The Washburn leader., 1916-02-11
,JlRs GOLD LEDGE
sy ANsoN CARTER.

VA0SOS0A0V - 6VAV AaAIl0 AUV tQ00 HOWL
its location, but that was all he knew.
All this mostly in mods and grunts ct
assent. while Barton questioned eae.
erly.
But after the stranger lay Fast
asleep by the dying embers Coates
took out stub Of a pencil and tore on
piece Of paper from q soap wrapper
in the wagon. Then he wrote a note
to his nearest neighbor, as neighbors
run IN the land of buttes. And he
tied the note with a piece of string
to Tire collar of Brag, one of his dogs.
and pointed down the valley road.
Brag knew the road. He had car
ried tobacco along 1t before, and some.
times brought back newspapers and
1etters. There we're only three spots
of human habitation throughout the
~alley-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
that would have made Cerberus wag
his tail. And nearly every evening
after sundown 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 1t
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
lantern.
"The moons bright enough" said
Tony. "Put that out. / don't want
anyone to see q light here"
Sue slept ON while the two talked
together out In the cleared ground
beyond the house. When she awoke
1t 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 gingeriy down the rough butte
trail on . 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 I 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 hat to Sue.
Got . nice little place here. I've
Just been looking the valley over I'm
;a-er-a geologist."
"Fine rocks around here" Tony said
gravely.
Yes, splendM-er-strata. Do you
happen to know Of a ledge that juts
out along the other side of this creek
somewhere through the valley? N's
hidden in ravine. There's small
cascade there"
~ know the place." Sue answered
:straightly.
"You dot" Barton's small. dark
eyes cleaned With interest. II expect
TO build q cabin there. The water 70
very good. I was told. bought the
claim up from . man named Adams
this spring back in Ohio"
Pleasant to have you for q neigh.
'bor," Tony said.
Sues dark eyes widened with amaze
ment and swift indignation.
'tBut the ledge is ours. dad. He
can't have 1t. You wouldn't sell out.
would you, for ;anything?"
1T can't be yours II bought it up
last spring from Adams, could it,"
And how could you buy it from .
man that's been dead over 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 ia Valley Greek to Peter.
con here and It's on record. What are
ypni 9 anxious about taking it up
4
hasttated, choosing his
words. vatehing the girls face.
Well. stnos that's 20, / don't want
70 put throsGh : crooked deal. I'm
willing to put ~ cash and work IL out
Afty.fifty with you Ill here"
( Work what auty demanded sue.
Jm's gold claim. ri ten you the
straight truth. I was i nurse at the,
hospital whore be died. and he told
me about the Ledge and Whsrs Il va,
showed ne the SAMPLE of nnck he'd
bought away With him. "a aNtsr ne
tted I took II down and had Il assayed
Il showed tSoe to the ton. Pretty
good, isn't akY 90 I came attsr ~
But YOU'RE m before me. Want q
paftner?'' 5ja
Peterson shook his head slowly.
It's al N ~ girls name. ain't
rot anything To Aay. ',is # s}sss s}ss