Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-04-24

/ the aCcluent. iolIoNcu ny tNtIs uous =
Young Lettis. equally frightened, was
/ close beside her.
J "Oh. VIII. are YOU killed. she cried.
! And then voice devoid of any signs
! of weakness. but loaded to the break
Ing point with wrath. told In such Ian
I Fairfield that the owner was still
much alive.
Run away, Matte, Run away and
! let me cuss" shricked Red. Miss
/ Matte collapsed into the arms of Let
It's.
The dust settled enough SO that the
anxious villagers could see horse and
man; the former resting easily as il
! he had had enough athletics for one
day and the latter sitting In the road.
! Neither showed any intention of ris-
| ing.
What's the matter, Mr.. Saunders.
are you hurt!" inquired the fussy post
| mistress.
"Please go way, ma'am." said Red.
waving his arm.
I'm sure you're hurt-I'm perfectly
sure you're hurt" she persisted. hold
ing her ground. Now. do tell us
what can possibly be the matter with
you"
VERY WELL" returned the exas-
perated cowpuncher, Il will. My
pants, ma'am, have suffered In this
turn up, and they're now In a con-
dition to make my appearance in po-
lite society difficult, IL not impossible:
now please so way. and somebody
fetch me horse blanket"
1t Is regrettable that the discOm-
future of the postmistress was received
with undisguised hilarity. The blan-
ket was produced, and Red stalked off
in Indian dignity, marred by limp
In his left leg. for he had come upon
Mother Earth with force which made
itself felt through all that foot OF
soft dust.
Bring that durn fool horse along.
he called over his shoulder. Buckskin
rose and followed his owner. There
was no light in his eye now; he looked
thoughtful. He. too, limped. and
there was a trickle Of blood down his
nose. Verify It had been a hard
fought field.
AS both men were anxious to see the
10y Of the land as soon rs possible
Red took his place In the wagon
that day, after the damages were re-
paired, content to wait until his leg
was less sore for horseback riding.
There followed busy two weeks
for them. Mr. Demiit had some money
he wished to put into the enterprise
but his most valuable assistance was
Of course, his thorough knowledge OF
the resources Of the country.
They found an admirable site for the
mill in an old stone barn which had
stood the rnvages Of desOlation almost
un!mpaired. Reds mining experience
told him that the creek could easily
be flumcd to the barn. and as that wal
the only objection of the others to
this location they wrote the owner OF
the property for price. They were
astonished when they received the fig
urcs. 1t had come by Inheritance to
n man to whom 1t was a white ele-
plant Of the most exasper0ting sort
NO ne was glad to get rid Of II fos
almost a song. They were a jubilant
three at the news. 1t saved the cost
of building a mill. and, including that
the price was as low per acre as any
land they could have obtained. Red
closed the bargain instantly.
srp - A,,. a
chiefly to arrange for the disposal of
their product, and when he explained
to his partners what he could reason
ably hope to do In that line the AFFAIR
lost Its last tint Of unreality and be-
came good proposition. for Lettis
had an excellent business acQuaint-
ance who would be glad to deal with
the straightforward young fellow.
The night after the signing Of the
deeds Red said to Miss Matte: 1--WE
ought to have stockholders' dinner
; tomorrow night, Matte. II you could
hire that scow built girl who wear
her hair scrambled to come in and
! give you a Mt. would you feel equal
to itr'
You always put 1t that I'm doing
, you great favor In such things. VIII
. hNt you know perfectly well there's
nothing ia rather do" replied Miss
Matte. with dimpling smile. How
/ ever. 1t adds TO the pleasure Of 1t te
have 1t put In that way. SO won,
/ complain. I'll just have my supper
drst and then you men can talk ovel
, your business undisturbed."
, you will not-you'll eat with the
!, rest of usv'
, "Yes. but you stockholders The
, word had IN import to Miss Matte. q
something. If not regal. Mt least kin
ship to the king. Under her demOcra
, cy lay respect for the founded insti
tuition. impersonnl. IN integral part OF
the law Of the state-in fact. a minOl
, sovereignty within an empire.
!. stakeholder yourselfw rctorted Red
Don't you call me MINES"