Gilpin observer., 1903-04-02
The k|0ldyke Gold Mystery.
By JOHN R. MUsIcK.
Aathor 81 "Mysterlous Mr.. Howard" "ThG
DARK Stranger" "chariie AilendaIs's
Double" Rtc.
1opyright. 1887. By Rossnr BoHnHEs soHA
Al Ytghts ressrvsd


on his snowshoes and In an hour and
q half was back, saying: affsai rife
''rhey be not there"
What dye mean?" asked Kate.
Gone"
What is gomez"
Camp Hy.tfti- 3 tffll
"Where?"
dun know" and he shrugged his
shoulders again. iis ti
She was nonplussed, and in fact
frightened.
"Gone!" she whispered, half aloud.
Gone and left me alone with this
sick man in this wilderness! Gone.
and with that poor child. Why,
can't hardly believe it. and yet my
heart has always told me tn rascal
was villain. Oh. Laura, Laura!
where are you now, my poor child?"
she began to sob. II promised ye I'd
stay by ye through thick an thin,
an I've gone an lied to ye. That ras-
cal put this poor sick man off on me,
an what could l do?"
In her helpless rage she looked
about for some object to vent her
wrath upon. and seeing Horsa Cum
minis emerging from the small tent
in which he had slept. she rushed Vat
him like a virago. crying:
You red.headed thief, where is yer
master? l say, where is yer master?
Speak or I'll chuck yer head In the
snow an hold it there till ye
smother"
With look of surprise he said:
"Why, l did not know he had gone"
HE is, and took my little friend
with him."
well, that is strange; that beats
anything l ever heard! What can he
mean?"
Il don't know. but there is some
mischief in it. and I'll be bound you
are at the bottom O. it,"
why, my dear good woman. you
do me a very great injustice" began
Cummins with mock humility.
Look here!" she yelled. Don't
ye come none O. yer monkey-doodle
business around me, for l won't stand
It, Rack out an find that good-for-
nuthin' master O. yours. and tell him
t bring that girl back or I'll make
Alaska SO hot for you the icebergs
will melt!"
With this threat Kate turned and
entered the shanty.
That woman's regular she tiger!"
growled Cummins, as he walked over
the hill. Once out of her sight he sat
down in the snow to think the matter
over Blame me If she amt per-
feet devil of . woman. The boss has
put a hard job on me-. She knows
had a hand II It. Now the youngster
don't show rny signs O. dyin' very
fast. I wish he would. but he don't.
What am l to do with this tiger cat?
She'll snatch my eyes out II l go
back
Meanwhile Kate went into the small
shanty, voving she would have har-
mony or know the reason. Her pa
tient was wide awake. his great. dark
brown eyes on the door. For the first
time Fate realized that he was
young man and quite handsome.
Were you talking to some one out
tt.re?" he asked.
"Yes; l was just a-layin' one O.
item trifiin' critters for not attendin'
tn his work. | give him piece OF
MY mind and reckon after this he'll
know what's what" Kate declared.
Don't your people agree?'
"Yes; all agree with each other. bu.
none don't agree with me. They go
do things without askin' me or con-
sultin' me a bit more'n IL | was
block o. stone. and had no more
s~nse'n a Kansas badger"
rkr
err. raised himself on his elbow and
asked:
What have they done. my good
friend, without consulting you?"
pulled up stakes an gone! Yes.
gone, an not left a sled nor dog to
foller 'em with. don't keer so much
so fur as I'm concerned. but that poor
child all alone with that man; and
she told me with her own mouth she
nistrusted him. and said I'd stand
BIZ ner, and. like a lunk-head. let 'em
s,de-track me Off here and then he
slopes an takes the pore little thing
with him! Oh, 1t makes me hot; but
I'll have harmony yit; see II don't!"
what do you mean. my good wo-
mann" Paul asked in amazement.
"Who Is this man that deceived you?"
THAT scamp from Fresno called
Lackland!"
Lakeland from Frcsno!" The pa
tent started up in bed staring at her.
who is the poor young thing he
tuok away-the girl?" asked the pa
tient. seizing her arm in vice-like
grip.
"Laua Kean."
With a wild shrek he leaped half.
dressed from the bed and rushed from
the shanty.
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Old Man NJ the Mountaina