Nebraska Newspapers

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- 10 - - - - - - - - 'rIIE OMAITA : _ DAILY nIU : SUNDAY , AUOlTS 2Zi , 189i.
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I I' t ( ( Ol'rhhl , 189 , Iy flrt nnrt , )
t C""ITml I
, J O the grtat dIscovery In 8yl'an SUrer
hollow I would seem that Collnson a yet
knew nOlhlll In ple 01 Key'l fearl that
, I hD might Iray there on his ) return from
Sklnler'l , ho dil not , nor did he afterward
U revIsit the localiy , cIther the news 01 the
rellllry of the clahn nor the arrival of
Iey's workmen ever reached him The few
travehera who paacd his ) % mil came from the
U valley to cross the divide on their way 10
Sklnner'8 and returned by the longer , but
easier detour of the stage road over Oal-
loper's Ridge , Ito bad no chance to partc-
Ipate In the prosperity that flowed from the
opening of he I mine which plentifully be
sprlnkle,1 , Sklnner's setlement ; he was too
far away to profit even by the chance custom
of Iey's Sahhath wamlerlng workmen. Ils
Isolation from civilization-for those who
came to him tram thc valley were rude
. western migrants like hhnisolf-rclnahned
tlndl5turbed. The return of the prospectng
party to his humble hospitality that night
had been an excPlltonal ) case ; In his charac-
teristc simplcity he did not dream that It
was because they had nowhere else to go
I In their pennlen condiIon , It was an In-
cilem to he plcaslty : remembered. but
whose nonrecurrence did not disturb his
Innnie patience , Ills Pork barrel and flour
sack hall been replenlshl 1 by other travelers ;
his own wants were fel
I was a day or two aCer the midnight
visit of Jhe bherlf to Silver hollow that Key
galoped . down the steep grade to Cohiinson's.
itt ) was amucd-albelt ) In his new Importance -
, ance , a lte aggrieved also-to find that
ColnRon had as usual confounded his do.
Rcunt with that of the generally detached
boulder , and that ho was cblged to add his
voice t the Kener.1 uproar This brought
Colinson to his dcor.
" [ 've had your hess hobbled out among the
chickweed and clover In the green pasture
back e' the mi , and hC'R picked up that
much that he's 4n kln' fat all sasy. " he
said Qillety , glnnlng to mechanicaly Unstrap .
strap Iey's hrlle , oven while his guest was
healed In the act , " of dismountng , "Ils back's quite
heled up
. Key could not restrain a t'lrug or Impa- '
tience. I was three weeks since they had
met : three weeks crammed with excitement
energy , achievement and fortune to Key and :
yet this Illace ali Ihl man were as stupidlY :
. unchanged as when ho had loft them A ;
momcntary fancy that thIs was the reality- ,
that 'Ie himself was only avakening frm
some lelush'e dream-cmno over hll , } ut I
Cohlinson's next words were Ilractcal , .
"I reckonet that maybe you'd write from
Marysvlo to Skinner to send for the hess
and forward him to ye , for 1 Jlcver kalklated
, , you'd come back. "
I was quite plain from this that Colinson
, ha,1 , heard nothing Dut It was also awk-
ward ns Key woull now havq to tel the
whole story anti reveal the fact that he hall
leon really experimenting when Colinson
overtook hIm In the holow , lie evaded this ,
ly poft-dating his discovery of the richnes :
of the are until he hal reached Maryavihle.
lint he founll some dlmculty In recounting
his good fortune ; ho was naturally no hoaster.
he had no desire to Impress Colnson with
his penetration , or the undaunted energy
he hail displayed In getting up his company
and opening the mine 80 that he was actu-
aly emharrassed by his own understate-
titent and under the grave patient eyes of
his companion told his story at best lamely
; Collinson's face betrayed neither profound Interest -
terest nor thr slightest resentment. When
he hall ended his awkward recital Colln801
said slowly :
"Thicit Uncle flick and that other Parker
tele ain't got no show 11 this yer find. "
"No , " salt ! Key Quickly. "Do you re
member we broke up our partnership that
morning and went off our own ways ? You
don't suppose , " he added ' 'th a forced half
laugh "that If Uncle Dick or Parker ball
struck a lead after they left me they'd have
, , , "
nut II In I I 9'
. , . . " \ \ " llld l'tthey ? asked Colnson , grave7. :
"Of course not. " lie laughed ) a lte more
natlraly , but presently athled with an nn-
wouJll easy Rmle : "Wbat makes you think they
"Nnthln' ! " said Colnson promptly.
Nevertheless when tbey were seated ) before
the fire , with glasses In their hands Colinson
. returned patenty to the subject :
"You WI7 saying they went their way and
YOU wont YOlrs , But your way was hock on
the old WI ) ' that you'll all gone togother. "
Dlt Key felt himself on firmer ground
, here anti answered delbeately anti truth-
' fuly , "Ye . but I only went , ant to the
. hollow to satisfy myself If there really was
any house there all I there was 10 warn the
occupants of the approaching fro , "
"And there was a house there , " sail , Cul-
lnson , thoughtfully ,
"Only the ruins " lie ,
le stopped and fushOI
QuicklY , for he remembered that he bad , lIe-
flied its existence at their former meeting.
"That b , " he wonl on hurriedly , "I found
out from the sheriff , } 'Ol know that there
had been a house there. lint. " heled : ,
reverting to his stron.er postn : , "my grng !
back there was an accident , and iiiy picking
up the outcrop was an acctleut- ' 'nnll had
10 more to do with our pornel ! hlp prespt'et-
Ins than you had In fact , " Ie : ollel ) , , with a
re.surlng laugh , "you'd have had a better
right 10 share my claim , clnl'nl the ; e ( S Y I
t did ot tiat t 1loment. t."nu r.CY \\'hiy If [ 'd
have kiiovzi 1 what ths Ihln : wis % 'othi . I
might have Ilt you i / - nlyanletl : t ( \11. \
tel alHI imD experience " lie WJS gl,1d tlt !
he had pitched upon that e"us , I hall only
U jnt occurred to 1dm an,1 , glalce,1 , nfably at
Cohiinson. But that geltcmnn said soberly : :
"No , 'OU wouldn't nlthJr , "
" \hy not ? " sale Ky half 'lorI ' : ) ' .
, Colinson paused. After a moment ho saitU :
sall
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'Cos I wouldn't nor 10 Jle ; : nylti : cuter
that place. " nyI'11 Ile
Key felt releved , From what ho know of
Cohiinsan's vagaries he bele\ him. lie was
wise Inot admttn ! : hIn ) 10 his confdence
01 the ii'ginnlig ; ho 'nlgllt have thought It
though
a his QI'I ) ' to tel others , I
t "I'm not 10 particular. " he returned . U
laughingly I , "but the sliver In that hole wa
never touched . nor , I daeS ) ' , even hnag
mod , by mortal before '
U InC man however , there U
Is something else about the holow that I
want to tel you. You remember the slipper
that you picked Up ? '
"Yes. .
"Wel. I lied to you about that ; I never
dropped I , On the contrary , I harl picked
lp the mate ( of It \ely near where you found
yours , anti I wantcil to kIiot 1 % ' to whom it
belonged . For I on't mlll telling you I ,
Cohhiuson . that I believe there .
Colinson. hele\e thee 11 0 woman
In that 1101150 . antI the womanU
hOlse. sl11 thp sme : woman whose U
face I saw at 11w window.oti , remember .
how the' bays Joked about rel , mler
the 10) II abolt I-nl. per-
haps , I dldn't rare thai YOU should lalgh 01
' me , too but 1\0 hati I sore conscience over ,
my lie . for I ri'riieintiered thai '
le. f'mcmhered you seemed to
han some interest In tha
! mater , too , all
1 thought that maybe I might have th.u
you off ' the scelt , I aei'xned to me that Ir
you hatl'aiiy itlea I "he I \.1S. we might now
talk thp matter " ' '
malcl nl"'I' anti compare notes I :
thick you III < -al least , I ; atlf'd the Idea I
from a remark of YOuH , " he allleI , , hastily , U
nM be l'elelh'rPI that the SUgoston Wa U
his own . anti n IJtrlcaI on - "that It reo
1IIIciI ) ' 01 of your wlfe's slipper. Of curse . , U
U a your wife Is < deail that would ofler no
woull of'cr
clew . and can only 10 n chance reolnh1aucLt , U
" .
utileas.- lu stopped ,
"Ha\'o you got ' 11 'eI1"
"Ye" , both , " lie look thel from thc ;
pocket nf his riding jacket ,
AI Colnson received , them , his taco took :
$ ) lteif an oven . ' , " '
Ipn It.el graver eX\resslon , "It'a
mighty cur'ol8 , " hI saul rettctivey , " 1'1
looking 11 the ( two of 'ciii the likeness II
lore fetchln' , y" see , 1) ' Wife hail : a U
straight foot , and nc'erore reg'lar rights
and leCs hike Gther women , but leln'cr '
changed about ; ra aee , thpse "heci I reg'lar
' rights and left , , but never wa worn 01 :
1' such ! " .
