Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-14
THE EVENING STORY
HIS FORTUNE.
BY CIarissa Mackie.

Copyright 1910 by Associated Literary
:. Press.
Bess Purdy and her father watched
the four young men ride away from
the house and then their eyes met
in look of loving sympathy.
II do hope they'll make strike
this time, dad" said Bess earnestly.
Jim said they were to ride away
over to Rattlesnake Mountain and
separate at the base-each one pros
pecting for himself. Seems as If they
hadn't had much luck so far, this
year."
mo more they haven't admitted
John Prudy, sitting down on the
steps and filling his pipe; but, they're
all young, honey-and you don't find
gold every day. Mostly you find Il
just once in all your prospecting.
Perhaps this will be the one day
for each Of them" smiled Bess rum
ping her fathers mop Of curly gay
hair. dad, you're positively growing
old!"
Mr. Purdy laughed the low rum.
ping bass notes that his daughter
loved to hear.
"I've got enough on my mind-and
conscience-to make my hair as white
as snow" he remarked ruefully.
what is 1t father? Something IS
worrying you and you have not told
mel" Bess dropped down on her
knees beside her father and lifted his
chin in one brown little hand. Look
me in the eyes, dad" she com
manded.
Mr. Purdy turned mirthful gray
eyes upon hers, SO like his own. I'm
looking-eh?
What is the matter?'
Her father removed his pipe from
between his lips and looked into the
bowl, then he squinted down the
stem and finally knocked the con
tens out and dropped the pipe In his
pocket with an air of determination
"You saw these four chaps ride
away, Bess?' he asked seriously.
eyes," said the girl with interest
"Bill Melvin, Owen Ransom, Bert
Clayton and Jimmy Alvin four as
nice fellows as ever came into the
gold country to seek their fortunes =
eh?"
Eyes" Bess was blushing family
now but her clear glance still held
her fathers gray eyes.
"Well last night, one time or an
other, every dad-blamed one Of those
boys came and asked me Ill
He paused and locked away down the
crooked street of the little mining
town, and this time Bess did not say
anything, but the flush on her cheek
grew deeper.
every one Of those boy came and
asked me If he could come and court
my daughter-provided he made some
sort of lucky strike this trip"
There was little silence and then
Bess asked family, What did you
say, dad?"
~ said they could come whether
they'd made their fortunes or not =
and that I didn't know what your
mind was about it-and that they bet.
ter run ahead and locate their claims"
"They all asked you that question,
dad?"
eyes, honey and I don't know
which one Of EN- 1t is-but it's one OF
the fOur-en
She nodded.
Purdy sighed and got upon bis
feet. ri reckon It'll be Bert Clayton
he's handsome rascal and has
rare good luck at everything"
Bess made no reply but turned and
ran into the house and up to her
little room with shining eyes and hot
cheeks.
Several weeks passed slowly while
the hot sun poured down out Of a
brassy sky and the little mining town
blistered under the scorching blaze.
John Purdy down in the assay office,
thought Of the four young men grub
bing hopelessly around Rattlesnake
Mountain-its SCARED hillsidee had
been vainly prospected for years.
What would these youths get out OF
the burning ground save bitter sui
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