Evening star., 1909-08-29


From the latter she said to herself she wished no
sign But Searle had right to leave her thus and
neglect her an every respect!
THE morning of the third long day Mrs Dick
brought her two thin letters One had been
mailed in Goldte, by a messenger down from the
Laughing Water claim. 1t from Van. He
had written the briefest of notes
lust to send my love. | want you to nugget.
Folded into the paper was spray OF wild peach
bloom.
Beth tried to think her bushes were those of
indignation, which likewise caused the beat of her
heart to go mad. But her hand futtered prettily
up to her breast where the nugget pinned inside
her waist. Also his letter must have been hard to
understand she read it seventeen times.
Then she presently turned to the other. The en-
velop addressed in typewriter characters; but
the writing inside she knew; her brother Glen's.
DEAR OLD SIs.-Say what in the dickens you doing
out here in the mnes-by all that's holy!-and what's
all this story The Goldte News about Bronson Van
Buren doing the benevolent brigand with you and
maid, and shunting Searle off with the cons? Why
couldn't you let grubber know you hiking out here
to the desert? Why all this elaborate surprise this
paper wireless to your fond and lonesome? What's the
matter with writing hand? Is this Van brgand hold
ing them both
three when he might have been of assistance Now
I'm doing little old eight hours day in effort to sink
down to China. I'm the blink, in way; but not for
long for this is the land where Opportunity walks night
and day to thump your door and III grab her by the
But me,-workng a miner! Though I've
got few days off to go and look claim with friend of
Ill
searle dead why don't he say only touched him
for few odd doars,-I needed only grubstake fifty
would have done the trick-and he doesn through
And nobody writes guess it's for the Prodga but
when get next the fated calf I'll get inside and
Why couldn't you and searle and the maid come down
and have look at me-workng? It's worth it! Come
on Maybe it's easier than writing.
Yours for the rights of labor, GLEN.
Astonished by the contents of this communication,
Beth read it again, in little bewiderment to make
sure she had made no mistake. No letter from her
r1nS rf,lz
quest for money? And he had asked for only "few
odd dollars? There must be something wrong
He had sent the most urgent requirement for sixty
thousand dollars And she herself had written at
once. Searle had assured her that he had sent him
word by special messenger. Starligi5 was less than
long days ride away. Glen had already had time
to see that account in the paper and write.
She had no suspicious of Bostwick She had seen
Gen's letter and read it for herself And Searle
had responded Immediately with offer to lend her
brother thirty thousand dollars There must be
some mistake. Glen might be keeping his and
plans from herself, so often do from all their
relatives. Searle might even have overlooked
the Importance of keeping Glen fully posted, intend
ing to go to Starlight. Her letter might
have been miscarried.
She tried to fashion explanations; but they would
not entirely fit sea1e had been gone three days
He had gone before The Goldite News was issued
The paper had arrived at G1ens while the in his
had failed.
For moment she sickened with the reflection that
Searle might once more have fallen captive to the
convicts still at large-with all the money. Then she
presently assured herself that any sinister
this would have very promptly to Godite.
1t all too much to understand unless Glen was
i'll out of his reason. His two letters the to
Seare and this one to herself were SO utterly con-
ficting! She gave it up. 1t was not to be solved
from such distance Moreover Glen wrote that he
off trip, and asked her to wait before reply
ing. 1t irritating all this waiting alone here in
Goldite; but there seemed to be nothing else to do
THE long morning passed, and she fretted. In
the afternoon THE COldte News broke it's
record 1t printed extra a single Sheet in glaring
type, announcing the capture of the convicts. By
bold and daring COUP it said, the entire herd of
criminals, all half starved and weakened by priva-
tanS had been rounded I'D and TRANSPORT ed hack to