, 1915-12-23

nummeQ u gay nttie tune I'D BIG iouo
down the trail; she talked to the pony
in b%antering accents.
"Oh, Nicodemus Alexander" b
sighed, 81 could remain on this noun
tainside all day and admire the view,
but o must get me back to town for
dinner; I'm hungry"
So she ode 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 a
black horse flying along the trail and
q 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, a tall, sun-browned man,
whose saddlebags were we'll filled. He
looked curiously at her as she APP
preached.
Are you Mr.. Burgessf" 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-
manded bluntly.
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.
81 was warned" he admitted, but
I didn't take much stock in it-they've
been threatening to hold me up for
money to the boys-theyM be rioting
if they don't get it." he ended rue
fully.
Cant o transfer the money to
my ~saddlebags and let me follow you
up the trail? Then, IL they want you
to throw up your hands, you a and
before they discover hat your bags
are empty l a ride On to the mine.
They won't hurt your" she asked INK
iously.
"No-all they want is the money"
he assured her. But l can't permit
! you to endanger your life"
llb " IL =" ltC Z
said calmly; II am Vera Linwood."
Vera Linwood-why, Miss Linwood,
/ was going East next week to see you.
The Golden Eagle has developed an
other rich vein"
And the Double Eagle has lost one"
she said significantly.
You know, them"
81 heard yesterday and l am so
sorry feel like a robber myself
the owner of a pirate mine!"
That's miners luck. Come, let us
get along, if we must. Just put these
packages in your saddlebags-so, and
I'll stuff mine with grass. Ride on
ahead and don't worry. 1t will come
out all right" He slapped her pony's
flank and mounted his black and fol-
lowed.
When Vera passed the ambush she
was talking to her pony as before.
"Once more, Nicodemus Alexander"
she threatened. 81 will ride to the top
of the hill; then down again for din
ner!" She passed the ambush and
waited breathlessly around the bend
OF the trail. Somewhere near by she
hOdio tho Pouiuiu6 vi IhC ubL-
ers and she knew hat she was near
the mines.
Below she heard the tread of Bur.
CESS horse, followed by a sharp com
mand, a 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 saddlebags for the Gold
en- Eagles pay roll.
Nicodemus 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 underfoot. In
a furry of dust, horse and rider ap-
peared az the office of the Golden
Eagle.
A dozen men surrounded Vera.
mi. Burgess-held up-help him.
she gasped, and tumbled from her
pony.
There was a shout Of anger as the
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
trucking down the sleeve of her white
blouse.
Someone must have fired at me"
she smiled family.
THE plucky little ANGEL" exclaimed
one roughly dressed man as he led
her inside the building.
Weeks afterward Mrs. Henry Hen
drick reread a letter from Vera. II
was dated from Eagle City.
Dear Aunt Emily" wrote Vera, 81
will be home in another weaL-nnd L