Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-05
Miners
Luck
Story of a Girl. Bravery
By ELp,oR nARsH

81 By ELN0R MARSH
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Pete Clarkson was working ON q
claim when he saw something glisten
In the sunlight. STOPPING, he picked
up a small chunk of ore and held It
near to his eyes.
Clarkson 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
keep it from blowing away. Any ono
who jumped that claim now might e1.
pect the wild Justice Of the mining
camp to be visited upon him.
As he drew near the camp tho thun-
der Of the stamp mills smote the ar,
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
ly 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 a q
rose. with gray eyes, brown hair, pink
cheeks and pink gown, came to the
door.
How'd you make out, Petef" she
asked, her little brown hand lost In bis
great earth stained palm.
"It's the Molly Gray" he said quiet
ly, thrusting the lump Of ore into her
other hand.
"Oh. Pete" she cried 5oyfully.
"whereT
ION Crow ledge, near Crow rock"
"Where we saw the sunset that
night"
Same place."
what were you doing there, Peter
she asked, with dimpling cheeks.
"Prospectin'." he grinned sheepishly.
Then, passing his hand over his un-
shorn chin, he nodded toward the
Great Dome smelter. II guess it will
be all right now down there" he said
confidently.
"You know 1t has always been all
right with me, Pete" said Molly softly.
II know" he said soberly. I'm go
in down now to git out my papers.
I'll stop on my way back"
Haven't you registered yetr 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 a backward wave Of his hand
he loped down toward the registering
Office.
From the doorway Of the cabin at
the head of the street Molly, holding
a pair Of feldglasses to her pretty
eyes watched him enter the Office.
Then her gaze fell upon the figure OF
a 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 MS
discovery In his usual blum, hearty ac-
cents It could readily be heard BY the
man ON the veranda II he were awake
and listening, and II It should prove
to be Dave Lumly, who was own
brother to Jim Lumly, the registrar
Of claims, why, then, Pete Clarkson
would have q race for his claim, that
was all. She remembered the case OF
Allan Smith, the young prospector
from the east who made Q find and
staked his claim. Before he could reg
lister It and return to the scene Dave
Lumly had news Of the find and had
Jumped the claim. With his brother
TO back his title to 1t, Lumly had de-
f,ed the sheriff and his posse to ouse
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 SUI.
yey of the street; then, with Q swift
movement, leaped into the saddle OF q
waiting sorrel and rode out Black lane.
It was Dave Lumly.
Presently she saw Pete emerge nom
the registry Office and cross the street
IN the assayers. With sudden energy
she re-entered the house, scribbled a
few lines informing Pete OF her where
sbouts in case she could not find him,
mined the note to the front door, sad:
died her little mare Daisy. mounted
and dashed down the street toward tns
assay Office.
"Pete Clarksonr' repeated Browning.
"Just left here for down the street.
"If he comes back tell him to 90 up
TO our place. There's q message ncf
him. VIII you tell himr she inquired
breathlessly.
"sure thing, Miss Molly" he said
heartily; then he watched her disap'
pear down the long street ana out
upon the short cut through the canyon
| 10 Grow mountain. The afternoon sun
shone ON her hatless head and the
light wind fiuttered her pink skirts %
the little mare broke into gallop.
Once she drew rein and took swtft
survey Of the country.
Mile after mile the mare covered,
scrambling up steep hillsides and Sid
| ing recklessly down the slopes. Molly,
with blazing eyes and compressed lips.
watched for the reappearance Of the
sorrel horse and It's alouching rider.
Lumly, taking advantage Of the infor.
nation he nad sleaned at the registry
Office, would remove Pete's stake. sub
stitute one Of his own and claim pos
session Of the Molly Gray. II she could
only reach Grow rock before Dave
Lumly she would fight with al the
ierceness Of old Jim Gray himself for
the possession Of her lovers rights.
Molly frowned - she thought "a
these things over, and every now and
then she turned and looked back along
| the trail for some sign Of the approach
of Pete Clarkson. II he returned to
| the cabin, a. he had intended doing. be
would find her note.
with heart beating In time TO the