Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-03
The Argus Daily Story
On Good Luck Trail-By Clarissa Maclde.
Copyrighted. 1913, by Associated Literary Bureau

came she sang in a rich soprano voice.
Lem Harrison watched her. SPELL
bound. convinced that once more he
had wandered from Good Luck trail.
The girl saw him and. startled. stood
for a moment quite motionleSsA Then
he approached her. removing his hat.
Good morning" he said difidently.
I'm looking for Good Luck gulch, but
I'm afraid I've missed my way. Per-
haps you can set me straight"
"Oh, this is Good Luck gulch, and
this is Good Luck camp. That is
what my father calls it." said the girl,
showing a row of pearly teeth in a
charming smile. DO you mean to
say you came up Good Luck trail?"
Yes" he said.
at isn't used much now. We use
the west trail. 1t leads down through
the valleys to Piedville. There Is the
opening"
She pointed a rounded arm and
showed where, facing the house, was
a wide opening, giving a panoramic
view of mountains and valleys and
tiny villages scattered at their feet.
LENS face was haggard with dis
quick to recognize that he was trou-
bled about something.
Perhaps you came to see my IA
ther?" she suggested, pointing toward
the veranda. where an elderly man
sat regarding them curiously.
He shook his head II didn't know
anybody was here 1 thought Good
Luck gulch was as wild as 1t was sixty
years ago, when my uncle came here to
seek gold. 1 didn't expect to find any
one here"
MY father obtained this place years
ago. He took a fancy to 1t and staked
a claim when he was young man. A
few years ago he decided that he would
like to spend his declining years up
here on the mountain, and so we sold
our little vineyard below. There are
only two Of us. father and l."
You must be lonesome" he said,
wondering
I'VE are. But it is beautiful, and
once a week We so down to Piedville,
and there are books and magazines to
keep one busy. 1 suppose you came
from the eastT
81 know look like Yankee" he ad-
mitted, smiling. Pm from the east,
and you viii laugh when you hear why
1 came to Good Luck gulch."
Il shall be glad to hear all about it."
she said pleasantly. Suppose you 60
over and talk to father, and after l
have MIXED the COW we will have
breakfast, and then you can tell US
about it. We are very fond of visitors
here in Good Luck gulch."
Lem left her reluctantly and went up
to the log house. where he made the
acquaintance of Henry Blair, the IA
Their of the girl he had been talking to.
To his sympathetic ear he related the
story of Peter Harrison's golden treas
ure and the long years of anticipation
! concerning it's whereabouts. He dis
| played the map, and together the two
men studied its faded lines.
! Then they went out and measured
! the distances marked on the map. 1T
must be here under this nat rock" de-
clared Mr.. Blair excitedly. wait a
moment until get crowbar."
Presently he returned, and together
| they heaved and strained and finally
! prted up the fat rock from it's bed, dis
closing closely packed earth under the
heavy weight.
| Flora Blair called them in to break
fast just then, and during the meal
LENS story was repeated to her in
terested ears.
isn't 1t perfectly lovely to have such
a romantic thing happen in Good Luck
| gulch?" she cried. Hurry up, fatherI
I'm just dying to see if there really is
treasure under that fat rock"
The three of them uncovered the
closely packed tin boxes. 1t was a
solemn moment when Lem opened one
rusted can and showed the golden dust
| placed there sixty years before by his
| uncle. He insisted that Henry Blair
and his daughter should each have a
share of the treasure, as 1t had been SO
safely guarded on their property for
many years.
'Tf you hadn't staked this claim
some other man would have come here
and found the gold" he assured them,
and at last he prevailed upon them to
accept each small portion of the COM
Portable fortune he had found.
His brief stop heightened into a visit,
and his visit stretched into a long
stay. One evening he told them about
his long and wearisOme trip up the
trail and how he had declared that IL
he did not find the treasure he would
rechristen the trail.
After Mr.. Blair had gone In Lem lin
gered on the veranda near FlOra's chair.
Even II / hadn't found a grain of
gold l never could have called 1t any
thing but Good Luck trail" he said
simply. ut led me straight to the
best luck I've ever had In this world,
Miss Flora" And with a brief good
night he passed inside the house.
Flora sat there alone. her cheeks flush
ed aud her eyes shining She was glad
be had not said more Just then. for
there was all the rest Of their lives in
which to unravel the beautiful story
Of love of which they had just found
the thread.
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