"Thora may be oIlier ' 0:1en II P cuIJ "
1' IU:1utel ! Key ,
"Thero must be , " saul C
IU.t &hl Colin Ion quietly .
quiety.
Iror a : instant Key was touched wih . the
manly aoeurll' ef the reply , for , remember.
Inl Uncle IIk'l scandal . I hal . Icclrrell to U
him that the unknown tcrunt "f the 'bbcrs' '
den mIght be Cohilnson' ; wife lie \ ' . Jla,1
,
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10 he relieved on that point and went on
more cOIOdenty :
"b'o you see , this woman was 11l0ubtelJy
In that house on thc nighit 01 the fire. She
escape < , antI In a mighty hurry. too , for she
hall not time 10 rhange her slippers for
shoes ; she escaped on horselack , for that Is
how she lost them . Now' what was she
doing there with those rascals for the face
I saw lookel as Innocent as a salnt's "
"eeliiod , to ye sort o' contrairy jlst as I
reckoned my wife's foot woull have 100kc,1 ,
In a slpper that you said was give 10 ye , "
suggested , Colinson pointedly , hut with 10
Implication of reproach In his voIce.
"Yes ' said ' Key impatiently.
" [ VI real yarns afore now about . them Eye-
talian' brigands steahiri' women , " sall CoIlIn-
Ron reflectively . "but that ain't California
road agent style Great Scott ! I one even
RO much as spoke to a woman they'd have
been whlppell outer the state tong 010 , No !
the woman as was there CJmo there to
stayl" I
As Key's face 11,1 , not seem 10 express :
either assent or satisfaction at this last statement - ,
mont . Coihinson . after a glance at I. went on
with a somewhat genter graviy , "I see
wot's troublin' you lr , iCey ; you'vo been
thlnkln' that mehhe that poor woman mIght
hev' bin the better for a'hlt 0' that fortimi'
that you discovered ulier the very spot
where 'hel slippers of hers had often trod
You're thlnkln' that mebbe It might hev'
turned her and her man from their evil
ways. " ell
: . Key had been thl''n ' nQthkl of the
klfd , hut for l1mo obscure reason the scepti-
cal jeer that hal rIsen to his lips remained
unsalJ lie rcse Impatenty , " \\oil. tii're
seems to lie no chance of discoverIng any-
thing noV ; ' he house Is hurried , the h.nl
dispersed and she has pre 1. Ily gone with
them. " le I paused , and then laid three or
four large gold pieces on the table. "It's for
, that old bi of our party , Colhinson . " he said
" [ I setle and colect from each Some time
when you cOle ever to the mine , and I hopi
you'l give us a cal , you can bring the
here : Ieanwhlo you can use him . ) 'ou'l
fnd he's a little quicker tuln ! the mule. How
Is business ? " he added with a perfunctory
glance around the vacant room and dusty
bar
"Thar aln't much pasln' this way . said
Colnson , with equal carelessness , as 'he
gathered up the money , " 'ccpt those hays
from the vaiiey . anti they're most always
strapped .hel they core here "
Key smile ] JS lI i'icrv , ) 1 th I rJInsrn :
ofered him no receipt no.1 Infr . II' ( ' , as he
I remembered that he I HI only Cohii'son'
word for the destrucln ! 'I ( ' larle Is ' drJf
But Ie , merely gia 1.ell at I.i nnconsch.ls
.
host and said nothlnl After .1 IUIUi he returned -
turned In a lighter tunn , " ' I SUIiPOO yin are
rather out of the w'rl,1 , ii'r" . 1IIIeiI , , I ! I.I . an
Ilea at first of buyIng out your null , Coln-
soil . and putting LI ste.lm pller to g : OUI
timber for our new h'lllI'nvs. but you lee
you arc so fr away from the .alon read
that we couldn't haul the timber aW3Y That
offer. was the " trouble , or [ d hale r.dc you a fair
" [ don't reckon to ever sill the mm ' , ' ' s'll
Colinson simply Then nbs2rvitlg the leek 01
suspicion In his companion's face hc Dlded
gravely "You see I rigged up the whole
timing when I expected my wife out from the
slates ali I calkl e to keep . It In memory of
her " ,
Key slightly Ilfel his brows. "nut you
never toll us , ly the vay . how you ever came
to Jut up a mi here with such an uncertain
water supply. "
"It wasn't on sartn when I cam here : ,
Kcy ; It was a ful-fOl stream straight from
them snow peaks. I was the earthquake
did It "
"Th" , earthquake ! " repeated Key
"Yes Ef the earthquake kin heove lip that
siiver-beam'imig rock that you told us aleut time
first day yea kern here and that you found
t'olher day , It could play root/ with a mere
mi stream I reckon. "
"But the convulsion I spoke of happened
ages 01 ages ego when this whole mnounta'n
range lau cit. was being fashioned , " said Key with a
I ' 'Wel this ycr earthquake was ten years
ago , just after I camo. I reclwl I oughter
remember it. I was a queer sort o' day In
the fall . dry and hot . as I thar might her
bin a 4iro In the woods only there wasn't
10 wind Not a breath of air anywhar Time
leaves of them alders hung straight as a
plumb lne , Except for that their stream IIHI
that thar wheel nuthln' mo\el ! Thar wasn't
a bird on the wing over that canon : thar
waRn't a squirrel sllrmlshln' In the hnl
wood : even the lizards In the rocks stiffened
like stone Chinese Illols I kept gettin'
quieter a 11 quieter ontl I waike'tI I out on
that ledge and felt as If [ II hale to gl\e a
yell ji.it to boar my own Iole ! , Thar was a
thin veil over everything , an,1 , the sun was
rooted In the mllile of 1 and couldn't move
neiher , EI'ertbln' seemed to be waltin' .
waitin' . waitin' . Then all of a suldln snlhln'
seemed to give somcwhar ! Suthln' fetched
away with a queer sort of rumbito' , as I the
peg had slipped outer creation. I looked Ul
and l < lklatell to see hal a dozen of them
boulders conic Iclly switch . 10wn the
grado. Ihut . darn my skin If one of 'em
stirred , anti yet whIle I was looking , the
whole face o' that bluff bowed over softly.
as If saying 'gool , hy , ' anti got clean away
soiuicvliar before I l < owed It. Why , you see
that 1'le 1 aJln the sub o' the canon ! Well , a
thousand feet under that there's trees , three
hlndred feet , still upright anti , stanilin' , You
know I how them Illnes OVil on that fa
mountain side always Hcm to he climbimi'
up , up , UI' . over each other's heads to the
very top ? Wel , Mr. Kl ) ' . I saw 'em chlnmhjin' !
Anti when I pulell 1)'self together anti got
lack to the 11 everything was quiet. ann
HO was the 11 wheel , and there wasn't two
Inches of water In the river ! "
" \rd what lld yon think of I ? " said Key ,
Interested In spite of his Impatence ,
"I 1 thought lr , KeyNo ! I niusn't say
I thought for I Imowcd It. I knowed that
sut'lln' : hall happend to my wife ! "
Key did not smile . but ( \en let ! a faint
superstitious thrill as he gazed at 11m , After
a pause Colinsun resumed : "I heard 1 month *
after that she ha1 tiled about that time o'
'
yaler fever In Texas wIth the party she
was comln' with. Her folks wrote that they I
thletl I like flies , and \U7 al buried together , I
unbeknownst and promuleclious . amid thar I
wnsn't 10 remains . She slIpped away frol '
me like l'lot bluff on that river , and that
WII the end of I "
"nut she might have escapld , " sall Key
qulcldy forgetting himsEl In his eagerness.
