THE STRANGER'S CALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE STRANGER'S CALL.

A STORY OF THE GOLD DIGGINGS. There were about two hundred men of us at Homesick Diggings, and ib was the hour of noon on a summer's day when big Jim Davis came over the hill with his pack on his back and staked out a claim. He camo alone, and that was why we noticed him so particularly. He seemed to fight shy of us for three or four days, and that was why we wondered if he was all right. Big Jim had got a squint at the face of every man in the camp before he thawed out and became social. In a little time we found him to bo a good fellow, and so we gradually came to forget our first suspicions. We were still agreed, however, that there was something queer about him. Ho appeared anxious and perturbed whenever a new arrival was announced, and if a party of half a dozen came along, Jim would go hiding until he had sized them up. It was as if he suspected someone was trailing him down. There were all sorts of men in.the mining camps in those days, and it was the rule to mind your own business. As long a miner obeyed the rules and regulations laid down for the government of the camp he was looked upon as all right. What he had been in the past was nothing even to his tent-mate.

There was a big shanty in the centre of our village which was occupied as a store, saloon, bank, and general rmd&zvous after working hours. I was in there one afternoon just before the miners knock off work, when a stranger quietly entered. He had come by the trail and alone, bub no one had noticed him. He was a slim, lightweight man and though clothed in rough garb you could see at once that he was not a miner. He was sunburned and unkempt, but that was to be expected out there. He was talking with the storekeeper as I entered —asking after jusb such a man as Big Jim Davi3. His face struck mo pleasantly enough, bub there was something in his grey eyes to remind you of a wounded beast, and something in his voice to satisfy you that he would be a pitiless enemy. He wont out before I did. Where ho kept himself for tho next hour I never learned. The boys had knocked off, washed up and eaten supper, and abou b twenty of us had lounged into the store fur a smoke and talk when the little man suddenly showed up. This, mind you, was three months after Big Jim's coming. Jim sab on a box facing the door, which was open. I happened to be looking at him, and I suddenly saw his face grow pale and his jaw drop. I looked over to the door and there stood the stranger. Ho had a leering sorb of smile on his face and was looking at Big Jim. In ten seconds all conversation had ceased. We instinctively felt that tho two were .enemies, and that the little man had finally trailed Big Jim down.

It was fully two minutes before the stranger moved or spoke. Then he stepped forward until close to Big Jim and said : " It has been over two years, but I've run you clown at last!" Davis looked at him as one who sees a spectre, but made no reply. " You have skulked and dodged like a coward !" continued the little man in the same quiet tone, •' bub you'll be a man now, of course. Tho boys will see fair play. Shall it be pistol or knife?" If Big Jim's eyes hadn't been wide open we might have thought him a dead man. You never saw terror more plainly written on a human face.

"It's a little affair of our own, gentlemen," explained tho stranger, as he turned tons. I've travelled thousands of miles while looking for Big Jim. I've been hunting him down to kill or be killed. This world isn't big enough fur both of us. Arrange tho details to suit the crowd." Not one of us had spoken. Just as tho stranger finished Big Jim recovered from his stupor and made a move for his pistol. Like a flash of lightning the little man had him covered, and then he laughed a harsh, dry laugh and said : "I oughb to shoot you down like a dog, but I'll give you a show. Come out doors. Shall it be this or the knife?"

Big Jim turned white again and relapsed into his former state of dumbness. The stranger surveyed him in disgust and contempt, and by-and-by turned to us and said :

"Back in the States this white-livered coward betrayed my confidence and wrecked my home and my life. Even his dead body would disgrace your diggings. Come, Jim !"

He stepped back and beckoned to Davis, who slowly followed, staring like one in his sleep. The little man backed to the door—out of it into the moonlight, and then started up the trail. Davis followed like a dog, never looking to the right or to the left making not the slightest move to draw his weapon. It was as if he had been mesmerised. Something of that same feeling was upon the rest of us, for we stood at the door, speechless and amazed, and looked after the pair until they wore out of sight. It was liko a dream, and men rubbed choir eyes as if heavy with sleep. Up The hill—around the great black rock —past the tree on which we hung Taylor for murder, and then they were out of sight. The stranger we never saw again. A month later a prospector found Big Jim's skeleton in a ravine two miles away.