The Washington herald., 1907-03-22

Are you positive that this assault was
committed on the evening Of Thursday Of
last week?' asked the judge.
About 1880 on that evening" assented
Calman.
1T takes six hours to go from here to
the mlne?" pursued the magistrate.
Il can do # In five on Tenny.'
Not better than that. though Well,
at u O'Clock on that night took drink
with Beecham, the accused, in the Golden
Crown. Case dismissed until We can find
out who did it."
The judge clambered from the bench,
an elaborate structure OF grocery boxes,
and looked about expectantly. Calman
stepped forward.
Il suggest that the fact that there real
~ is Golden Crown be proven" he said,
genisily.
Motion sustained" ordered the Judge,
and the entire party retired across the
street TO drink with such others as might
already be there. at Calman's expense.
But while the evidence was beyond
question, and Calman accepted the alibi,
he was none the less convinced that 1t
was Beecham who had led the attack.
Beecham not only bore a bad reputation,
but he deserves IT, Ever since he had
come TO Silver Spring he had headed al
the viilainy OF the little mining camp,
and more than once ii had been remark
ed that the Lucky Hole produced a sur
prisingly large percentage % 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 sus-
picion lay heavy upon Beecham, who
worried not at ALL
For more than a year the Addie-Etta
mine had suffered from the depredations
OF ore thieves AS the mine was on the
other side Of the range. it was a sur
prise that CaIman should have charged
Reecham with the theft Of the rich ore.
It was impossible to take it over the
range. and by the divide it was good
twenty even miles There was plenty Of
richer ore nearer at hand, yet Calman
was positive that in Beeeham he had
recognized the man who had fred 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 mysteri-
ously in their retreat that there were
some who ascribed TO the disappearance
supernatural agencies. It was not hu-
manly possible to drop out OF sight in
the bare. unwooded valley as the rob
bers had done.
But ghosts have no use for rich ore
and Calman held to a different opinion.
in which he was upheld by Ruth Clare.
the only woman at Addie- Eta. She was
the sister of Ned Glare, and acted as
bookkeeper and stenographeT TO Calman.
"WeH get them yet" he promised, as
he recQunted the result Of the trial.
They are costing Us more money all of
the time. and it viii soon reach a point
where they will cut of the profits. I'm
positive that it was Beecham saw, and
yet there were a dozen men whom I can
believe who saw him taking drink In
the saloon not more than an hour after
he was here. Why. he could not have
made it in a balloon. and yet, I'm still
convinced that It was he at both places"
Then it remains to be seen how he
made his way so quickly she said,
quietly.
I'VE simply must find out" he insisted.
Il was counting on getting married this
fail. but with the reduction in the prof
IT'S, am afraid that we shall not make
enough to reach the bonus"
Il don't mind waiting, dear" she said,
quietly. But for the sake Of al of US.
want 10 see the mystery solved, and it
must be solved
Several days later CsImsn, coming into
the office, found little child installed
there.
who's the youngster?" he asked. care
lessly.
'Beeeham's little girl she explained |
She was lost on the mountain found
her with sprained ankle, crying her poor
little heart out. we must send her
home.
"Beecham's chiIdr' his voice was harsh. |
Probably spying for her father"
mo, dear" Ruth laid a gentle hand on
his arm. "Beeeham is wrapped up in |
the little girl. She Is all he cares for"
Her pleading won, and late that after
noon Ruth drove IN to the Silver Spring !
house with the child beside her. Already |
searching parties had set out, but a gun |
shot signal brought them back. and