Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-20
Through * * Shaft 7.
 By LVLV JOHNSON.
 Copyright, 1907, by Homer Sprague.

A sented Calman.
 Tt takes six hours to go from here to the mine," pursued the magistrate.
 ''I can do it in five on Tenny.'
 Not better than that, though. Well. at F o'clock on that night l took a drink with Beecham, the accused, in the Golden Crown Case dismissed ur- til we can find out who did it."
 The judge clambered from the bench, an elaborate structure of grocery box es, and looked about eXpectantly. Cal man stepped forward.
 "I suggest that the fact that there really is q Golden Crown be proved" ne said genially.
 "Motion sustained,' ordered the judge, and the entire party retired across the street to drink with such others as might already be there at Claimants expense.
 But while the evidence was beyond question and Calman accepted the ali bi, he was none the less convinced that it was Beecham who had led the at tack Bcecham not only bore a bad reputation but he deserved it. Ever since he had come to Silver Springs he had headed all the villainy of the little mining camp. and more than once it had been remarked that the Lucky Hole produced a surprisingly large per centage of rich ore. No one had ever been able to prove that this ore came from other mines than the one to which it was credited, but suspicion lay heavy upon Beecham, who worried EOt at all.
 For more than d year the Addie- Etta mine had suffered from the dep relations of ore thieves. As. the mine was on the other side of the range, 1t was a surprise that Calman should have charged Beecham with the theft of the rich ore. It was impossible to take it over the range, and by the di- vide it was good twenty even miles. There was plenty of richer ore nearer at hand, yet Calman was positive that ill Beecham he had recognized the man who had fired at him when an attempt was made to put the robbers to flight.
 There were three marauders in the party, and they had vanished so mys- teriously in their retreat that there were some who ascribed to the disap- pearance supernatural agencies. It was not humanly possible to drop out of sight in the bare, unwooded valley as the robbers had done.
 But ghosts have no use for rich ore, and Calman held to different opinion, in which he was upheld by Ruth Clare, the only woman at the Addie-Etta. She was the sister of Ned Clare and acted as bookkeeper and stenographer to Cal man.
 "We'll get them yet" he promised as he recounted the result of the trial. They are costing us more money all of the time, and it will soon reach a point where they will cut off the prof its. I'm positive that 1t was Beecham l saw, and yet there were dozen men whom l can believe who saw him talk ing q drink in the saloon not more than an hour after he was here. Why, he could not have made it in balloon, and yet I'm still convinced that 1t was he at both places"
 Then it remains to be seen how he made his way so quickly" she said quietly.
 We simply must find out" he insist ed. T was counting on getting mar ried this fall, but with the reduction in the profits am afraid that we shall not make enough to reach the bonus."
 "I don't mind waiting dear" she said quietly. But for the sake of all of us want to see the mystery solved, and it must be solved"
 Several days later Calman, coming into the office, found little child in- stalled there.
 Who's the youngster:" he asked carclessly.
 "Beecham's little girl" she explained. "She was lost on the mountain. I found her with q sprHined ankle. cry Ing her poor little heart out. We must send her home
 "Beechams child!" His voice was harsh. Probably spying for her fa- ther"
 No. dear" Ruth laid a gentle hand on his arm. "Beccham is wrapped up in the little girl. She is all he cares for"
 Her pleading won. and late that aft. ernoon Ruth drove up to the Silver Springs House with the child beside her, Already searching parties had set out hut gunshO; signal brought them back. ami Beecham rather awk wardly thanked the girl.
 I'll do as much for you some day" he promised. not realizing how soon he would be called upon to redeem his pledge.
 The following week he brought the child over to see Ruth.
 shes been crying for you" he ex- plained. and didn't have the heart t0 say No to her I know I'm not welcome here. but Daisy wanted to sec you. So had to come"
 I'm glad that you did" said Ruth cordially as she tcok the child in her arms B,echam lOoke,l on approving ly. There were few women in Silver Springs as yet. and inc little girl sadly missed feminine care.
 Ruth and the child were still roHlping when man came running toward the OfTEFt
 -Mr CaITaan is urt-'-he cried 'sThcy inrfs fa-freyzFsrr him g., -rrs I,1rvse