nut Colinson on ! ) ' shook his heal "Then
&ho'd have lean here , " he said , grtvely. I I
Key mo\'ed towarll the door still imhistract-
etliy . hell ! out lls hand. shook his compan-
lon's warmly and , u"ng he woul larhle 118
horse hluueolt . IleputeJ A En ! of tilsap-
polntment , In which a vague dlssalslaclon
with hhn8elf was mlnglell , was all that had
come of his Inter\lw , lie took himsel se-
Verdi to task for following his romaltc
Quest so far I was unworthy of the president -
dent of the B'III Sliver Hllow ( IJan ) ' ,
and he was not Ile Plre but n1t his coimfi-
deuces with Colnion might have : Imperle,1 ,
even the Interests of the COlpan ) To atomic
for this mOlentary aberratIon and correct
his dismal fancies , he resolved to atehl to
S0l0 busIness at Skinner's before returning ,
anti brnnchetl of on a long delour that wOlll
InterJect the tr.\'lell stage road. limit here a
singular Ineldent o\ertoole him As he I
wheelell Into time turnpike ho 'Iarll the
tramlllng hoof beats and jingling harness of
the oncoming coach bohlhl ,1m ' , , II had
hardy tmo to , IraI 111 against the bank he-
fore the six galoping ! horsEs and swinging
vehIcle swept heavily ly , lie had a quick
Impression ! of the heat and steam of swcatimmg
\lrehlde. the reek anll varnish anti , sWttng Ilat'her ,
alll the 1010ltaryIlon of a femnl face
silhouetted against the glass window of the
coach I But even In that flash of Perception
ho rlcognlzell the profile thai he had seen at
the wIndow ot tIme nllterloui butt
1 ( ' sat for an Instant dazed and bewildered
In the .Iust of the departing i'iioeis Then ,
as the bulk of the \hicle reappeared , ai-
reddr narrowIng In the
larrowlng iliatance without a
second tbtumght lie Iluhell after I. Ills dls-
a\I.lntment. his sclf.critlcismu , his Ilraclcal
rsolulons WHe forgotten , lie hall hut ont
Idea no\-thl vision was 11rovlieltal
The clue to the IYftery was before hint-ho
I1s1 folow itl I hlm-lo
Yet hI had semmee enough to realize that
the coach would not stop to take up a po. '
senKer between stations , /Inll that the nx
statIon was the one three Iles below
Hklftfler' , I would nol be difficult to reach
this hy a c\Jt-or In time , anti although the
vehicle hail , uPl10areil to be crowded , he could
no doubt obtain a seat on tOil
lila eager curiosity , however , lell him to
put sl4s ; to his horse . ali range tip along-
slio of the coach , as If passing I , while he
exalilned the stranger more clo ely. ler
face was bent listlessly over a book ; there
was unmIstakably the sale profile that he
hall seel , but the full face was different In
ouilne and er.presslon. A strange sense of
disappoIntment that was allost a revulsion
of teelng calO over hi 1 ; he llmmgered . he
glanced again : she was certainly" very pretty
101an ; therl wes the beautifully rounlrl ,
chIn the short stralht nose an\ , \ delicately
curved tipper 111 , that ho hall seen In the
proflle-aruuh 'et-'et It was not the sale
face he hail , dreamt of. Wih an odd pro-
raking sense of disillusion he swept ahead
of the coach anll again slackened his speell
to let It paRs This time the fair unl owl
<
raised her bug lashes and gazed Rlullenly
at thIs persistent horeman at her side , and !
an elli expression . It seemed to hll almost
a nlauce of recognltol and expectatloti . cale
Into her dark . languId eyps. "he Pupils concentrated -
centrated upou him \1h a singular algnifi-
cance-that was aimmuost he even thought a
reply to his glance-and yet It was a8 utterly
unIntelligIble. A mOlent later however I
was explaine He hail , talen slightly behInd
In a new confusion of hiesitatlomu wontler .
ale emmubarrasanuent , whel , frol a .oo'led '
traIl to the right , another horselan suddenly
swept Into the road b fore him. lie was a
powerfully built man , mouuted emu a thorough-
hired horse or a qualIty far superior to the
ordinary roollster. Wihout looking at Key
ho easily ranged up beside the coach as it
I
to pass I hut Key wIth a sl.oon ! resolution
pill spurs to his own horse alul . ranJelllllosl
abreast ef hll , In tle 10 see his fair un-
known start at the apparition or ' this second
horseman and unlistakally convey saute
sIgnal \ to hmliui-a slglol that to Key's fancy ,
now betrayed some warning of hmsll ! He I
was the more convinced as the stranger after
contnuhll a few paces ahead 01 Ihl couch
allowed It 10 \ss hll at U curve of the
road all 81acklnell his pace to Imerumuit Key
\erlit
\
to do the same. Instnct.ely conscious that
the stranger's object was to scrutlmm-
Ize or Identfy hll , he deter-
mlnell to take the Initiative . anti
l\ed his eyes Ullon him as they upproached I
Hut the Itrangel' , who wore a loose brown
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ezactr how YOu. ' , 4focIln'-for. jellRln from
your looks mini ! ' II'ral gaIt , you're a trnnJrr
In these 1arta-biit ' ez for me , I don't mlml
Myl , ' that I nev ! r feel exactly Info from
these yere rOIIIIehls au,1 , singe robber enl
arter 11 IIB8 ' IkIm'uner's stnton , All along
that fluulhopor'ut 'ltfmlge ' It' " jest tech amI go
like : the wood I 'swarmlu' ' with 'cmii , hut
once PISS Sknr " ' * ) ' u'rl eli rIght , They .
never dare go helmv that , -o el you llon.t
n lnd. rules fo lt'i beln' In your presence ,
fO/1lt's
I'l jest mill oft lay but ali ease lY feet
for / spell , " o.c
NeIther tIme Rlhular request nor tIme slle
I e\'okeo on tnl facea of the other passen-
gers sePled to'IIturb the lads abstraclou ,
Scarcely Itnl.her I'e front her book she
bowed a grave , assept ,
"Yol see 118S , " he comitluuuieti . "and you
gent " he aoled , , , 'lking ' the whole coach
Into his couOllence . '
.1..0 got over forty
ounces of clean geld dusl In them boots be-
twpen the upper und lower soles awl It's
mmmlghmty tight Ilacking for lY Ceet Ye kin
heft It , " he saId as he rmiiovetl I one boot
010 ! lucid It UII before thel , . 1 put time
dust there for safety kiulkllathim' that whIle
these road gentry alus goes for a Iln's
lockets and his hody , belt , they never thllks
of hIs butes or haven't tme 10 go through
' 001. " He looked arould hll wIth a anmlle
of Relt-satsfactol , , smie
The lurmlr of allllring cOllenl was
however Iroleen ly n burly . heud11 Ilne
who Rt 11 the Ilddle RPat. "Thet's turetty
prety
fur . so for as It goes " he saId sllingly ,
"but I reckon It wouldn't go far et YOl
started to ruum. I\'e gal a sllpler gale
than that , gentemen , anti 17 we're all
friends lucre and ' '
Irlenlll the danJer's over , I Ilon't
1111 telilmm' ye The first thing these ye
road agents do after they've covered the
driver wih their shotguns , Is to mumbo the
Jsselgers get out anti hell imp their hands.
That , mmma'amuu"-cxpianatorily to the hly-
" 'I ' to IeeeI thel froll drawing their reo
vos'ers. ! A revolver Is the last thing a road
anent vants either II a malt's hanll or In
lila holster. So I sez to myself , 'Ef : six-
shooter ain't 01 11 account , wot's the 1t
of carryln' It" ! So I '
just put m ) shooting-
Iron Iii my \als9 whel I travel amid 11 1) '
hester ! with my gohl dust , so ! It's a deucM
sight hewler tll a revoier. Ilt they don't
feel its \ollht arll don't kcr to COle nigh
it . Amimi I'vE been " 'held . till' twice emu t'other
free every tme !
The applame that followed this rercia-
slle of the Divide this year . and I pased
ton anti time exhlbilun of the holster not
only tiurew the hrmer's exploits In the
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"IIS EAGER CURIOSITY . nOWey , LEI ) IIIM > : ' " .
EAE CIROSTY " Lm TO PUT Si UltS'TO HIS HOIIS AND.
_ I IANG' UP ALONSIE OF THE COACH " . T. -
lInen duster over clothes that appeared to be
superior In fashion amid tnaterial also had . part
at his face und ! head draped hy a .h.te silk
h3ndkerchlef worn tinder hl8 hat ostensibly
to keep the suit and dust tror his head
and neck and had the advantage of him lIe
only caught the lash ( of a pair of stC I-gry
eyes , as the umowcoiuicr apparently 10t havIng
satisfIed himself , gave em to his spirited
steed antI , easily repassed the coach dlsap-
pelrlng In a cloud of dust before I But
Key hail , by this tme reach ell the "cut-of "
which the stranger If he Intended to follow
the coach , either disdained or WiS ignorant
of . and ( he urged his horse to its utmost
speed . Fvcit with the stranger's advantage
It woull bo n elcse race to the statloit.
staton.
