The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-03-16
By ADA TRUAx

ed to be about eighteen years old. ap-
peared m Flynn canyon. where gold
had recently been discovered and into
which numbers of people were flock
ing hunting for paying properties. He
was an attractive looking young fell
low, with pair Of dark eyes, round
cheeks-there was rather too much red
in them for a man-and an excellent
figure. The latter was shown to adj
vantage by pair of loose trousers
tucked In his boots. wooden shirt and
a conlcal shaped felt hat At his neck
a silk handkerchief. loosely tied. dis
played handsome throat. Altogether
the youth was attractive to look upon.
He gave no name. but said he was
from Missouri. Therefore he was
bound to be called Missouri Bob or
Missouri Pete or some such name. But
in his case the custom was slightlJ
changed by his receiving the appella-
ton of Missouri Kid. This was be-
cause he was so young looking
Missouri Kid seemed to he rather
hunting for a person than for gold.
He was very guarded in his questions.
asking in general way If any one
had seen man named this or man
named that, so that no one could tell
which OF the\ individuals he was inter
ested in. While taking his inquiries
he worked his way up to Castle Rock.
where several holes In the ground had
turned out fortunes. ~
One Jack Hughes had located claim
III this region and was digging away
with the hope that vein of rich ore
that had been discovered near by
might extend through his property.
Hughes was powerful man, Of whom
everybody was afraid. Several per-
sons who believed that he might by
sufficient digging strike the vein he
was looking for offered to grubstake
him. But Hughes, though he was
much down at the heel and had little
or nothing to eat, gruffiy declined
their offers and finally. when troubled
with surfeit of them. swore he would
shoot the next man who dared to make
him an offer of assistance.
The next man came along the fol-
lowing day. Several persons were
standing about Hughes hole, watching
him throw out the dirt, when he heard
q voice: rs-
II say. yo' down there. don't 70
want pard?"
Hughes looked up angrily to see Mis-
souri, Kid gazing down on him as tran
GULLY as q May morning. The miners
knit brows relaxed, his firm set jaws
loosened, and he stood with hand
On his shovel regarding the youngster
with feelings that were evident, but
the cause of which was unexplained.
He made no reply. The Kid jumped
down into the hole, took up pick and
asked:
Where y workin'?'
There" said Hughes mildly, point
ing to a place where the earth was
hard.
The kid went to work with the pick,
and Hughes resumed his shoveling.
The bystanders stood looking on for
awhile, then went away shouting
through the camp,
"B'gosh, Jack Hughes has tuck In a
pardr'
who's the mani"
Missouri Kid"
"By jimmy! What'd the Kid offer?"
"Nuthin. Jist asked Jack If he want
ed pard and Jumped down and went
to work."
The news spread, and before long a
crowd surrounded Hughes hole, watch
ing the big Fellow and the beardless
boy Mt work together, sight that re-
minded them of a mastiff playing
amicably with puppy.
Most of the men at Castle Rock went
into the Alhambra saloon that evening
expecting to see Jack Hughes and re-
ceive an explanation. But Hughes
avoided any interviews that might be
in store for him by keeping away. The
miners were obliged to content them
selves by SWAPPING theories as to why
Jack had succumbed so readily to this
y0ungster when he had sworn venge-
ance upon the next man who dared
make him an offer. All were of the
opinion that the two had met before.
but under what circumstances no one
could give satisfactory explanation.
One man suggested that the Kid had a
secret which, IL revealed, would send
Jack Hughes to prison or to the gal
lows. Another believed that the Kid
was q detective and had come out to
put the officers, of the law on to
Hughes. but Hughes had bribed him
with nm interest i'm his mine. The lat
ter theory seemed more reasonable
than the first because It accounted for
the sleuth working in the mine. But
all agreed on one point-that the boy
was foolishly putting his head. to speak
fguratively. into the lions mouth. All
feared that they would wake up some
morning and find the Kid dead. That.
considering what they deemed the
cause Of Hughes submission. was lis
only way to get rid of the sleuth ana
keep his mine to himself.
Hughes and the Kid worked on peace
fully together. occupying the same cab
in. No one dared to ask Hughes TOT
an explanation. and. as to the Kid. ne
kept nloof from them. Now and again
he would disappear. but never for long
He did not tell where he had been
Though ne made no secret or the mat