The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-06-04
Through K
4 Shaft 7.
LULV JOHNSON.
Copyright, 1907, by Homer sprague.

hu SldDOrdle STuCluHt VI SEOCSTy UOA
es, and looked about expectantly. Cal
man stepped forward.
81 suggest that the fact that there
really Is a Golden Crown be proved,
he said genially.
Motion sustained" ordered tn,
judge, and the entire party retired
across the street to drink with sucl
others as might already be there a.
Calman's expense.
But while the evidence was beyond
question and Calman accepted the ali
bi, he was none the less convinced tina
it was Beecham who had led the at
tack. Beecham not only bore baG
reputation, but he deserved 1t. Ever
since he he'd come to Silver Springs ht
had headed all the villainy Of the little
mining camp, and more than once II
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 tc
which it was credited, but suspicion
lay heavy upon Beecham, who worried
not at all.
For more than 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, il
was a surprise that Calman should
have charged Beecham with the theft
of the rich ore 1t was impossible to
take 1t 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
in Beecham 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 mys-
teriously In their retreat that there
were some who ascribed to the disap-
pearance supernatural agencies. II
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 different opinion,
in which he was upheld by Ruth Clare,
the only woman at the Addie- Eta 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 1t will soon reach q
point where they will cut off the prof.
its. I'm positive that it was Beecham
l saw, and yet there were a dozen men
whom l can believe who saw him tax
ing a 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 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. Il 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"
Il don't mind waiting, DEAR" she said
quietly. But for the sake of all Of
US l 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 youngsterY he asked
carelessly,
"Beecham's little girl" she explained.
found her with sprained ankle, cry
ing her poor little heart out. We must
send her home"
'Beecham's childv' His voice was
harsh. Probably spying for her ia
Their"
mo, dear" Ruth laid a gentle hand
on his arm. "Beecham 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, but a gunshot signal brought
them back, and 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.
"She's been crying for you" he ex-
planned, land I didn't have the heart
to say No to her. l know I'm not
welcome here, but Daisy wanted to
see you, 50 l had to come"
I'm glad that you did," said Ruth
cordially as she took the child in her
arms Beecham looked on approving
ly. There were few women in Silver
Springs as yet, and the little girl sadly
missed feminine care.
Ruth and the child were still romping
when man came running toward the
office.
"Mr. Calman is hurtr he cried "They
are bringing him to the house."
Ruth dropped the child and sped to-
ward the little cottage where she kept
house for her brother and his friend.
Beecham followed more slowly, carry
ing the whimpering child. Calman had
been brought in by the time he arrived
and lay on the bed, white faced, but
accomplishing The mine physician
looked grave.
1.-The leg is badly crushed" he said
I'VE can contrive bandages and splints,
but l must have some things from the
Springs, and / am afraid that they will
come too late. 1t will be at least ten
hours By that time it will probably
be necessary to amputate the leg
Ruth's despairing cry brought Beech
am to her side.
you love him, don't your he de
manded.
1--WE are to be married when he gets
his raise" she explained.
Beecham looked from her to his lit
tie girl Even In that moment Ruth
regarded him curiously, for many
things were to be read in his changing
expression. Then he stretched forth
his hand.
"Give me that list, Doc" he demand
ed, stretching out his hand for the
memorandum the other had prepared
He darted from the house and ran rap
idly toward the head Of the valley.
An hour later, with torn clothes and
dirt begrimed hands, he was back
again. With the proper dressings Cal
man was soon made easy, and they
turned to look for Beecham. He anc
the little girl were gone.
1t was a week before he came agaiu
and Calman was able to see him.
I'm going away" he announced. u
told you that I'd pay back what Miss
Clare did for my little girl, and did
Now I'll tell you how l did 1t. Yor
were right about that ore. But was
in the Golden Crown, just as the judge