The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-03-14
The k|0nlyLe Gold Mystery.
By JOHN z. MUSlck.
Aathss 81 "Mystssisss Mr.. hswsrl." "rAs
Dark Stranger" "chsrlis Alisnlsis's
Dssbas," Hte.


The fellow set off at a lively pace
on his snowshoes and in an hour and
a 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 a villain. Oh, Laura, Laura.
where are you now, my poor child?'
she began to sob. Il promised we I'd
stay by we 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 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 eaded thief, where is yer
master? | 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"
He is, and took my little friend
with him
well, that is strange; that beats
anything 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 very great injustice" began
Cummins 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 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 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
shanty. vowing she would have har-
mony OF 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 piece OF
my mind and 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-
sultin' me bit more'n II was a
block q 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 your"
Pulled up stakes an gone! Yes,
gone, an not left sled nor dog to
foller EN- with. don't keer SO much
so fur as Pm concerned, but that poor
child all alone with that man; and
she told me with her own mouth she
him, and l said I'd stand
by her, and, like a lunk-head, let 'em
me of 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-
man?' Paul asked in Amusement.
"Who Is this man that deceived your"
THAT scamp from Fresno called
ist 3af
Lakeland from Fresno" The pa
tient started up in bed staring at her.