The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-09
MATES CLAIM
By IzoLA FORESTER.


into the billy street leading to the lit
tie railroad station.
Parker laughed back over his Shout
der at the other driver and called
something that was answered by a
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
a dark mustache and boyish smile OF
impish JOY at beating Parker.
At the station, while she and Mil
bred went inside out Of the cold, Park
er shook hands with the victor.
I'D have let her 60, 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 l marry her"
,, said Warren. Il always believed I'd
know the right girl when first looked
at her, and do, too. It's 30 miles
to the Shore line. Parksie, before we
hit the Grand Central I'm going to
make her understand how 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
III her quick way, and Warren sat be-
| side Matte Burroughs in the general
pairing off OF the two parties. Mrs.
| Parker and Warren Aunt Paula were
far too occupied with their own re.
union to bother over the duties OF
chaperonage, and Warren set himself
| .Nft
hours.
Matte, in dark green and white fox
| furs, took the onslaught demurely. In
fact, she was rather accustomed to
| just such situations. Easily she par
ried his opening points. Yes, she had
heard of him from Dave Morton, hel
cousin out at the School of Mines
Warren had been there, too, she be
lieved. Was she interested in mines
herself? She smiled doubtfully. Aftel
one has been brought up on mines, sc
to speak, they lose their glamour
For the moment, Warren forgot hi:
bet.
DO you know anything about the
Diamond Eyer" he asked eagerly.
She glanced at him curiously.
AT Crooked Greek? I've heard O.
it. Why?"
My aunt, Mrs. Edwards, is inter
ested in it. You see, years ago sh,
befriended chap who was prett,
well down and out. She's always help
ing somebody, bless her, and this fel
low believed he could locate an oil
mining claim somebody had told hin
about. You read about such cases, ant
it seems like joke, but this cam,
true. He found the claim, staked il
Then he took in a partner, and the,
worked it together. Well, he died
and left half to Aunt Paula in return
for what she had done for him. Sh
didn't need it, and handed it over t,
me. It's somewhere in Nevada-di,
you say Crooked Creek?"
She was interested enough now. He
eyes opened wide as she leaned towar
him. She was all sparkle and SUI
pressed excitement.
What was the dead partner
name?"
They called him Andy Bird. Some
how, when Parker told me you wer
Matte Burroughs, l knew you cam
from Nevada, and l wanted to kno,
YOU
I'm afraid you'll know me bette
before we're through with this" sh
said teasingly. Dad gave me tn
! half share in the Diamond Eye fo
my eighteenth birthday a year ago."
Gave you"
She nodded her head quickly.
You know, he started in just as
prospector, and he met this old And
Bird-oh, I've heard him tell it S
often-dad became his partner an
helped him little, but the claim neye
seemed to give back all they had e,
pected from it. They call it Matte
Claim out there. My own name
Elizabeth, but dad always calls m
Just Matte. You'll have to come OIL
now and develop it and make it
( winner"
DO you ask me to go?"
|, If were partners, l suppose
! must"
/, Are you going back, too?"
= Yes, my home is there, you kno,
If you write to dad at once and te
, him who you are, he'll want to sc
you.
I Getting into New Haven" Park,
called genially from the aisle, his han
9 on Warren's shoulder. ''Half.wa
along, Doc"
q I've got a through ticket" a,