The Breckenridge news., 1906-06-06
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AND :A NICKEL
By. II. WALTER BURR.
=" From Sunset"

"Oh, this is grandr' exclaimed George
Casey, as he paused for few moments to
enjoy the embracing air and scenery. All
heaps, farther away the foothills sloped
gracefully downward, and still farther
down In the valley and out over the mining
camp he could see the old trail that
stretched away to the westward. He was
new to these scenes, having recently come
to Wyoming from his home I'm Boston, and
he was drinking in the atmosphere Of the
new life to the fullest.
''Y-a-s,' drawled the girl as sheovertook
her companion; but IN a thinkin as how
We better start fer home. It's a-gettln'
purity late. an we're some twelve miles
from town. We can't much more than git
there by dark
"Two.bIts," said George, tauntingly, '1
believe you're a coward. Here you were
born and raised in this country, and you're
scared about being out in the hills after
dark. Now I'm a tenderfoot, and yet
wouldn't be afraid to wander all over these
hills from now until morning"
George Casey was indeed ''tenderfoot,"
but this was not the worst of his failings.
Raised In q wealthy family, he had been
given everything he wished. aud had ruled
his fathers house to suit himself. That
he was the most important portion OF the
family. he did not for a moment doubt,
and ii was his greatest desire that Others
should share that opinion with regard TO
him. when he found that he was to spend
the summer In Wyoming looking after some
mining interests, he determined that OF all
other things he would show the people
there that here was one tenderfoot that was
not so tender after all. The few friends
whom he had made on first arriving at
Cold Springs, had soon tired of his lordly
ways and the only one who cared to accom-
pany him on his various Journeys over the
hills was Two-bits, who followed him
around like a faithful dog.
Nobody could tell where Two-bits got her
name. She was rough, uncouth girl or
to her birthplace. The high cheek bones
and swarthy features told Of Indian
bIood--a fact OF which she was. proud.
No two characters could possibly nave
been more opposite than those of George
Casey and Two-bits. She had always been
accustomed to associating with roughly
dressed, brown-featured, bow-legged cow
boys. who treated her like one of their own
for the amusement of the gang. An admir-
alton had been awakened in her for this
smooth-shayen, well dressed, pohte y9unSS
OF which she had heard such wonderful
stories. She had dreamed Of such individ-
uals but had never seen one before. He
appreciated the fact that she admired him.
and since no one else in that immediate
vicinity seemed to share the feeling, ne
gladly allowed her the monopoly of IT,
SO the two had formed a sort Of sociai
system all their own, with just two classes
master and vassal.
Nav" she drawled. 81 amt no coward,
neither. But | tell you; we cant go nd back
We got TO go straight back toward the
Springs, an It's a good four hours walk.
Mebhe yer don't know thet them there hills
Jest above the camp has got fire all under
'em. They is great big cracks thar, thet Is
so warm yer can hardly bear yer hand In
'cm. Mebbe yer wouldn't like ter fall down
one OF 'em fnter the fire.
"Ho. no, hot" laughed the tenderfoot;
such a ghost story. Now Miss" he added,
do you see that big pile OF rocks yonder2
Well, that's the highest place there Is
around here, and I'm going to go there"
Huh" muttered Two-bits. Eyer kent
neither. :" while back yer thought this
was the highest-her yer are, an thet's the
highest. lt'll be the same way when yer
git thar: the highest will be just beyond /
tell yer, it's time to go home"
go home, then. II you want to, and are
afraid, I'm going on. II isn't more than
mile farther"
tits all Of FIVE milesP' she declared: but
the master started along, and the faithful
slave followed obedently. If he were
going, there was nothing for II but that
she must accompany him. They trudged
along In silence for half an hour. and still
the peak seemed as far away as ever.
"ConfOund it!'' said George, at last. ''if
we had not stopped so long to talk about IT,
we could have been there before this. |
suppose It's too late to go any farther"
Had Two-bits been more cultured ana
learned, 1t is likely she would have said.
II told you So" But she only turned as