Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1903-05-01
THE OLD HILLACRE HOMESTEAD

.sao -

Anu when all WAS reHuN rev judi
cious advertisements brought Mollie
the requisite number of boarders
There were Mr.. and Mrs Smythe,
wealthy elderly couple who were
charmed with the big rooms, the old.
fashioned. claw-legged tables and
chairs, the vine-h hung porches and
verandas and the wholesome country
fare.
There was Mrs. Fenshawe. gushing
widow. who went into raptures over
the beautiful view of crusted hllltops
and shadowg valleys. bounded by the
far, blue-tinted horizon
Aud there was Miss Tuition. good
natured placid faced maiden lady. who
was quietly content with everything
about her.
Besides those already mentioned.
Mollie's boarders numbered sallow-
faced young gentleman. who had
sought the country in quest of health.
and brisk. wide-awake geologlst, Pro
fessor Tallman, whose chief delight
and occupation was la gathering
specimens
The garden throve luxuriantly, and
once week Mollie took her early peas
and cucumbers, mountain sweet corn
and young caulifiowers to the neigh
boring village of Sweet-briar, where
she readily disposed of them bring
ing back their value In coffee, tea,
sugar. and other necessary commod-
ties
We're always at Mollies service on Sat
urdays to convey herself and her
truck" to market, which proved quite
Il convenience to the young house
holder.
The old orchard. too, which had been
well trimmed and cared for. showed its
gratitude by producing quite a crop of
Harvest Sweetlngs and Red Astra-
chans, affording Mrs. Hull ample
means for the exercise Of her culinary
skill in the construction of luxurious
pam dowdies." apple cobblers and the
like, while the milk from "Buttercnp."
the little Jersey cow, furnished butter
for the table and cream for the tea
and for the big bowl of raspberries or
blackberries which figured daily at the
evening meal.
But, while affairs continued to go
swimmingly for Mollie, the croakers
found fresh cause for gossip In that
very fact.
They live mighty fine. an set tip
top table," admitted Aunt Melzena,
who had been spending the day" at
the old homestead. But | dunno how
Mollie works 1t. I'm feared she goes
In debt fur all them nick-nax"
But Mollie was too smart girl to
go in debt, and. II she did not lay up
much, she paid her way as she went
Miss Mollie," said the professor one
day taking seat on the porch beside
Mollie, who was scraping carrots for
dinner, what do you think these areY
Mollie gave a cursory glance at the
rough looking bits held out to her. The
professor was always exhibiting
specimens" Of one kind or another.
II should say they were rocks" re-
turned Mollie, in true Western dialect
Exactly smiled the professor But
what kind of rocksT
IL don't know" was the answer II
don't know one kind OF rock from an
other"
so thought" returned the profes-
sor gravely. III you did, you would
not be keeping boarders for n living"
Mollie looked up In surprise.
Why she asked, with some curl
osity. What have rocks TO do with
my keeping boarders?'
Just this was the answer This
bit of white rock here | Clipped off II
/ ledge in the old sheep pasture. on the
hillside. And TO the best of my knowl-
edge and belief that ledge Is magne-
sian limestone, II superior kind OF build
ing stone which is in great demand
This other bit is OF a different kind Of
rock, but quite valuable also, and is
used for door and window sills. 1t Is
worth forty cents n square foot, and
/ there is no doubt but what il exists in
= dbuHuhllCt Dl ibhi ihl M ih'' ~ INC
other proves to be really magnetism
limestone you could sell out tomorrow
for ten thousand dollars. Miss MOllie.
20. Professor TallmaE. But how
but how should | 90 10 work To ind
outT' asked Molllc. clasping her hands
eXcitedly.
Leave it to me-" said the professor,
kindly. II am going TO the city to-
morrow on business, and will take
these bits of rock and exhibit them
to the proper authorities. Then, Miss
Mollie, you can either lease or sell your
property TO good advantage
II shall not sell, declared Mollie, 'if
| can help it,
In due time the professor returned.
The specimen he had exhibited proved
to be magnetism limestone, and two
business men accompanied him to In
spect the ledge.