Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-11-11
IS in the hands of the express company,

IS in the hands of the express company,
and the dividends of the Laura Leigh
viii stay where | put them last month
The latter clause was added with sOiue
little show OF pride, to which Manager
Nhipplc was no doubt entitled. lie
had been in charge Of the mine from
the lightning, and his successful devel-
opmcnt work had placed il in the front
rank of new workings in the San Juan
country. He had beer Il little anxious
this month, as the output had been Sc
riOusly retarded by several mishaps to
the milling machinery. BY hurried
work, however. it 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
usua! number OF trips during the past
week, and he could be seen sometimes
two or three times n day riding with
his Winchester across his knees, anG
the precious bullion hanging in the
bags slung over the horn OF his sad
die. When shipments were large he
sometimes had company, but ordinari-
ly this was thought unnecessary
Now don't fall into the canon, AL
dcrson,' the manager called after him
as ne started ont. AT any rate,
cont let that bullion go over with you;
it gives us just the proper per cent
this month"
The bullion guard laughed carelessly
ut the ~gooG-naturcd jest of his mana.
Ger. He was used to Whipple's Gnal
injunction about not losing the yellow
stuff lie had an hour and a half
TO make eight miles into Ouray, and
felt very easy about arriving in time
TO catch the passenger train before it
lCit. II had been years since any
trouble mad occurred on Sncffel's road,
He rode along uuconccrncdly, anus
Ing over the morninG ride with Miss
McSwain. AS he ncare1 the end Of
;hc third mile between the mine and
the Iotoai school, he wondered if she
would be working late ana if he By
any chance would see her. There was
certainly a girls figure at The stile,
and a pony %iayOring Prince tcthcrcd
at the gateway. Could she be waiting
tor him? If 50 it was the first time.
He pun the thought aside. IT was TOO
much to hope fer.
As he came into sight, Nellie Nc
Swain. for it was She, rose. and began
Walkin" rapidly toward him.
Mr.. Aldcrson." she gaspcd with
Nrrathloss excitement, you must
turn back. There's something wronp
Tonight" She had leaned against
Swinging Sarah. putting out "A hand tC
catch the bride rein.
"Why, what's the matter. Miss
McSwain?" Aldcrson's self-conscious.
ness disappeared at the sight of her
agitation.
Jake Andrews just rode down from
the Revenue a few minutes ago, and sait
Black Jack and his gang from the Blue
Hills are in this n~cighborhood to-day
He thinks they are lurking about il
the hills between here and Ouray. The
telephone wires are cut, and there arc
no means of communication witt
town"
Anderson remembered vaguely that
the chief accountant had been vain
~ endeayoring TO get central a few
minutes before he left the office.
"You know the gang" she continued
'Thcy stop at nothing-thcy woul,
Kill Il man for five dollars"
lie looked down upon her with quic'
regard. "And you waited here to tel
me This. 1t was good of you, Miss Nc
Swain" His words conveyed the rev.
crcncc he felt. Then he drew himscl.
mp in the saddle and laughed his gray
eyes swapping with tho 2est of adycn
turo.
The girls form grew tense, and sh'
o~ung ticrroly to the rein. "YOu
shan't risk II, Mr.. Anderson. I'll,
towards may be waiting down there
now to pick you off. You have n,
right 10 place that gold in jnopardy.'
The gold. How the words stuns
him. She was thinking only of it
and She was right, Whipplc would no
thanl, him for losing the bullion by
Il rash move Yet it must reach Oura,
, in time for No. 5
you don't understand, Miss Nc
swain must get this gold To th'
station within an hour. 1t must b.
there"
'lcs, but You need not go alone
Leave it with me while You go bacl
fer help-Swinping Sarah can move
faster without it. | can protect it
nobody will know it will be safe Will
me. co back, FOR my sake. Tom"