The Monticellonian., 1916-02-03
,k-Afff-f7'f+ffFT + I MATES CLAIM
 By lZoLA FORBES en.
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Parker laughed pack oFei 'our dor at the other driver and called something that was answered by shout o, Matte.
 Rather. It's old Doc Warren, grand old Doc Warren, great old DOC! So long. Doc!"
 The other car was gaining. though bteb l' speed d and took the hill dizzily. As they flashed by, MateN caught her first glimpse of him, sittlhg far down in his seat, his cap pulled tow over his keen. dark eyes, just the hint of a 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 CT shook hands with the victor.
 I'd have let her go, too, II it 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 elay- Matte Burroughs. Father produces mil lions from patent food products for dyspeptics. but he hasn't inventeds anything for the trail of victims Matte leaves after her. Shes been visiting Louise up at Craggymors Lodge"
 Bet twenty dollars l marry her." said Warren. Il always believed Id know the right girl when l first looked at her. and l do, too. It's 50 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 beatifc enjoyment of the situation and, as the New York express pulled in, somehow Louise had managed the introduction } in her quick Wt, and Warren sat be side Matte Burroughs in the generays pairing off of the two parties. Mrs. Parker and Warren Aunt Paula WereT far too occupied with their own re union to bother over the duties of ehaperonage, 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 fact, she was rather ] ceustomed to just such situations. Eashy 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- lieyed. Was she interested in mines herself? She smiled douf5tfgly. Alter one has been brought upsxn mines, so to speak, they lose their glamour. For the moment. Warren forgot his bet.
 Do you know anything about the Diamond Eye?" he asked eagerly.
 She glanced at him curiously.
 At Crooked Creek? I've heard ofs it. Why?'
 My aunt, Mrs. Edwards, is inter- ested in it. You see, yearsago sNf befriended a chap who vas pretty well down and out. Shes always heip- 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 it seems like a joke, but this came true. He found the claim, staked it. Then he took in partner. and they worked it together, We'll he died, and left half to Aunt Paula in return for what she had done for him. She didn't need it, and handed it over to i, 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 SUD- pressed excitement.
 What was the dead paraer's, name?" .s
 They called him Andy Bird. So1 how, when Parker told me you w( Matte Burroughs, knew you cal from Nevada, and 1 wanted to kn0VC you.'
 I'm afraid you'll know me better before we're through with this.n she said teasingly. Dad gave me the half share in the Diamond Eye for my eighteenth birthday a year ago"
 Gave you"
 She nodded her head quickly.
 You know, he started in just as a 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 it. They call it 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 it and make it a winner"
 Do you ask me to go?"
 IT were partners. I suppose I must"
 Are you going back, too?"
 fes' my home is there, you know. If you write to dad at once and tell him who you are, he'll want to see you"
 Getting into New Haven." Parker called genially from the aisle. his hand on Warrens shoulo "Half.way along, Doc"
 I've got a through ticket,p an- swered Warren peacefully, with a meaning only Parker could descry. Copyright. 1sf6 by the Mcclure Newsna-
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