The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-01-07
JIRs GOLD LEDGE
BY ANsoN CARTER.

1t might have turned out all right for
Barton II 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 lest
it's 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 stub of pencil and tore Off
a piece of paper from 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.
Drag knew the road. He had car
ried tobacco along 1t before, and some
times brought back newspapers and
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 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.
When he drew rein before the old
shack, old Peterson was out with a
lantern.
THE moons bright enough, said
Tony Put that out. l don't want
anyone to see light here
Sue slept on while the two talked
together out in the cleared ground
beyond the house. When she awoke
it was after four.
you're here pretty early, amt you,
Tony?" she called from the wash
bench at the back of the shack.
There's more coming" answered
Tony, dryly, and he watched Barton
approaching them half mile away,
coming gingerly down the rough butte
| trail on a horse he had bought in
town.
/ 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?"
mo, for each other. Haven't you!
Didn't tell you when you were only
sixteen what | thought of you? Look
up at me. You put your arms"
TONY, they'll see you, please
please"
The stranger and Peterson came
leisurely up to the shack. Barton
looked cheerful and friendly. He rest
ed one foot on the first step and raised
his nat to Sue.
Got nice little place here. I've
Just been looking the valley over. I'm
a-er-a geologist."
rrRnu CO
gravely.
Yes. splendid-er-strata Do yot
happen to know OF ledge that jut'
cut along the other side of this creel
somewhere through the valley? IT.
hidden in ravine. There's a small
cascade there"
q know the place" Sue answered
straightly,
"You do?" Bartons small, darl
eyes cleaned with interest. Il expec
to build cabin there. The water i
very good, l was told. l bought tn
claim up from a man named Adam
this spring back in Ohio"
Pleasant to have you for a neigh
Dor" Tony said.
Sues dark eyes widened with amazs
ment and swift indignation.
"But the ledge is ours, dad. II
can't have it. You wouldn't sell out
would you, for anything?"
1T can't be yours if | bought it u
last spring from Adams, could it,
"And how could you buy it from
man that's been dead over a year?
demanded Tony, coolly, stepping b.
| tween them. Jim Adams died in tn
county hospital right south of here i
Sweetwater. He sold everything h
ever owned in Valley Creek to Pete
son here and its on record. What ar
you so anxious about taking it u
for?"
Barton hesitated, choosing hi
words, watching the girls face.
We'll, since that's so, I don't wan
to put through a crooked deal. II
willing to put up cash and work it OF
fifty-fifty with you all here"
Work what out?'' demanded Sue.
"Jim's gold claim. I'll tell you th
straight truth. l was nurse at tn
hospital where he died, and he toll