The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-08-05
SC0OPED.

1t was high noon in the Rockies. The
bright, scorching rays of the western
C9ur d'Alene range down into the
narrow valley below, where they light
ed on the head of solitary traveller,
tired and dust worn from his long jour
ney since daybreak. Bob Long was not
accustomed to such jaunts as this-that
was evident. Yet in u measure he was
enjoying il, In any event, after coming
into Rocky Canyon for the privilege of
''roughing it, {" he had no intention of
going back ON the venture at this stage
of the game. A two weeks vacation,
during which he need not turn in u line
of copy, did not come but once annual
ly, and it was not to be wasted in back
ward glances. But he was tired, and the
little beast under him did not possess
the most restful of movements. Then,
too, tho road was lonely-fearfully so.
Bob began to wonder how he had man.
aged to miss all the camps, for he knew
he was in the heart of an extensive min
ing district He kept travelling simply
because he could not be satisfied to stop
until he had arrived at some definite
understanding with himself in regard
to his location. Now he was all at sea-
The narrow trail wound around the
side Of n craggy mountain, then dipped
into tho valley again. The elevation
disclosed to view an approaching horse
man riding with the case of long prac-
tice. Five minutes later the men halted
to exchange greetings,
Hello, stranger! Prospecting"
well, yes, a little. Prospecting fol
pleasure.
"Sorry to disappoint You, stranger,
but you won't find it in these zero dig
gins. Rocky canyon don't produce
nothin but hard work and disappoint-
ment. Don't even roll out nough dust
TO keep Teller in chnwin tobacccr. /
can testify to that Been here goin on
three year now. !"
Bob looked incredulous.
'Your report doesn't agree with the
rumors that find their way out of this
canyon. -
Fact, jest the same. Mighty poor
place fer stranger to locate.
Bob began to surmise his presence
was not desired i'll Rocky Canyon by
this experienced inhabitant.
GLOW far is it to the nearest mining
camp?" he asked.
"Jack Doolan' is down there spell.
But d advise you to keep out o Jacks
camp fer the time bein. Teller murdered
there this mornin, and there g mighty
warm reception waitin fer any stranger
that happens to turn up durin the next
three days. Better give 'em II chance to
cool off little -
Bob's reportorial instincts took
lively turn.
"Who was he?" he asked
Jim Smith.
"Man of any prominence?
"You bet ne was Owned half the
claim.
Wealthy"
Somewhat, meaningly.
"Who killed him?"
That's what they're tryin to find
out down to jacks F"
"What induced the act?"
you to keep clear o. Jack Doolan's till
some other cur us FOOLS paid the penalty.
Good day, stranger "
But Bob was not to be frightened into
abandoning his trip Besides, here was
q scoop for The Meteor, and the value
Of n scoop to that enterprising sLeet was
not TO be ignored. Bob resolved to go
on and trust to luck and his own adroit-
ness to save his neck. The stranger had
shown too much anxiety for his peaceful
departure for him to give full credence
to the story, and before Bob had ridden
q milo he had thoroughly convinced
himself that he had conversed with the
real murderer provided that the whole
thing was not n fake, and that by CON
tinuing his journey he would be the
means of the capture and punishment Of
the escaping criminal.
Another mile and he came to camp.
That part of the travellers information
was correct at least, and inquiry quick
ly proved that it was Jack Doolan's
Contrary to his expectations Bob met
with hospitable reception without
any suggestion Of suspicion. True, Jim
Smith was murdered there that morn
ing, but Jim Smiths murderer had al
ready been apprchended, and, from the
bootless feet Bob discovered dangling
in the breeze back of the camp, had evil
IDENTIFY met with lofty treatment. AT
any rate, some one had paid the penal
ty, and Bob had nothing to fear.
1t made great story for The Meteor.
Being on the ground, Bob got all the
details, and they needed no embellish
ing. lie did not rest until he had the
story on the wires, though it necessitat-
ed an extra ten miles on horseback to
Jimtown, the nearest telegraph station.
But The Meteor appreciated it, and that
was sufficient.
The next day Bob returned to Jack
Doolan's. prepared to continue his va
cation that had been SO suddenly inter
rupted. He had hardly entered the
camp, however, when the man who had
given him the main facts i'll the murder
story called him aside.
"Say, stranger, do you want another
story? Since you re in the biz you might
as well have all that's goin, and there's
a cussed lot of it round these diggin's
Jest ut present. We're suspicionin, Jack
and me, that thay 3 gang o counter
feiters back in the mountains someers.
You know that Teller you met ON the
road yesterday? Well, he'sono o. EN-,
en- I miss my guess, He didn't want you