Nevertheless ! , as he dashed on he was by
no means Insensible to the somewhat
Quixotic nature of his undertnklng I he was
right In his suspicion that a signal had
been gIven hy the lady to the straulger It
was oxceedlngly probable that he had IIs- :
covered , not only the fair Inmate of the
robbers' den hut one of time gang Itself . or at
least a conferor.te and aly , Yet far trom
deterring him , In that Ingenious sophistry
with which he was apt to treat his rouuiance
ho now looketi upon his adventure as a practical -
tIcal II\rsult In the Interests of law amid jus-
tice. I was true that It was said that the
bali of road , agents had been dlsperiell ; It
was a tact that there had ben no 5polalon
'of coach or teams for three weeks , hut none
If the depredalors hall ever been caught
and their booty which was consitlerable . was
knowl to bo still Inlact I was to the IntereJt
of the mine , his Partners and hIs worlnnen
that this clue to I danger which thrNt-
cited the locality Rhoull bo followed
to the end. As to the lady , In spite
of the IIul1polntmlnt that still rankled In
his breast , he could be magnanimous ! She
might he the plramour of the strauge horse-
man : she might b9 only escaping from sOle
hateful companlonshl1 by his aid Anti yet
one thing puzzled him ; she was evidently
not aCQualnte,1 , with time persolalty of time
active gang , for she had without doubt at
first mistaken him for one of thel , and
after rcognlzlng her real accomplIce had
communlcatod her Ilslake to him ,
I was a great relief to him whol the
rough anti tangled "cut-on" at last broad-
coed and lightened Into the turnpIke roall
again and he beheld , scarcely a quarter ot
a mie before lminu the dust cloud that over-
hunv the coach as It threw UI at the lonely
wayside statol lie was II time , for he
knell' that the horses were changed there ,
but a siuldel fear that the fall unltnoi'n
might allgimt . or take .
alght. some other cOI\
once , made , him spur his jailed steed tor-
Wal ! As he neared the statol he glanced
eagerly around for this other hiorsemuan . but
he was . nowhere to bo socn le had evl-
dent ) , either alandoned the chase or rhilen
I seemee eIUol ) ' a part of what he be-
leved was a l'rol'lllrntal Intercession that
on arriving at the staten ho found there ,
was a vaClnl scat Inside the coach I was
diagonaly opposite that occuplell by the Ildy
and ho was thus enabled to silly her face
as it bent over her book , whose pages , however - I
over , she scarcely tnrned I
e\er After her first
casual glance ot curiosIty at time new passeum-
ger she seemed to take no , more notice of
him. unit Key began to wonder I notce had
not Ilstaleen her previous Interrogatng
look. Nor Wits I his anI' dIsturbing Query ;
he was conscIous of the same disappoInt-
mentl now that he could examIne her face
more attentIvely , aM In his frat cursory
giamuce. She was certainly haldsome : if
)
then was no longer the freshnes at youth
timers was stIll the Indefnable charm of the
woman of 30 , and wIth I lie ( delicate lInes ot
oxperieneeti mulebriy and repoae. Some of
these lines , particularly those aounll the
mouth emit ! ringed eyelids , were deepEned
a by pain , 0111 the chin , even In Its rounded
CUlneu , had the angle of determInation .
" 'rol what was visible determinaton.
lInen "duster" that she wore , she appeared
to be tastefully alhou h not richly dressed
As the coach at lat drove away front the
station a grlzleI , , fumer-loklng man
seated beside her tittered a sigh ot relief so
Ilslpalle as to attract the general attention.
Tarnlnl to his fair neIghbor with a smIle or
uncouth but good.humored apology , he 81
11 explanation ; <
"Yoifhl excuse me , mis I I don't know
shade , but seem d t excIte an emuhtlon
ton
I among the IlassenJers , Other methods of
secnrlng their property were freely tile-
' )
cumsactl but the ex'clement cUlnlnater In th
U bailIng forward of a 'paRsenl1r whl had , up
I to that moment mal11alne,1 , I reeve almost
, equal to the fair unknown His Illess amid
I general np\ealance Wire thos < of a professional -
'
fessional man ; hIs voice and manner cor-
roboratII the presumption.
"I don't think gentemen , " he began with
a pleasant smie , "thal any man of us lucre
woult lee to be caled a coward , but In
fightIng with an ( lemy who nevr attacks ,
o : ' e\en appears , xcept with a deliberately
Prepared advantagt on his side . It I my
opinion that a man Is not only justO,1 , In :
avoiding al unequal encounter with him ,
but In clrcum\'intnl hy ever ) ' means tIme
object of tut atack , You have all been
frank In teling your methods I will le
e1lualy so hum tellIng mile , even I I liars
perhaps to confess to a little more than you
have. For I hlave not only availed ' : ,
I ha\e havi avaied m'sl\
of a well known rule of tIle robbers who
Infest these mountains to exemll all women
and chitidre'n from their SPuiiatlon-a rule
which of course they I.ertecty understand
gives them ( a sentmental consideratIon with
wih
all Californians-bud I have , I confess , also
"valet myself of the Innocent lelmlne3s
of one of that charming and justly
justy
exemptell sex. " lie pausell ) nnll hewed court
eouI ' to the fair , "
U ) unknown "Whel I en-
terell this couch I had with me a hulky parcel
which was manifestly too large for lY
l)0CkCt . yet as evidently too
, , ! ) small amid too
; , \.laUl to ue emrUSll to the oruuary ' luggage -
' gage Seeing m ) ' Ilmcnlt ) our charmllJ
I' comllanlol opposlc ! , rut of the very klldnesi
ali ( innocence of hpr heart offered to make
'a ' Ilce for It In her satchel which was not
ful I accepted the offer joyflly , Whel I
state to you , Ientemen , that that package
cOltalnell valuable go\ernment bonus to a
consL'krahle amolnt , I do so . not te ci I 1
your praIse for any originalIty of my own .
but to mimako this iiubl'c avowal
lake Iuhlc a\owal to our fair
fellow passenger for accepting this most per-
feet security anti , Immunity from the road
agent that has leen yet recorded. "
With his eyes riveted al the lally's
face , Key SW a faint color rIse to her otherwIse -
wise hlpassl'e tace which might have Icen
called . nut by tbe enthus'aetlc Praise that
followed the iatyer'.s' conCession But he
was paInfully colbtlous ' of what now eeehmleI
to him a ronRtrOUi Iluaton ! Here was time
actual accompilcl ortconldanl at Ihe ( math
agents calmly r deYtl the complacent and
Puerile confpslons vf : the men who were seekIng .
Ing to outwIt tlmeth. 'Could lie . In onlllry
justice to themlto , hlmsplf , or the l'sslol
he believed he wapursulng , refrain from ox-
pOlIng her-or wunlng thel li'lvateh' ? nut
was he certain ? , I"u ! a vague ' remelillra-tc
of a Irolle 10nlmllrly seen-anll as he
mlst even now aulimmLt'-lnconIstenu l with the
full face he was Iadl ! at . sulclent for such
an accu8aton ? ! ore \hal that was the pro-
tect'on she had . ( lrenty afforded the law'-
yer consistent wiW tIme functon of an accoumi-
PUce ? I 0 ' t
"Then If the IHl1gt's over , " said time lady
ldy
gently , reaching down to , IraI her satchel
from under the sllt "rJ SUI'pOde I lay return
11 to you , " - . " ' 1
"By no mcanr 'Dbn't trouble yourself !
Pray allow me to still remall your dehtor-
at lent as far al the next station , " said the
lawyer ! lant ) ,
The lady uttered a languid sigh , sank back
In her seat anti cahnly sette,1 , herself to Ihe (
perusal of her look , . Key felt his cheeks
leglnnng ! 'o burn wih the emlarrassment
and shame at his evident Ilsconcellllon. , \ld
here ho was on his way to MarysYlle to fol-
Iowa womal for whom ho felt he no longer
cared . and for whose Pursuit . he had imo
lanKer the excuse of Justice .
"Then I undentdlli ( that you have twice
heel these road agenls " sid time profc8slonal
lan , turning to the umber. "Of course you
could le able to Identify them ? "
"Nary a man ! You see they're all masked
and only one at 'em ever slelks , " I
"The leallr or ChIef ? .
