Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-17
l1@MA CONTROLLING INTEREST @12A
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over the chssm. then with final crash u van
ished, with Travers and the bear, down the
side OF the mvinc.
Two weeks later Travers and Dorothy strolled
up the Hogs Back TO the scene of what Dor
othy termed the "bear hunt" Travers still car
ried his left arm in sling, but otherwise was,
as Dorothy declared, "the same old Dick, Just
as good as ever" The descent down the ravino
had been long and steep, but the heavy under,
brush had broken the force Of the fall, and
Travers landing on top of the bear, had escaped
with dislocatcd shoulder and few bruises.
'L was standing right here" Dorothy was
saying, "when I saw you come tearing down
the trail with the bear after you. When you
went for that tree ] could hardly believe my
eyes, and oh Dick, your look Of CONSERVATION
when you saw the bear climbing, too i laughed
so | could hardly raise my rife; it was too
funny for anything!"
'I admit it," said Travers, although ] didn't
see anything funny about it just then, not till
saw you then it struck me what spectacle
must have presented"
As he bent over the place from which the tree
had been torn he exclaimed: "What strange
looking earth! Sec, Dot, what a peculiar color!'
and he held up handful for her inspection.
Dorothy looked, and her eyes grew big and
bright. "Let me see some more OF it, quick,
Dickl Scoop up lot of it, as big handful as
you can"
Travers complied; Dorothy came near sliding
over the edge of the ravine in her excitement.
"Oh, how / wish we had a shovel, spade,
anything to find out whether this is just on the
surface ii it extend down. Dick, dear, you
must go back TO the house and find Gus, and tell
him to get pick and shovel and come right up
here with you. Tell him / say So We must
find out about this to-day, and'-with a glance
at the sun" "therell be time enough before sun
set if you hurry"
''But. Dot" nterposed the mysti6ed Dick,
what is all this about?"
'Dck," exclaimed the girl, taking up handful
of the crumblng, rust-colored rock this is gold,
free milling gold at that! If it extends down
ward to any dept your fortune is made! Think
of the Consolidated and don't stop to ask ques-
tions!"
Free milling goldl Travers bad been in the
West long enough to know what that meant,
and bright visions of the future, in which Dor
othy figured conspicuously, hoated through his
mind as he hastened down the trail. Forty-fve
minutes later he returned with Gus Under Dor
othy's direction, the latter set to work. After
two hours of digging Dorothy, sunburned but
radiant, announce: Gold, from the surface down.
and it grows richer the deeper you go! Dick,
how does it feel to be the owner Of gold nine?'
"You ought to know" replied Travers, laugh
ingly; its as much yours as mine--more, for
didn't know the stuff when | it."
"That makes no difference you were the dis
coverer and the mine is yours. IL is too late
to do anything more tonight, but we must be
here early tomorrow morning to stake off the
claim and post location notice. I'll get some
blanks and steel tape from the Office before
papa gets down. know how to measure the
claim and can fill out the blanks, and you can
sign it before notary, you know, and have it
recorded in the afternoon"
"But how am | TO get off to come up here IN
the morning." Travers queried as they started
homeward, after carefully covering the excavation
with brush, Dorothy carrying some of the pre-
cious dust in her handkerchief to be assayed the
following day.
| ooh, I'll get up an excuse to papa. I'll tell
him | want you to fix the tennis court for
me, and you can, you know, after we get back
And. Gus don't forget to bring some stakes
and posts and something to mark them with"
Early the following morning the trio set forth