Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-10-14

''' PsNNSu up ttiC udDy, ltlc,y IOuuQ a
man and IL bear. locked in IL dcadly
embrace. Il most deadly one. since
both were quite dead.
"Poor fellow. he's been carrying
The child, and on the appearance OF
sruin. he has dropped it, and-and
us you see it has ended like this, even
as he felt death overpowcring him he
has buried his knife in the bears
throat. He saved his child. but
wonder who he is. and what he meant
hy undertaking to walk along this
dangerous trail with a child, and all
alOne.".
When the stage came in that after
noon on one of its tri-weckly trips,
the driver furnished further informa-
ti0n.
''Therc is an abandoned wagon
back there at the foot of the mount
ain, and Il dead horse. It's an old
rattlc-trap and the horse must have
died of old age and exhaustion.
Apparently the father of this kid
has been attempting to reach this
place, but who he was or how he
came to he with Il little thing like
that l cannot imagine"
but when they went to the wagon
nothing was found save Il little box
OF clothing belonging to the baby
which they gladly took possession of.
''Shc belongs to the came, boys"
said Joe: .swc'll have to adopt her.
We ought to name the new mine af-
ter her. who knows but it woula be
lucky"
"We'll have TO leave her in Rilly's
care until some women folks move in.
l hear there are several families COM
ing i'm Il week or two. But the little
one belongs to the camp, remember
that. boys"
The baby throve in that rough but
kindly care. and if she had any favor
ties they were Joe and Billy.
"Seems as if She knew I'd saved
her." said Joe, hugging her close
while her little hands buried them
selves in his beard. s.Bless her dar-
ing little self, and she's brought good
luck to us all, for the Daisy Mine
promises to make us all rich"
But when the next mail came in it
brought Joe a letter that quite threw
the boys back into the land of dis
%ponacncy; it ran DIS follows:
Dean S1R:-I lave learned that nv un-
brother died near your camp
months ago. and left a little child. for
which l understand you have kindly cared.
l villa be with you in Il few days to claim nv
little neice and to thank you all personally.
LULU GRANGER.
cob" gasped Joe, .smy baby! how
4 give her up?" and one and all
of Ter rough friends offered a Wig
orous protest.
Miss Lulu Granger proved to be a
little Eastern school Marin and quite
young and pretty. Joe was the one
sent to meet her to try to s'buy her
of" as he had put it.
"Abandon the child to strangers."
exclaimed the new claimant, seven
for a whole mine, l wouldn't. I'm
poor, and she will be Il burden to me.
but she's mine. you understand. L
thank you very much for all you have
done for her, and for your love, but you
will be compelled to part with her."
Joe walked along at her side Won
why she had to be so pretty
and SO determined about little Daisy,
half wishing she had stayed away
and half wishing she hadn't.
"You C my poor brother and his
invalid wife started for the noun
tains for health and wealth; alas.
what a journey it was. But even af-
ter the mother died, poor Charlie
pressed onward with the baby"
But when they reached the home of
Mrs. Smith. who of late had been
care of the child, they found
her i'm tears.
sob, Mr.. Joe, don't look at me Pm
that sorry! l only left her just a
minute and-and she's gone. 1 know
you'll eve forgive me, but I've
everywhere and l can't find
lis there "A well-or anything?"
exclaimed her frightened aunt.
Joe looked disturbed but not fright
cned: a sudden conviction took pos
session of him.
'sWc'n find hcr:some one has doubt
less seen hcr:shc had too many friends
to get lost"
Yet search as they would no little
goldcn-haired Daisy was to be found.
"Oh.." sobbcd the aunt, "and she
is gone too. what a dreadful, dread
full thing. came so far to find her.
/ have so little money to remain to
solve the mystery. Oh, dear. dear,
what shall / do?"
Joe and the young lady had become
very friendly during those few days
of search and sorrow.
He looked down upon her tenderly
and growing strangely red said
SOFTLY
'.Illerc is a way
IA way. l do not understand"
"Marry me-" said Joe hluntly. .sI'm
Il rich man. Tor the Daisy mine is a
tremendous success now. love you.
| love the baby. She wouldn't have
to. he took away, you know, then"
"But she's lost, dead no doubt"
"Indced she's not" said Joe, ..its
none of my work-I never advised
such a cruel trick, but I'm satisfied
if you marry me we could find her"
The amazed young lady tried to
understand him b,,f f,;lod onl,, o.