The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-09
BRET HARTE'S LATEST STORY
LIBERTY J0NEy DISCOVERY

fused her. II was like her logged. sfupid
father 20 miss the trail. She felt .
gieam of malicious satisfaction ~ his
discomdture. Sooner or later he would
have 70 retrAce his steps and virtually
coihe back for her. She took up posi-
ton where roo rough wheel rufs and
which must be the missing trail She
noticed. too. the broader footprints Of
cattle without the following wheel ruts.
and instead Of traces, the long smooth
trails made by the dragging Of logs. and
knew by these tokens that she must be
near the highway or some woodmans
hut or ranch. She began to be thirsty.
and was glad. presently, when her quick
rustic ear caught the tinkling Of water
Yet II wse not 70 easy TO discover, and
she was Getting footaore and tired again
before she found IT, some distance
away. In . gully coming from q assure
In q disaocatsd piece Of outcroe. II was
beautifully clear. cold and sparkling.
with siishtiy sveetish taste. yet unlike
the brachfsh '.aikaM' Of the platns. II
refreshed and eoothed her greatly. -
much 30 that. reclining against . tree.
but where she would be quite visible from
the trail. her eyes closed dreamily. and
presently she slept.
When she awoke the shafts Of sunlight
were striking almost level into her eyes.
She must have slept two hours: her
father had not returned. she knew the
passage Of the wagon would have awak-
ened her, She began TO feel strange. but
not yet alarmed-if was only the uncer-
tainty that made her uneasy. Had her
father really gone on by some other trail?
Or had he really hurried on and left her
as he said he would? The thought
brought an odd excitement TO her rather
than any fear. A sudden sense Of free
dom-as II some CALLING chain had dropped
from har-sent singular thrill through
her frame Yet she felt confused with her
tndependence-not knowing what to do
with II. and momentartiy dashed with the
possible gift. Al this moment she heard
voices. and the figures OF two men APP
peared on the trail.
They were talking earnestly, and walk
ing as II familiar with the spot--yet gag
Ing around them as II ~ some novelty Of
the aspect
And look there said one: there has
been some serious disturbance OF that out
crop pointing In the direction of the
sprtng-"the lower part has distinctly sub
sided" He spoke with q certain author
tty. and dominance Of position. and was
evidently the superior ~ he was the cider
of the two. although both were roughly
dressed.
Yes: II does kinder look AZ n IL had
lost Its holt-like the ledge yonder''
And you see am right-the movement
was from east to west" continued the
elder man.
The girl could not comprehend what they
said. and even thought them q little silly
But she advanced toward them. ai which
they stopped short. staring at her With
feminine instinct she addressed the more
important one.
"Ye amt passed no wagon nor team
goin on. hev yer
What sort Of . wagon said the man.
"Em'grant waggen-two yalier hosses.
Old NANNY Gad-drtvin'." She added the
latter k.nship as a protecting influence
against strangers. IN spite Of her previous
independence.
The men glanced at each other.
How long ago.
The girl suddenly remembered that she
had slept two hours
Sens noon.' she said. hesitatingiy.
"Since the earthquakey"
"Wot's fhAt?'
The man came impatientiy toward her
How did you come herer'
Got outer the waggen TO walk reckon
dad missed the trail ana hes got of some
where where can't flnci HIM"
What tran was he on-where was he
goingy'
"sSank Hozay. reckon He was go.n'
UP the 9rade-side o the hill. He must hey
turned or where there's a big rock hang
in over"
did you see him turn off?"
mo"
The second man. who was in hearing dis
lance. had turned away. and was os,en-
tatiousiy examining the sky and the tree
tops; the man who had spoken TO her join
ed him. and they said something IN a low
voice. Then they turned again. and came
slowly toware her. She. from some OBJ
scure sense Of imitation, stared at the tree
tops and the sky ~ the second man had
done. But the hrst man now laid his hand
kindly on her shoulder and sad. "Si,
down.
Then they told her there had been an
earthquake % strong that Il had thrown
down part OF the hillside. including the
wagon trail. That q wagon team and
driver such as she had described had been
carried and buried under a hundred fee,
OF rock In the Eulch below. party had
gone down to examine. but 4 would b.
weeks, perhaps. before they found II. and
she must be prepared for the worst She
looked at them vaguely anc with fearless
eyes.
Then ye reckon dads dead?''
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'San Jose