Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-06-13
Through (
( Shaft !.
By WV JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1907, by Homer sprague.

was committed On the evening OF
Thursday Of last week. asked the
judge.
about 1890 on that evening" as
scented Calnian.
eft takes six hours to go from mere
to the NINE" pursued the magistrate.
II can do ii in five on Tenny.
not better than that, though. Wen.
at /. O'Clock on that night | look
drink with Beecham, the accused, III
the Golden Crown. Case dismissed IN
til we can find out who did 1t.
The Judge clambered from the bench,
an elaborate structure of grocery box
es. and looked about expectantly. Cal
man stepped forward.
IL suggest that the fact that there
really is a Golden Crown be proved,
he said genialy.
"Motlon sustained ordered tie
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 all
bi he was none the less convinced that
it was Beecham who had led the at
tack. Bcecham not only bore 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 IL
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
Law heavy upon Beecham. who worried
not ut all.
For more than IL 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 Il surprise that Calman should
have charged Bcecham with the theft
OF the rich ore. 1t was impossible to
take 1t 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 at him when an attempt
was made to put the robbers to fight.
There were three marauders in the
party, and they had vanished so mys-
terously in their retreat that there
were some who aScribed to the disap-
| pearance supernatural agencies. 1t
was not humanity 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 Il different opinion,
| in which he was upheld by Ruth Clare,
the only woman ut the Adde-Etta. She
was the sister of Ned Clare and acted
as bookkeeper and stenographer to Cal
man.
| Wen 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
point where they will cut off the prof
It's. I'm positive that it was Beecham
| | saw, and yet there were q dozen men
whom | can believe who saw him tax
| ing drink in the saloon not more than
could not have made it In 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
ri 81, Gall Al.
| in the profits 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 all of
US | want to see the mystery solved
| and it must be solved"
Several days later Calman, coming
into the office, found a little child in
stalled there.
Who's the Youngsters" he asked
carelessly.
"Beecham's little sill," she explained
she was lost On the mountain. |
found her with sprained ankle, cry
ing her poor little heart out We must
send her home"
"Beecham's child. His voice was
harsh. Probably spvlng for her IA
Their"
NO, dear" Ruth laid gentle hand
on his arm. "BeecEam is wrapped up
in the little girl, She is all he cares
for"
Her pleading won, and late that aft.
erncon Ruth drove up to the Silver
Springs House with the child beside
her. Already searching parties had
set out. but gunshot signal brought
them back, and Beeclam rather awk
wardly thanked the girl
III 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-
planned. and ! didn't have the heart
to say No to her. | know I'm not
welcome here. but Daisy wanted to
see you, so had TO come"
I'm glad that YOU did" said Ruth
cordially as she took the child in her
arms. Beecham looked on opnrnvinp