Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-09-21

the Btirrup, Swinging Sarah lost no
time In making her departure She
dashed through the outskirts Of the
town, and mounted the up-trail with
that easy swiftness that had given her
the euphoniOus name she bore.
1t Is not to be presumed, from this
daily morning burst Of speed on leav-
Ing the Ouray pOstoff1ce, that Tom AL
derson was an unmerciful horseman.
Swinging Sarah knew better than that,
and ON sight of a certain petticoat
traversing the mountain road ahead,
she Ind learned to regulate her speed
to most unassuming gait.
Between the surprising intelligence
or Alderson's mount and the lettering
pace OF Prince. the worthy pony which
conveyed Miss Nellie McSwain, school
ma'am at Potosi school, to and from
her duties each day, there was an en-
counter every morning which it would
be strangely humorous to attribute to,
that greatly overworked "hand Of
fate" After she had first accepted
her pedagogical duties at Potosi
school, Nellie McSwain had found the
ride over the rough mountain trail
hong and monotonous, and at times de-
pressing. She soon discovered that
this agreeable feature of the trip was
not apparent on the mornings when
she CHANGED to be accompanied by
Tom Anderson, bullion guard and mail
carrier for the Laura Leigh Mining
and Milling Company. Without being
distinctly aware of it., this ride to-
gether over Sneffel's road, as the trail
was called, had gradually become in
dispensable to them both.
This morning ride was particularly
enjoyable, as 1t was the first day Of
the fall school term, after two weeks
vacation.
'1'm really glad to see the place
again." said Miss McSwain, as she
drew mp at the stile in front Of the
yard. The schoolhouse was located
conveniently at the junction Of Snef
fePg road with the trail leading up to
the Revenue mines on the right.
'Tm awful glad to see you back,
TOO" was the embarrassed response Of
Tom Anderson, who was far too sin
cere to be a graceful lover.
The girl watched him depart, realiz-
ing, with the wisdom of woman,
that nothing but the spur Of unusual
circumstance would ever lead Tom AL
derson to speak of love.
"A hen that lays that kind Of eggs
Is q pretty valuable birdr' calculated
Thaildeus Whipple in his Office at the
Laura Leigh that afternoon. He was
holding up retort, fresh from the
gold room, which the shipping clerk
had been hastily preparing for ship
ment "Just one more trip this month,
Anderson, to get this little nugget
safely in the hands of the express
company, and the dividends Of the
Laura Leigh will stay where I put
them last month";" The latter clause
was added with some little show Of
pride. to which Manager Whipple was
no doubt entitled He had been In
charge Of the mine from the begin
ming, and his successful development
work had placed it in the front rank
of new workings In the San Juan
country. He had been a little anxious
this month, as the output had been
seriously retarded by several mishaps
to the milling machinery. By hurried
work. however, 1t seemed likely the
months showing could be brought up
to that of the previous month, If the
bullion was not delayed in its journey
to the mint in Denver.
Anderson had made more than the
usual number Of trips during the past
week, and he could be seen sometimes
two Or three times a day riding with
his Winchester across his knees, and
Che precious bullion hanging in the
bags slung over the horn Of his saddle.
When shipments were large he some
times had company, but ordinarily this
was thought unnecessary.
''NOw don't fall into the canyon, Al
derson." the manager called after him
aS he started out. "At any rate, don't
let that bullion so over with you; it
gives ms just the proper per cent this
month";
The bullion guard laughed carelessly
at the gOOd-natured jest of his mana
ger. He was used to Whipple's final
injunctiOns about not losing the "yel-
low stuff" He had an hour and a half
60 make the eight miles into Ouray,
and felt very easy about arriving in
time to catch the passenger train be-
fore II left. 1t had been years since
any trouble had occurred on Sneffel's
road.
he rode along unconcernedly, mus
Eng over his morning ride with Miss
McEwain. AS he neared the end Of
Gsas third mile between the mine and