Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-03-31
JlHs GOLD LEDGE
BY ANsoN CARTER.

Barton II he hadn't stopped over night
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 a 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 a pencil and tore of
a piece of paper from a soap wrapper
| In the wagon. Then he wrote a 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 II before, and some
times brought back newspapers and
letters. There we're 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 q 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 It
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 .
lantern.
THE moons bright enough" said
Tony. Put that out l don't want
anyone to see a light here"
Sue slept on while the two talked
| together out in the cleared ground
beyond the house. When she awoke
II 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
trail on q horse he had bought In
town.
He laid two hands on her shoulders
and turned her around 20 face him
Remember how we've waited and
hoped for years?"
| For goldr
mo, for each other. Haven't you?
Didn't tell you when you we're only
sixteen what I thought Of you? Look
UP at me. You put your arms"
Tony. they'll see you, please
please"
The stranger and Peterson came
Ieisurely up to the shack. Barton
looked cheerful and friendly. He rest
ed one foot on the first step and raised
his hat to Sue.
Got nice little place here. I've
just been looking the valley over. I'm
a--er--a .geologist"
Fine rocks around here" Tony said
sravely.
Yes, splendid-er-strata. DO you
happen to know Of q ledge that juts
out along the other side of this creek
somewhere through the valley? It's
hidden in ravine. There's small
cascade there"
81 know the place." Sue answered
straightly. ,tt-
"You dor Barton's small, darl
eyes cleaned with interest II expec
% build a cabin there. The water II
very good. was told. / bought the
claim UP from q man named Adams
this spring back in Ohio"
Pleasant to have you for a neigh
bor." Tony said.
Sues dark eyes widened with amaze
ment and swift Indignation.
But the ledge Is ours, dad. HI
can't have II. You wouldn't sci, out
would you, for anythingT
1T can't be yours II bought II VI
last spring from Adams, could it,"
And how could you buy It from
man that's been dead over year.?
demanded Tony, coolly, stepping be
tween them. Jim Adams died In tn
county hospital right south Of here Il
Eweetwater. He sold everything h
ever owned in Valley Creek to Peter
son here and It's on record. What ar
you so anxious about taking It u
for?"
Barton hesitated, choosing hi
words, watching the girls face.
We'll, since that's so, don't war
to put through crooked deal II
willing to put up cash and work II oil
fifty-fifty with you all here"
Work what out?" demanded Sue
"Jim's gold claim. I'll tell you Ill
, straight truth. was a nurse at th
hospital where he died, and he tol
me about the ledge and where 1t wa
showed me the sample of rock he.
brought away with him. and after /
died took It down and had It assaye
II showed $500 to the ton, Prett
good, isn't II? So l came after
' nat& d.