Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-13
CHAPTER |.

For TWO years Bob Melville worked,
without rest, in his mine on
Ehe stones Of the Rocky Mountains.
Title bv little he took from the earth
r. greatest treasure, the gold that
Snen have fought and bled for since
sha dawn of time. Men told him he
kas working a worthless claim, but
sBob had faith in his Judgment and
KS confident that time would prove
b. belief that somewhere in his mine
HAS a vein of pure virgin gold. FL
kally the day came when he stood
de by side with Jose, the one man
Srlo had been faithful through the
Two years struggle, and gazed down
kmoD The vein of precious metal that
kgzagged along the walls of the
|khaft.
4 The next morning, with a bag of
hold about his neck and his pockets
Ened with samples of ore taken from
his mine. Bob left the mine and start
hi East 10 interest capitalists and Sc
Iure the necessary machinery for the
EeyeIopmcnt of his property. The
'god was there in unlimited duanti-
Hes and a hurried assay of the ore
Dad proved that the claim, If prop
.frly developed and worked. would pay
enormous dividends His troubles
.Eare over; the work of the past two
kears was finished; the long, silent
kughts when he felt that all his eff
Forts had been for naught, would
keyer come again. He was rich!
Employees in Plot.
4 Jose, left alone in charge of the
fa4y
.pf his master. The Mexican laborers,
PED by Sanchez Pezazzo, a swarthy
fufian with a price upon his head,
thad been restless since Bob left early
~ the morning. Sanchez had seen
'N.th cleaning eyes the bag of gold
rh3t hung from Bob's neck, and, with
apparent solcitude for Bob's well
Fare. had asked the young mine own
~ many questions about the route
fver which he was going to travel.
|Half an hour after the mail coach
lwith Bob aboard had left the mine,
SANCHEZ sauntered Carelessly down a
Eayine followed by the half dozen
Mexican laborers who had been work.
Fng about the mine. Jose, fearing a
plan 10 rob Bob of his mine, fol-
bowed cautiously. He crept nearer
|and nearer to the gang of bandits
|Nho crouched behind q rock, and
Prom the shelter of a bowlder Jose
overheard the details of a plot to
|oVerlake the mail coach, stop 1t and
rob Bob of the bag of gold and the
flch samples of ore.
Jose crept silently from the hiding
pace OF the gang and hurried back
no me camp. He hardly knew what
10 DO, Alone, he was powerless to
Keep the gang from carrying out their
purpose; there seemed no way that
Ae could save his master. Then he
recalled a short cut through the
mountains to the road along which
yhe mail coach with Bob aboard must
pass fast runner might make up
ne half hours start and stop the
Doaen before the bandits could ar
range the details of their plan.
Tells Master of Plot.
determined to thWart the villain
ous sanchez and his band of cut
,Aroats, Jose, poor and ignorant, but
loyaI TO the core. slipped from the
.aI'Ip and started at top speed
through the mountains. After what
seeHed century, he staggered out
Ky. Inv the road on the plateau, just as
.se mail coach came around the
.Ssno IN the road Gasping for breath,
.ns strength almost exhausted. he
SSUPPed the coach and told Bob what
aad Happened.
ne road where Jose. stopped the
SSase and warned Bob that Sanchez S
o,ul vas afoot after his gold swung
.v,eI a. nigh promontory The road
G"a me only entrance, the only exit
~ loe plateau, save by scrambling
Bba a's down a steep declivity over
,i3 and raw rock to the level of the
plain below.
o, 1ose and Bob eve put Jose first be-
toSa ne was guide and master now
baIN 'ae risk of the descent They
'' purely a three minute start Of