The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-10-16

"a beastly mess!" he muttered.
"No train until morning. Such SER
vice l never saw! But one train a
day"
But there was no choice. He con-
tented himself the best he could in the
small mining town and retired early
to be ready for 6 o'clock start in the
morning.
Richard Borden lived twenty miles
west of the Gold King, on the outskirts
of the most pretentious settlement in
the region. Hudson dropped off the
cars early the following morning at
Goldfeld, and looked around for some
sort of conveyance TO carry him to
the home of his man.
Don't you have stage or some
sort of thing TO pick up strangers?"
be asked of the solitary station agent.
: "Not for this early train. Where
do you want to go?"
"To Mr.. Barden's-Richard Borden.
Do you know him?"
The man did not reply directly, but
pointing down the rough road said:
"There's your chance! There's Miss
Borden in Der automobile. If you're
a friend of her uncle she may take you
out"
Hudson did not wait for explana-
tions, but bolted out of the dingy room.
"I'm going to ask you to take me as
a passenger" he said, touching the
side of the car with one hand. II
must see your uncle at once and settle
business with him."
She smiled and graciously motioned
him to position by her side. "You
have decided to advise your company
to buy the mine, see," she said
quietly.
Eyes, and l must inspect the papers
of the contract and then telegraph my
company before noon."
She touched the lever and started
the automobile putting up the hill.
When it was running smoothly she
asked: ''Why in such a hurry? Would
not tomorrow do as well?"
"No; it must be done before noon
today" Hudson answered. "There's
meeting of the stockholders this
afternoon, and if they don't hear favor
ably from me by that time they will
cancel the order"
They had reached commanding
eminence on the mountain road and
Hudson forgot his business in admira.
tion. She, too, seemed distracted and
lost in contemplation of the scenery.
eff it wasn't for business now," he
said reaectively, II couldn't imagine
anything pleasanter than a long ride
through such glorious country
She laughed slightly, and replied
with a little intake of the breath:
"Why not take it anyway? I'D make
an excellent guide. l know every
road and sidepath." ......-. -.
1T seems graceless to refuse such a
tempting offer; but it is something
that will affect my whole future career.
I must first attend to that and then"
She did not accept the hint, but
added somewhat irrelevantly:
"But what would happen if the mine
proved worthless?' -a s.e
Hudson shrugged his shoulders.
"I'd be ruined that is, my reputa-
tion as mining expert would be, and
that is my only stock in trade at
present"
They passed along the brow of the
hill, touching higher levels with each
succeeding mile, and far below them
lay the valleys rich in their. early au-
tumnal hues. The verdue of the
mountains was blotched here and there
by the dirty mining camps, with the
ugly derricks and unsightly buildings;
but otherwise tile view was unmarred
by any.inventi6h Of man. They cross:
ed bridge which "spanned a small
stream of water tinkling down through
deep gorge ih the mountain. =:
"There are gorgeous views," Hudson
said for the fifth time. Then, consult.
ing his watch he added in some alarm
"aWhy, you live long distance from
the station! l had no idea it::was SO
far" ~ ~ ''.::.: j. ::..:.
"Yes, uncle chose it because of its
exclusiveness," she answered, indiffer'
emily, with head averted. =,
"But-but will we not be there soon!
It's getting late" ~,
A mountain fox suddenly crossed
the road Immediately ahead of them
With enthusiasm she exclaimed: "See
that fox? Did you ever hunt them up
here?" :......,
! Hudson felt. his attention drawn