The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-11-26
DIVIDENDS OF
LAURA LEIGH


4 soon as the mail-sack was Sc
II curely fastened to her back, and
she felt her masters weight in the
stirrup, 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 he eu-
phonfous name she bore.
1t is not to be presumed, from this
daily morning burst of speed on leav-
ing the Ouray post-office, that Tom AL
derson was an unmerciful horseman.
Swinging Sarah knew better than that,
and on sight of a certain pettieoat ira
Versing the mountain road ahead, she
had learned to regulate her speed to a
most unassuming gait.
Between the surprising intelligence
of Alderson's mount and the lettering
pace of Prince, the worthy pony which
conveyed Miss Nellie McSwain, school
her duties each day, there was an en-
counter every morning which it would
be strangely huromrous to attribute to
tnat greatly overW0rked hand Of fate. 7
After she had first accepted her ped
agogical duties at Potosi school, Nellie
McSwain had found the ride over the
rough mountain trail long and monot-
onous, and at times depressing. She
soon discovered that this agreeable fea-
ture of the trip was not apparent on
the morning 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 together over Sneffels Road,
as the trail was called. had gradually
become indispensable to them both.
This morning the ride was particular
" enjoyable, as 1t was the first day
Of the fall school term, after two weeks
vacation.
I'm really glad to see the place
again. said Miss McSwain, as she drew
ap at the stile in front of the yard
The school-house was located conven-
iently at the junction of sneffel's Road
with the trail leading up to the Rev
Glue mines On the FlghI.
I'm eWfully glad to see you back,
too, was the embarrassed response OF
Tom Anderson. who was far too sim
cere to be a graceful lover.
The girl watched him depart, real
izing, with the wisdom Of O woman
that nothing but the spur of unusual
circumstance would ever lead Tom
Anderson to speak Of love.
"A hen that lays that kind of eggs
is . pretty valuable bird!" calculated
Thaddeus 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 safe
2y in the hands OF the express company,
and the dividends of the Laura Leigh
will stay where [ 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 beginning, and his successful devei-
opment work had placed it in the front
rank of new workings in the San Juan
country. He had been a little anxious
qfais month, as the output had been Sc
riousiy retarded by several m1shaps TIC
the milling machinery. BY hurried
work, however, lit seemed likely the
months showing could be brought UP
to that of the previous month. if the
Bullion was not delayela IN its journey
to the mint in Denver
Anderson had made more than the
usual number OF trips during the past
geek, and he could be seen sometimes
two or three times a day riding with
his Winchester across his knees. anG
the precious bullion hanging in the
bags sIung over the horn of his SAD
die. When shipments were large he
sometimes had company, but ordinari-
-ly this was tho1ghe unnecessary
Now don't fall into the canon, Az
derson,' the manager called after him
as he started out. ..At any rate.