The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-31
IheProspector' S
Daughter
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

A prospector of mines. down on his
luck, built a shelter for himself and
his daughter, Margery. In the cleft OF
q rock.
One morning the prospector started
out to be gone till noon. He had beer
away couple Of hours when Margery
! who was sewing by a square cut In tn,
/ boards intended for a window. saw Q
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 to 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
a. 1t extended inward, and finally
reached a place where 1t was only
wide enough to admit his body. But 1t
was dark there. and he had this one
chance IL followed.
what are they after you for?" asked
Margery.
They mistook me for 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 rife stood against the rock,
and she got up from her seat, and.
taking the gun to the window. laid il
at her feet.
They're coming" she said presently
In quiet voice. "Stay where you are.
Mebbe l can stand 'em off till paw
comes home.'
For heavens sake dor was the only
response. ..
-Four mounted men came riding to-
ward the improvised shelter. They
were about to pass on when one of
them noticed it. He refined in his horse
and pointed to it. Margery heard him
say that 1t was good hiding place.
Then they all rode toward it. Margery
knew that II they searched it they
would discover the fugitive. Taking
up the rifle, she leveled 1t out through
the window and called out:
Hold on, there!"
The man pulled up and, peering be-
fore him, saw girl sitting behind
the window.
what you wantw asked Margery.
We're after boss thief. Seen any.
thing of him~
NO; l haven't seen any boss thief"
The men consulted together, then
said to Margery, Were sorry to trou-
Bile you, but we must have look in
side your-yonr domicile."
Il 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 ut the !
suggestion that there was anything to |
steal. The men dismounted and were
about to move toward the domicile |
when they heard the we'll known click
of the cooking of 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 shed not be cuttin' these
monkey shines. Say. little gal, you tell
the Teller that's hidin' behind your
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
the men saw q pair of rest
less eyes taking in their slightest mo-
ton. Then they held another consul
tation, at the end of which they said
to Margery that they were going to
camp where they were and wait. This
was not displeasing to Margery, for
she expected her father would soon be
back. Nevertheless she did not lower
her rifle for moment. The men set
tied themselves on the grass, filed
their pipes and did what else they
could to convince Margery that they
would starve her out.
They had been there about twenty
minutes when she saw her father
at a distance surveying the
scene. What interested him especially
was his 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 youi"
Every pair Of hands was raised.
Then the prospector advanced, with q
cooked revolver In each hand, while
they were still also covered BY Mar
gerry. Having been informed Of the
object OF their visit the prosnecfor