Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-12-22

and slept since the earliest beginning
of memories became also a part of
the high mountain harmony; and the
ragged, red iron ore beds on the slope
above the furnace were softened into
l blur OF joyous color.
The iron furnace, with it's alternat-
ing smoke puff and dull red flare,
struck the one Earring note in SYM
phony blown otherwise on great ma
lures organ pipes; but to Thomas
Jefferson the furnace was as much
part of the immutable scheme as the
hills or the forests or the creek which
furnished the motive power for it's air.
blast. More, it stood for him as the
summary of the worlds industry, as
the white pike was the worlds great
highway, and Major Dabney it's chief
citizen.
He was knocking his bare heels to-
gether and thinking idly of Major
Dabney and certain disquieting rumors
lately come to Paradise, when the
tinkling drip of the spring into the pool
at the foot of his perch was interrupt
ed by a sudden splash. BY shifting
little to the right he could see the
spring. A girl of about his own age,
barefooted, and with only her tangled
mat of dark hair for head covering,
was filling her bucket in the pool He
broke dry twig from the nearest ce-
dar and dropped it on her
You better quit that, Tom-Jeff Co.
don. 1 taken sight o. you up there"
said the girl. ignoring him otherwise
That's my spring, Nan Bryerson,"
he warned her dictatorially.
"Shucks! 1t amt your spring any
more'n it's mine!" she retorted. Hits
on Maze Dabney's land"
We'll, don't you muddy 1t none"
said Thomas Jefferson, with threaten
ing emphasis.
For answer to this she put one
brown foot deep into the pool and
wriggled her toes in the sandy bottom.
Things began to turn red for Thomas
Jefferson, and high, buzzing note, like
the tocsin of the bees, sang in his ears.
Take your foot out o, that sprinsl
Don't you mad me, Nan Bryerson!" he
cried.
She laughed at him and flung him a
taunt. You don't darst to get mad,
TommyJeffy; you've got religion"
1t is terrible thing to be angry in
shackles. There are similes-pent vol
like-but they are all Inadequate.
Thomas Jefferson searched for mis-
siles more deadly than dry twigs, found
none, and fell headlong-not from the
rock, but from grace. The girl laugh
ed mockingly and took her foot from
the pool, not in Difference to his OUT
burst, but because the water was lev
cold and gave her a cramp.
.
ed. 1.-The devil IL shore get We for saw
in that word, Tom jeff"
There was no reply, and she stenned
back to see what had become of him.
He was prone, writing in agony. She
knew the way to the top of the rock.
and was presently crouching beside
him.
Don't take on like that" she plead
ed. Times 1 cayn't hep bein' mean:
looks like 1 was made thataway. Get
up and slap me, If you want to. 1 won't
slap back"
But Thomas Jefferson only ground
his face deeper into the thick mat of
cedar needles and begged to be Iet
alone.
GO away; I don't want you to talk
to mel" he groaned. You're always
making me SIM You're awfully wick
ed"
"Cause I don't believe all that abv..t
the woman and the snake and the ap-
pie and the MANI"
You'll go to hell when you die, and
then 1 guess you'll believe" said
Thomas Jefferson, still more definitely.
She took a red apple from the pocket
of her ragged frock and gave it to
him.
What's that for?" he asked. sus-
piciously
You eat 1t; it's the kind you like
off IN the tree right back of Jim
Stones barn lot" she answered.
You stole it, Nan Bryersoni"
We'll what If I did? You didn't"
He bit into it, and she held him In
talk till it was eaten to the core.
Have you heard tell anything new
about the new railroad?" she asked
Thomas Jefferson shook his head. 81
heard Squire Bates and Major Dabney
naming it one day last week."
WELL it's shore comin'-right thoo'
Paradise. heard tell how it was goin'
to cut the old Maje's grass patch
plumb in two, and run right smack
thoo' you-uns' peach orchard"
A far-away cry, long drawn and
penetrating, rose on the still air of the
lower slope and was blown on the
breeze to the summit of the great
rock.
That's nav, hollerin' for me to get
back home with that bucket o. water"
said the girl; and, as she was descend
ing the tree ladder: you didn't s'pi-
cion why 1 give you that apple, did
you. Tommy Jeffy?"