Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-07-14
IN APEX
CANYON
By WILLIAM
MACLEOD RAINE
Copyright. 1909. bu r. C. Mcclure
Copyright. 1909. bu r. C. Mcclure

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
After Huntly had got his sister
aboard the Rocky Mountain Limited
and comfortably settled in her section
he looked about to see if by any
chance there were any OF his friends
aboard to whom he might confide the
care OF his sister for the journey from
Chicago to Denver. His eye fell on
Maddox-big Jim Maddox of Cripple
Creek and Seattle and Los Angeles, a
mining argonaut who knew his west
as Boston girl does her Henry james.
A moment later Maddox's big fist
was squeezing the blood out of Tie
clubmans limp hand.
by thunder, Huntly, but I'm glad
to see you. Let me see-last time /
saw you was on the dump of the Mol
lie h, out in Gods country. Member
the day drove you up Son-of-a-Gun
hill and sold you 5000 shares in the
James G. Blaine? We saw weather
that day, young man. The blizzard
sure did hit us on the way home. You
on the way out there now?'
Huntly rescued paralyzed hand be-
fore he yentured on explanations. no
I'm seeing my sister started. She has
not been well, and the doctors have or
dered complete change. We're send
ing her to Denver 1t was the original
plan that | should go with her, but
received telegram this morning that
the senior partner of our firm has died
suddenly, and it Is imperative that
should leave fer New York at once
Would it be asking too much of you
to see that she doesn't get too lone
some and that she makes connections
with my aunt ut Denver?
"Well. | guess not. That's what I'm
here for-to help out my friends when
they need me. But I'm not much of
lady's man. Miss Huntly will have to
take me in the rough"
Now, big hearted. breezy Jim Mad
dox was the very man to cheer home
sick girl who was travelling in search
Of health. He was as full of good spir-
40 fAAto W IOitcOlliC CiiCi Et IS Il Il OuE III
of July is of noise. He had in his va
red past experiences enough back of
him to beggar romance. and he had the
gift Of breezy narration as few men
have 1t. To be sure, he didn't krow
anything about young college graduates
from Bryn Mawr, but as soon as he had
seen Miss Huntiy he was more than
willing to learn.
Helen Huntly accepted the introduc-
ton with outward reserve and with In
ward doubt. She was tired; and she
did not want to have TO smile aud look
pleasant to this big. awkward man for
two whole days. But Maddox did not
know Of the existence of either the
doubt or the reserve. Ii he had, ii
wouldn't have mattered. His big brown
hand came out and buried the little
white one. and somehow the girl found
herself less lonely when she looked in
to the honest. smiling. blue eyed face
of this tanned stranger.
Before they had reached Rock Island
she was congratulating herself on the
6OO0 AOk tuhC thdt haa iftt4S kfttl hCi
travelling companion He was the most
interesting man on her list. she decided.
More strange adventures had fallen to
his lot than to a dozen average men.
He told his experiences quite simply
and because she was interested in hear
Ing them. not at all because he was
proud of them. He seemed to have
gathered into his personality the free
dom and the breadth of about dozen
OF the mountain states. He wasn't
coarse in the least, but he was as UNI
conventional as Kansas cyclone In ac-
ton. He trampled unconsciously on
her New England traditions with Wig
or that would have shocked If it had
not amused her. They simply did not
exist for him; that was all.
The emotions of Jim Maddox were
not bit complex. When after two
happy days he said goodby at the In
ion depot in Denver. where Miss Hunt
ly's aunt met her. he had already made
up his mind to marry her or know ths
reason why. As he phrased it to him.
self:
you've struck the best vein OF ore
you ever unearthcd, Jim Maddox, and
If you don't follow it up you're the big
gest fool in Arapahoe county"
He certainly followed it up, and IL
his mines at Cripple Greek require
any great amount OF personal attentls
during the next three weeks tn.
must have suffered. for their owns !.
openly and patiently made 1t the bust
ness of his life to WOO Miss Huntly.
He organized picnics and excursions
galore. and he always contriyed to no
the man who was paired of with her.
Finally he induced a party of the elder
Miss Huntly's choosing to go camping
IN the mountains near a new mine he
was developing.
As to Hiss Huntly. Jr. her feelings
were as house arrayed against itself.
She found herself falling into greater
liking than she cared to admit for this
free and. easy blond Hercules. and the
nature OF her liking did not approve
itself to her Judgment. She knew. Of
course, that he was in love with her.
and the knowledge Of it sent delightful
thrills to her heart. but afterward she
would scourge herself for it. The things
that had formerly seemed to her vital
she began to find herself appraisiHg by
his unconventional standards. and all
the Instincts OF her life training fought
-gainst the concessions to the western
spirit. Even while the charm or bis
easy breadth fascinated her. the Puri-
tan aud the social instincts OF the girl
rebelied at accepting them. She liked
immensely the frank equality that ex-
listed between him and his workmen.
but she knew that such a relation