Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-04-19
BOOKED THROUGH.

coarse shirt as tender as baby's.
Above him, on either hand, lowered
the peaks of the California Sierras in
solemn grandeur. At his feet lay a
gulch of considerable depth, with a
number of wooden shanties huddled
together in the bed of it.
1t was Sunday afternoon; the sun
hung low over the western hills, and
never a pick clinked in all the gulch
Only, at intervals, sound of drunken
merriment came floating up from
Griff's saloon.
As the miner listened to the sound his
lips curled in smile of contempt. God
knows what his past has been, but
whatever its history it had left him
gloomy, taciturn, unsociable. His
miner chums had nicknamed him Gen
tleman jim" but in spite OF his solitary
habits they respected not less than they
feared him.
where's the kid off to now, Won
der?" he said, looking about him in
search of some one. Line see-she
was pointing downhill last time | sot
eyes on her. Come, old boss, let's go'n
look her up"
The child of whom he spoke was the
only one in the diggings. Her mother
had never been seen in those parts, and
her father was dead-a victim to bit
OF vengeful revolver practice on the
part of a half tipsy chum.
Anything more unlike the rough and
ready frequenters Of the mines than this
daughter Of the diggings could not we'll
be imagined. The worst men have
something good and tender in them
still, and drinking, knife-using, lawless
crew though the miners were, in the
presence of 1.-The lass" they became as
docile as lambs. They fairly worship
red her. AS for Gentleman Jim, he had
constituted himself her special pro-
tector.
The two were mutually drawn to
each other, and many happy hour did
the morose, solitary miner spend in the
society of the tiny, prattling maid.
Now that she mad strayed from his
side he rose abruptly and strobe down
the slope. looking to right and left for
some sign of the truant.
Just below the group of shanties a
deep earth cutting scanned the hillside
like a monster cash. 1t was the start
ing point of branch railway, which
when completed would connect the dig
gings with DRAGON City, the nearest
point OF the great trunk line. some four
miles further down the gulch. The
rails, as matter of fact, were already
land, and the diggings would ere this
have been in touch with the outer
world had it not been that a tremend-
GUS freshet swept away portion Of the
railway embankment only few weeks
before.
Upon the hillside cutting the miners
gaze fingered doubtfully. On the track
at its bottom there stood, he knew. a
number of old hand cars or trolleys.
and on these he had once found the
child playing He had forbidden her
ever going there again. for the trolleys
were prevented from starting off in a
mad career down the steep track by a
mere block Of wood placed under the
front wheel of each.
NO" he said to himself, with a shake
Of his shaggy head "she wouldn't go
nigh them if | told her not. So, dis
missing the doubt from his mind, he
directed his steps toward the shanties.
As he neared them he caught up with
a couple Of miners, who were coming
from the direction Of the railway.
Seen anything o the lass, mates?"
he asked.
The miners stopped. One Of them
was somewhat unsteady on his legs, the
other fairly sober. The later made an
swer:
Seen her just now playin' on one O.
them thar trolleys."
ION the trolleys did you say, mate?"
That's what ! said" replied the 9TH
ed, land don't you forget itn'
Gentleman Jim did not seem likely to
forget it. On the contrary, he set off
toward the railway at run.
Looked rather skeered,' remarked
the more sober Of the two miners 10
his companion. Guess I'll run back
an see what's up" And with that he
hurried after Gentleman Jim.
Two minutes sufficed to bring the
latter to the edge Of the cutting. Fifty
feet below, at the bottom of the cutting,
and in the lowermost of the line Of troll
legs, knelt "the lass" grasping the
crank handle of the car with both hands
and singing softly to herself as she
worked it back and forth. At a glance
Gentleman jim saw that the crank was
beginning to revolve. The trolley was
in motion.
He shouted and the child, raising her
head, looked up the slope. AS she did
so the heavy iron crook swung sharply
round, struck her upon the temple, and
felled her to the bottom OF the car
which, released from the restraint OF
her hands, began to move rapidly down
the sloping track.
Gentleman Jim cleared the bank al
most at bound, but he was too late
to stop the trolley. Kicking the wedge
from under the wheel Of the next in
line, he was about to set it in motion
when the miner who had disclosed the
whereabouts Of "the lass" came sliding
down the bank TO his side.
Tumble in, mate" shouted Gentle
man Jim. The lass's off down the
track in yonder trolley"
Then / amt SIGH a fool as to foller
her" retorted the other, coolly
Reckon We know the big dumps wash
ed out?"
GAY, know it we'll" said Gentleman
Jim, between his teeth, IAN we've got
to catch that trolley before It jumps
the rails into the wash-out. Will We
Gomez"
burned II do"' was the logged re-
ply.
Gentleman Jim stood holding the