"No , the orator , "
"The orator ? " repeated the prfessonal !
warm In amzemeit ,
"Wel , you Eec. I cal him the orator for
he's mlgh' r1 b 1' ' h' : . t3:1gu art 1 reels
off all he huts 10 pay like a I he hail It by
hmeiirt . I ' . mighty rough on YOI , laD , lome-
times , for II his hiight-toneti style , Fr I he
thinks a man Is I tildimi' anywher he jest scalps
hm : with his tongue . anll blamOI If I ton'l
think he lIkes time chance of dolum' It. lie's
got a regular set speeeh , and he's boulll to KO
through It all , even If he 13ks everythil/
wal nnd rnns tl risk of calltlrl Yet /
aln't time chief-and oveum 1"0 hl"\1 folks
i sa ) ' , ain't got any resilonslblly If h. , ' . took
i for he Ilon't tech anybody or alybody' ,
Il0ney-alll ( couldn't b0 11rosecnlell , I rCckoum
'
ho's some sort 01 a broken-down lawr-
d'ye see ? " )
" : ot mueh of a lawyer I Imogne ! , " silmh
the lirofessiomma I ii I "for lie' II mmd
llonal lan sming , for he'l fnd
himself quite mistaken as to his share of
re l'onslhlltJ , hut It's a rather clever t'ay
of coneelln the identity of the real leller . ' '
" ,
"iA the Rmartelt vang that was ever
slated In time Sicrras , They fooled , the
sher'l of Siuro the other da ) ' , They gave .
him a sort ot idea thlt they had a lellli of
imitilum' place In the wooll t'imar' they hid amid
kept their loot ) anui , . b ) JlnkH ! he goes down
thar' Vlth his hull Ilosse-just splilhm' for a
ligimt-a nil , only lghts I Ipon a gang of I mmno-
cent greenhorns who wee horlng for silver
on the very spot where he allwel the rob-
lers had [ their den I lIe aml't : held tip his I
hired slt'ce. "
heOI sl'ce , I
Key cast a quick Jlance at the lady to see
time effect of this rel'elaton , lut her" lact
If the RmI profile he hall seen at the wln-
dow-betrayed neither concer nor cu- I
rlosly , lie let his eyes droll to thc ,
slart hoot that I.eellell from below
her 1011 , amid , the thoulht of his tr ) ' .
Ing to Identify I wih the slipper ho had
plclee.1 . ill ) seemed to him as rllculous as his
other Ilsconcel.tons. lie salk back gloomIly - .
ly II his seat ; ly degrees the fatigue nntl
excltemelt of time day hegahu to Illclul ) '
hue mmii iii b his so noes . twlghl I hall falel amid
the talk had cI'a8el ; the lady hall nlowed
her hook to Mop In her lap as the Ilarlwess
gathereul and hall closet ! her eyes ; ho closell
his OIn , nut ! slipped aWe ) ' Ilresenl ) Into n
Ilreal 1 ! which he sai the profile again as
he hall seen It In time darkness of the hollow.
only that this tmc It change,1 , tn a full face
unlko the lally'sr any one he had ! e\er I
secn Then time wlllow seemeJ to ellen with
1 rattle alil ho avaln felt he I cool odors of
time forest hut ho :1011 10 Ind that the 1ldy
had only opened her wlndol for a breath oC
fresh air. I was nearly 8 o'cloce ; It would
be an hour yet before tile coach stoppell at
the nexl staten for SU\'Ior \ , ; the l.a seng\rs
were dlol'sly nodlln : he closed hIs eves
' - ' '
Iml fell Int'u deeper sleep , trout which'
awoke with a start
The coach hall stopped !
ClIl'TEit 1' ,
"I can't he Three Pines yet , ' ' salt ! a pa-
slnger's Yolce. in which time laziness of sleep
still lIngered . "or else we've snoozed over
five mie , I clon'l see no lghts ; wet are 10
stollpln' for ? " The other passengers .strug-
gled to an UIJ l1ht positon , One nearest time
\ IndoI openell It ; its place was Instantly
, occupied b ) the dOlhle muzzle of a shot
Iun ! No one mo.el ! In the u\\e.strlclen
rlence the voice /f the drll'er row In drawl-
Pug 11rote aton.
"I t'aimit no hlsiless 0' nmiimo but I sorter
strikes me that you' chap a-pla3'imm' It jumat t
a lIttle too line this tme ! I ain't three
mies from Three Pine Station , all forty
men ! Of course , that's your look out-not
"
mine !
Time aUdacty of the thing hal e\llenly
struck even the 15ualy taciturn anti phleg-
record rumatto drl\er Into his first eXllostulallon . on
"Ycur thoughtnl consideration does YOI
great credit , . " said u \olce .from the durIe-
ness. "uuumil shall be properly Iresenlell to our
mmtnager but at the same Illume 10 wish I
underitooll that wo do not hesitate to take
aim ) risks In strict atenton to our hlslne5s
anti our clients In the meantme , you wi
oxpedle mai'ers ami give your IJassenJers
1 chancc to get an larly tea at Three Pines
hy handing Ilown that treasure box and mal
pouch ) Be I 1 careful I In halllng I i that hi ummmd e r-
bU3S .you keep beside I ; tbe 1ot : tme It
liCortunately welt otT and I rgret to say
slightly wounded one of your passengers
AcCidents of this 1lnd , Intel furring as they
do , wih the harmony and pleasure of our
chance meetng8 , cannot le too highly de-
plorea " )
,
"By gosh ! " ejaculated an outside 1lssen-
ger In an audlbe ! wh\sp \ r.
"Thank you . sir , " suit ! the voice quiet .
"but as I overlooked you I wIll trouble you
now to descend wih the othcr . " )
'ho voice movell hearer anti , by the light
of a flmlng bull's-eye cast Ipon the coach
I could he seen to come from a stout , me-
dium-sized man wih a black mase ! , which ,
however showed hal of a smooth , beardless
face anti an affable yet satirical mouth The
speaker cleared his throat wlh the slight
preparatory cough of the praclcoe orator _
and . . Ip'proachlng the window , to Key's Intense -
tense surprise. actually began In the ldeumti-
cal ,
professional and rhotorlcal style pre
vlolsly hulcated by the miner
"Circumstances over which .e have no
ccntroi " gemitieuuiemm . comllal lS to oblige YOU
to algh' , stand In u row en Omue sIde amid
hold tip } 'OUI hands. You will fn'l the nr .
hub not unpleasant after your orlnllll pos- !
tOI In the coach , whie the change from Its
conOned air to the wholesome night breeze
of the Sierras 1.1 not hut pro\e salutary amid
refreshing I will also enable us to rele\o !
) ' 01 of much so-called vluahes : alll treasures
In the of ol ) dust and
way gall coin which , I
rrgret .0 sa ) , too often are mls.1Plllej In
careless hands all wlmcim ! the leJchlngs of
the hlAhcst moralty distncty denominate as
tilt root at all evil ! I miecul
al cvl llell not Inform youm .
)01.
gEntcmen , aa huslness men , that Pronipti-
tudo and celerity of comlllancQ wi insure
dlslch ! and shorten an inte.vtw' which has
[ Inte.vl
been sometmes needlessly and , I regret to
sa ) ' , painfully protracted. "
lie drew lack deliberately wih time same
monotonous him'eclskmn of hahlt and disclosed
the muz7les of his confetlerates' weapons still
le\elell at time passengers. In spltc of their
Istonlshment , IndIgnaton all IlscomOturo ( ,
lila practce,1 effrontery amid rlelherto dis-
ply appeared In some way to tonch theIr
humorous senbe antI one or two slied itys-
terlcal ) as they rose ali he.latnJI' fed
out of the \ehlcle , I Is Ilosslhl . howe\er.
that the leveled shotguns contrIbuted more
or less dIrectly to th'l resul
Two masles began to search the passengers
uncer the combined locus of the buhi's-eyet ,
the shining gun barrels amid a runnimmg but
sti careful ) prepared cOlmentary from the
spokesman : "It Is to le regretted that lull ,
. Instead of imutrustlhug their
ness niemi Intrustng property -
erty to the custody of the regularly const-
tutell express agent . still contlue to soereto
It on Iher ! persomla a custcm that , wihout
enhancing Its security , Is not emily an InjustIce -
justIce to time expre conmpammy but a great
detriment to milepatcim. Wo also wish to
point out that while we do not as a rule
Interfere with time posseslon ot artIcles ef
ordInary : personal use or orament , such aR
sllille jewelry or watches , we reer\e our
right to restrict by confscatcn the vulgarity )
and unmanlnes9 or diamonds and enormous
fob chains "
The let of epolatr,1 waR apparently coun-
pete. ! yet II was e\ldont hat the orator was
reslralnlng himself for a , more effectIve cIt. :
max Clearing his throat again and tep.
