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

.ror two years Bob Melville worked,
hos without rest, in his mine on
Il stones of the Rocky Mountains.
1tle bv little he took from the earth
greatest treasure, the gold that
L. have fought and bled for since
dawn of time. Men told him he
b working a worthless claim, but
IN had faith in his judgment and
Il confident that time would prove
4 belief that somewhere in his mine
Is vein of pure virgin gold. FL
SIv the day came when he stood
IA nv side with Jose, the one man
Ia had been faithful through the
Ia years struggle, and gazed down
In the vein Of precious metal that
gagged along the walls of the
Eaft
.The next morning, with a bag of
sd about his neck and his pockets
4 ed with samples of ore taken from
II mine. Bob left the mine and start
4 East to interest capitalists and Sc
/ RE the necessary machinery for the
kvelopment Of his property. The
Bd was there in unlimited quantt-
Is. and a hurried assay of the ore
III proved that the claim. if prop
ky developed and worked, would pay
Rrmous dividends. His troubles
ere over; the work Of the past two
Jars was finished; the long, silent
Ights when he felt that all his eff
BIZ had been for naught, would
; Yer come again. He was rich!
Employees in Plot.
Jose, left alone in charge of the
Ene, became anxious for the safety
his master. The Mexican laborers,
Il by Sanchez Pezazzo, a swarthy
! fan with a price upon his head,
ID been restless since Bob left early
the morning. Sanchez had seen
9TH cleaning eyes the bag of gold
lat hung from Bob's neck, and, with
pparent solicitude for Bob,s well
Re, had asked the young mine own
many questions about the route
Yer which he was going to travel,
laLf an hour after the mail coach
Eih Bob aboard had left the mine,
Pnchez sauntered carelessly down a
lYlne, followed by the half dozen
Iexican labOrers who had been work.
& about the mine. Jose, fearing a
ian TO rob Bob of his mine, fol-
wed cautiously. He crept nearer
pa nearer to the gang of bandits
|no crouched behind rock, and
Tom the shelter of a bowlder Jose
Verheard the details of a plot to
Eertake the mail coach, stop it and
70 Bob Of the bag of gold and the
ch samples of ore.
Jose crept silently from the hiding
lace Of the gang and hurried back
me camp. He hardly knew what
do. Alone, he was powerless to
fep me gang from carrying out their
upose; there seemed no way that
could save his master Then he
scalled a short cut through the
louhtalns to the road along which
y mai coach with Bob aboard must
ass, a fast runner might make up
Y nalt hours start and stop the
pa1n before the bandits could ar
ange the details of their plan.
Tells Master Of Plot.
determined to thwart the villain
~ sanchez and his band of cut
moS's' Jose, poor and ignorant, but
va, 10 the core, slipped from the
aIup and started at top speed
trough the mountains. After what
a century, he staggered out
~ me road on the plateau. Just as
y mail coach came around the
'lu I'D the road. Gasping for breath.
= strength almost exhausted. he
, y the coach and told Bob what
40 happened
Inc road where Jose stopped the
nm ana warned Bob that Sanchez's
v vau was afoot after his gold swung
", .sa a high promontory. The road
~ loe only entrance. the only exit
.a .ae plateau, save by scrambling
r rnas down a steep declivity over
iusA and raw rock to the level of the
I2.n below
n.y., "use and Bob 1--WE put Jose first be-
,os ne was guide and master now
W, ,s me risk Of the descent. They
az barely a three minute start Of