The daily Alaskan., 1917-02-01
TheProspector's s
 Daughter
By ESTHER WANDEXEER

| us uduBuleEB7 SlhlbeRyp III 7SAS SiSAS va q rock.
 One morning the prospector started out to be gone till noon. He had been away 6 couple of hours when Margery, who was sewing by square cut in the boards intended for a window, saw a man come running toward her. Catch | ing sight of the strange abode, an Idea seemed to strike him. Pulling open the door, he was about enter when he saw Margery. He closed the door behind him and said excitedly:
 "I'm hunted for my life. l want to hide here"
 Without any further word he ran to the back of the cleft, which narrowed as 1t extended inward, and finally reached a place where 1t was only wide enough to admit his body. Built was dark there, and he had this one chance if followed.
 -'What are they after you forT" asked Margery.
 "They mistook me for q horse thief" Margery knew that the punishment for horse stealing was hanging, and | she turned pale. But she resumed her seat at the window and her sewing. Then, she cast her eye to where her fathers rifle stood against the rock, and she got up from her seat, and, taking the gun to the window, laid 1t at her feet.
 "They're coming" she said presently in q quiet voice. "stay where you are Mebbe can stand lem of till paw comes home"
 "For heavens sake do!' was the only response.
 Four mounted men came riding to- ward the improYised shelter. They were about to pass on when one Of them noticed 1t. He refined in his horse and pointed to 1t Margery heard him say that 1t was a good hiding place. Then they all rode toward 1t. Margery knew that if they searched 1t they would discover the fugitive. Taking up the rifle, she leveled it out through the window and called out:
 "Hold on, there!"
 The man pulled up and, peerlng be- fore him, saw a girl sitting behind the, window.
 What you want2" asked Margery.
 We're after a hoss thief. Seen any thing of him?"
 ''No; haven't seen any hoss thief"
 The men consulted together, then said to Margery, "We're sorry to trou- ble you, but we must have look tn- side your-your domicile."
 q can't let you do that l don't know who you are. You may want to steal somepin."
 There was a burst of laughter at the suggestion that there was anything to steal. The men dismounted and were about to move toward the domicile when they heard the well known click of the cooking of a gun. They stopped short.
 "Keep off," said Margery in a quiet voice.
 The men looked at Margery, then at the face of the rock, then at one an- other.
 -"There's no gittin' in the rear," said one.
 "No; there isn't" said another. We've either got to go past the gal or keep out"
 Its my opinion he's there," said a third, "else she'd not be cuttin' these monkey shines. Say, little gal, you tell the feller that's hidin' behind your 1 skirts to come out We don't want to hurt you, but
 .Margery was not to be bluffed. She held the rifle to her shoulder, resting 1t | on the window sill-or what served for one-and the men saw pair of rest less eyes taking in their slightest mo- ton. Then they held another consul 1 tat1On, at the end of which they said to Margery that they were going to l camp where they were and wait This was not displeasing to Margery, for she expected her father would soon be l back Nevertheless she did not lower her rifle for a moment The men set tied themselves on the grass, filled | their pipes and did what else they could to convince Margery that they would Btarve her out.
 They had been there about twenty minutes when she saw her father standing at a distance surveying the scene. What interested him especially was bis daughter covering the men be- fore her humble home. He always carried a revolver on his tramps, and this time he had two. Suddenly the men heard behind them:
 Hands up, every one of youW
 Every pair of hands was raised. Then the prospector advanced, with cooked revolver in each hand, while they were still also covered by Mar gerry. Having been informed of the object of their visit, the prospector made an agreement with them that the stranger should stay where he was till the fact of his innocence or guilt could be determined. Then he was to be turned over to them. or go free. The fugitive was called out and, being in- formed of the conditions, expressed I himself satisfied, and all weapons were put aside. Turning to Margery, he said: ..
 You shall live in the handsomest house money can build. l own three aA.ET