West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-01-07

lNuS lu AllsNud NnNN NtEN hltNScu
with daughter. tho first white child
born In that region. They waited for
n Protestant clergyman 10 come along
before christening her. and ns such
visits were few and far between the
child was beginning TO talk before she
received n name. From cunning
habit she had OF repeating tho last
words OF questions put TO her her
father Professionally dubbed her Echo.
which name. when the preacher came.
he insisted upon her retaining.
As Echo grew older. I'm order that
she might have n companion, Colonel
Allen went To Kentucky and brought
back with him n little orphan girl who
was distant relative of hls wife.
Polly Hope her namc was, and Polly
Hope she insisted on rcmaluing, al-
though the Aliens would gladly have
adopted her
Colonel Allen trained the girls I'm all
the craft OF tho plains just us if they
were boys. He taught them TO ride
astridc, TO shoot. To rope cattle. They
accompanied him everywhere he went,
cantcring on bronchos by the side OF
his Kentucky thoroughbred. Merry,
dark eyed, black haired Echo always
rode upon tho Off side and saucy Polly,
with golden curls, blue eyes and tip
Tilted nose. upon the near. Tho cx-
Confederate soldier dubbed them In
military style his right and left
wings" As tho three would make
raid" upon Florence, the county town,
the inhabitants did not need TO look
out of doors 10 ascertain who were
coming, for the mcrrimcnt OF the little
girls gave sufficient Indication. Here
comes Jim Allon ridln' liko the de
stroyin' angel" said young Sheriff
Hoover on one of these occasions. 81
know him by the rustlln' OF his
wings"
The household was again increased
few years later by the generous re-
sponso OF the Aliens TO nm appeal from
chlldren's aid society I'm an eastern
city to glv6 II home to two orphaned
brothers. Richard and Henry Lane.
Dick and Buddy (shortencd I'm time TO
BUD, rs they were called. being taken
young, quickly adapted themselves TO
their new environment and by the
time they arrived at manhood had
proved themselves the equals OF any
cowboy on the range I'm horsemanshlp
and kindred accomplishments. Dick,
the elder brother was a steady, reli-
able fellow, modest as he was brave
and remarkably quick wittcd and re-
soUrceful I'm emergencies. He gave his
confidence over readily to his fellows,
but If ever hc found himself deceived
withdrew IL absolutely. lt was prob
ably this last characteristic that nt-
tracted to him Echo Aliens especial
regard, for It was also her distinguish
ing trait "You have got TO act square
with Echo" hor father was wont TO
say, FOR If you don't you'll never
make II square with her afterward"
Bud was generous hearted. impctu.
GUS boy, VINO Responded warmly 10 nf-
fectlon. He repaid his elder brothers
protecting care with loyalty that
knew no bounds. Tho colonel, who
was n strict disciplinarian. frequently
punished him In his boyhood for way
ward acts, and the little fellow made
no resistance-only sObbed I'm deep pen
itenco. once, however, when Uncle
Jim, as the boys and Polly called him,
felt compelled to apply the rod TO
Dick-unJustly, as lt afterward appear
Sd-Bud burst into tempest OF pas
sionate tears and lcaplng upon the
colonel's back, clung there. Clawing and
striking like wildcat. until Allen waS
forced TO let Dick go. II is shrewdly
indicative Of tho coloners character
that not only dld nc refrain from pun.
ishing Bud on that occasion but when
6ogginRs were subsequently due the
81 LIT 4 I..g.
fly out OF regard for the loyalty 10 his
brother he had then displayed.
This attack also won tho admiration
OF Polly Hope. who was something Of
splthrc herself A little Jealous Of
Dick for tho chief place ho held I'm
Buds affection. she openly claimed
the younger brother us her sweetheart
and attempted 20 constitute him her
knight. though with repeated dlscour.
agements, for Bud was q hushful lad
and, though no had true affection for
the girl. boyllkc concealed II by show
OF rude Indifference.
The tender relations OF thcgc boys
and girls persisted naturally into
young manhood and womanhoOd No
word OF love passed between Dick and
Echo until that time when the NEST.
ing impulse" the desire 10 have q
home OF his own, prompted the young
man TO go out into tho world and win
his fortune. For n year he had acted
as foreman Of the Allen ranch, work
Ing I'm neighborly cooperation with
Jack Payson of Sweetwatcr ranch. q
man OF about his own age. The two
young men became the closest OF com
rades. when the fever Of advontur,
seized upon Lane and no became dis
satisfied with the ploddlng career Of
wage Garner, Payson insisted on mort
gaging Sweetwater ranch for $500
and I'm lending Dick the money Tor
years prospecting in the mountains oil
Sonora, Mexico. in search OF a fabu
lousiy rich '1ost mine Of the Aztecs"
Traditions Of lost mines arc plentiful
iu Arizona and northern Mexico. First
taken up by the Spanish invaders Of
300 years aRo from the native Indians
they have passed down 20 each subsc-
qucnt influx or white men. The direc-
lions nrc always vague. The inquirer
cannot pin bis informant down to any
definite data. over the mountains al
ways lies the road. Hundreds Of lives
have been sacrificed and cruelty un-
paralleled practiced upon innocent
men. women and children by gold
seekers in their lust for conquest
Prosperous Indian villages have been
laid waste. and whole bands OF I'D.
venturers have gone into the desert IN
search OF these mines, never to return
When tho time Tor Lanes dcpaFture
came Echo wept at the thought ~ los
/ Ing for 80 long iine the close com