Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-12

END OF the mystery. 30 sne stayeu.
But the sstery showed no signs of cam
ing to an end. Instead of that it seemed to
grow deeper aud more perplexing. Captain
Leslie had paid very little attention to the
matter 60 far, but the morning after Joe
had explained his views to Miss Sue Gis
covery was made that excited the msnager
to wonderful extent.
The strange visitor bad burned lot more
of Joe's fat pine in the night. On the
ground, near the still smoking ashes, Sue
found rough piece of colored stone. the
like of which she hsd never seen. This she
sho we'd to her father, and this it was that
excited him so.
Pink marbler' he cried. "Where did it
come from? That's what I've been locking
for ever since I came to the quarries. I'll
give hundred dollars to anybody that will
show me the vein that piece of stone came
from!"
s'Better give the hundred dollars 90 fiod
out who spoils the toosr' said one of the
men, coming from the tool shanty.
"These two files has been missing two days.
Now they're brought back in the night,
and lock at 'em! All used up and full of
fresh iron."
Another mystery; but there was no time
to investigate it then. The men went to
their work and Sue was left to think over
things. A hundred dollars is good deal
of money, and the girl spent some time
thinking of her fathers offsr. If she could
only win that prize! Why not? That piece
of pink marble had come from somewhere
and somebody had brought it.
At this point Sue had an inspiration
Perhaps the pink stone came from the old
quarry. The old quarry belonged to Cap
tain Leslie's company, but it had been
abandoned before he took charge OF the
work. What if somebody we're stealing
marble from the old quarry and using their
camp as base of supplies. She and Joe
might as well investigate that matter at
once.
But Joe was busy, SO che said nothing to
him. She called the two dogs and started
off with no company but theirs. The very
and she would be very careful. She would
only 90 and take distant observation with
out actually going to the quarry. That
evening she would speak to her father
bout it aud get him to go with her thu next
day.
But she did not speak to her father about
it that evening. Indeed she had very little
to say to anybody about anything; although
she seemed restless and excited.
The next morning she set off with the
dogs for another ram bic 10 & different direc-
ton. She got back to camp before dinner.
time. and behaved in such queer manner
that Joe was seriously disturbed about her
But presently he forgot all about that and
most other things in fresh and altogether
unprecedented excitement.
The men had all assembled fer dinner
when a woman appeared among them. She
was recognized at once. She lived with
her children in solitary cabin on the lone-
y mountain road some distance from the
camp. and it was from her that Captain
Leslie had bought the two dogs that had
recently proved such wretched failures as
watch dogs. If sbo had husband nob3dy
ever saw or heard of hin, and she was sup
posed to be a widow.
It was a terrible thing she had como to
tell, and none the less terrible because she
was so quiet and patient in the telling of
it. Her youngest child, little four year-old
Sally, was lost soma where in tho mountains.
She had disappeared that morning, and the
mother had come for help to find her.
Joe's bnuutiful dinner was instantly for
gotten. In wonderfully short time the
camp was deserted. Every man il il had
started away to look for the lost baby.
That is, every man but Captain Leslie. He
was hurrying away when Sue pulled him
into the sbaDty.
"Let them &C." she whispered. / want
you. You m9st come with me. See hete,'
exhibiting a dreadful looking rag doll,
''this belo- gs to the baby. She gave it to
me this morning. I know where she il,
I'm sure of it. You come with me to find
her,"
Before he could fud word to say the
Captain was dragged eff 10 the direction of
the old quarry.
"I've been over here before" Sac said
breathessly, af,er whale. "And, father,
1 want to tell you Eow-rve found the veia
of pink marble, aud I shall claim the re-
ward, too!'
sWe'n talk about that after we have
found this baby said her father, rather
severely.
"Oh, the baby's all right. don,t worry
bit about her. See here, father, do you
know what this is?'
r She handed him something wrapped in
paper. He took off the wrapping aud stood
still ia his tracks, pale and trembling.
''Sue, where did you get this?"
81 found it near here yesterday"
'It's shackle from conviot's legi
And it has just been filed off. That ac-
counts for the missing files and for every
thing queer that has happened. A fugitive
from one of the convict camps has been
lurking about all this time. To think I
should have kept you in. such danger!
Why, my child, they are terrible dsspera-
does"
"Thsp, we had better get hold of that
baby as coon as possible" said Sue, hurry
ing forward.
They were close to the old quarry, and,
after running few steps, Sue stopped at
the edge of shallow pit that was well
screened by raak weeds and bushes. Even
i'll this moment Of perplexity and amazs
ment Captain Leslie noticed that fragments
of pink marb lay scattered on the gro Ind.
They we're freshly broken, aud, looking
through the bushes, he could see that the
side of the pit had beeu dug into to make
abandoned working the unknown q1arry
mzn had chanced upon the much desired
vein of pink marble.
'fTime's upr' called Sne, parting the
bushes aud leaning over the edge Of the
pit.
Iu response to her call man can out
of the iittla cave he had made for himself
A more fo,lofn-looking specimen of hu
nanity il would be difficult to fad; b1s
Just at that rnorent his face was poi the
face IF a Desperate 1t was a face radiant
with affection, and there were tears upon
it. For 10 his arms the man carried little
child which kissed him and c.ung to him,
and which he was caressing as only fathers
caress their children.
Here was the lost baby all the quarry
men were searching for.
The man caught sight of Captain Leslie.
and the sight seemed to transform him TO
dangerous wild beast for moment; but
only for a moment.
II trusted ye, a-d ye've give me upl"
| be said to Sue. "But ye showed me my
baby, and that squares all! I'll go peace
| ful, sr.'
Sue did not answer him; but she did ans.
wer the look of stern reproof in her fathers
face.
''I couldn'5 help it. fatheri Yop see, the
dogs ran in here yesterday, and 1 thought
they'd tear him to pieces; so ran to call
them eff. But it was only becau5e they
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