The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-06
MYRA'S VICTIM.

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some for sea-shells, some for as man.
Of the natural wonders as they coull
carry in their trunks in small pieces
and some went for good time.
Marion Lester wanted shells and sci
n0sses, and her maiden aunt went 70
fossils, petrifactions, and bits of bi,
trees and minerals, but Ihorne Reck
less went because Marion Lester was o
tho party. and Myra Doone went becausl
Ihorne Reckless did, aud Major DenbJ
vent because Myra DOone did. In all
there We're twenty-five. and il would bt
scarcely worth while to study the mo
tiyes that actuated the rest, as they arc
not lin, as the children say
They had been TO the north, and then
10 the south, TO the sea shore, and to
the geysers, and at last started for the
famed calayeras group Of big trees, by
the way of Angels and Murphy 5
camps; and when they reached this lat
ter place they decided to remain for a
couple Of days to examine the many
natural wonders, the scenery, and
finally, the great mines close by, where
the men We're bard at work with their
hydraulic pipes washing away hills like
snow, and the great quartz mines and
mills, few miles distant, at Altavile
Aunt Margaret an I two or three
other scientific ones, started bright and
early the next day for Bald Mountain,
where their search for antediluvan re-
mains was most likely to be rewarded /;
the hunters and fishers and botanists
betook themselves to their own special
fields, and left but a party of eight to
60 to Altayiile, 10 see the great forty
stamp mill in active operation, and to
50 down into the mine if it were pos
sible thing.
The party, laughing and gayly chat
ting, came TO the mill, where they were
politely received by the superintendent,
who left his business to conduct them
personally all through the mill, explain
10 them how the broken, blasted pieces
of rcck, after having been lifted from
the six-hundred-foot level, slid down an
inclined sort Of hopper, aud from that
fell in regular quantity into the trough
below the forty great stamps that went
dancing mp and down, and making
half revolution every move, until those
rocks with the thin stream Of water
that flowed down amongst them, were
turned into an impalpable powder, and
went floating down to be. filtered and
sifted with blankets and quicksilver,
and tubs with turbine wheels, and then
let loose, to go where it would, as the
gold it had held hidden was now all
rendered up to the workers.
Marion listened to the explanations
With dilated eyes and glowing cheeks.
There was to her something wonderfully
grand in this triumph of mind over
matter, and she looked upon the mill
and its ponderous machinery, all NOV
ing in rhythmic order. like a magical
obedience to a sorcerer, and she piled
the superintendent with so many ques-
tions, and became so intensely interested
that Thorne Reckless began to think
that had gone about far enough.
~Ah, Marion. don't you think you are
firing Mr. Shatluckg You don't give
him time to take breath.
Marion turned her lovely brown eyes
full on Mr. Shattuck with a questioning
glance. but be declared that he was
only too pleased to answer all the ques-
tions she could ask.
Crushed againi' whispered Myra to
Thorne. Don't you know better than
to interrupt Marion in a Irritation yet?"
1T appears not, said Throne. who
always looked upon Myra as being as
good as engaged to his friend Denby
and therefore he always had a sort Of
brother-iike freedom with her, aud he
looked at the superintendent with saw
age eyes, while he did not resent Myra's
impertinent speech
Just now Mr. Shattuck proposed that
they should lunch, and then such as
wished could 60 down to the six-hun-
dred-foot level While they were taking
a delicious luncheon Of fruit, bread,
coffee and cold smoked tongue, Throne
managed to get a seat beside Marion,
and It must be admitted that he sue
ceeded in making himself intensely
disaQreeable. as he offered his opinion
about going down into the mine, and
Marion resented iis interference.
In the meantime Myra was not idle.
Every chance she found Of saving a
word 10 widen the breach between
Marion and Throne she used, and all
the time found oppoftunlIles OF using
her pale eyes with excellent effect
upon poor DENLY.
The others were paired of very COM
fortably. and they we're too happy
among themselves to try to bring dis
cord into the party.
When lunch was ended. the prepare
tions we're made for the descent into
the mine: but at the last minute Myra
declared she could never consent TO go
down IN that dreadful cage, and so she
was to remain in the garden and super
infendent's room until their return; but
ghen she saw that Throne was also
bent upon going. she conquered her
fears. aud holding tight to his hand,
stood n the cage to 60 down And as
the cage began e move, she gave
efaed scream. aud hid her heal On
Thrones shoulder
Marion pretended not TO notice Il,
but her lips went very white with anger,
flrnrh she told herself at the same in