The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-26
The EUening Story
Jin's Gold Ledge.
(By Izola Forrester.)


for Barton if he hadn't stopped over
night in tho sheep camp and talked
too much with Silent Coates.
| Coates had little to say while Bar
ton stretched out in front of the big
sheep wagon after supper and poured
forth the hope of his heart to him.
He listened with apathetic voiceless-
ness that had won him his sobriquet
smoked placidly and eyed the indefi-
mite, humpbacked masses lying around
just beyond the circle of freight.
Yes, he knew old man Peterson and
his daughter. He even admitted that,
so far as ne was aware, they still
lived in Valley Greek. He never had
| time Yes, he had heard that he had
discovered a gold mine and then lost
its location, but that was all he knew.
All this mostly in mods and grunts
| of assent while Barton questioned
| eagerly.
But after the stranger lay fast
asleep by the dying embers Coates
took out a stub of a pencil and tore
wrapper in the wagon. Then he
wrote a note of great importance to
his nearest neighbor, as neighbors
run in the land of buttes. And he
| tied the note with a piece of string
to the collar of Brag, one of his dogs,
and pointed down the valley road.
Brag knew the road. He had car
ried tobacco along it before, and
| brought back newspapers and letters.
| There were only the three spots of
human habitatiOn throughout the val
| ley-Petersons Tony Aliens claim
and, higher up, Coates's sheep ranch.
So they all hung together in mutual
dependence.
Sue.
Not one bit was she like her father,
the tall blue-eyed Norwegian. Some
how, on his way down through the
northwest, Peterson had met a
French-Canadian girl and had mar
ried her up near MooSejaw. After
two years in the Valley Creek shack
she had died, and Peterson had rid
den down to the nearest town with
the baby girl slung handily before
him in shawl, and had rented
half-breed woman as housekeeper
and nurse.
So Sue was slim and dark, with
glancing, witching eyes and a smile
that would have made Cerberus wag
his tail. And nearly every evening
after shutdown Tony would ride down
the mountain road just to talk awhile
with Sue out on the little front stoop
of the shack and to tell her what it
meant to him to have her even in
the same world as himself.
He read the note from Coates over
| twice, frowning, then tossed strip
of bacon to the messenger and started
for the corral. 1t was moonrise when
below him. Sues big wolf dogs heard
the horses tread and started barking.
When he drew rein before the shack,
old Peterson was out with a lantern.
1.-The moons bright enough said
Tony Put that out. / don't want
any one to see a light here"
Sue slept on while the two talked
together out in the cleared ground
beyond the house. When she awoke
it was after 4, and the valley lay like
bride fresh from the hands of her
maids, the white mists slipping back
in rose and golden rays.
You're here pretty early, amt you,
Tony" she called from the wash
There's more coming" answered
Tony dryIy, and he watched Barton
approaching them half a mile away,
coming gingerly down the rough butte
trail on horse he had bought in town.
''Who is he?"
Stranger, I guess. Sue, do dreams
ever come true?"
He laid two hands on her shoulders
and turned her around to face him.
Remember how we've waited and
hoped for years."
For gold?"
NO for each other. Haven't you
Didn't I tell you when you were only
16 what 1 thought of you? And you
didn't laugh at me, either. Remem-
Der what you did, Sue? Don't get
away Look up at me. You put your
Irony, they'll see you, please,
The stranger and Peterson came
leisursly up p to the led sh friend,E Sar{ Re
rested one foot on the first step and
raised his hat to Sue.
.Got nice little place here. I've
Just been looking the valley over m
a-er-a geologist.'
Fine rocks around here" Tony said
gravely.
YES, splendid-er strata Do you
happen to know of a ledge that juts
out along the other side of this creek
somewhere through the valley? It's
hidden in a ravine- There's small
cascade there
II know the place." Sue answered
you do?" Barton's small, dark
eyes cleaned with interest. 81 expect
to build a cabin there. The water is
very good, 1 was told. 1 bought the
claim up from a man named Adams
this spring back in Ohio
Pleasant to have you for neigh
bor," Tony said
you?'' asked Peterson quizzically,
leaning with his elbows on the top
railing around the stoop. But Sues
dark eyes widened with amazement |
and swift indignation.
But the ledge is ours, dad. He
can't have it. You wouldn't sell out, |
would you. for anything
last spring from Adams, could it
land how could you buy it from a |
man that's been dead over a year,
demanded Tony coolly, stepping be- |
tween them. Jim Adams died in the
county hospital right south of here in
Sweetwater He sold everything he /
ever owned in Valley Creek to Peter
son here and it's on record What are
for2"
Barton hesitated, choosing his
words, watching the girls face
well since that's so, 1 don't want
to put through any crooked deal I'm
willing to put up cash and work it out
fifty-fifty with you ali here
.sXNorlc what out 81 demanded Sue.