The Forrest City times., 1910-10-28


 the house and then their eyes met in a look of loving sympathy.
 'I do hope they'll make a 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 prospecting for himself Seems as if they hadn't had much luck so far, this year"
 No more they haven't" admitted John Purdy. 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 it just once in all your prospecting
 Perhaps this will be the one day for each of them." smiled Bess rum bling her fathers mop of curly gray hair. Dad. you're positively grow ing old"
 Mir. Purdy laughed the low rum bling 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 it, 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 commanded.
 Mr. Purdy turned mirthful gray eyes upon hers. so like his own. I'm looking ?"
 What Is the mattero"
 Her father removed his pipe from between his lips and looked into the bowl, then he squinted down the stem. and finally knocked the contents out and dropped the pipe in his pocket, with an air of determination.
 You saw those four chaps ride away, Bess?" he asked seriously
 Yes" said the girl. with interest
 Bill Melvin. Oven Ransom. Bert Clayton and Jimmy Alyin-four as nice fellows as ever came into the gold country to seek their fortunes eh?'
 Yes" Bess was blushing faintly now but her clear glance still held her fathers gray eyes.
 Well, last night. one time or an other, every d-blamed one of those boys came and asked me if-if-" He paused and looked away down the crooked street of the little mining town. and this time Ress did not say anything. but the flush on her cheek grew deeper
 Every one of those boys came and asked me if he could come and court my daughter-provided he made some sort of lucky strike this trip"
 There was a little silence and then Bess asked faintly, What did you say, dad?"
 T said they could come whether they'd made their fortunes or not and that l 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?"
 Yes, honey-and don't know which one of 'em it is-but it's one of the four-eh?'
 She nodded.
 Purdy sighed and got upon his feet T 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 lit tie room with shining eyes and hot cheeks
 Several Uppkc Daccod cIo,,.i,r t:, the hot sun poured down out of brassy sky and the little mining town blistered under the seorching' blaze. John Purdy. down in the assay office. thought of the four young men grub ping hopelessly around Rattlesnake Mountain-its scared hillsides had been vainly prospected for years. What would these youths get out of the burning ground save bitter suf fering and untold harsh experiences9 It was curious situation-four of them friends and all suitors for Bess Purdy's little brown hand,
 Bess, working away at her house hold tasks in the motherless home grew more dreamy-eyed and wistful as the days faded one into the other and no word came from the pros. pectors
 And then one night. after supper when the whole town sat gasping upon the doogsteps, a messenger wbirl. cd madly down the main street on dripping pony.
 A strike-a strike" ran from lin 10 lip and then if was learned that me prospeeters had indeed struck gold n Rattlesnake Mountain.
 The richest vein hcreabopts- qaeerest thing that ever happened lhey was all four working at different points and three of 'em struck the Vein-i guess it run clean tbronrb the mountain. the other fellow didn,t te' blamed thing for his digeine,a ieiated the messenger.
 :, T reckon the other chaps will let tue uhlueky fellow in on the claim |" ieiuarfed Purdy casually. oooii LlAe enough" said the other pro. .eeuIns on his exciting journey down