The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-09
Continued

eyes and saw neither the diStaSte nor
contempt she had thought to find
What she did see caused her to grow
suddenly shy and confused, while tears
that were not OF grief sprang into her
eyes.
Suddenly Cecil reeled And would
have fallen had not Betty sprang to
his assistance.
IL will help you into the hotel.
There is no one else" she stammered.
With the girls aid Cecil reached a
room and collapsed upon the bed. Bet
ty bent anxiously over him. but he
was unconscious.
"He must have DOCTOR" she whis.
pered and FASTENED away.
Fortunately the doctor had not join.
ed the stampede for the gulch and hur-
ried with Betty to the hotel Telling
him where he would find the stranger.
she herself walked rapidly away from
the town. Not far out she met Mr..
Baylor and his fellow townsmen. dusty
and in deepest disgust.
Every claim was already staked."
they told her aggrievedly, but Betty
indifferently passed on.
At the end OF week Lord Cecil was
still weak, but steadily improving.
Mr.. Baylor was troubled A very
careful examination of Cecil's scanty
baggage had failed to disclose either
money or articles of value. 1t was
possible that the guest had hidden his
roll during some lucid moment. but Mr.
Baylor doubted. He decided to make
demand for money.
But l haven't any. You'll have to
wait until can dig some gold
v know" Cecil answered cheerfully.
and after moment of amazed paral
ysis the landlord exploded wrathfuly.
"Iou deadbeat," he roared "Tryin'
10 skin me. are you: Wait till yuu
dig some go,dl Yah, You'l pay up
pretty soon or be kicked out. you bet,
The window of the room was open
and sounds carried well in the clear
air. Betty. sitting beside her own
window in the adjoining room. felt
tears of anger and grief trickling down
her cheeks.
And it is all my fault-miner she
whispered sadly.
Cecil was distinctly annoyed. This
landlord was evidently a person quite
lacking in reasonableness. 1t would
he vastly more agreeable to have the
brute satisfied. He pondered for a
moment and then produced from his
satchel packet of stock certificates.
II say" he suggested. suppose You
take this Golden Hope mine in pay
ment of your billT'
Mr.. Baylor grunted in contempt.
%'Golden Hope'-why, | wouldn't
give you plate o. beans for that hole
in the ground. You pay up in good
cash or out you 60 an that pretty
quick.'
After which Mr. Baylor stalked from
the room.
There is certain eastern paper
much given to intimate accounts of
the doings of nobility in Europe and
society leaders in America. which has
vogue and extensive circulation in
those sections of the west which most
loudly express their utter scorn and
houndless contempt for both those or
namental classes. And fate willed
that almost simultaneously. a certain
paragraph should he read by the ex-
cellent Mr.. Baylor. Betty and Monte
Carson. Mr.. Baylor was indulging his
literary proclivities behind his bar:
Betty sat beside her bedroom window
and Mr. Carson was leaning sullenly
against the door frame of a saloon in
a town some twenty dusty miles from
Salt Springs. The paragraph was this:
LORD CECIL IN LUCK.
Gold Brick Proves Pure Metal
Recently Lord Cecil Of England pur-
chased the Golden Hope Mine" only to
be told by mining experts that it was
worthless. 1t now appears that the Hope
is the choicest claim In Sandy Gulch
where incredibly rich veins have Just
been developed. Lord CeciPs mine Is
worth at least 100000 The lucky noble
man is supposed to be in the west in
specting his property
HE doesn't 6now-he might have
given the stock away" Betty gnspea
cnd then her heart leaped joyousIy It
was all right. after all. Cecil would
hot think of her as a lying swindler,
now that the truth exceeded even the
promises OF her fantastic tale to him.
Then her head dropped wearily.
No. she whipsered, this good for
tune is only chance-he cannot forget
that the intent was to rob him"
From the adjoining room again rame
the voice OF Mr.. Baylor. but it was now
honey sweet.
II reckon was kind o. mean awhile
ago. partner he said mot to show no
more feelin' for gent down on his
luck. amt such bad guy when you
get to know me, an. Just to prove it.
Ill take that stock an call the board
bill paid"
Like darting bird Betty was out of
her room and burst wildly into that OF
Lord Cecil.
mo. no. Don't give him the miner
she cried and breathlessly told Cecil
OF the change that had come to his for
tunes
"Aw." Cecil observed calmly. and
turned to the landlord.