The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-07

Ina- tear "a nvi vrap.vs~- -.--- -------
speed to her totterlng legs
Is that you, Bstty2' laughed Ken
nedy wondering at her ugliness.
"Tls nobuddy Use, sorr,' she snap
ped, with a wag Of her red head as she
passed him and went in at the door.
She pulled a wet sack from the water
bucket in the corner, hllsd a tin cup
with the crystal drink, grabbed brown
bottle o.. or the homemade cupboard,
and setting both on the table, said:
There's IN drink an tn chaser, az
bo h is good. Mis.her Price says yer
dyin' fr a dhrop. Ts raal gud. He
bought It in Dlnver."
Where's Mr. Prce2" asked Ken
nedy, pouring drink Of the red liquor,
"oh, sure, twas down in the moine
he found me- and there he stopped for
m,ngit t. take a few shtrokes at tn
poomp. They's a fut O. wather in tn
hole He'll be here prlslntly."
Kennedy held up his tin cup with an
inch Of whisky in IT,
ITO Price and the Golden Chlckenl"
he pledged.
"Dhrink haarty." answered the spor-
tive old wench, loerlng at him through
her frowsy forelocks.
Kennedy sat down on the doorstep to
wait for Price while Betty put a match
to her gasoline stove and sliced a side
of bacon.
Betty. feel dizzy" said Kennedy
suddenly; some water, salt" He was
standing up now, reaching bllndly for
the door latch Pm going. going. go"
otis the altichood, honey; the alti--
choo--choo-oo--o.'
Her rough voice sounded like that az
he staggered toward the cot and
vaguely felt her strong arms easing
his fall
When he came to his senses he was
lying on the cot, with wet cloths across
a forehead. Jim was sitting beside
him. tanning him with his wlde-brim-
med hat.
BY George, old fellow" chirped
P,cc, Il thought you'd never wake
up"
What happened to me, JlmI"
'T don't know When / came down
from the hole Betty was already on
YOU pony She called out, I'm goln'
.or the Doctor and away she went
down the canyon like a witch. was
scared nearly to death I thought you
mus. be dying, you lay there for nearly
an hour without moving. ! suppose
the altitude knocked you out"
"Yes, that's what Betty said" Ken
Eedy murmured, sitting up and reach
ing for his coat and vest He put them
on felt for his watch, and then looking
blaakly at Jim, said Jim, my watch
IS gonei"
H. searched every pocket. His watch,
his ring, his money, and even a dia-
moEd-studded matchbox which HIS
mother had given bim, were gone.
"The old cat roared Price with an
OATH "In land heS IN Canon City for
this"
"fhe devil take her" growled Ken
nedy, "let her go Jim. The whole swag
isn't worth over $500 in money. OF
course, to me--hut never mind. let's
get hack to the hotel / feel a bit wob-
bly, yet. suppose she, ,drugged me and
ran away when she heard you coming
Let's drop it and get home"
Poor Price was in a fury at his Bet
ty." Riding behind Gordon, he raved
and cursed all the way home The mine
was forgotten and he vowed that he
woaid send the red-headed narldan Il
the penltenuary II it cost him his all
They forgot their troubles for a whils
thar night over a bowl Of cracked ice
a siphon and a bottle OF Scotch, bu.
Kennedy had 70 80 back to Denver the
next day
I'm be back soon, Jim" he called as
tao train pulled out. "and Wen ride all
owe. these mountains"
He did come back in week, bu'
Price was not at the hotel He had moi
been in town FOR several days, the clerk
saf1