The age-herald., 1901-07-14

l built. Their offer was accepted with alac. rity, and the desks and other furnishings of the old log structure were removed to the more modern house at once.
 | The first day of school in the new quarters saw but little study done. The scholars were | all too awe-stricken by their new surround ings to do much but gape idly at the unac- customed furniture. Bud and Miss took n Kind Of proprietary interest in the shooting iodge from having been the first acquaint- ances Of George and Helen but the rest were abashed before its magnificence as compared With the excessive plainness of their own homes, for George and Helen had done much to give the place the air of comfort and tasteful elegance to which their former sur roundings in the city had accustomed them.
 The winter months passed away quickly enough under the enlivening atmosphere of hard work; Helen was kept busy with her rapidly progressing pupils, and George had his hands full with his share of the ad- vanced classes and his own law studies. which he pursued with renewed energy, al- though his recent appointment to District Attorney spoke volumes of his present abil- lty as viewed by the voters of the mountain district. Judge Bates wasa frequent visitor. The hardy old man thought nothing of a twenty mile ride to see the young couple, who on their part came to regard him with an eyerincreasing affection. His experience of practical law application was an accumu- lation of almost half a century, and his aid was great boon to George, who was helped n ard irrelevant to hiG studies.
 The balmy air of spring quickly dissipated the snowdrifts which still choked the road in p'aces. The fields became bare and green began to glimmer everywhere. The farmers began overhauling harnesses and to talk of blowing. Part of Georges and Helen's pay for teaching school was to be in farm work, and to the credit of the farmers be it said that their ground was plowed before any other in the neighborhood. Not day passed without some one working ,ifl the 1. fields around Eagles Nest.
 George did not take much interest in the work, but bent all his energies to making himself as letterperfect as could be in the volumes of his profession before the opening Of the spring court, which was scheduled for a month later. The old Judge was much amused at this. My boy," he said, your farm land will pay you much better in one season, though it is worked for the first time, than three years of law practice now in the position you hold. Why, your land is almost twice as large as any farm in the neighborhood, and with wheat at one dollar a bushel, no labor to hire, everything done for you, no hired hands to feed, even your seed supplied, you should reap quite a snug little profit You will be the best paid coun. try school teachers that have ever been known here." George had not realized the possibilities that the wide stretch of land about Eagles Nest offered.
 T should think" he unused, 'that might plant the hillside, which the avalanche swept clear of brush that time we coasted down in the old log schoolhouse."
 "Of course you might, if it Is not too rocky" answered the Judge. Let's have look at the ground
 They walked to the spot at once, but were dismayed to see the large amount of grayish stone cropping out of the ground in several places. It seemed to cover the whole hill- side and to penetrate to unknown depths. The snowslide had carried tons of earth and loose stones to the bottom of the hill and left uncovered this deposit of mineral, which had been covered up for centuries.
 The Judge examined some of the queer stone with interest. q know something about mineralogy,' he said, at length. This rock is practically pure zinc. It forms foundation of the entire hill. My boy, you are rich man!'' E
 tTo BE CONTINUED,