Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-05-21
DAILY SHORT STORY
The "SaIted" Mine.
IOEginaLl
IOL-5ll4dL-J
hat are you doing, John 2"

dumped SeNSEiI DdSS "a OiG OAA ZIG
kitchen floor and was mixing them in
one heap.
His. Molly. Don't be asking too
many questions"
But, want to know"
''Weg. then. I'm preparing to make
Molly Drake Il rich woman. There's
fellow come out from New York hunt
ing for property with which TO or
garize 4 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 III the
middle of,our properly"
"Weng'
Pm 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 Il world in which the shrewd ones
live, on the fools? What does lie want
the property for? 10 make balloon
of it To do this he must have some
thing TO show. If ! don't give him
rich ore he'll go to tine next mrn. VINO
will: and i'll be left IN the lur>h. lie
don't wax to know too much 1t
would spoiI,his plans. There heFcomes
now"
Leaving the kitchen Inc shut the door.
The stranger came on As he did so
Molly Drake fixed her eyes upon him
in wonder. The color left her cheek,
and she bit her lip to restore her
community. AS the man approached
he too. started, but the woman cast a
meaning glance toward her husband
and put her finger to her. lips. When
the newcomer and the woman met
they were introduced blythe husband
as strangers.
"MolIy. this is Mr.. Sydney, n 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
q look into the kitchen, soon took him
away, but not before Sydney and Mrs.
Drake had managed to make an APP
pointment to meet that evening in the
wood back of the cabin.
AS soon as dark came John Drake
harnessed Il horse to a. cart and. taking
the sailed ore. drove away. He had
scarcely gone when his wife went back
into the wood. Sydney.was waiting.
Molly
George
1t was the old'story ofta lovers mis-
understanding. George Sydney had
gone off thinking that Molly Parker
had dismissed him. Molly thinlinGfthat
he would come back. After Il. time
John Drake. who had the name of be-
ing a money maker and had accumu-
lated some means, won and married
her. Hearing of Il gold strike on Wolf
creek in the far west. he had taken his
money and gone there to be on hand
for u good investment.
Sydney began TO speak ofsthe cause
of their enlargement
That's all past, George" interrupt
ed the woman. What are you doing
here?"
My father and certain friends of his
have great confidence in the gold pro-
ducing qualities of this place and have
sent me to buy any property that looks
well. When L fell in with John Drake
r.
Yes. yes. What areyou going to do
with this property if you buy it,
Work it,
"Organize a company to boom the
stock and sell out?''
Molly
cor get what there is in it for the
purchasers"
IF we buy mine, I 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 Il candle
held low showed him the dust left
from the mixed ores.
IF you buy his property, that's the
sample you will buy it 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
! " Ann vein"
For a few moments Sydney contin-
used to look at her as if some great
mistake was being made. Then he eX-
claimed bitterly:
ooh. Molly, why did you send me
away"
60. 1 have nothing more to tell
you; no further warming"
! Go? And leave you here with a
man you can't respect. Go? 1 will
only go if you go 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 it
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?"
/ II mean that will not live with q
i dishonest man."
Something in the resolute tone of her
! rnica told him that she raS not To he