Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1916-05-19

h swung her pony about ana
hummed a gay little tune as she rode
down the trail; she talked to the pony
in bantering accents.
"Oh, Nicodemus Alexander" she
sighed, 81 could remain on this noun
tainside all day and admire the view,
but you must get me back to town for
dinner; I'm hungry"
So she rode back along the down
ward trail, hoping to meet the pay
| master at the round of every curve
in the road.
At last, far below, she glimpsed a
black horse flying along the trail and
a rider who seemed part of his beau
tiful mount.
HE doesn't ride like an old man"
she thought with quickening pulses.
Perhaps he is one of the Rio gang"
Far down the mountain side she
met the rider, a tall, sun-browned man,
whose saddlebags were we'll filled. He
looked curiously at her as she ap-
preached.
Are you Mr.. Burgess?" she asked
breathlessly.
YES" he smiled, sweeping off his
hat.
And you are paymaster Of the
Golden Eagle?"
He looked sharply at her
Why DO you ask Cat" he de.
manded bluntly.
Because you are in d~anger-they
are waiting for you up yonder-" And
hastily she told him of the evil face
she had seen and of the warning
uttered by the stage driver.
81 was warned" he admitted, "but
didn't take much stock in it-they've
been threatening to hold me up for
the past year. I've got to get the
money to the boys-they'n be rioting
If they don't get it," he ended rue
fully.
Cant you transfer the money to
M saddlebags and let me follow you
UP the trail? Then, if they want you
to throw up your hands, you can, and
before they discover that your bags
are empty l can ride on to the mine.
They won't hurt you?" she asked anx.
iously.
"No-all they want is the money"
he assured her. But l can't permit
you to %endanger your life"
TITS for my own interests" she
said calmly; 81 am Vera Linwood."
Vera Linwood-why, Miss Linwood,
| was going East next week to see you.
The Golden Eagle has developed an
other rich vein"
"And the Double Eagle has lost one"
she said significantly.
you know, them"
81 heard yesterday az am SO
sorry-I feel like a robbv- myself
the owner of a pirate mine!"
That's miners luck. Come, let us
get along, if we must. Just put these
packages in your saddlebags-so, and
I'll stuff mine with grass. Ride on
ahead and don't worry. 1t will come
out all right" He slapped her pony's
flank and mounted his black and fol-
lowed.
When Vera passed the ambush she
vas talking to her pony as before.
"Once more, Nicodemus Alexander"
she threatened. 81 will ride to the top
of the hill; then down again for din
ner!" She passed the ambush and
waited breathlessly around tt bend
Of the trail. Somewhere neal Se
heard the pounding of the ore-crush.
ers and she knew that she was near
the mines.
Below she heard the tread Of Bur.
CESS horse, followed by a sharp com.
tnand, a momentary silence, and then
he murmur of other voices. The hold
up had happened and they were going
through the mine owners pockets and
searching lis saddlebags for the Gold.
en- Eagles pay roll.
NicodeTlus Alexander was smitten
with indignant surprise when his
rider suddenly jabbed her sharp heel
into his flank.
he bounded up the trail, his hoofs
scattering the stones underfoot. In
a furry of dust, horse and rider ap.
peared at the Office of the Golden
Eagle.
A dozen men surrounded Vera.
"Mr. Burgess-held up-help him"
she gasped, and tumbled from her
pony.
There was a shout of anger as the
miners grabbed their weapons and
dashed down the trail to meet the pay.
master.
Vera leaned dazedly against the of.
hce door and stared at the blood
trickling down the sleeve of her white
blouse.
Someone must have fired at me-
she smiled family.
The plucky little ANGEL" exclaimed
n roughly dressed nan as he led
her inside the building.
&
Weeks afterward Mrs. Henry Hen.
drick reread a letter from Vera. II
was dated from Eagle City.
Dear Aunt Efu1vT u,rn+a W a.,