Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-07

Luck
Story of a Girls Bravery
BY ELINOR MARSH

e<~ tAAS cSiiii5ht. StOOpDIS, hc plCheu
Up a small chunk of ore and held it
.Rear to his eyes,
Garrison threw aside his pick.
He posted his notice of possession by
laying the paper on the newly broken
ground and placing a stone on top to
Geep it from blowing away. Any one
VINO jumped that claim now might ex-
pect the wild justice of the mining
camp to be visited upon him.
AS he drew near the camp the thun-
der OF the stamp mills srote the air,
and the blur Of smoking chimneys
dimmed the eastern sky.
Pete Clarkson's persistent efforts and
|dogged determination to find some
thing that would enrich him sufficient
~ to offer Molly Gray home had re-
suited in his striking what was prob
ably the lost vein of the Great Dome
ledge.
He stopped once at the house of Jim
Gray. superintendent Of the Great
Dome. and Molly Gray, sweet as a
rose, with gray eyes, brown hair, pink
cheeks and pink gown, came to the
door.
How'd you make out, Peter" she
asked. her little brown hand lost in his
great earth stained palm.
Its the Molly Gray" he said quiet
n, thrusting the lump Of ore into her
ether hand.
-Oh. Pete" she cried joyfully.
~whereT
~On Crow ledge, near Crow rock"
Where We saw the sunset that
1uightw
Same place."
~What were you doing there, Peter
=she asked. with dimpling cheeks.
"Prospectin'." he grinned sheepishly
Then, passing his hand over his un-
sh0rn chin, he nodded toward the
Great Dome smelter. II guess it will
be all right now down there" he said
confidently.
you know it has always been all
right with me, Pete" said Molly softly
II know" he said soberly. I'm 60
In down now to git out my papers.
I'm stop on my way back
Haven't you registered YETI" she
asked anxiously.
Nope; stopped here first thing. Got
her staked all right, though, and the
name posted. Coin back there to
make camp. So long; see you later"
And with backward wave of his hand
he loped down toward the registering
eGice.
From the doorway Of the cabin at
the head Of the street Molly, holding
q pair of fieldglasses to her pretty
eyes, watched him enter the Office.
Then her gaze fell upon the figure Of
d man sprawled upon the rough veran-
>da encircling the one roomed building.
A wide brimmed hat was drawn over
his eyes, and to all appearances he was
lost in slumber
Molly looked at the open window
over the mans head and calculated
that if Pete Clarkson announced his
discovery in his usual bluff, hearty ac-
cents it could readily be heard by the
man on the veranda if he were awake
and listening. and If it should prove
10 be Dave Lumly, who was own
brother to Jim Lumly, the registrar
OF claims, why, then, Pete Clarkson
would have a race for his claim, that
YVES all. She remembered the case Of
Allan Smith, the young prospector
from the east who made find and
sfaked his claim. Before he could reg
inter it and return to the scene Dave
aLamly had news Of the find and had
Jumped the claim. With his brother
10 back his title to 1t, Lumly had de-
Ged the sheriff and his posse to oust
him. Young Smith had shot himself,
and, after all. the mine had proved
worthless.
All, the somnolent one arose slowly,
stretched himself, took q careful sur
vey OF the street; then, with swift
s00vement, leaped into the saddle Of
waiting sorrel and rode out Black lane,
II was Dave Lumly.
Presently she saw Pete emerge from
ne registry Office and cross the street
- the assayers. With sudden energy
- re-entered the house, scribbled a
~ lines informing Pete Of her where
snbeuts in case she could not ind him.
gJinned the note to the front door, sad
eAaed her little mare Daisy, mounted
-snd dashed down the street toward the
Hxy office.
~Pete Ctarksonf" repeated Browning
<Just left here for down the street"
III he comes back tell him to 60 up
- our place. There's a message for
AIM VIII you tell himf" she inquired
SCeGthlessly.
~SSnne thing. Miss Molly" he said
14enrtIfy, then he watched her disap
E9ear down the long street and out
cNpon the short cut through the canyon
to CHOW mountain. The afternoon sun
Ahsae +on her hatless head and the
0<ht Wind duttered her pink skirts as
afhe little mare broke into a gallop.
Once she drew rein and took a swift
n1rEey Of the country.
Mile after mile the mare covered,