The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-11-10
IN A SILVER NINE.
An Adventure There That Ended
in q Romance.


1t was Ave years ago. In Tombstone,
ing aimlessly riding his bay mare over
the dusty mesa, where rabbit holes
,urked for the undoing Of the unwary
md prickly acacia with its red-and-
yellow ribbon-like s~eed-pods had torn
yiciously ut his corduroy trousers. The
sun had been hot, and even the tough
neck of his well-tanned horse had
lathcred under the rein.
There is something about the atmos-
phere, material and moral. of that
hun-smitten country which breeds in
difference. The claims into which
Walden had poured his small patri-
mony were self-evident wildcats
and deep in his soul he knew that the
time had come when he must 90 to
work: but to-day seemed made for a
holiday, and tomorrow was merely a
vague possibility.
He passed the subdued hilarity OF the
roadside saloon, and crossing the fume
that pulsated with the strokes Of the
Grand Central pumps lac rode up the
hill into the edge Of town. Another
'N'Ct JuSA a. thC tuID Vi lit IOdu.
Walden's heart gave the throb of youth
as he set his eyes upon its burden.
There are some women to whom
piquant coquetry is rs much "a birth
right as a pair of eyes, a nose and a
mouth. They make eyes at the prac-
titioner who escorts them over the
threshold of life; they double their in
FAINT fists in a way to show off the pink
ness of their nails. Everything be-
comes them, everything belongs to
them.
II beg your pardon, sir. but may |
ask the way to Grand Cent raj hill
without going through the town?r
The mine, do you mean? You go"
A bright thought struck him. IF you
will allow me to ride a short distance
with you l can show you the way quite
plainly. 1t is merely a bridlcpath over
the hill, and | am afraid would not be
readily G. by IA stranger"
The girl seemed TO accept his offer
with eagcrness. and said as much.
II am quite lost. l promised Dickon
that | would not ride through the town
alone. ] met Miss Fisher up beyond
the Contention. and we rode together
through the town; but she stopped at
home, and | vas left-plante la" The
voice and manner were even younger
than the face and figure.
Miss Jeanne Fishcr?'
Yes
Il often ride with her"
"Then you must be Mr.. Walden"
Il am Obliged to confess to that
same as Mr.. Bret Hartc would make
me say under the circumstances"
The superintendent family were all
on the verandn as the two rode up.
Across the road the assayer and his as
sistant were shooting their revolvers at
rows Of bottles set up on a board.
Walden's horse was accustomed TO the
sound Of firearms and paid no atten-
ton, but Miss Hale's horse, a thorough
bred kentuckian just off his native
blue grass, pricked up his ears and
tremblcd. Walden looked at him sus-
~piciously, but the girls wrists seemed
strong.
Just as her brother, with a smile of
pride and affection, started down the
steps to lift her down and her intelli-
gent control of the rcins was loosened
for an instant there cane q rafting
fusillade from the revolvers and the
Kentucky mare gave a bound.
1.-The Dump" Dickon Hale cried; but
the agony in those two words made a
tragedy. just below the house was
the mountain. hundreds of thousands
Of IONS of refuse rock which had come
from the thirty miles of tunneling in
the mine. A narrow roadway led
around 1t ncar the top. bordcred by "a
precipice.
Walden had not spent the last year or
two in the saddle for nothing. As
though he had been a piece Of his
spirited bay they sprang forward after
the Kentuckia n. and before it had full |
~ made up its mind to bolt straight to
destruction, Walden's iron hand was
Oh the bit.
IL am not hurt, Dickon,' poor Man.
cite said, piteously. And then, as her
brother with a set, white face lifted
her down. she broke into sobs on his
breast. OF course they asked Walden, |
implored him, commanded him, to stay
TO dinner. lie knew better than that.
An after climax Is a very disillusioniz-
ing thing. When he came to take din
ner with Miss Hale he would find her
In exquisite array, and she should see
him in evening dress. She should have
no microscopic ~glimpses Of her hero.
and he knew he was that, just now.
Dickon Hale came down to see Wal
den the next morning, and the natural
awlk wardncss Of the meeting was saved
by the Unborn grace of the two men.
Dickon wanted to assure his friend of
his everlasting obligation and graft
tude, while he did not want to entitle
him to anything more. With unerring
instinct he had recognized the stirring |
OF his whole nature which had beer the
effect Of the event Of the previous day |
on Walden.
Like all Americans, when IL came to
the final test Mr.. Hale let his sister
choose her own friends; and It was not
many weeks until the bay mare and the
kentuckian had been forced to find a
congenial gait that they could enjoy in
common. Sometimes, most often, they |
were ioinol bv Hbn s~r;~y ~~av 80 Mt.