Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-14
,larkson threw aside his pick.

He posted his notice of possession by
laying the paper on the newly broken
ground and placing a stone on top to
keep it from blowing away. ANY one
who jumped that claim now might ex-
pect the wild justice of the mining
camp 70 be visited upon him
AS be drew near the camp the thun-
der of the stamp mills smote the air,
and the blur of smoking chimneys
dimmed the eastern sky.
Pete Clarkson's persistent efforts and
logged determination TO 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 ut the house OF Jim
Gray, superintendent OF the Great
Dome. and Molly Gray. sweet as a
rose, with gray eyes. brown hair. pink
cheeks and pink gown. came to the
door.
How'd you make out, Peter" she
asked. her little brown hand lost in his
= A~SAl III pdiLA
It's the Molly Gray" he said quiet
~. thrusting the lump of ore into her
other hand.
"Oh. Pete" she cried joyfully.
"where?"
''On Crow ledge, near Crow rock"
Where we saw the sunset that
night?"
Same place"
What were you doing there. Peter"
she asked. with dimpiing cheeks.
''Prospectin'," he grinned sheepishly.
Then. passing his hand over his IN
shorn chin. he nodded toward the
Great Dome smelter. II guess it will
be all right now down there" he said
confidently.
You know 1t has always been all
right with me, Pete" said Molly softly.
Il know" he said soberly. I'm GO
in down now to git out my papers.
I'll stop on my way back"
Haven't yOu registered YETI" she
asked anxiously.
Nope: stopped here first thing. Got
her staked all right, though. aud the
name posted. Coin back there to
aDtAAC NtA4A4l- AoO lOuSs SCS yOo
And with backward wave of his hand
he loped down toward the registering
Office
From the doorway OF the cabin at
the head of the street Molly. holding
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-
da encircling the one roomed building.
A wide brimmed hat was drawn over
his eyes. and to all appearances he was
lost in slumber
Molly looked at the open window
over the mans head and calculated
that If Pete ClarksOn announced his
discovery in his usual bluff, hearty ac-
cents it could readily be heard by the
man on the veranda If he were awake
and listening. and If 1t should prove
70 be Dave Lumly, who was own
brother to Jim Lumly, the registrar
of claims. why. then, Pete Clarkson
would have race for his claim. that
was all. She remembered the case of
Allan Smith. the young prospector
from the east who made find and
staked his claim. Before he could reg
lister it 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 it Lumly had de-
fed the sheriff and his posse to GUST
him. Young Smith had shot himself,
and, after all. the mine had proved
worthless.
All. the somnolent one arose slowly.
stretched himself. took careful sur
vey of the street: then. with a swift
movement. leaped into the saddle of
waiting sorrel and rode out Black lane.
It was Dave Lumly.
Presently she saw Pete emerge from
the registry Office and cross the street
to the assayers. With sudden energy
she re-entered the house. scrubbed a
few lines Informing Pete of her where
abouts in case she could not find him.
pinned the note TO the front door. sad