The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-25


too, and 1 thought that maybe 1 might
have thrown you off the scent. 1t
seemed to me that if you had any idea
who it was, we might now talk the
matter over and compare notes. L
think you said-at least, gathered the
idea from remark of yours he
added, hastily, as he remembered the
suggestion was his own, and a satirical
one-"that it reminded you of your
wife's slipper. OF course, as your wife
is dead, that would offer no clue, and
can only be a chance resemblance, I'M
less" he stopped.
Have you got 'em yet?"
Eyes, both" He took them from the
pocket of his riding jacket.
AS Collinson received them his face
took upon itself an even graver ex-
preston. It's mighty curious" he
said refiectively. 'ebut looking at the
two of 'em the likeness is more fetch
in. Ye see, my wife had a straight
lefts like other women, but kinder
changed about; we see, these shoes is
regular rights and lefts, but never was
worn as sich.''
There may be other women as pc
culiar," suggested Key.
There must be-" said Collinson,
quietly.
For an instant Key was touched with
the manly security of the reply, for
remembering Uncle Dicks scandal, it
had occurred to him that the unknown
tenant of the robbers den might be
Collinson's wife. He was glad to be
relieved on that point and went on
more confidently:
so, you see, this woman was I'M
doubtedly in the house on the night of
the fire. She escaped, and in a mighty
hurry, too, for she had not time to
change her slippers for shoes; she es-
capped on horseback, for that is how
she lost them. Now, what was she
doing there with those rascals, for the
face saw looked as innocent as a
saints
Seemed to We sort O. contrary, jist
as I reckoned my wifes foot would
have looked in a slipper that you said
was given to ye," suggested Collinson
pointedly, bur with no implication of
reproach in his voice
Yes" said Key impatiently.
I've read yarns afore now about
them Eyetahan brigands stealth wo-
men," said Collinson reflectively, 'Fbut
that amt California road agent style
Great Scott! If one even so much as
spoke to a woman they'd have been
wiped outer the state long ago. No!
the woman as was there came there
to stayr'
AS Keys face did not seem to ex-
press either assent or satisfaction at
this last statement, Collinson, after
a glance at il, went on with d some
what gentler gravity. Il see wot's
troublin' you, MIR. Key; you've bin
thinkin' that mebbe that poor woman
might hev bin the better for a bit O.
that fortin' that you discovered under
the very spot where them slippers of
hers had often trod. You're thinkin'
that mebbe it might hev' turned her
and her man from their evil ways"
Mr.. Key had been thinking nothing
of the kind, but for some obscure rea-
son the sceptical jeer that had risen to
his lips remained unsaid. He rose i'm
patiently. well, there seems to be no
chance of discovering anything now
the house is burned, the gang dis
persed. and she has probably gone with
them" He paused, and then laid
three or four large gold pieces on the
table. ITS for that old bill of our
party, Collinson.' he said. I'll settle
and collect from each. Sometime when
you come over to the mine, and I hope
you'll give US a call, you can bring the
horse. Meanwhile, you can use him /;
the mule. How is business? ?" he added
with a perfunctory glance around the
vacant room and dusty bar.
Thar amt much passin' this way"
said Collinson with equal carelessness.
as he gathered UP the money t"cept
those boys from the valley, and they
re most always strapped when they
come here
Key smiled as he observed that Col
linson offered him no receipt, and,
moreover, as he remembered that he
had only Collinson's word for the de-
struction of Parker's draft. But he
merely glanced at his unconscious host
and said nothing. After a pause he
returned in lighter tone, 81 suppose
you are rather out of the world here.
Indeed. I had an idea at first of buy
ing out your mill, Colhnson, and put
ting in steam power to get out timber
for our new buildings, but you see you
are so far away from the wagon road
that we couldn't haul the timber away.
That was the trouble or I'd have made
you a fair offer"
81 don't reckon to ever sell the MILL
said Collinson simply. Then observ-
ing the look of suspicion in his COM
panion's face, he added gravely, ''You
see, I rugged up the whole thing when
I expected my wife out from the states
and I calkilate to keep it in memory Of
her.
Key slightly lifted his brows. "But
you never told US. by the way, how
you came to put up a mill here. with
such an uncertain water supply"
ct wasn't onsartin when I came
here. Mr.. Key; it was fulfilled stream
straight from them snow peaks. 1t
was the earthquake did it."
''The earthquake! repeated Key.
Eyes. Eff the earthquake kin heave
up that silver-bearing rock that you
told us about the first day you KEN
here, and that you found t'other day,
it could play roots with a mere mill
stream, I reckon"
But the convulsion spoke of hap
pened ages ago, when this whole
mountain range was fashioned" said
Key with a laugh.
'sWell, this yer earthquake was ten
years ago-just after I came. / reckon
I oughter remember it. 1t was queer
sort O. day in the fall, dry and hot, as
if thar might hev bin fire in the
woods. only thar wasn't no wind Not
breath of air anywhar The leaves of
them alders hung straight as a plumb
line. Except fur that thar stream and
that thar wheel nuthin' moved. Thar
walnut bird on the wing over that
CANYON: thar wasn't a squirrel skirm-
ishin' in the hull wood; even the liz
ards in the rocks stiffened like stone
Chinese idols. 1t kept gettin' quieter
and quieter until I walked out on that
ledge and felt as if I had to give a yell
just to hear my own voice. Thar was
thin vaiI aUnr. avarvthine and he-