IIng : before the Impatent but myatned file
01 passongers. he revIewed . thlm gral'el' ,
Then In a perfectly pitched tone o Iiain and
apology , he salt slowly ' :
"IL woulll scout that. from no wish ot our
own , WI are oblige ) on this present occasion
to suspend one or two of our usual rule \0
are not In the habIt of Interfering with the
wearing aplurel of our esteemed clients , hut
In the Interests of ordinary humaniy 11 mire
obliged to remo\ the hoot of the genteman
on the extreme left , which ovllenty give him
great pain and ImpOle his loceummation. We
ale se"lom deviate from our rule of obliging
ollllng
I our cl'enms tl haIti up theIr hands during'
thIs _ eJJmln ton , but . we gladly make an ex-/ /
I ceptol In ravor or rime gllteman next to
hIm and Ilormit him to hanll us the altogether
too heavily weIghted holster .hlch presses
I upon his hiI ' , Oenleman ! " said the orator ,
slIghtly ralsng ! lila voicta with a depreciatIng
gesture. "you feed not le alarmed I The
Indignant mo\ement at our friend Joel now
was not to draw his revolver-for I isn't
there ! " lIe paused whIle his cOlllanlona
speedIly removed the furzmter'a bOJta ant , ! the :
miner's holster and wih I still 10re apolo.1
getc air approacheJ the coach , where only
the Jly remained erect anti rIgid In her cor-
ner. "AntI now , " ho said wIth slmliated
he laton , "wo como to tbo lat and to us the
most painful suspension ot our rulu On
these very rare occasions when le have
been honored whim the presence of the fair
sex , I hiss been our Invariable Instom not
only to leave them 11 the undIsturbed pas-
lulou of their property , but even of their
privacy a weli . I 18 wih deep regret that
01 tills occausloit wo are oblgrd ! to make an
excepton , For In the Nesont Instance the
lad ) out of the gentleness ot her heart anti ,
limo POlitenesS ot her sex h" burlenell imer-
I self not only with time wellht blt lie ( re-
5lmoimstmiilty of 1 pckllO forced IpOI Item by
o/o ot time pUINlger We feel , ant , ) WI be-
11ee. ! vcntemen , that mosl of YOI wi agree
Illh I us that 1f 50,1 mmtlaloims anll Inmllnly an
ntempt to ovadl our rules alli violate the
Blctty of tIme lacl1 Ilmunly will never
le Ilermltll , Par your 011 sake , imiututammi
we are cOlpelel1 to ask you for tIle satchel
ulder ) 'Olr scat I wi be rellrnell to you
when the package la rOlovI , , "
"aie momelt , " mtaitl the IlriesslonAI man ,
Indlgnant ) "there II a mm Ilere whol ) ' 01
have rplm'eti-a . man who lately ) ' joined lS , I
Ihat t man , ' ' polllng I In t ( Ihe I astonshcd : Ic ) ' .
"omue of YOlr eonfrde'ltes ' ? " )
"That man , " returnell the spokesman will
a lauh "Is the o\lr of the 8yh'an 1010w I
mine We have
Iarcli him beconse we Ole
him ole consillerulon for ha\ln been
turnpd I Ilt of his house at the I , le.iti of nlvht
willIe the sherll of Sierras was eeJII ; ns , "
II I RtoPI1ell , 0111 thpn In In eltrel ) ' dllertlt
voice and In a total ) ' chanJcd mnaummmer said
rOIKhly : "Tumhle In then' . all of you ,
hulck I Atiul ' ' ' ' '
youm , sir'---to Key-'l'il advIse
) 'Oti to rub outhtle , Now' , driver , raise so
nimucim as mm rehmm cur a whmhplmsll , umitll ) 'Oti imear
time slgmmai , ammil by God you'll kmmot' what
ttext. "
lie stepped back nmtl shemmieti to lm Lnstammtly
utivi lIe neil miii n t lie ulum rknmess , hull I t im 1' light
of a collIery bull's cye-thie Imoitler hmimmmsehf
lmuvlslbhe-stlil simowetl tile tmmimzzleuu of time
germs coverimug time driver. There s'as a
mnomlmemmtary stir of % 'olces withIn thm closed
coach , but art uunlgry roar of "Slht'mmca ! ' ' fromml
t lie ilark muess hi Liii lied II.
'l'luo huionneuitmi crept slowly by ; all mmotv were
imreathiless , Thicul ii clear wimItle rammg frommi
tIme tlstance , tlme light simulileumlyvma otImm-
guishueti , thut' levelled mmmumzzlcs vammlsimetl with It ,
the drIver's lisii fell sllnlimhtahieou5l ) ' Ohm time
backs of time horses , alit ! tue coaclm leahietl
forward.
Time jit nc.rly lmrow Key fromut ( lic top. lmiit
a imiOmultilt hater it was still immure tlllllcuiit to
Iccep lii , seat hum time lieaullommg fiury of timelr
progress. Itgaln amid again time hasit tie-
scemmuIet tipon time nmadilemmed horses , immithi time
Whole coach seemed to leap , boummud. amid
stverve with every stroke. CrIes of Protest
amid e'emm tllatress begaum to commme frommm time
ititericir , but the driver Iteemled titemim not. A
window was sumiltienly let tlcmwmm , time voice of
the llrofessiomual mlmaum smyIng "Vlmat's tIme
mmmatter ? Ve'ne not fuihowed. 't'oui are liii-
jerUlng our lives lmy tilts speed , " was au-
sweroil ommiy by "Vlhl SOiilC Of ye throttle
thmat fool ? " from the driver ammul time remuen oil
fall of the lasim. 'l'he wayside trees nphmeareil
a olitl imiateaum before thmuui , otuemueti. tiaumeed mit
their shtIe , closet ! Uht agumhii beimhnuil thueuum , butt
zulu Lime ) ' sPell along. Hushing tlowmm grades
Wltii thtu speed of an avalanmcime tumey as.
cenmied amalmm withmout. drawimig r&n , ummud as
it hmy simeer nmonuermtumum , for ( lie heavy vehIcle
now scouted to have a diabolIcal energy of
its owui. It ground scattered rocks to luos'tier
it'itbm itti crusimimmg wimeeis , It swayed heavily
on thcki'sii cormmers , recovering itself with time
reshstless forward propumlsomi ! of thie straimmlmug
teaimma until tIme lights of Three Plume statIon
begaii to glitter timroughm thme trees. Tiiemm a
eulecesmilomi of yells broke frommm tiu driver , so
stromig anti ulomumlnant that timey sceummeti to
oiltstrlp ovemi time SPeeti of the ummbateil cattle.
iesser lghts : ss'ece Imreseumtly seen rtmummulumg
to and fro ammil omm tim outermumoet frInge of tim
settiemmiemut time stage Pulled tip before a crowd
of ii'oumderlmmg tacos anti time tInt or sliolce ,
" \Ve'vn hseemi lucid imp Oii time open road not
timree mmmtles frommi wiiar ye mmmen are slttin'
here yu'tWimhit' ! It tliar'a a maui ammiomug ye
that imasmm't got tIm soul of a skuumk , he'll
toIler nuud chose 1mm tipon 'emmu afore time ) ' have
it chmamico to get into time brush. " uiimvlmmg
thus relieved hImself ot his dumty au aim cmi-
forcd norm-coummbatant , anti allowed all furtimer
respoluslbtllt- devolve upon his recreammt
fellow' emiml'lO'Os , he relapsed bite imhs tmtuuual
taciturnity and drove a trlile hess recklessly
to tIme statIon , whuere lIe griumlly set dowmm hil'
brumiscil itimil thiscomntited passengers. As Key
mniuugled with themmi he coumlil not 110111 perceiving -
ceiving that imeltiter the late "orator's" cx-
phuumatton of hula exemption frommi their f.uto
umor time driver's surly corroboration of hula
respectability had pactfietl tiiemmm , For a tiuntu
thIs amuttisoti iuhmmm , particularly as hue coumhil
muol , imeip rcimuemnberhmig timat lie first appeared
to tilemmi belde tue ummysterlotis imorsommian
Wimonl sommie oume thmotughit. hail boon Idemutitled
as one of the niaska. But lie was uuot a
lIttle pl pmed to find that time fair mmnlcmiowmm
appeared to partlclimate iii their feelhmigs , and
hml first clviiity to her mmmet with a cimlhiimmg
response , Ft'cn : therm , imt tlma geimeral thlsihlu-
muon of hIs rommmanco regarding her , timis
would have beemm oumly a mumommmentary aummmoy-
ance ; but It strammgciy revived all imi pro-
vtous siisplcionus amid set lmimn to thinkIng.
