The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-06-24
The k|Oldyke Gold Mystery.
By JOHN z. MUSICK,
Author of "Mystsrious Mr.. Howard" "Ths
Dark Stranger" "Charlie Ailendaie's
Double" Etc.
Copyright, 1887, by RoBxRT BoFNERs SOFA
All rights reserved

The fellow set off at lively pace
on his snowshoes and in an hour ana
a half was back, saying:
''They be not there
, @'What dye 1uean?" asked Kate.
Gone"
t'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 a villain. Oh, Laura, Laura.
where are you now, my poor chlld?D
she began to sob. Il promised We Ia
stay by. We through thick an thin,
an I've gone an lied to we. That ras-
cal put this poor sick man OIL on me,
an what could | 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
in which he had slept, she rushed at
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 We
smother"
With a look of surprise he said:
''Why, did not know he had gone. a"
Gle is, and took my little friend
with him"
"Weu. that is strange; that beats
anything l ever heard! What can he
mean?"
81 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 a very great injustice" began
Cummfns with mock humility.
Look here!" she yelled. Don't
We 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 a woman. The boss has
put a hard job on me. She knows |
had a hand in it. Now the youngster
don't show any signs O. dyin' very
fast. | wish he would, but he don't.
What am | to do with this tiger cat?
She'll snatch my eyes out If go
back"
Meanwhile Kate went into the small
sharty, vowing she would have hair
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
eyes; | was just a-layin' one O
them trif1in' critters for not attendln'
to his work | give him piece OF
nv mind and [ reckon after this he'll
know what's what" Kate declared.
Don't your people agree?'
eyes: all agree with each other, but
none don't agree with me. They go
do things without askin' me or con-
sultin' me a bit more'n if [ was a
block O. stone, and had no more
sense'n a Kansas badger"
Paul, who felt considerably strong
err. 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 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 W1Cu uof OWN uOuLu SIG
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
I'll have harmony yit; see if | don't!"
what do you mean, my good wo-
MANI" Paul asked in amazement.
"Who is this man that deceived your
"That scamp from Fresno called
Lackland!"
Lakeland from Fresno!" The pa
! tient 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 vice-like
grip.
'Laua Kean."
| With a wild shrek he 1eaped half
dressed from the bed and rushed from
the shanty.