expect
when they start out with little else than a
frying pan and a blanket? The little gal’s
father, did you say ma’am? Too bad to be sure!
But she’s welcome to stay here with you ma’am,
as long as you like and no extra charge made!”

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