Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-13
IheMollyGray
A Girl Makes Good a
Claim
BY CLAfalSSA MACKIE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association
BY CLARlSSA MACKIE
+*s*':-'a-::-:''.:*.s:*a***+.*.,
GARRISON threw aside his nick

Clarkson threw aside his pick.
He posted his notice OF possession by
laying the paper on rhe newly broken
ground and placing n stone OH top TO
keep 1t from blowing away. Any one
who jumped that claim now might ex
pect the wild Justice OF the mining
camp TO be visited upon him.
AS he drew near the camp the thun
der OF the stamp mills smote the air
ana the blur OF smoking chimneys
dimmed the eastern sky.
Pete Clarkson's persistent efforts and
logged determination In find some
thing that would enrich him sufficient
ly to offer Molly Gray home had re-
suited in his striking what was prob
ably the lost vein of the Great Dome
ledge.
He stopped once at the house of linn
Gray. superintendent Of the Great
Dome. and Molly GRAY Swee, MS n
rose. with gray eyes. Bro, u hair. pink
cheeks and pink gown. came 10 the
door.
How'd you make out. pete?" she
asked. her !ittle brown hand lost i'm his
great earth stained palm.
It's the Molly Gray" he said Quiet.
~, thrusting the lump of ore into her
other hand
"Oh. Pete" she cried ioyfullv.
where"
"On Grow ledge. near Grow rock"
where we saw the sunset that
night:"
Same place"
what were you doing there. Pete?"
she asked. with dimpling cheeks.
"Prospec:in'." he grinned sheepishIy.
Then. passing his hand over his un.
shorn chin. he nodded toward tho
Great Dome smeter. Il guess IL will
be all right now down there" he said
confidently.
"fon know it has always been all
right with me. Pete" said Molly softly.
i know" he said soberly I'm go.
IN down now 10 git out nv papers.
III stop on my way back"
Haven't you registered yetf" she
asked nnXiously.
Nope; stopped here first thing. Got
her staked all right, though, and the
maine posted. Coin buck there ia
make camp. So long: see YOU later"
And with backward wave OF his hand
he loped down toward the registering
office.
FROM the doorway OF the cabin INF
the head OF the street Molly. holding
"a pair OF fieldglasses To her pretty
eyes. watched him enter the office.
Then her gaze fell upon the figure of
man sprawled upon the rough veran-
III encircling the one roomed building.
wide brimmed hat was drawn over
his eyes. and to aIl appearances he was
lost I'm sumber.
Molly looked mt the open window
over the mans head and calculated
that II Pete Clarksou announced his
discovery in bis usual blum. henrty ac
cents IT could readily be heard by the
man on the veranda If he were awake
and listening. and If 1t should prove
TO be Dave lumly. who was own
brother to dim l.umiy. the registrar
OF claims. why. then. Pete Clarkson
would have Il race for his CHIN. that
was Nil. She remembered the case OF
Allan Smith. the young prospector
from tue east who made II find and
staked his claim. Before he could reg
ister II and return TO the scene Dave
Lumly had news of the find and had
Jumped the claim. With his brother
TO back his title to 1t LumIy had de
fed the sheriff and his posse To oust
him. Young Smith had shot himself
and. after all. the mine had proved
worthless.
All. the somDolent one arose slowly
stretched himself took n careful sur
vey OF the street; then. with n swift
movement, leaped into the saddle OF n
waiting sorrel and rode out Black lane
IL was Dave Lumly.
Presently she saw Pete emerge from
the registry office and cross the street
10 the assayers With sudden energy
SIC re-entered the house. scrbbled
Jew lines informing Pete of her where.
abOuts in case she coulG nnt lind him.
pinned the note TO the front door. sard.
died her little mare Daisy. mounted
md dashed down the street toward the
assay office.
Pete Clarksont' repeated Brown.
ius. Just left here for down The
street
IF he comes back tell him To 20 no
10 our place. There's message for
him. VIII you tell him 2" shp injured
brcathlessly.
Sure thing. Miss Molly" be- said
heartily: then be watched her disau
pear down the long street and out
ipon the short cut through tue runyou
" Crow mountain The afternoon uu
'l"ue on her hHtlcss hpud AMI the
HIGHT wind huttered her pus skirts ms
shc little mare broke iu,u % gallon.
Once she drew rein nuI took swift
survey ~ the eOuutry.
Nile after mile The mur. covered
s"r1nbiu2 up sfrop hils'dr- mud slid
iu. rr"klessly down bee slopes Molly
with U'uziG. ewes and compressed llp-
watched f,i fI" rUpWuu.cr of The
."rro Eur ami i-s slmrhu. rider.
f.rts .... fI... Goa.