Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-18

"lts Snocta" 10 Me-.
valley where the summer road lay
twice coach's length beneath the
winter snSw road-Stclla trembled
with fear and prayed that Uncle
Billy's passengers might be men Of
courage and strength. young men.
Poor Uncle Billy, He was so old.
Fifty. forty-eyen the prime OF life
Is old age to youth so lately embarked
on the souls voyage.
Stella turned from the dark land
scape to read again Gideon's letter
that had come the day before, an,
other perturbing portent.
II was dated at Virginia City. For
tune has been good to me. sweet
Star" he wrote; so good that | pour
lIbationS to her shrine and trust her
to give me in due time the one great
gift that is all OF life for me.
I'm glad | dared fate. Such In.
credible luck I've had! | was pros.
pecting In the gorge just above your
fathers old, worked.out mine. and in
a dilapidated cabin-built since we
left there. IL was-I found q cigar box
with a lot OF bullion in II. 1t must
have been years there; for 1t was half
covered with pine needles fallen
| through hole In the roof.
Il came to this city. sold the stun.
| bought stocks, sold them, bought
again. and have now $1,000 good
money in the bank. besides more that
| I've saved and my stock. That five
thousand shall not be touched. II is
To found a home, our home! I'm
studying men. I'm trying to learn the
things you'd have me know. and do
something that you won't be ashamed
OF. think 1t will be teaming. There
are couple OF outfits here that go at
sherlff's sale tomorrow. II can get
| them cheap enough. and trusty men,
| III buy. and lease other teams.
And soon I'm coming to you-when
I'm used to my cane; and my clothes
and are older friends; and when I've
picked up few more points on stocks
and men.
There's some secret on foot. Cad
wallader has been here for week OF
two. He was blowing harder than
ever when he left two days ago: said
Virginia was doomed. mines worked
out, and lot more. That means
something's In the wind. / look for a
strike somewhere-the announcement
OF IL, rather. II has already happened.
I'm sure; but the owners are keeping
dark TIL they can buy In all the stock
at bedrock figures.
Goodnight, little Star! These long
weeks have been years to me. When
come youlI see n different Gideon
the same heart. though-and you'll
think me better than the old Gideon,
your lover always"
II was his first mans letter to Stel.
Ia. She marveled at his fiuency, yet
recalled their childish game OF post
Office and his smoothly worded though
ink.blotted epistles.
Who was Gideon? Many times she
had asked this question of him. once
OF her father. He told her that Gideon
was a walf. and babe her think OF
something else.
She started from the window with
sudden. unaiming energy. as II she
would shake free a hand already
: grasping her. The sharp rap and dul
thump OF Alvin's alternating crutcf
: and shoe came down the street, wei
come sounds TO her.
D Like n draught Of cool air on a no
= cheek came his merry voice.
Are you here. Miss Stellar" h
asked. pokIng his head through thu
]. door into the dim room. you stoOC
d ut the window a minute ago"
}. Yes: and so glad to SEQ you. Al
0 win. Come In"
{ Il can't stop a minute. Here's SOM
stun that's been on my mind eve
= since II went through on the wire be
fore daylight yesterday. It's Choctay
TO me. Some mans cipher. all right
but I'll bet a cookie that's Blowhar,
Cad's signature"
Stella looked up quickly, apprehor
II sion In her face. THAT means"
i Gro BE coNTINUED-l