The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-23
The k|oldyke Gold Mystery.
By JOHN r. MUSlcK,
Auther Of "Mystsrious Mr.. Howard" "TAs
Dark Stranger .charlls AilendaIs's
Doubls." Bic.
Copyright. 1897. By Robert BoNHxR's soEA
AL riShts raservsd.

AL rights rassrvsd-
CHAPTER XIV.-(continued.)
The follow set off at u lively pace
on his snowshocs and in an hour and
half was back, saying:
They be not there"
What dye mean?" asked Kate.
Gone"
What is gomez"
Camp.
"Where?"
dun know" and he shrugged his
shoulders again.
She was nonplussed, and in fact
frightened.
| Gone she whispered, half aloud
Gone and left ME alone with this
sick man in this Wilderness! Gone
and with that poor child. Why,
can't hardly believe it. and yet my
heart has always told me tn rascal
was villain. Oh. Laura, Laura!
| where are you now, my poor child?'
she began to sob. Il promised We Id
stay by ye through thick an thin,
an I've gone an lied to We. That ras-
cal put this poor sick man off on me,
an what could l do?''
In her helpless rage she looked
about for some object to vent her
wrath upon, and seeing Horsa Cum
Minis emerging from the small tent
him like viragO, crying:
You red-headed thief. where is yer
master? l say. where is yer master?
Speak or I'll chuck yer head in the
snow an hold it there till ye
smother
With look of surprise he said:
''Why, did not know he had gone"
"He is. and took my little friend
with him."
We'll, that is strange: that beats
anything l ever heard! What can he
mean?"
Il don't know, but there is some
mischief in it, and I'll be bound YOU
are at the bottom o it,"
why, my dear good woman, you
do ME very great injustice" began
Cummins with mock humility.
Look here!" she yelled. Don't
ye come none O yer monkey doodle
business around me. for won't stand
it. Rack out an find that good-for-
nuthin' master O yours. and tell him
t. bring that girl back or I'll make
Alaska so hot for you the icebergs
will melt!"
With this threat Kate turned and
entered the shanty.
That woman's a regular she tiger
growled Cummins, as he walked over
the hill. Once out of her sight he sat
down in the snow to think the matter
over Blame me if she amt a per-
feet devil of woman. The boss has
put a hard job ON me. She knows l
had hand in it, Now the youngster
don't show any signs O. dyin' very
fast. l wish he would but he don't.
She'll snatch my eyes out if l go
back
Meanwhile Kate went into the small
shanty, vowing she would have har-
mony or know the reason. Her pa
tient was wide awake. his great, dark
brown eyes on the door. For the first
time Kate realized that he was a
young man and quite handsome.
Were you talking to some one out
there?" he asked.
Yes; was just a-layin' one O.
them triflin' critters for not attendin'
to his work. give him a piece of
my mind and l reckon after this he'll
know what's what" Kate declared.
Don't your people agree?"
YES; all agree with each other, but
none don't agree with me. They go
do things without askin' me or con-
sutin' me bit more'n if l was a
block O. stone, and had no more
sense'n a Kansas badger
Paul. who felt considerably strong
er. raised himself on his elbow and
asked:
What have they done, my good
friend, without consulting you?"
Pulled up stakes an gone! Yes.
gone, an not left a sled nor dog to
foller em with. ! don't keer so much
so fur as I'm concerned but that poor
child all alone with that man: and
she told me with her own mouth she
mistrusted him, and l said I'd stand
by her. and, like a lunk-head, let 'em
side-track me off here and then he
slopes an takes the pore little thing
with him! Oh, it makes me hot: but
III have harmony yit; see if | don IT."
What do you mean, my good wo.
man." Paul asked IN amaZement
Who is this man that deceived you?"
THAT scamp from Fresno called
Lackland!"
Lakeland from Fresno!' The pa
tent started up in bed staring at her.
who is the poor young thing he
took away-the girl?" asked the pa
tient, Selling her arm in a vice-like
grip.
''Iaua Kean''
With a wild shrek he leaped half
dressed from the bed and rushed from
the shanty.