\\'as thue siuugumlar sagacity displayed by time
orator In his search purely intuItIve ? Coumlil
amiy omm have disclosed to hint time secret of
time passemugers' hoards ? Was it possible for
her vhllo sitting aione In the coach to have
communIcated ivflh the bamuil ? Suddenly tIme
rcimmeunbramuco fhasiieul across iilmmm of hier 01)0mm-
Ing the wIndow for fresh air ! She could
have easIly timomi droppeul sommie signal. If
this micro so , aimii she really was time culprit ,
It was qumhie natural for her own safety uiuat
. sue shuoumhil eneeurage time imassengers In thmeim'
absurd suspIcion , of iminmeol ! ! Ills dying
Imuterest revived : a few muonments ago
hue hail imalt resolveil to fmbanmloum imiui quest
alIt ! turn back at Three I'iuiea. Sow h
ihctermmmimuetl to follow her to time coil. fltmt
he diii rIot fmmihulge In any filrtilor sopimlstry
regartllng his duty , yet , iii a new sehite of
honor , he did mint tlreammt of retaliating upon
im er by coma umiti ii heat I mmg hm Is sum simlclonms t a hula
fellow passengers. Whmemm time coach atartetl
agaIn lie toolc Iths seat on time toim amid me-
nnaincti there uummtll ttiey reacimeil Jammmestown
in thlo early evening. Hero a nmunmber of his
despoiled comahmammlons were obliged to walt
to commmmmmummlcate witht their friemids. happIly
the exemnptloum that haul mmmatle tilemum Immuhig-
nant onableti hmimmi to contimmue hIs jouruuey
witii a ftlil purse. Utut lie was conteumt whIt
a mumoihest surveillance of the hauly fronl time
tel ) of time coachu.
On arrIvIng at Stockton this suirvehllance
hiecamume less easy. It was tIme termmilntms of
tii stage route anti time mlivergemico of others
by boat auud rail. If its were lucky enougim
to tlircover wimleim one time lady took , ilis
presemmce now votmlcl be immure mumarlucil , and
migiit excite her suspicIon , But lucre a
circtmntstanco , witlch lie' also believed to be
hmrov iilemmt Ia I. dotermmi heed lii ru. A ii time I umg-
gage was being remmioreil from time top of
time coach lie overimearul time agent toll time
expessmnan to check the "lady's" trummmk to
Saum 1.tmis. Key was seized witim amt idea
Wilich meemmmed to solve the difllcult- , although -
though it Invoiveil a rick of losing time clue
enthral ) ' . There were two routes to Saum
Lola , one was by stage mind direct , timeimgil
slower ; time other by sieaiimhoat amid rail ,
vIa San Francisco. If lue tool : th bodt
there was less danger of imer mllscoveriuug
hiumi , oven If mulme chose thie sammue conveyance ;
If simo took time direct stage-and lie. trusted
to a wommtamt's avoidance of time iturry a !
change and transiulpmnent for that choice-
110 i'otihtI still arrIve at SaIm Iumls , vIa San
Framicisco , an hour before bier. lie resolved
to take time boat ; a careful scrutimmy ( ron ,
a stateroom whntlow of the arrIvIng Iinsemm-
gems on this gamlglIaitI ( satisfloti ithimi that
she hail in-eferrel tIme stage. TIters was
still time chuance that in losIng shghlt of her
slits mmmlgimt escape hmimim , bumt time risk seeuuued
somali. tutU a trIfling clrcummistanco had al-
umiolit umicommaciomisly hmiilueumc'ti hmimmm , after
imla ronuammtic anti stmmc'ratltlouue fashuloum , ate to
thIs final step.
lie had be'eml simmgimlarly moved w lien hue
huoartl ( list San Lola was the lady's hirobmbie :
miestimmatiomi. It mIld miot ucemmm to bear army
relation to tIle inouulitahmi wililormiesa auth time
wild life slit ? Imath jumat qulttetl ; It it its ai-
ilaremltui tue mumost omutlpatlmte , incomigu'imnus
mmmi immcOflsisient refumge she could ilavlu
taken. It olfereil no opportunity for tue dma-
mosai of booty or for coummuuiummicatlomi with
time gang. It was hess aertire thaum a crowded
town. An old Slmamti'hm mIssion amid 11100-
astery college 1mm a sleepy pastoral platmi--it
had even rotalneil its. Old \Vorltl flavor mimmmiul
i.snerhcan imiipruvu'mmmemmis amid soehul revolu-
lieu. I Ic kimow It iveli. Vromum lb ' quaint
pntlp , cloisters. Whmemo tilL' ommir remnsfuI
; hula ailt'enttiromls youth haul beemi
spent to tIle long Aleimmomla or ilophile avemmiuss
of ancient trees wlmichm eonmmected it n ithi
time convent of Saimta l.imiaa , anti sam ' of his
youthful 'derOtIomts. " It had been tIm nor-
sery of his m'umilanCe. lie was ammmimaml at
what scented to be time Irony of fate In mmow
Ilniklumg It wIth thIs folly of lila maturer un'imm-
licoil , aumil ) ' ( 't lie web uneasIly conscious of
being emmore aPri'iIly atfected imy It. Arid mt
was wIth a gre'aier anmidlut ) ' thmami tills amii'emm-
ture hail ever yet cost hilmut that ii at last Cr-
rlvcd at the S.'umt Jose imotol anti from a
balcoily corner awalteti time conllmmg of time
couch , tll'I heart bent raimhtiiy as it ap.
imrOChi'd. fflie m'mia timers ! unit at her aids ,
as she daaceimdeth from tIme coaCh , , w.ia tue
mnmyeterioims hurseimutiu iii time SIerra road ,
Key could maot numlstaie time well built tlgimre ,
whatever dommbt titers bad horn bomit tim
features which imail Ie'n so cart [ mmli ) ' c'u- '
cealedVith tIme miatunb.hnment of this l'e-
dIscovery thmsre tiashmeul across hInt again thin
fateftmhmieas of time Inmeplrimilcuu rlmIchu hmmul ; ii-
clded ' hInt not to go in thn cachm , liii
prt'seilco there would have no doubt ivat'rmed
time stranger anti so eatoppc4 tills cOnItiCJfliC
iletmommenmt'nt. It was quIte possible that her
Camflhisnioiu , by relays of horses anti the aml.
vamutmige of bridle cnut.offs , couilui have easIly
fohioweil tue Three l'imm ctnhi nmiii joIned hoc
at Stockten , lImit for what imurposo ? The
hotly's trunk , w iulchm imetil not beemu tilsttmrbeti
tltmrimmg time first Part of tIme joimrumey , anti hail
imeum forwarded at Stoekttiut untoimeltI tieforo
Key's eyes , COuilti not 1mev , contalnetl 15)01)
to be dispose'tI of hum thIs forgotten out
town.
TIme regIster of time lintel iore sImply the
nammuo of ' 'mlra. ( 'lihi'er" of Stockton , but mmii
record of her commmnaimlomi , 'lmo seenmt'iI to hat's'
ulleuimpeanel as hmm'sivrittihui ) ' as lie caimie.
That she occimhuiett ii slttiuig rootmi on tIm
sanme floor as his ow n-hum whIch simo wa's
mihuhmaremutly ecltiil'il durhimg time rest of tim
ulay-wmis nIt lie kiuew , Nobody else seeiiuett
to kumois' bier. ICC ) ' felt mimi otlil iuesitatiuhi.
that mmulgiit have been tIm rc'sumlt of solute
'vague ( ear of Inmpllcimlmig ( her imrenmatiirely ,
Iii uliakhlug liii ) ' uuuarked humtumlry or Iimmperhllng
his secret' by time brlhied espIonage of son'-
utnt5 , Ommee whemu hut , was iasiiug her door hue
heard the soimuitla of luummgimter-ahbelt iumumocent
emmil hmeurt free-which eeuuieil so ltmcoulIsteiut
vItii tIme gravity of tIm situatlemm and lila owus
tiiuimghts ( , that iue i'.is strauugely siiockunl.
hut lie vas still ummone dhsturhetl hI' it lateC
ecrimrreimce. him lila watchmtuihnmm'es of time nmmove-
huuemmts of lml neighbor hti hail beeim equally
cmmrefiml of lila own , multI hmmil not emily me-
fr.tlmiinl ( mcmii regtstc'rlimg ills imaumie , hut ht1
enjolneul secrecy upon tue iaumiilortl , whmommi hue
kimew. \'et the ileXt ntoriulmmg after hits am-
rival , time lorter not anewerhiug lila hell
hlroimiPtl enough , hit' so far forgot hmliuma lf
as 1(1 walk to tue staIrcase , which was mmoar
time lady's rooumm , anul cull tue enmiuleyo over
time balustraile , As lie ivia stIll leanlmmg over
time r.ihilmmg tiict faint croak of a door anti a
stngumlar umuagnetlc couiSclnusmue of beiimg
overlooked cammsuiil hInt to turn slowly , html
ommly 1mm thuume tim hear the rustle of a wIth.
drawing skirt as time door was quulckly closed , U
In oil instant lie felt the fumll force of hIs
foolish heeuiiessmiceii , 11111 it was too late , list !
iii , ? mmmysterloua fnmgltl'e recogmmlzeml imluim i
Perimaps utot ; their eyes had not mitet and lila
facim haul Deen tumrmmetl away.
