The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-07-06
the country, and he'd be welcome



"Are those my fathers acquaint-
ances?' she cried, flinging up her
hands. "Heaven help us!''
L was casting about for some slight
domestic duty to occupy my time when
she stopped me by asking if l could
go and meet her father.
"But you"
NAY, do not mind. The cabin is Sc
cure. Why" with wistful smile, II
am always alone from daybreak until
dark"
I knew it was the fact; so, bidding
her open the door to none until she
heard me OF the "major," I started on
my errand.
Not very far had I to go, for met
him in that same little ravine of which
his daughter had dreamed; it skirted
the pine woods His pick was over
his shoulder, his right hand in his
pocket feeling the nuggets, perhaps.
He was singing a few bars from an
operatic air. He looked more content
than l had seen him, nodding to me
in his patronizing fashion.
After a few stray words, I related
what had happened, advising him to
be on his guard.
''Thanks, 1 will,'' he replied haught-
lily, much amused at the scoundrels
asking him to pay visit in their COM
pany. "But I've a secret to tell you,
Ned" he added. II have done with
! mining in this section Luck has ia
vored me beyond my hopes. can af
ford to turn my back upon it. I shall
take my daughter to San Francisco.
l have thought of settling there"
AS he spoke the little tie Of COM
radeship between us was shattered;
in moment we were sundered as the
/ poles, so quietly he brushed it away.
No rest was mine that night; evil
was In the air. So, as l could not
sleep, got up and went out. Not be-
ing a fool, kenw I must keep my
misery to myself; but my life was
empty!-empty! You see, I was hard
hit What was Miss Amy Waring to
me-could she ever have been to me-
a shiftless vagabond not worthy to
kiss the dust she trod on? But must
go back and watch the cabin that COW
| cred her for this last night; so I re-
| turned to the rayine. In it were many
| little dells swarming with wild flow
| ers. Now, in one of these same dells
what do you think I saw? A dead
mans face. Yes, I knew at once that
| he was dead, but so easily the major"
rested on the damp grass that the song
l had heard him singing might still
be on his lips. His pockets, turned
| lining outward, were empty. Snatch
| ing up his pick, I dashed on to the
cabin, knowing we'll whom I should
find there. My long knife was in my
belt. I raced round to the back; the
| little kitchen door was undone; the
|
stranger, making free with some whis-
ky which the "major" had kept in a
cupboard. Where was Miss Amy?
l found her in the front room, tied in
chair, her lips bleeding over her
white teeth. The cursed hounds had
struck her.
''There are three of them," she whis-
pcred; ''those two who came and an
other man. They watched for my
father and murdered him; they told
me so. Hark! they are coming. Ned,
they have pistols, and will shoot you
where you stand. Go away this in
! stant-only-kill me first;;' and then
she lifted her white pillar Of a throat
Now, my beauty" roared drunken
voice through the thin partition, eve
are bringing you a sup Of whisky to
drink our healthS in. Amt you longin'
for us to make love to ye? Well stow
away the rhino first, and then-you
shall have your tlrn.'
''Be quiet" 1 whispered back to her,
cutting the cords with my knife, and
in a few seconds had her out of the
chair, and we dashed out of the hOu,
together.
On, and on, and on, until the last
tree was at our backs. Then we made
for a trail which led to Johnson's tav-
ern, leaving the yells faint in the dis
tance. There we stopped and there
Amy told her tale.
News spreads quickly at the dig.
gings, and Judge Lynch is for immedi
ate action. Before noon of the next
day the stolen gold, including the two
big nuggets, had been recovered, and
three figures dangled from an oak by
the wayside.
AS soon as it was possible Miss Amy
started for San Francisco, whence she
was to remain until she could commu.
nicate with some friends in New Or
| leans.
About a week later / followed her,
and called upon her at the Lick house
She greeted me kindly, even warmly,
and I blurted out that I hoped she
| WOulu LOU De O11enueQ at my coming,
but-and then I shut up.
"Ned," she cried; "brave Ned! dear
kind, good Ned! There are debts which
can never be repaid, and I am your
debtor always always, Ned" and
holding out her hands to me, she
bowed her head upon my big brown
fists and sobbed.
''You are very kind, Miss Amy" !
spoke with a quiet voice. II wish-I
could have been a gentleman for just
a little while, so that l might have
served you better.''
"a gentlemany' she cried, lifting her
face and looking full at me, and then
she raised these hard fists of mine to
her soft lips and kissed them.
Yes, she kissed them; and I!-how
was to help it?-the touch Of those
lips broke me down smash. Yet she
was not angry-not offended. She put
out her little hands to me again, mean
ing-I knew it-both to silence and
comfort me. She did not speak; for
what could she have said-what could
any fine lady such as she have said?
Well, from that day Amy Waring