The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-05-28

valley where the summer road lay.
twice a coach's length beneath the
winter snow road-Steua trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Buiy's passengers might be men Of
courage and strength. young men.
Poor Uncle Billy, He was so old.
Fifty, forty-even the prime OF life
Is old g to youth so lately embarked
on the souls voyage.
Stella turned from the dark land.
scape 70 read again Gideons letter
that had come the day before. an.
other perturbing portent
II was dated at Virginia City. For
tune has been good % me. sweet
Star. he wrote: $50 good that I pour
hbations 20 her shrine and trust her
10 give me iu due time the one great
gift that IS en- Of life for me.
I'm glad ! dared fate Such ln.
credible luck I've had, I was pros
pecting in the gorge just above your
fathers old, Worked-out mine. and Ia
a dilapidated cabin-bullt since we
left there. q was-l found a cigar box
with a lot OF bullion So Il. IL must
have been years there; for Il wa half
covered with pine needles fallen
through a hole In the roof.
Il came 20 this city. sold the stun
bought stocks. sold them. bought
again. and have now $4,000 good
money in the bank besides more that
I've u.VsaH ord -.rr ur--N NJ a.
Thousand shall not be touched. Il Is
10 found a home. our home, I'm
studying men I'm trying 20 learn the
things you'd have me know. aud do
something that you won't De ashamed
OF. ! think g. VIII De- tcamine. There
are a couple OF outfits hore that 60 al
sheriff sale tomorrow. o. / can get
them cheap enough. aud trlsy men
TIL buy, and lease other teams.
and soon I'm coming 10 you-wheu
I'm used % my cane. and my clothes
and are older friends, and when I've
picked up a few more points on stocks
and men.
There's some secret on foot Cad
walladeT has been here for "a week or
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago: said
Virginia was doomed. mines worked
out. and a LOT more. That means
something's IN the sind look Tor a
strike somewhere-thc announcement
Of Il, rather II has already happened
Tm sure but the owners are keapins
dark an they can buy In az the stock
al bedrock figures.
"Good.night. little Start These long
weeks have been years 20 me. when
I rome youu see a different Gideon
the same heart. thoush-and youu
think me better than the old Gideon.
your lover always.
IL was his first mans letter 20 staI
Ia. She mnryoled al bis a~uoncy. yet
recalled their childish game OF post.
once and his smoothly worded though
inkbiotted epistlos.
Who was Gideon? Many times she
had asked this question 81 him. once
Of her father He told her that Gideon
was a waif. and babe her think OF
something else.
AAN aNAA hNA AANM lNE MANHNM Win l
sudden, unaiming energy. as II she
would shake free a hand already
grasping her, The sharp rap and dun
thump Of Alwn's alternating crutch
and shoe came down the street. vel
come sounds 10 her.
Like a draught Of cool ar on q hot
cheek came his merry voice,
Are you here, Mas Stellar" he
asked. poking his head through the
door into the dim room you stood
at the window q minute ago"
Yes: and 90 glad 10 see you. Al.
win. Come In.
Il can't stop a minute. Here's some
stun that's been on my mind ever
since Il went through on the wire be-
fore daylight yesterday lt'a Chootaw
20 me Some mans cipher. an right.
but m bet q cookie that's Riowfsrd
Cad's signature
Stella looked up quickly. a~pprehen.
sion IN her face THAT means
gro BE coNTlNUEDl