Amador ledger., 1906-06-15
NJ; zEzNO=BTESS,;::=@,.est. -.
:1K NICKEL,
~ from Sunset. |"

"oh, this is grand" exclaimed George
Casey, as he paused for few moments to
"enjoy the embracing air and scenery. All
about him the mountains lay in tumbled
heaps, farther away the foothills sIoped
gracefully downward, and still farther
down in the valley and out over the mining
famp he could see the old trail that
stretched away to the westward He was
to Wyoming from his home in Boston, and
pc was drinking in the atmosphere of the
pew life to the fullest.
"Y-a-s," drawled the girl as sheovertook
her companion; but I'm a thinkin' as how
We better start fer home. It's a-gettin'
purity late, an we're some twelve miles
here by dark
.'Two-bits," said George, tauntingly, ST
believe you're a coward Here you were
born and raised in this country, and you're
cared about being out in the hills after
lark. Now, I'm tenderfoot,. and yet
would mt be afraid to wander all over these
bills from now until morning"
George Casey was indeed "tenderfoot,"
put this was not the worst OF his failings
Raised in a wealthy family, he had been
lis fathers house to suit himself. That
e was the most important portion OF the
amily, he did not for moment doubt,
nd it was his greatest desire that others
hould share that opinion with regard to
i'm. When he found that he was to spend
he summer in Wyoming looking after some
inning interests, he determined that of all
ther things he would show the people
here that here was one tenderfOot that was
bot so tender after all. The few friends
Ehom he had made on first arriving at
rold Springs, had soon tired of his lordly
Tays and the only one who cared to accom-
Pany him on his various journeys over the
ILLS was Two-bits, who followed him
round like faithful dog.
Nobody could tell where Two.bits got, her
ourteen years, born in the wilds and true
% her birthplace. The high cheek bones
nd swarthy features told of Indian
blood-a fact Of which she was proud.
No two characters could possibly have
een more Opposite than those of George
Casey and Two-bits. She had always been
accustomed to associating with roughly
ressed, brown-featured, bow-legged cow
boys, who treated her like one of their own
kind, and sometimes enjoyed teasing her
or the amusement of the gang. An admir-
tion had been awakened In her for this
mooth-shaven, well dressed. polite young
f which she had heard such wonderful
tories. She had dreamed Of such individ-
balls but had never seen one before. He
appreciated the fact that she admired him,
. nd since no one else in that immediate
.icinity seemed to share the feeling, he
'ladly allowed her the monopoly of 1t.
So the two had formed a sort of social
ystem all their own, with just two classes
Nav" she drawled, 81 amt no coward,
either. But I tell you, We can't go back
he way we come, fer it's too long round.
Ne got to go straight back toward the
Springs, an it's a good four hours walk.
.febbe yer don't know thet them there hills
EST above the camp has got fire all under
em. They is great big cracks thar, thet is
10 warm yer can hardly bear yer hand in
em. Mebbe yer wouldn't like ter fall down
ne Of 'em inter the fire.
''Ho, no, hop' laughed the tenderfoot;
'uch ghost story. Now Miss" he added,
lido you see that big pile of rocks yonder?
Well, that's the highest place there is
round here, and I'm going to go there"
'.HuhT' muttered Two-bits. Eyer kent
feither. .. A while back yer thought this
Hyas the highest-her yer are, an thet's the
highest. It'll be the same way when yer
kit thar; the highest will be just beyond. I
|ell yer, it's time to go home"
go home, then, if you want to, and are
Ifraid: x'm going on. 1t isn't more than a
ITS all of five milesp' she declared; but
The master started along, and the faithful
elave followed obediently. If he were
soing, there was nothing for it but that
he must accompany him. They trudged
llong in silence for half an hour, and still
.he peak seemed as far away as ever.
"Confound it!'' said George, at last, ''if
ne had not stopped so long to talk about it,
I've could have been there before this. I
suppose it's too late to go any farther"
Had Two-bits been more cultured ana
learned, it is likely she would have said.
n told you So" But she only turned as