The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-02-10
JIM's GOLD LEDGE
BY ANsoN CARTER.

barton III ne naun StOppeu over Iubnt
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 lost
its 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
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 a piece of string
to the 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
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 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 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 q
lantern.
The moons bright enough" said
Tony Put that out. I 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
t 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
rail on horse he had bought in
town.
He laid two hands on her shoulders
md 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
dxteen what l thought of you? Look
Up at me. You put your arms"
TONY. they'll see you, please,
please"
The stranger and Peterson came
'elsurely up to the shack. Barton
ooked cheerful and friendly. He rest
I'd one foot on the first step and raised
MS hat to Sue.
Got q nice little place here. I've
lust been looking the valley over. I'm
l-er-a geologist.'
Fine rocks around here" Tony said
yravely.
Yves, splendid-er-strata. Do you
happen to know OF a ledge that juts
out along the other side of this creek
somewhere through the valley? It's
hidden in a ravine. There's a small
cascade there"
81 know the place." Sue answered
straightly.
"You do?" Barton's small, dark
eyes cleaned with interest. II expect
to build q cabin there. The water Is
very good, was told. ] bought the
claim up from a man named Adams
this spring back in Ohio"
Pleasant to have you for neigh
bor," Tony said.
Sues dark eyes widened with amaze
ment and swift indignation.
But 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 1t up
last spring from Adams, could it?'
And how could you buy It from a
man that's been dead over a 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 in Valley Creek to Peter
son here and it's on record. What are
, YOU so anxious about taking 1t up
| sor?"
Barton hesitated, choosing his