The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-30
JIM's GOLD LEDGE
BY ANSoN CARTER.

Barton if he hadn't stopped over night
in the sheep camp and talked too
much with Silent Coates.
Coates had little to say. Yes, he
knew old man Peterson and his daugh-
ter He even admitted that they still
, lived in Valley Creek. He never had
known Adams That was before his
time. Yes, he had heard that he had
discovered 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 Gag
erly.
But after the stranger lay fast
asleep by the dying embers Coates
took out a stub of pencil and tore on
piece of paper from a soap wrapper ,
in the wagon. Then he wrote note
to his nearest neighbor, as neighbors
run in the land of buttes. And he
tied the note with 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 some
times brought back newspapers ana
letters. There were only three spots
of human habitation throughout the
valley-Peterson's Tony Aliens claim
and, higher up, Coates sheep ranch.
So they all hung together in mutual
dependence.
And the sovereign of the three was
Sue.
She was slim and dark with
. glancing, witching eyes and smile
q 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 II
" meant to him to have her even in the
same world as himself.
He read the note from Coates.
When he drew rein before the old
- shack. old Peterson was out with a
- lantern.
- :. The moons bright enough said
:, Tony. Put that out. don't want
~ anyone to see a light here
Sue slept on while the two talked
= together out in the cleared ground
beyond the house. When she awoke
T" it was after four.
"Yourc here pretty early, amt you
IL Tony" she called from the wash
" bencn at the back OF the shack.
There's more coming, answered
III Tony. dryly, and he watched lSartoi
ct approaching them half mile away
Up coming gingnrlv down the rough butte
III trail on a horse he had bought il
" town.
er He laid two hands on her shoulder
or and turned her around to face him
ed Remember how we've waited ant
hoped for years."
ne For gold?"
ak mo. for each other. Haven't you
CO Didn't tell you when you were onl
sixteen what thought of you? Loo
ar up at me You put your arms"
Tony, they'll see you, please
ng please"
ne The stranger and Peterson cam
~ leisurely up to the shack. Barto
at looked cheerful and friendly. lie res
en- ed one foot On the first step and raise
his nat to Sue.
as Got a nice little place here. Nv
Just been looking the valley over. II
ne a era gcologist.
Fine rocks around here" Tony sal
ar gravoly.
de- Yes, splendid -er strata. Do 20
happen tc know OF n ledge that Jut
on out along the other side of this cree
ev somewhere through the valley? 1t
,ul hidden in a ravinc. There's sma
cascade there.
Il know the place." Sue answere
gh straightly.
. | you do?" Barton's small, dar
he eyes cleaned with interest. Il expe6
his. to build cabin there. The water
nd very good | was told. | bought tn
mt claim IN from man named Adam
this spring back in Ohio
he Pleasant to have you for neigl
ed Dor Tony said.
Sues dark eyes widcned with amaze
mont and swift indignation.
ay' PUT the ledge is ours, dad II
can, have It, You wouldn't sell on
Do would vou for anything"
me 1T cant be yours il | bought 1t u
last spring from Adams. could it,
of And how could you buy it from
man that's been dead over a year?
'ol- demanded Tony. coolly, stepping b'
tween them Jim Adams died in tn
lrd county hospital right south of here !
his Swpetw He sold everything h
ever owned in Valley Creek to Pete
rs. son mere and it's on record. What ar
tty YOU so anxious about taking ii u
MI for2'
Barton hesitated, choosing hi
ly words, watching the girls face.
me We'll, since that's so, | don't wan
to put through a crooked deal. II
lld willing to put up cash and work II gu
on ffty-ffty with you all here.
sh- Work what OUT demanded sue.
ak "Jims gold claim. I'll tell you tn
straight truth | was nurse at IN
yn, hospital where he died, and he tol
DO me about the ledge and where 1t wal
showed me the sample OF rock ne
brought away with him. and after h
"a died / took IT down and had it assay &c
mt IL showed $500 to the ton. Prett
hg good isn't IT. SO | came after ]
20 But you're in before me. Want
ish partner?
peterson shook his head slowly
Its all Ia my girls name. ain
sly got anything to say.
to Sue laughed and put her hand
Tonys.