The Delta independent., 1917-02-02
KINGS REST
BY ELEANOR RAMSAY.

$1,000, ramShackle, lopSided claim
staker's shack. half leaning against
the mountainside. Old King had lived
in 1t for over 35 years.
Jean drew rein in front of 1t. She
was dead tired with the long ride up
from Castle Crag. The captain had lit
orally fallen in his tracks as soon as
they had reached their own cabin. and
Jean had started out to forage. Fresh
water was the greatest need. with
night coming on.
King came out at her hail and
stared al her.
I'm Jean Hartley" she said cor
daily. Captain Hartley's daughter.
We're your new neighbors down the
gulch. and we just got home. Fathers
all tired out, but I'm hunting spring.
Do you know where there is one"
Did hef He carried the water for her
clear down to the cabin, and they found
the captain, genial and optimistic, ready
TO tals his head off over prospects in
Lost Horse Gulch. King nodded his
head.
The COLDS here. and the days got
to dawn when some of US find it. That's
ALL"
Jean used to recall those words dur
ing the months that followed. She
knew the mining game. Hadn't she
been born up in a mining camp Is
years before high in the Nevada
mountains? Then the captain had
struck luck, and they had gone
east to i've. the baby and the slim
young mother, back to the civilization
where they belonged. And after years
of comfort and surety the two blows
had fallen almost together. the pass
ing of Jeans mother and the crash of
the captains fortune in rash specu-
lation.
But don't you mind. honey girl"
he had said cheerily. Wen 90 back
to where it grows in the mountains"
Once in a while she wondered why
Stanley had never answered her let
ter. breaking their engagement. II
was right, she felt, after the financial
crash, not to hold him, but she had
thought he might have answered.
One morning old King stopped with
news. His face was aglow with eager
ness.
"Davy's back home" he announced.
Hes my boy, not by any blood ties,
but ] took him when he was a little
shaver after his paw died and brought
him up. Hes been away to school. min
ing school, or school of mines. and he'll
be home tomorrow. You folks'll like
him."
But even that did not prepare Jean
for .Davy as he was. She rode early the
next morning over to where the cap
tain was at work. and half way down
the trail she met him-tall, brown-eyed,
bare-headed. his shirt open at the
throat. with a tame gray squirrel on
one shoulder and dog at his heels.
He had walked down to the main road,
he said. TO get the mail sack when the
stage went by. And he handed her a
letter from Stanley. She opened and
read IL after the big. brown-eyed boy
had gone up toward Kings Rest.
when began TO miss you and real
lied how lonely you must be | felt
like a dog not to have answered your
letter. but it staggered me at the time,
of course and | admired you for your
stand. Now I've wakened up. Jean, and
by the time you get this I'll be on my
way West. to you. dear. patient,
brave little girl"
Jean stood and smiled thoughtfully.
Dave was the only person who could
make Matatao smile. Her brown.
wrinkled face would crinkle up every
time she saw him, and her slow black
IN ,;e
she came upon them both, standing on
the trail high above the timberline at
Sundown on Lookout rock. Dave leaned
toward the girl longingly, his face
aglow with love. his lips framing
quick, broken words of pleading. and
Matatao stood like statue watching
until she saw him take Jean in his
arms, when she slipped out of sight
back into the underbrush.
1t was night when Stanley came up
20 the cabin. He was spent with the
long ride and out of humor.
How are you, captain, and you.
Jean? | rode down some old Indian
woman on the trail. II was dark and
the horse was stumbling. She's down
there now"
He go, no further. Jean was out OF
the door and flying down the trail.
She knew every step of the way even
in the dark. Matatao had dragged her
self ont of the path into the bushes
like a wounded animal.
ME 60 fast" she whispered. Tell
Davey OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Rest"
AS old King said afterward. 1t was
just like an Indian to get humor out
of seeing you grub stake for 30 years
after gold, and not know you
had built your shack square over