Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-10-22

aue was Su5pi1tphss
She swung her pony about and
hummed gay little tune as she rode
down the trail; she talked to the pony
in bantering accents.
| ooh, Nicodemus Alexander" she
sighed, Il could remain on this noun
tainside all day and admire the view,
but you must get me back to town for
dinner; I'm hungry"
So she rode back along the down
ward trail. hoping to meet the pay
master at the round of every curve
| in the road.
| At last. far below, she glimpsed
black horse flying along the trail and
rider who seemed part of his beau
tiful mount.
He doesn't ride like an old man.
she thought with quickening pulses.
Perhaps he is one of the Rio gang"
Far down the mountain side she
met the rider, tall. sun-browned man,
whose saddlebags were well filled. He
looked curiously at her as she APP
preached.
Are you Mr.. Burgess?" she asked
breathlessly.
Yes" he smiled. sweeping of his
hat.
And you are paymaster of the
Golden Eagle?'
He looked sharply at her.
why do you ask that?" he de-
manaed bluatly
Because you are In danger-they
are waiting for you up yonder-" And
/ hastily she told him of the evil face
/ she had seen and of the warning
+ uttered by the stage driver.
4 was warned" he admitted. "bnt
| didn't take much stock in it-they've
been threatening 10 hold me up for
/ the past year I've got 10 get the
money to the boys-they1l be rioting
If they don't get 1t" he ended rue.
/ fully.
Cant YOU tranafer the money to
my saddiebags and let me follow you
Up the trail7 Then. II they want you
/ to throw up your hands you can, and
before they discover that your bags
are empty | can ride on TO the mine.
They won't hurt your" she asked anx.
I iously.
'No-all they want Ia the money"
he assured her. but | cant permit
you TO endauger your life
ITS for my own interests she
said calmly. Il am Vera Linwood."
Vera Llnwood why Miss Llnwood.
| was going East next week 10 see you.
The Golden Eagle has developed an
other rich vein
And tho Double Eagle has lost one"
she said significantly.
You know. them"
4 heard yesterday and | am so
sorry feel like rohber myself
the owner OF pirate minein
That's miners luck Come. let US
yet along. II we must Just put these
/ packages in your saadlebags-so and
I'll stun mine with grass Ride on
ahead and don't worry It will come
out all right he slapped her pony's
+ fank and mounted his black and FOL.
lowed.
When Vera passed the ambush she
was talking 70 her pony as before.
"Once more. Nicodemus Alexander"
she threatened. 4 Will ride To the tor
Of the Hill: then down again for din.
uer," She passed the ambush and
waited broafhIeasly around the bend
OF the trail Somewhere near by she
heard the pounding OF tho ore-crush-
era and she knew that she was near
/ the mines.
Below she heard the tread OF Bur
gesa' horse followed by a sharp com
mand. momentary silence. and then
the murmur OF other voices. The hold
up had happened and they were going
through the mine owners pockets and
searching his saddiebags for the Gold
en- Eagles pay roll
NicodemuB Alexander was smitten
with indignant surprise when HIS
rider suddenly jabbed her sharp heel
into his flank.
He bounded up the trail. his hoofs
scattering the stones nnderfoot In
furry OF dust. horse and rider APP
peared at the Office OF the Golden
Eagle
A dozen men surrounded Vera.
Mr.. Burgess7-held up-help him,
she gasped. and tumbled from her
pony.
There was a shout OF anger as tho
miners grabbed their weapons and
dashed down the trail to meet the pay
master.
Vera leaned dazedly against the of
fee door and stared at the blood
trickling down the sleeve of her white
blouse.
Someone must have fred at me-"
she smiled family.
The plucky nttie ANGEL" exclaimed
one roughly dressed man as he led
her inside the building.
Weeks afterward Mrs. Henry Hen
drick reread a letter from Vera. IL
was dated from Eagle City.
Dear Aunt Emily wrote Vera, Il
sxtfll 10 horne la. a.ltI.r x.to.ls I