Ito varied his estlonago by subterfuges
wbmielt lila knowledge of the olml town nmuulo
easy. lie , 'atchmetl time door , hmhmnaelf tmn-
CCCII. from time window's of a bilharJ ! s'aioan
ohuhuosite , whiicim hme hail frelhuemmtetl Iii formmmer
days. Yet lIe was surprisesl tim saute after-
00011 to 500 her , ( room Imis coigul of vantage ,
re-ommterluug time hotel , wimere lie was sure hue
hail left her a tow mmmomumemmts ago. blat ! she U
gommo out by some other exit-or Imad site
iieeul tllsgiiiseil ? Hut cn enterIng imis rcoun
limt : n'oiin , , hn u'n \ , ! , tn' nn I , . .
cciciut ! that seoumoil to hInt as convluiclng of
luer Identity as it wait aumdaciotus , iyImmg on U ,
iila Pillow svero mc few death leaves of an
odorous mmuouuntaln fern kimowmm only to liii
Sierras. They were thou together by a tier- , t U
row' blue ribbon amid hail evidently been iii-
tended to attract hIs attention , As lie took (
thoni in its ! hmanil , the dIstlngiihsimiuug , simbtia '
aroluma of time utIle sylvan hollow hut the Imlils
c.mimmo to hmiuim like a mmmemuuory amitl a revelation !
lie stmmnntoumed time ciuammlhsrmulaiil ; she kniem
umotlmhmmg of thiemim , or , indeed , of any one who
hail entered imi roemmm. lie walked cautioucly
into time huh : the lauiy's siqlmug room dear
was opeum , tIme room was emulpty. Time occu-
liant , saId the chmammmbermaiih , "hiatt left that
altcrumoouu. ' ' liii lucid the flroof of her Itlentlty
lit lila imanul , hilt she imlurself hail vanishemi !
Timut sue imati recognmlzed hIm there was now
110 deimbt ; haul site diviumetl tue real object of
ith ( itiest , or had alto accepted It as a tucre
remitlmutental gahlammtry at time Inohmmeilt Viieli
rime kmmew It vau imopeless and she herself wait
lerfectly safe frommi pursuit ? In either event I' '
lie hiatt been duped. lie ulki not know
whiethuer to ho Ilhqumeil. ammgry-or relieved of
bus iri'osolute quest.
Nevertheless hue spout t1m rest of time twl-
higimt auid time early eveuihmmg In frultlcesly wgn-
doming through the one timerouighmfare 01'
time town , tiumtil it utmergeti limto limo bosky
Alammiada or spacIous grove that connected It
s'ltIm Samuta Luisa , Ity degrees hul cimagrium
and tltsappohmutmmient vere forgotiemm in tue
immenioi'iez of time imast , evoked by the famimhhiar
imathiway , The nmoon wan slowly ridimug over-
imaul aiim ! s'iverlnug the carriage-way bimtween
time straight ebony hue of trees , while time
footputhms were ullapereul s'ltlm black and whIte
cluequiers. The faiut tinklhmig of a trammi-car
bell lii the dlstamice apprlseti imtnm of OilS of
time few hmimmovatlons of thou past. Time car
was appro.uchmlng hinu , overtook hbui , antI i'as
iuassluug is'ltim Its faintly illummuimmateul wimmdows ,
wimemi , ghimncimig carelcesly imp , ito behelil at
one of timommi time profii of the face w'iilclu lie
hail just thought lie had lout forever ! U
lie stopped for an instant , not in indecIsion
tills tImuue , but itt a grim resolutlomu to lotno
chmammce escape hint now , The car was going
slowly ; It was easy to board it now' , but again
tIme tInkle of time boil Iumdicatetl that it was
stopphiig at the cormuer of a road beyamiti. lie
checked ills pco-a lady aighteul-it ! was
she. She turned into time cross street , dark-
died with time sitatiows of semno hew sum'burbama U
tenelmient houses , ammil lie boldly followed. lie
was fully determmmineul to find out her secrel ,
5 , , , ) 'wen. ur necessary , to accost her for that
purposes ho wee imrfectly aware what lie
watt doing aimd all Its risks slid penalties ; Ito
kimeit' time dammger of foliowhmmg a Imotsiblo ean-
fitlaimte of deahmeratloes , but he felt In hits
rIght-haul Iuockct for tIme ulerrnger ! that was
equal to It. They wore btii there ; lie was
meath ) .
lIe was iuoat'huig tIme convent anti time oldest - . _
and mimost ruhiuouis part ci tue towmm. Its ulId
hot dlsgutlac ( remit imiimaolf the ghoaumuy sigumifi-
calico of tiih' ; even 1mm the olul ilays tue
cruummlblimig adoie buithuiimmgs that abut'ed on the
gardemm wail of the comivcmmt weme time hamimits
( if lawless Mexlc'aius ammil vagabomiti poans. As
the roadway begamm to be rouglt mud umnevemu ,
antI time gaunt outlines of tIme miagg'ng roofs
of tiles stood out agahuist time sky abavo
the lurking shuadows of rmmhmmeti doorways , lie
was prepared for time worst. As the crmmmmm-
blllug but still niasslve wails of the convent U
garden loouned ahead , time tail , graceful , biuc's-
gowned Ilguiro he was followlmmg preientiy
turned hub time imaiIew of the vall Itself , lie
quIckened lila pace bat it aimoumlil aga'n escape
111111. Sudilemuly It mutoiluei anti remutalumeti ion- U
thonlecs. ito mtopped , too , At time miamime too
uimont it vaimishueuh ! 4'
lie ran quick ! ) ' forward to where IL imaa
stooil aumd found ithimuseif before a large irpn
gate with a emmmahler 0mm Ill the center that luui
jimmut clanged to on Its rtmsty himmges. lIe
rubbed hIs eyes-timo ! place , time gate , time
waii , verc all strangely famhmiliar ! Then he
stChiiP(1 ( back hub limo roaiiway and looked at
It agalim. lie was hot mmuiatakoi. !
ilL' % 'as stunthimig hai'futo time iuorter's ioJge
of the Convent of the Sacred heart.
( To be comitlnumed , ) U
_ _ . _
- - - - - ' - - - -
e' % ' ,
, SWEET--SAVORY----SATISFYING
SwIFT's ' PREMIUM " -
= . . . .
- - ' - , - " -4------
HAMSAND BACON
. ,
f--- - - - - - -
-41-----I
Think of tim timousanda of hnmms
and bacon timut go out train South
' Omnam ( jail ) ' ! \Vti mioloct hut time
V 1)ttt4LOllCt3 for tile ht-uuid"S\VIFT'S ' 0
PUiii Ii,74'1. " Smiloked lightly.-
trimiuuimed nicely - oxtm'a ummildnot
aalty. Nti zutnut could toulco thezus
bottom ,
For Sale by all FirsI.Class Dealers. ,
SWIFT AND COMPANY ,
SOUTH OMAHA. NED.
e- "
. '
( iiic . . :
_ .
I&- # . .
7RDP4RK .
Dr.D.G.GOLDING
SPECIALIST.
DlieA'"s etC tii , osa and 'fiirai , Private , flktm , ,
llI''i'I. ' rIam vmm till ! 'tin.ilo iieist'a , Censumla. '
tmon fr" aim'i cunmm.m.nliaI ( 'shi or wrhtp , 0111 'c
i,00rt'U 8 a , 01 to S ' . rn Hunilay , mj u Comm.
biitOliUit mt'iiS , N'u3. i 2'5 ' DugIiiii jmltic , 8. ! : .
I. am , h' ' hi ufli ljiZe tIei.
OltII , , Nmia.
I