Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-15

ing to tell dad and Poleon. Then the
boat arrived with an old friend Of Lees,
a Mr.. Stark, so Lee told him, too, and
now they've all gone back to his creek
TO stake more claims. They slipped
away quietly to prevent suspicion. but
I knew there was something up from
the way Poleon acted, so made Alluna
tell me all about 1t. They haven't more
than two hours start Of US, and we can
overtake them easily
''Wel Why, we are not going?"
Eyes, we are" she insisted, impa-
tiently-"you and I. That's why came,
so you can get mine for yourself and
be rich man, and so you can help me
get one. I know the way. Hurry up!'
mo-" said he, in as firm a tone as
he could command I'm the first place,
these men don't like me, and they don't
want me to share in this"
What do you carer"
I'm the second place, I'm not a miner.
don't know how to proceed"
Never mind; 1 do. I've heard moth
ing but mining all my life"
. TN the third place. 1 don't think 1
have the right, for I'm a soldier. I'm
working for Uncle Sam, and don't be-
lieve ought to take up mining claims.
I'm not sure there is anything to pre-
be quite the square thing-are your"
why, of course. it's all right" said
Necia, her eager face clouding with the
look of a hurt child. If you don't do
it, somebody else will"
But the lieutenant shook his head.
Maybe I'm foolish, but 1 can't see my
way clear much as 1 would Like to-"
"Oh, dear!, Oh, dearP' she exclaimed,
brokenly. I do so want to go. I want
you to be rich, and 1 want to be rich
myself I want to be fine lady, and
go outside and live like other girls. It's
the only chance-I ever had--and I'll
never have another. Oh. it means so
much to me; 1t means life, future, ev-
erythingi Why, 1t means heaven to a girl
like mel" Her eyes were wet with the
sudden dashing of her hopes, and her
chin quivered in a sweet, girlish way
that made the youth almost surrender
on the instant But she turned to the
window and gazed out over the river,
continuing, on a moments pause: please
don't-mind me-but you can't under
stand what difference this would make
to me-"
1--WE couldn't possibly overtake them
If we tried" he said, as willing to treat
with his conscience.
mo, but we could beat them in. I
know where Lee is working, for I went
UP last winter with Constantine and
his dog-team, over short cut by way
of Black Bear creek. We took 1t coming
back, and 1 could find it again, but Lee
doesn't know that route, so he will fol-
low the summer trail, which is fifteen
miles farther. You see, this creek makes
a great bend to the southwark, and
heads back toward the river, so by
crossing the divide at the source Of
Black Bear, you drop into it few miles
above his cabin"
While she made this appeal Burrell
fought with himself. There were
reasons why he Ionged to
take this trip, more than
he had Ionged for anything since boy
hood. These men of Flambeau had disre-
garded him, and insisted on treating him
with contemptuous distrust, despite his
repeated friendly overtures; wherefore he
was hungry to beat them at their own
game, hungry to thrust himself ahead Of
them and compel them to reckon with
him as an equal, preferring a state Of
open enmity, II necessary, to this condi-
ton of Indifferent federation. Moreover.
he knew that Necia was coveted by half
of them, and If he spent a night in the
woods alone with her it would stir them
UP a bit, he fancied. BY heaven! That
would make them sit up and notice himl
But then-it might work a wrong upon
her; and yet, would It? He was not so
sure that 1t would. She had come to him;
she was old enough to know her mind,
and she was but half-breed girl, after
all, who doubtless was not so simple
as she seemed. other men had no such
scruples in this or any other land, and
yet the young man hesitated until, en-
couraged by his silence, the girl came
forward and spoke again, impulsively:
Don't be silly Mr. Burren. Conner
Please come with me. won't your
She took him by the edges of his coat
and drew him to her coaxingly. 1t may
have been partly the spirit of revolt
that had been growing in him all day,
or 1t may have been wholly the sense of
her there beside him, warm and pleading,
but something caused a great wave to
surge up through his veins. caused him
to take her in his arms, fiercely kissing
her upturned face again and again, cry
ing softly, deep down in his throat:
Eyes! Yesl Yes! You little witch! I'll
go anywhere with you! Anywhere! Any
wherep' The impulse was blind and I'M
governable, and 1t grew as his lips met
hers, while, strangely enough. she made
no resistance, yielding herself quietly, till
he found hey arms wound softly about his
neck and her face nesting close to his.
Neither of them knew how long they
stood thus blended together, but soon he
grew conscious Of the beating of her
heart against his breast as she lay
there like little fluttering bird, and felt
the throbbing of his own heart swaying
him. Her arms, her lips, and her whole
body chung to his in a sweet surrender,
ana yet there was nothing immodest or
unmaidenly about It for his strength, and