The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1907-06-01
Through 4
& Shaft 7.
BY LVLV JOHNSON.
Conv,ioht ,oN7 nv Pomnr Snrnpuc.
By LuLU JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1907, by Romer spraguc.

Hi SOpyTlBul, l3G, ny I1OucT CpIubQc'
Are you positive that this assault
was committed on the evening of
Thursday Of last week?" asked the
judge.
"About 1920 on that evening"" as
sented Calman.
at takes six hours to go from here
to the mine," pursued the magistrate.
II can do it in five or Tenny."
Not better than that, though. We'll.
at IL o'clock on that night I took a
drink with Beecham, tho accused, in
the Golden Crown. Case dismissed I'M
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.
II suggest that the fact that there
really is n Golden Crown be proved"
he 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 b ali
bi, he was none the less convinced that
it was Bnecham who had led the at
tack. Beecham not only bore u bad
reputation, but he deserved 1t. Ever
since he had come to Silver Springs he
had headed all the villainy Of the little
mining camp, and more than once 1t
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
not at all.
For than a year the Addie-
Eta mine had suffered from the dep
relations Of ore thieves. AS the mine
was on the other side Of the range, it
was u surprise that Calman should
have charged Beecham with the theft
Of the rich ore. 1t was impossible to
take it over the range, and by the d.
vide it was a good twenty even miles.
There was plenty Of richer ore nearer
at hand, yet Calman was positive that
In Beecham he had recognized the man
who had fired ut him when an attempt
was made to put the robbers' to flight.
There were three parauders in the
party, and they had Vanished so mys-
teriously in/.their retreat that there
were soRe who ascrlbed to the disap-
pear4hce supernatural agencies. It
WAC not humanity possible to drop out
t>6f sight in the bare, unwooded valley
as the robbers had done.
But ghosts have no use for rich ore,
and Calman held to a different opinion,
In which he was upheld by Ruth Glare,
the only woman Mt the Addie-Etta. She
was the sister Of Ned Glare and acted
as bookkeeper and stenographer to Cal.
man.
Well get them yet" he promised as
he recounted the result of the trial.
'.They are costing us moro money oil
Of the time, and it will soon reach q
point where they will cut of the prof.
its. I'm positive that it vas Beecham
I saw, and yet there were a dozen men
II WuOLA L SuA OSllCtc VIII saw AAlA sluh-
ing a drink in the saloon not more than
an hour after he was here. Why, he
could not have made it In u balloon,
and yet I'm still convinced that it was
he at both places"
'Then 1t remains to be seen how he
made his way SO quickly" she said
quietly.
I'VE simply must find out" he insist.
ed. II was counting on getting mar
ried this fall, but with the reduction
In the profits l nm afraid that we shall
not make enough to reach the bonus"
II don't mind waiting, DEAR" she said
quietly. but for the sake Of all Of
us i want to see the mystery solved
i and 1t must be solved"
t Several days later Calman, coming
into the Office, found a little child In
stalled there.
who's the youngster?" he asked
carelessly.
"Beecham's little girl she explained
2 ''She was lost on the mountain. ]
found her with a sprained ankle, cry
ing her poor little heart out. We mus,
send her home"
s"Beecham's childp' His voice wa:
harsh. Probably spying for her ia
Their"
mo, dear" Ruth laid u gentle hant
on his arm. "Beecham is wrapped w
I'm the little girl. She is all he care'
tor"
Her pleading won, and late that aft
ernoOn Ruth drove up to the Silvel
Springs House with the child besid'
her. Already searching parties hat
set out, but a gunshot signal brough
them back, and Beecham rather awk
wardly thanked the girl.
s.I'u do as much. for you some day.
he promised, not realizing how soon b,
would be called upon to redeem bill
pledge.
The following week he brought tn
child over to see Ruth.
"she's been crying for you," he ex
plalned. and | didn't have the hear
ia say No to her. / know I'm no
welcome here, but Daisy wanted t
zee you, so u had to come"
.I'm glad that you did," said Rutl
cordially rs she took the child In he
arms. geecham looked on approving
There were few women in Silve
Springs as yet. and the little girl sadl.
naissed feminine care.
Ruth and leschild were still rompin,
when Il man came running toward tn,
once.
M Calman Ii hurt!'' he cried. 1.-THE!
lSsare bringing him to the house,
MRnthE dropped the child and sped to