The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-10-29
His Fortune y
By CLARISSA 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.
"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 tor
himself Seems as if they hadn't had
much luck so far, this year"
mo more they haven't" admitted
John Purdy, sitting down on the steps
and filing his pipe; but they're all
young, honey-and you don't find gold
every day. Mostly, you find 1t 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 gray
hair. Dad, you're positively grow
ing 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 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 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 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, Owen Ransom, Bert
Clayton and Jimmy Alvin-four as
nice fellows as ever came into the
gold country to seek their fortunes
eh?"
yes" Bess was blushing family
now but her clear glance still held
her fathers gray eyes.
We'll, last night, one time or an
other, every dad-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 Bess 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 a lucky strike this trip"
There was a little. silence and then
Bess asked family. What did you
say, dad?"
'I said they could come whether
they'd made their fortunes or not
and that 1 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 don't know
which one of EN- 1t is-but it's one
OF the four-eh?"
She nodded.
Purdy sighed and got upon his feet
'I reckon It'll be Bert Clayton-he's
q 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 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,
| ,,
bling hopelessly around Rattlesnake
Mountain-its SCARED hillsides had
been vainly prospected for years.
What would these youths get out of
I the burning ground save bitter suf-
! fering and untold harsh experiences
! 1t was a 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 doorsteps, messenger whirl-
ed madly down the main street on a
dripping pony.
"A strike-a strike!" ran from liz
to lip and then it was learned that
the prospectors had indeed struck gold
in Rattlesnake Mountain.
THE richest vein hereabouts-
queerest thing that ever happened
They was all four working at different
points and three Of 'em struck the
vein-I guess 1t run clean through
the mountain; the other fellow didn't
get blamed thing for his digging!'
related the messenger.
Il reckon the other chaps will lei
DD" TE0AT tn