The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-03-27

ing to place where the earrn 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
pard!''
who's the MANI"
Missouri Kid"
by Jimmy! What'd the Kid offer9'
"Nuthin' Jist asked Jack IF he want
ed pard and jumped down and went
to work"
The news spread, and before long
crowd surrounded Hughes hole. watch
ing the big fellow and the beardless
boy at work together, sight that re-
minded them Of a mastiff playing
amicably with a puppy.
Most OF the men at Castle Rock went
into the Alhambra saloon that evening
expecting to see Jack Hughes and re-
ceiye 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
yonngster 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 explanations
One man suggested that the Kid had
secret which. If revealed, would send
Jack Hughes to prison or to the gal
lows. Another believed that the Kid
was detective and had come out to
put the officers of the law on to
Hughes, but Hughes had bribed him
with an interest IN 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
figuratively, 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 his
only way to get rid of the sleuth and
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 for
an explanation, and, as to the Kid he
kept aloOf from them. Now and again
he would disappear, but neyerfor long.
He did not tell where he had been,
though he made no secret Of the mat
ter and was seen by various persons
In different localities. Then one day
Hughes took turn at disappearing.
But this was followed by an important
event An officer Of the law came
looking for a man whose description
tailed exactly with Hughes. he found
his way to the mine where Missouri
Kid was at work The Kid looked up,
and the officer looked down, somewhat
surprised.
We've met before" said Missouri
Yes, we have. I'm looking for
man named Hughes"
He was called away suddenly last
night"
Where has he goneT
Don't know"
The officer turned away, Disguised.
He told several persons that he had.
been sent out for Hughes, that he had
met Missouri Kid in the canyon below
the day before, and by his inquiries
the Kid had discovered his mission and
doubtless warned Hughes.
What do you want him for?' the
officer was asked
.sThatss my business" he replied.
The Kid was invited to give informa-
ton on the same subject, but he was
not communicative.
This made more of mystery Of the
matter than before, and the miners
OF Castle Rock found endless occupa-
ton when not at work wondering what
sort Of crime Hughes had commit
ted and what part in It Missouri Kid
had taken But for time there were
no further Developments, and gradual
~ the excitement gave place to other
Incidents of mining camp life, such as
the expulsion OF the gamblers, the
shooting of man who had struck pay
ing dirt and other various happenings.
But Hughes did not return. and Mis-
souri, Kid stopped working in the mime
What kept him there no one knew.
Months passed and there was no
change In the situation. Missouri Kid
seemed to be waiting for something.
He kept a sharp guard over the mine,
and, IL any one showed disposition to
pry, the boy ordered him OFT at the
same time putting bis hand on the re-
voIver at bis hip. This was quite
enough. though 1t began to be whis-
pered about the camp that paying dirt
had been struck Ia the Hughes hole.
But what the Kid was doing there
alone while his partner was lodging
the police no one could surmise And
the Kid did not enlighten them. He
simply stayed around the mine or In
his cabin, reading when he could get
anything to read and amusing himself
as best he could
One day Hughes suddenly returned.
He seemed to have experienced
change. He was well dressed and
brought two trunks with him. A COM
panion accompanied him, gentleman
with a professional look about him
What he had come for was not divulg-
ed but It was evident that Il was
$3.50