Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-05
KIRK SHELDON'S MINE

twenty, men have started out prospecting, and
more than half that number have gone in the
direction of our mine"
of course, | knew something of the kind
would happen Just as soon as it got out that
there was gold this side of the range; but l
didn't think they would get here SO FAST /
almost thought I'd make a mistake when |
come in here from the plain"
CAM, we start now for the mine?" asked
Dory,, who had been suffering quite as much
anxiety as his cousin had lest their secret
should be discovered
I'VE can't start tonight, that's certain"
said Bart, decidedly. ut only lacks about
two hours of sunset, and we shouldn't more
than get away before we'd have to make
camp; Besides, the burros need little rest,
for, their packs are not light, and you can
make up your mind that they walked from
the pass down here about as fast as they
"And if some one finds the place before we
get there?" cried Kirk.
If they do, then you've lost your mine,
that's all; but don't think there's much
to get there so soon. At all events, the ear
liest we can, start is at daylight tomorrow
morning. and we'll get everything hut the
tent and the blankets packed up tonight SOS
we shan't lose any time after daybreak;;" ;,
troubled as they felt lest just when they
were ready to take possession Of, the new
mine, it should be wrested from them by some
fortunate prospector, they knew that it would
be foolish to begin the journey that afternoon,
and they tried to content themselves in camp.
That evening they visited their partners,
who were more enthusiastic than ever about
the placer, and who were discussing the adj
which they had bee been offered large M prices.
81 suppose you've got something rich in the
valley, or. you wouldn't have let US in on
your ind," Jim said to Bart and the boys,
'and do hope you'll strike it big, as you've
you'll never find in this State another placer
thatH pan out like this one. Why, it's yield
ing pretty near three ounces apiece every day,
and we amt getting half as much out of it
as we shall when everythings fixed"
"Of course, were as anxious to have it pay
as you are,o said Kirk, laughingly, land it IS
possible that we may want to come back
to it."
come right back here, sit under tree, and
just laugh all day long at the dust we take
out It'll do your eyes good, and nc, mistake;
The boys parted from their brother stock
holders in the, placer mines with the promise
that they would soon return md report prog
ress, and, next morning, when 1t was light
enough to see their way, they were travelling
down the valley.
Both the burros had about as much of a
load as they could carry, and their progress
was quite slow; but after two Jays of steady
walking, Bart announced that they were near
ing Kinks mine, = .
! "1t's just beyond where that boulder JItS
out from the trees" he said, as he pointed
to a huge rock, that looked gray and desolate
amid the vivid hue of the foliage; and, as ne
gazed, decided change came over his face.
"What is it, Bart?" asked Kirk
cts smoke, and | believe it comes from
fire that's built within hundred feet Of
where you found your nuggets, Come and
ii there is anybody there. don't let on that 1t
worries us any"
Quickly the boys and their guide advanced,
and when they iarrived at the spot where
Bart had shown himself to Tom Weed and
his companions on the day when. the mine
had been discovered, all their fears were
realized
Camped, apparently for the night, almost
on the very spot from which Kirk had taken
the nuggets were two men, and it seemed
certain that they must have discovered the
secret of the place, for their prospecting tools
were scattered around, as if they had just been
used.
| TO BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY