Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-17
A MISS AND A NINE.
BY Arthur Chapman.

Seth Elkins had one way of showing
There was never any lack of flourish
when he drove the daily stage up to
the Edwards House. Scoffers might
say that Argentopolis had never
amounted to anything since the silver
boom fickered and went out in '93. but
Seth made as great a commotion with
his four horses and rattletrap wagon as
he did in the lays when the saloons
and dance halls were running and
foundation of the Methodist church.
The saloons and dance halls had long
ago fallen into disuse and decay, the
church foundation had filed with
water. and the Edwards House had
sunk from it's proud estate as a hotel
to a third rate boarding house, but still
Seth's whip cracked and his strenuous
"Whoa!'' contained nothing but a note
of optimism.
This morning Seth made his arrival
doubly impressive, for did he not have
a lady passenger? She was the first
woman to come up Bobcat Canyon
since the new biscuit shooter for the
Edwards House had put in an appear
ance. Moreover, she was what Seth
termed a "beyoot," and he fastened to
-,,o,o H. 80 ahA,t +Aoh polra a,.l -
descend, only to find that the lady pas
Senger had anticipated him and had
leaped lightly to the platform unassist-
ed, unmindful of the stares of the curl
idlers OF Argentopolis. She strolled
to the edge of the platform as one glad
to escape the irksOme restraint of the
jolting, weak-springed stage, and as
she did so, two men accosted the
driver
ANY man come up with you?" asked
the elder-a thick-set. broad shouldered
individual, whose deep set eyes glowed
from beneath a combination of shaggy
eyebrows and dilapidated sombrero.
Nope"
Shut a mining expert was to come
UPS from the train-M. H. Eyler, that's
the name according to this telegram"
said the younger man, Juggling at a
curly growth of tawny beard and look
ing disconsolately at a telegram in his
hand.
my name, gentlemen-Minnie II.
Eyler, at your service" and the three
men turned in astonishment and faced
the trinity clad AM utterly ~unabashed
lady passenger.
But we looked for a mining expert"
gasped the young a while the elder
could only swear to himself in an as
tonished whisper.
well, / have been sent as such and
my examination and report on your
property is to be accepted. Your
names, l take it"
This is Mr.. Bell, locator of the Jay
bird mine, and l am Richard Welton,"
said the young man, recovering him
self. 1--WE have a team in waiting and
can go to the property at any time"
Instantly the lady passenger was all
attention. The quizzical look faded out
of her blue eyes, and her determined
little chin became more assertive than
ever. She excused herself, and, as she
disappeared in the doorway of the
hotel, Welton exclaimed:
That's the first tailor made I've
seen since l left home"
And this is playing right into
hands" laughed Bell. What luck, to
have 'em send a fool woman on such
a trip"
Don't remind me of the miserable
business groaned Welton. This 70
mans coming may make it twice as
easy for you, but it's twice as hard for
me. Now Bell, l have about con-
| cluded-"
But here the men retired to a corner
| Of the platform where all Argentopolis
! could not hear tneir conversation.
Their talk was interrupted by the min
ing expert. who emerged from the hotel
| clad in a neat cyclIng skirt that reached
to the ankles of her sturdy boots. a
blue shirt waist that matched her
jaunty felt hat, and a stout leather
valise in n hand.
There are my ore sacks and pros
p~ector's hammer" she said as she
threw the valise in the bottom of the
wagon and leaped lightly into the seat.
You see, l don't go u~nprepared.
though usually carry my own chemi-
calls, too, for ground tests
As they drove up the winding canyon,
the sturdy horses breathing hard in the
thin atmosphere. the mining expert
laughed and chatted with Welton.
She deity kept the conversation off
mines and mining. though occasionally
she dropped a casual remark about the
surface of the country through which
they We're travelling. getting a look of
surprise, not unmixed with concern.
from Bell. whose great hands were
guiding the horses.
SIS - So