Gilpin observer., 1916-03-30
MATES CLAIM
sy IzoLA FORESTER.

into the billy street leading to the lit
tie railroad station.
Parker laughed back over his shoul-
der at the other driver and called
something that was answered by q
shout.
DO you know any Of them?" asked
Matte.
Rather. It's old Doc Warren. grand
old Doc Warren, great old Doc! So
long. Doc!"
The other car was gaining. though,
Warren, at the wheel, slipped into
high speed and took the hill dizzily
AS they flashed by. Matte caught her
first glimpse Of him, sitting far down
in his seat, his cap pulled low over
his keen. dark eyes. just the hint of
dark mustache and boyish smile Of
impish joy at beating Parker.
At the station, while she and Mil
dred went inside out of the cold, Park
er shook hands with the victor.
I'D have let her go, too, If 1t
hadn't been for the precious load
aboard"
Who is she?" asked Warren, with
a far-away look in his eyes.
Not for you. boy" laughed Parker.
Grand old Doc, she's of rarest clay
Matte Burroughs. Father produces mil
lions from patent food products for
dyspeptics, but he hasn't invented
anything for the trail of victims
Matte leaves after her. She's been
visiting Louise up at Craggymore
Lodge"
Bet twenty dollars marry her."
said Warren. Il always believed I'd
know the right girl when first looked
at her, and l do, too. It's 35 miles
to the Shore line. Parksie, before we
hit the Grand Central I'm going to
make her understand how l feel about
it."
Parker -hesitated.
Aren't you going to introduce me?"
Warren smiled at him with beatific
enjoyment Of the situation and, as the
New York express pulled in, somehow
Louise had managed the Introduction
in her quick way, and Warren sat be-
side Matte Burroughs in the general
pairing off of the two parties. Mrs.
Parker and Warren's Aunt Paula were
far too occupied with their own re-
union to bother over the duties of
chaperonage, and Warren set himself
to beat Time and Fate inside of three
hours.
Matte, In dark green and white fox
furs, took the onslaught demurely. In
TACT, she was rather, accustomed to
Just such situations. Easily she par
ried his opening points. Yes, she had
heard of him from Dave Morton, her
cousin out at the School of Mines.
Warren had been there, too. she be-
heved. Was she interested in mines
herself? She smiled doubtfully. After
one has been brought up on mines SO
to speak. they lose their glamour
For the moment, Warren forgot his
bet.
do you know anything about the
Diamond Eyer he asked eagerly.
She glanced at him curiously.
AT Crooked Creek? I've heard of
it. Why?"
my aunt. Mrs. Edwards, is inter-
ested in it. You see, years ago she
befriended chap who was pretty
well down and out. She's always help
ing somebody, bless her, and this fel.
low believed he could locate an old
mining claim somebody had told him
about. You read about such cases, and
1t seems like q Joke. but this came
true. He found the claim. staked it.
Then he took in q partner, and they
worked 1t together. Well, he died,
and left half to Aunt Paula in return
for what she had done for him. She
didn't need 1t. and handed it over to
me. It's somewhere in Nevada-did
you say Crooked Creek"
She was interested enough now. Her
eyes opened wide as she leaned toward
him. She was all sparkle and sup.
pressed excitement.
What was the dead partners
name?"
"They called him Andy Bird. Some.
now. when Parker told me you were
Matte Burroughs, knew you came
from Nevada, and wanted to know
you"
''I'm afraid you'll know me better
before we're through with this" she
said teasingly. Dad gave me the
half share in the Diamond Eye for
my eighteenth birthday year ago."
leave you"
She nodded her head quickly.
You know, he started In Just as .
prospector, and he met this old Andy
Bird-oh, I've heard him tell It so
often-dad became his partner and
helped him little. but the claim never
seemed to give back all they had ex-
pected from 1t. They call 1t Matie's
Claim out there. My own name is
Elizabeth. but dad always calls me
just Matte. You'll have to come out
now and develop 1t and make 1t q
winner"
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