Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-21
Ths Story Teller.
THE "SALTED" MINE.
[Original.]
"What are you doing. John"

camp in the far west. A man had
dumped several bags Of ore on the
Kitchen floor and was mixing them In
one heap.
"Hist, Molly. Don't be asking too
many questions"
But ! want to know"
"Well, then, I'm preparing to make
Molly Drake rich woman. There's a
fellow come out from New York hunt
ing for property with which to Or
ganize q big mining company. He's
been looking at our ten acres on Cobble
hill. I've told him I've struck the
rich vein Of the Sally Ann mine In the
middle Of our property"
"Well"
"I'm preparing to make sure he's not
disappointed"
John Drake, do you mean to tell me
you're going to salt the property?
"Salt It? Don't you know that this
is q world in which the shrewd ones
live on the fools? What does he want
the property for? To make balloon
of It. To do this he must have some
thing to show. II don't give him
rich ore he'll 60 to the next man. who
will; and I'll be left In the lurch. He
don't want to know too much. 1t
would spoil his plans. There he comes
now"
Leaving the kitchen he shut the door.
The stranger came on. AS he dlu so
Molly Drake fixed her eyes upon him
In wonder. The color left her cheek,
and she bit her lip to restore her
euuanimity. AS the man approached
he, too, started, but the woman cast
meaning glance toward her husband
and put her finger to her lips. When
the newcomer and the woman met
they were introduced by the husband
as strangers.
"Molly, this is Mr.. Sydney. gentle
man from New York looking for min
ing property"
Mr.. Sydney and Mrs. Drake nodded
to each other, and Drake. evidently
fearing that the purchaser might get
a look into the kitchen, soon took him
away, but not before Sydney and Mrs.
Drake had managed to make an ap-
pointment to meet that evening In the
wood back Of the cabin.
AS soon as dark came John Drake
harnessed horse to cart and, taxing
the salted ore, drove away. He had
scarcely gone when his wife went back
into the wood. Sydney was waiting.
MOLLY"
"GeorgeT
1t was the old story Of lovers mis-
understanding. George Sydney had
gone off thinking that Molly Parker
had dismissed him, Molly thinking that
he would come back. After time
John Drake, who had the name Of be-
ing q money maker and had accumu-
lated some means. won and married
her. Hearing Of gold strike on. Wolf
creek in the far west, he had taken his
money and gone there to be on hand
for a good investment.
Sydney began to speak Of the cause
of their estrangement
"That's all past, George" interrupt
ed the woman. what are you doing
here"
"My father and certain friends Of bis
have great confidence In the gold pro-
ducing qualities Of this place and have
sent me to buy any property that looks
we'll. When | fell in with John Drake
I"-
"Yes, yes. What are you going to do
with this property If you buy it?'
"Work it."
"Organize a company to boom the
stock and sell out?"
"MollyW
"Or get what there Is in It for the
purchasers"
eff we buy a mine, am to stay here
and manage it"
She stood a moment thinking, then
said, "Come with me-"
Taking him to her cabin, she opened
the kitchen door and with a candle
held low showed him the dust left
Ir0m tne mixed ores.
"If you buy his property, that's the
sample you will buy 1t on"
He looked at her In wonder. do
you mean he began.
"That John has gone to salt the hole
where he claims he has struck the Sal
ly Ann vein."
For a few moments Sydney condn-
used to look at her as If some great
mistake was being made. Then he ex-
claimed bitterly:
"Oh, Molly. why did you send me
away"
"Go. have nothing more to tell
you; no further warning"
60? And leave you here with
man you can't respect. Cor / Will
only go If you 60 with me-"
Neither the law of the land nor Of
God permits that. George. Co."
When John Drake drove the team up
to his cabin at midnight and put 1t
away he went into the house and found
his wife awaiting him.
"John." she said. you'll find the
house In order and provisions for the
rest of the week. I'm going back to
my father"
The man started as If he had been
struck.
"For heavens sake, Molly, what do
you mean?"
81 mean that I will not live with a
ri