Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-14
81 s soon as the mail sack was Sc
L2A curely fastened to her back. and

(1\ Cufeiy lastcneu 10 ner Ddck, anu
she felt her masters weight in
the stirrup, Swinging Sarah lost no
dme i'll making her departure. She
dashed through the outskirts Of the
town. and mounted the up-trall 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 leay-
ing the Ouray postoffice, that Tom Al
derson was an unmerciful horseman.
Swinging Sarah knew better than that,
and on sight Of a certain petdcoat
traversing the mountain road ahead,
she had learned to regulate her speed
to 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
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
long 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 Sneffels road, as the trail
was called, had gradually become in
dispensable to them both.
This morning ride was particularly
enjoyable, as it was the first day OF
the fall school term, after two weeks
vacation.
'T'm really glad to see the place
again." said Miss McSwain, as she
drew up at the stlle in front Of the
yard. The schoolhouse was located
conveniently at the junction Of Snef
tel's road with the trail leading up tc
the Revenue mines on the right.
'T'm awful glad to see you back
too" was the embarrassed response oi
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 unusua
circumstance would ever lead Tom Al
derson to speak Of love.
"A hen that lays that kind Of egg
is a pretty valuable bird" calculated
Thaddeus Whipple in his office at tn
Laura Leigh that afternoon. He wa
holding up a retort, fresh from tn
gold room, which the shipping clerl
had been hastily preparing for ship
ment. "Just one more trip this month
Anderson, to get this little nugge
safely in the hands Of the expires
company, and the dividends Of tn
Laura Leigh will stay where 1 pu
them last month" The latter claus
was added with some little show o
pride, to which Manager Whipple wa
no doubt entitled. He had been 4
charge of the mine from the begin
ming. and his successful development
work had placed it in the front ran
of new workings in the San Jua
country. He had been little anxiou
this month, as the output had bee
seriously retarded by several mishap
to the milling machinery. BY hurr1e
work, however, 1t seemed likely th
months showing could be brought Il
to that of the previous month, If tn
bullion was not delayed in Its journe
to the mint in Denver.
Anderson had made more than th
usual number of trips during the pa,
week, and he could be seen sometime
two or three times day riding wit
his Winchester across his knees, an
the precious bullion hanging in Il
bags slung over the horn Of his saddl
When shipments were large he som
times had company, but ordinarily tn
was thought unnecessary.
"Now don't fall into the canyon, A
derson," the manager called after hi
as he started out. AT any rate, dol
let that bullion 60 over with you;
gives us just the proper per cent tn
month";