Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-11-25

the wounded man to place of safety
within the hut.
Ranchman jack" he cried. looking
contemptuously upon the fellow to whom
ne was playing the part of Good Sa-
maritan.'
Len minutes later his guest regained
CONSCIOUSNESS, and looking into the face
OF MS rescuer, almost wept:
Don't kill me! l will make good that
money, but do not kill me!'
All want is my fathers hard-earn-
ed money? Numbered the young man.
Hand that out and 1 will nurse YOU
back to life and health. If you refuse.
snail again throw you out to the mercy
of the wolves.'
Il will. l WILL" groaned the man.
teebly. 1T is down under the oak tree
by the creek. There is a hollow in the
trunk, and there you will find a box
containing the money l stole from your
nome, and many hundreds in gold-all
honestly earned in trade-I swear it."
Binding up the torn scalp, Joseph
called to the dog, and left the hut. rifle
IN hand. With rapid strides he went
towards the creek, never pausing until
he stood beneath the bare brown
branches of a giant oak A careful
search brought to light the heavy box.
described by the ranchman. OPENING il
the first object that met his gaze was
the old blue stocking, familiar to him
from childhood. 1t was now completely
stuffed with crisp, green bills. Replac-
ing 1t, he took the box in his arms and
returned to the cabin.
flaclng the precious burden upon the
table, he sat beside the bed. calmly
awaiting the time when his patient
should awake. An hour thus passed in
gloomy meditation. Two years of his
life had been blasted by the thieving.
helpless wretch now lost in slumber. At
last the sleeper awoke. Looking at Jo-
seph, he feebly pointed to the box upon
the table. The young man placed it on
the bed beside him. Painfully raising
himself upon his elbow he opened it and
handed him the blue yarn stocking his
mother had knitted with one foot on his
cradle.
The sick man deliberately counted ont
two hundred dollars, and restored Them
to the stocking; then, with nervous haste.
added another fifty, feebly murmuring:
THE market money" and he again
handed the stocking to Joseph, who took
it with gloomy air.
Now get well, Jack, for I want TO
take you back to the old Bay State and
make an honest man of you"
A week later Joseph and his strange
companion arrived in Boston. That
night he telegraphed Eliza:
Am on the way home with thief and
money. Tell mother"
This, then, was the secret of that
silent prepare ton which had so mysti-
fed Farmer Sloan.
Thanksgiving morning brought Eliza.
radiant in new furs and brown stuff
dress. Drawing the old man aside. she
quietly read to him letter just receiv-
ed from Joseph.
Il swan, if l didn't think he was
a-comin' by my Dream" said the old
father, rubbing his hands in glee "An'
to think that he run down that ar thief
in Texas. Come to think ont, that ar
fellow was on the road behind me on
market day, but how he got into the
house is the mystery" His eyes sud
denly fell upon the table which mother
was spreading. 'Six plates and six
chairs mean six persons-who can the
other two be?" And he looked inquir-
ingly at Eliza, who blushed to the roots
of her black hair.
Zone is for this latter day Judas,
who has caused all the trouble, father,
and-the others for-the minister"
Before the astonshed father could
reply, scream of joy from the mother
in the kitchen was heard, and looking out
they saw her clasped in the arms of her
stalwart son. In his wake was a man,
too feeble to make many steps alone.
The farmer recognized him as Ranchman
Jack. The repentant man reached his
hand to the man he had wronged. 1t
was warmly clasped while the mother,
too happy for speech, pushed her son
into the little sitting room, where sat
Eliza, and quietly shut them in.
That afternoon there was a joyous
home wedding on the hill and the min
lister said it was hard to tell which one
of the quartette was the really happy
one, but his verdict was in favor of the
Enthusiastically Magazine.
What is sweet in the mouth is not