Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-06-18
Through &
& Shaft I.
BY LVLV JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1857, by Homer Sprague.
BY LVLV JOHNSON.
Copyright. 1907, by Homer sprague.

IlhurSGay OF last week! aSkeu tue
Judge.
About 1920 on that evening"" as.
senteI Calman.
1T takes six hours to go from here
20 the mine," pursued the magistrate.
Il can do it in five on Tenny.'
Not better than that, though. Well.
1t II o'clock on that night | took a
rink with Beecham, the accused, In
he Golden Crown. Case dismissed un-
] ii we can find out who did It,"
The Judge clambered from the bench,
| III elaborate structure Of grocery box
IS. and looked about expectantly. Cal.
nan stepped forward.
IL suggest that the fact that there
really is Il Golden Crown he proved"
nc said ecnially.
Motion sustained" ordered the
Judge, and the entire party retired
across the street to drink with such
others as light already be there at
Calman's eypcase.
But while the evidence WAS beyond
question and Calman accepted the all
bi. he was none the less Snviuced that
it was Bcecham who had led the at
tack. Beecham not only bore bad
reputation, but he deserved it. Ever
since lie had cone to Silver Springs he
had headed a!l the viliainy or the little
mining caElp. and more than once it
had been remarked that the Lucky
Hole proi2ced Il surprisingly large per
centage OF rich ore. No one had ever
been able 10 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 ut all
For more than year the Addie'
Eta mine had suffered from the dep
relations I'll ore thieves. As the mine
vas on the other sile Of the range, 1t
WAS surp.se that Calman should
have charge. Bcecham with the theft
Of the rich ore. 1t was impossible to
.ake it over the range, aud by the d.
vide it was GOOD twenty even miles
There was p.enty of richer ore nearer
ut hard. yet Galman was positive that
In IcechaI. Ii, had recognized the man
rho haI fired 1T him when an attempt
Has made to put the robbers To flight
There were three murauders in the
oarty. ana they had vanished so mys-
teriOUsly II their retreat that there
were some who ascribed 10 the disap-
pearance supernatural agencies. 1t
was not humanity possible to drop out
Of sight I'm the bare, unwooded valley
as tue robbers had done.
But ghosts have no use for rich ore,
and Calman held to n different opinion,
in which he was upheld by Ruth Clare,
the only woman at the Addie-Etta. She
was the sister Of Ned Clare and acted
as bookkeeper and stenographer to Cal
man.
We'll get them yet" he promised as
he recounted the result Of the trial.
"They are costing Us more money ull
of the time, and Ii will soon reach
point where they will cut off the prof
its. I'm positive that it was Beecham
| saw, and yet there were a dozen men
whom | can believe who saw him taxi
ing Il drin,; In the saloon not more than
an hour after he WAS here. Why, he
could not have made ii in Il balloon,
and yet I'm still convinced that II was
he ut both places.
Then ii remains to be seen how he
made his way so quickly" she said
quietly.
We simply must find out" he insist
ii. Il wa; CGuLtia- Ua =cttinS mar
led this fall. but with Tie reduction
ii the profits am afraid that We Snail
not make e.!ou ii to reach the bonus
Il don't mind waiting. dear size said
quietly. nut for the sake Of all OF
US ! want 70 see the mystery solved,
and IL must be solved"
Several days later Calman. coming
into the office, found little child in
stalled there.
Who's the youngster!" he asked
carelessly.
"Beecham's little GIRL she explained.
.She was lost on the mountain.
found her with Il sprained ankle, cry
Ing her poor little heart out. We must
send her home"
"Beecham' cilildw His voice was
harsh. Probably spying for her IA
ther"
NO, dear" Ruth laid Il 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 II gunshot signal brought
them back. and Beecham rather awk'
wardly thanked the girl
"Ill 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-
plained. "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 rs she took the child in her
Ems. Beccham looked on approving
~. There we're few women in Silver
springs us yet. and the little girl sadly
missed feminine care.
Ruth and the child were still romping
when man came running toward the
biiicc.
"Nlr Calman IL hurt" he cried. "rhey
are bringing him to the house
Ruth dropped the child and sped TO-
ward tie little cottage where she kept
nouse 70, 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 Oh the bed, white faced, but
accomplishing. The mine physician
looked grave.
"The leg is badly crushed" he said.
eve can contrive bandages and splints'
but | must have some things from the
Springs. and am afraid that they Will