Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-10-12

AAH-~N
no time to waste. though. and we
must be ms noiseless as cats. Conner
Within two minutes DIX Redburn'a
cabin was surrounded by a mob head
ed by Jack Brown. The men called on
Redburn to come out, but received no
response. They stole up to the door
and listened, but no sound broke tic
death-like stiffness that reigned with
In. They broke the door open holding
their guns ready to meet an attack,
but saw no living thing. They groped
about the room, searching everywhere.
but found nobody. The cabin was de-
serted.
"Quick, menr' Jack Brown criel.
Scatter In every direction and search
for them They cannot be far away.
for saw them at he door as we came
down the road"
The mob dispersed and ran about in
every direction They searched every
where. but 1t was Of no use. Dick Red
burn and his daughter had dlsap-
peared as effectually and mysteriousIy
as though they had faded away. Non
plused and disappointed, the men col
lected again at the cabin. and while
they were standing there puzzling
over what had transpired Bob Haw.
kins and a body Of miners charged
down on them.
The miners supposed that Redburn
and his daughter were in danger, so
they opened fire on the mob. Some
members of the mob fired a shot I'm re-
turn, but the greater part of them ran
away at the first evidence of danger.
Jack Brown alone stood his ground. He
tired two shots at Bob Hawkins, one
Of which inflicted flesh wound, while
tht other cut through Bob's clothing
just under his left arm.
But those two shots were the last
Jack Brown ever fired, for ball, sent
by a steady hand, sped straight
through his heart.
That ended the fight and the reiap
Of reform in Tough Luck. The miners
took matters In hand and inaugurated
a new system of things. They ran sew
eral of the more dlsreputable charac-
ters out of the camp, though plenty
who were not above reproach re-
mained.
Several weeks passed before Bob
Hawkins recovered from his wound.
During that time he thought often Of
Minnie Redburn, and every day he
wondered what had become of her
and her father. He learned Of their
mysterious disappearance, and he had
never been able to understand 1t. IL
they were alive they certainly ought
to write to him. He had won enough
for them to entltle him to that much
consideration.
The summer passed, and along In
the fall Bob went down to Frisco. he
had begun to NOPE and had lost his
zest for work, so that the miners said
he was not much good any more. They
thought he was losing heart since for
tune had fought shy Of him in all his
mining efforts, but they were mlstak.
en-. He was simply lovesick.
His purpose in going to Frisco was,
ostensibly, to look after some business
matters, but in reality he went there
in the hope of finding some trace of
Dick Redburn and his daughter. and
particularly the latter. But he had
spent a month there, and though he
had searched every directory and
made every possible inquiry, and fire.
quented churches, theatres and every
other place that he thought 1t possi-
BILE Minnie might go, he had seen
nothing of her nor found anything
that gave him a trace of her wherea-
bouts.
At last he gave up the search aud
started to return to Tough Luck. He
was on his way to the stage-coach Of
fee to take passage for the noun.
tains. He was down-hearted and sad,
for the last hope of finding the wo-
man he loved was gone He wal ed
with his head down, taking no notice
of what was passing about him. Moth
ing was of interest to him.
Then in a moment he was electrified
into life and energy and his blood was
sent coursing through his veins. while
his brain went all in a whirl A we'll
remembered voice-a voice he could
never forget-had spoken his name
and he had looked up to behold Min
ME Redburn, more beautiful. more
lovely, more enchanting than be had
thought her.
OF course she invited him to come
to see her father. 1t was the most nat
ural thing in the world for her to do
that, after all he had done for her
and her parent. Equally Of course. he
accepted the invitation.
Matters progressed until one day
Bob called on Redburn and said TO
him:
"You remember a promise you made
to me that day up there at Tough
LuckT
Eyes. 1 remember"
''WeIl, L, have come to make a re
quest now"
Gan right. 1t is yours IL it is in my
power to grant it."
1T Is in your power, but l warn You
now that l am going to ask you for q
great deal. / am going to ask for the
most valuable, the most precious thing
of all your possessions.
"Well, name It,"
".rhen want you to give me your
daughter"
The old man gave a long whistle.
''Is that allf' he asked with a smile.
''That is enough" Bob replied.
"Well, you can have her and well
come. though, l think you are letting
me on entirely too easy. l expected
that you would ask for something Of
real value"
Hawkins laughed
ar to.~c % "a. .ot1 sfT Lo,r. oar-.a -.