Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-05-18
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
AS the spring advanced, Brace
turned his eyes daily to the noun
tain tops On the first Of May he
said he would have a day or two off.
and "jest have u look around at
things"
On the seventh he returned.
1.-The times come" he said; "the
SHOWS goin' away sharp, and the
rocks is already squittering down,
but glory be, the holes open. All
we've got to pray for now is that
the Kidll listen to the voice of rea-
son. Leave her TO me-"
AS we were sitting at table he
said, in a casual way
81 was up TO my old lot in Peters
Vile for bit OF refresher during
nv little holiday, sir; ana you're no
idea how nice the old place do look
Now, supposin'-as we amt got
NARY blessed thing to do for the
next week, we kinder take look
around arter that stone we used ter
think such lot of-jest for curios-
ity like-hey? The Kid used ter
make fine TODD about bein' good
when she was sick; do you feel like
it now, my gel?"
Lola turned deadly pale, and was
silent for a moment, then lifting her
eyes to mine, she stretched her hand
cut, and as took it, said
IL am ready"
We made our preparations that
afternoon. and took the night train
from San Diego to Canyon river.
where VIC put up for the night. In
the morning we took the stage TO
Great Canyon City-a deserted min
ing town at the foot of the Sierra
After lunching at the only hotel. we
tried mules. and, leaving the valley,
assembled the mountain path.
Water streamed freely down the
mountain path upon the lower
slopes; but our difficulties only com
menced when we reached the line
where tho half-melted snow made
the rocks treacherous even TO the
feet of the sure mules. We had four
hours OF terribly rough and danger
Gus travelling before we reached
Petersville-the most wretched col
lection of rotten shanties ever saw.
A man came from the building,
which still bore faint trace of the
word "Hotel" on its facade, and
greeting Brace with the air of an
| old acquaintance said he had got
everything aired. and a supper
all ready TO put down to the
fire. Brace had seen the
necessity OF preparing him for our
reception. A couple of rooms had
been made as decently respectable as
might be expected. We left Lola
there and strolled about while dinner
was preparing.
Il have know'd the time" said
the Judge, impressivcly, "when both
sides of this river was lined with
miners. and every one on 'cm worth
his thousands of dollars
had no sympathies with the past
glories of the stream. Ny mind was
filled with admiration of the savage
beauty OF the scenery around.
Thar" said the Judge hinging a
piece of wood. part OF an appliance
which might have washed gold un-
told, into the turbid and rushing
waters; thar bar stoppages, thatll
pass the Great Hesper in less time
than 1t will take us to get back to
the hotel"
"Is it through that cleft we have
to goP"
''Ah. sir. and down into the very
innards OF it."
was looking toward tho dark
chasm with n feeling of awe. when
Brace touched my elbow. He was
dragging at his chin tuft, his lower
| lip protruding. his heavy brows bcnt.
He pointed slowly to q trace IN the
snow.
The man from the hotel been
down here-is that what you mean ?"
] asked.
at amt him, sir, that mark. Look
at tits a one-footed man! end. !"
he added, striding forward and look
ing closer-"end it's a left-footed
mani end it's one wooden.legged
mani" and then, with conviction.
"1t's the burned niger that's been
spyin' after us. Leave him TO me.
He amt goin' to spy after us to-mor-
row, not hef knows IL"
approached the marks. and per-
ceived that beside the foot was tho
round hole made by a wooden stump.
After dinner. Brace looked to the
pine torches he had brought up and
spent the evening in trying the m
carefully, while chatting with the
man of the hotel. He said not a
word about our discovery. nor did
the man speak OF any visitor being
in the house. This. with a certain
cunning look In his little red eyes,
alarmed me.
| We were called at four O'clock the