The Hope pioneer., 1917-03-08
TIE NINE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

NAS&AA W. VIC S0SC 11A NY O"h AutuOs 0Oo-
sic, my sister, and Max Thorn got mar
rted and went west to live on ranch.
After they'd made good as far as the
farm went and settled themselves to
live in peace some fool discovered gold
on the edge of their land. That started
the trouble. 1t seems they bought it
from an Indian-one George Black
rock-who had graduated from Car
isle and became the protege of Midas
Mills, millionaire stock broker. Mills
helped Blackrock to make money and
the Indian managed to buy back some
Of the land that once belonged to his
own people. He divided the estate and
sold Max half. Then he married q
white girl, built a house and should
have been happy. But they say he has
a daughter seventeen or eighteen years
old he's crazy about, and since the gold
has been discovered he's making all
kinds Of trouble. Claims wrong sur.
vey and all that. So here's where
come in. It's my pleasant duty to stand
up and tell this Indian that he'd better
get OIL and keep moving.
SEPTEMBER IL.
Things are getting interesting at the
mine. Max has new foreman, Justice
Belvardos, a Mexican. They struck
rich new vein and they are importing
another gang to work it. This morning
one of the canvas bags Max keeps his
lust in was stolen. While reconnoiter.
ing on the ridge today l caught
glimpse of the Indian girl hurrying
away through the scrub oaks. won.
Ter if Indian George knows anything
Of the missing bag.
SEPTEMBER Is.
Another bag gone! Belvardos blames
the Indian, and strangely enough saw
the girl again. I'm going to Investigate
tomorrow. Note-The girl Is pretty
got closer view of her this time. I'd
like to see her again.
SEPTEMBER le.
SnOoped around all day and didn't
see thing until OH my way home
Across a wild ravine spied smoke
among the trees. Field glasses showed
a small tent or wigwam. Almost dark
so l came home. I'm going tomorrow
SEPTEMBER Is.
It's a week since I've written any.
thing in my diary, but events happened
so quick and fast that day and wounG
up by my getting hurt that l haven't
been able to hold pen. I'm better now
and But I'll 60 back. Found tent
No one answered my polite knock, so
lifted the latch and walked in. There
were two cots nicely made and covered
with Indian blankets, a board floor with
blanket for rug, table, two willow
chairs and fixings everywhere that no
man would think of.
This was sort of rest room for
daughter. Then the gold bags occurred
to me. If daughter had taken them,
perhaps they were secreted here.
would search! The floor seemed to be
the most likely place, so in second
was down on my knees rolling back
the rug and feeling for q loose board.
Suddenly there was crack Of gun
and felt sharp pain in my left side.
When l regained my senses it was
sunset and l was lying on one of the
cots in the little Indian tent all ban
daged up and feeling hot and thirsty.
Then the pretty Indian girl came in.
She gave me cup Of water and held
my head while drank. How do you
feel now?" she asked in the richest,
sweetest voice you ever heard.
"Just great!" found voice to say,
and 1 felt like adding, II wouldn't
mind staying this way forever"
"Who shot me?" asked.
She sobered. "Im not sure, for
didn't see," she answered. you'd bet.
ter ask Erma."
"Who is Erma?"
"Erma Blackrock. My friend!"
"So there are two of you? l thought
you were George Blackrock's daugh-
ter"
She laughed. mo, I'm Margaret
Mills. Erma and I were scheo}mates."
Mills! l was puzzled. Then l re-
membered Midas Mills. But was more
puzzled than ever. This girl was GER
tainly an Indian with her complexion,
| eyes and hair.
Seeing my perplexity, she laughed
again and, selling handkerchief,
dabbed some white creamy stuff on it
and began rubbing at her face. 1t
came away brown, leaving the skin be-
meath as soft and white as rose petal.
Its hickory stain," she explained.
A branch cracked outside and in an
instant the real Indian girl was in the
tent.
Its the Mexican" she said with sup
pressed excitement. II saw where he
put it."
Well, to make it short, the Mexican
was stealing the gold and he vas hid
ing it in the woods near the tent. He
thought l suspected him, followed me
and shot me. II it hadn't been for Mar
garet Mills should haye died.
It all ended by Max and the Indian
| coming to an agreement. The survey.