The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-07-25
EPISODE l


Sf the sky. AS far as the eye could
reach jumbled masses of beetling cliffs
Ind cleaning domes arose In height
Above height like the inconceivably
vast waves of sea. Between these
monsters of the range lay canyons that
the rays of sunlight never reached the
bottom of. And it was in one of these
Secret hiding places of Nature that
there lay veins of rich. yellow ore OF
richness to cause the beholder to
Blink his eyes and his heart to give
great jump when he first contemplated
1t.
/ Such was the secret treasure place
found by Old John Carr. lifetime pros
ipeetor and miner. in the closing days
of his life, and known to no living man
hut him. Above the brink of pre-
lcipitous cliff whose walls fell sheer
away into dizzy depths. the fur-capped
head of q man with a long silver heard
Slowly arose. Assisting himself up by
means OF an alpenstock he clambered
above the brink and stood upon its
edge. tall and straight. a rugged speci-
man of the fearless tribe that ever
has forced its way into the most Sc
crtt places of nature.
! For a full minute he stood straight
anil sharp cut as statue outlined
slowly over the wide spreading pano-
rama that lay before him. The country
was without Ntation. not even the
smoke Of distant fire being visible,
except in one place. This came from
valley in which there stood a substan-
tial log cabin with a huge stone
ichimney at one end.
This cabin nestled far below and
not n great ways from the crest of the
big ridge, or summir of the peak.
Close by were sheds and stables for
horses. corral adjoining them. John
Carr. pioneer in this wilderness. was
paying them a silent farewell.
The sun climbing the eastern sky
hathed him in flood of golden light
He took his alnenStock and thrust IT
firmly into the rocks so that it stood
upright. then fastened his red handnna
handkerchief to it after the manner
of flag. Next taking from the breast
pocket of fur bordered mackinaw n
letter. he fastened it to the base of
the staff. AS the alpenstock now stood
with the red cloth waving from its
top in the mountain breeze. II was an
object which could be seen for long
distance. Once more he turned his
face 10 the scene below.
From uut of the corral an Indian
came strolling and passed into the
house while the rough hand of the old
miner for an instant swept itself across
his face.
There never was a better lnjun
than Rainface" he murmured. Then
turning suddenly he leaped straight
out into the air and downward beyond
the ridge. Thus it was that John
Carr departed from the scene which
had known him for so many years.
Within the cabin far below Rainface
was putting logs upon the fire.
From an adjoining room where they
had just finished their breakfast John
Davis and Ethel Carr emerged. The
man was tall and powerfully built,
dressed in winter outing costume,
while the girl wore Indian leggings and
a short homemade jacket trimmed
with fur The adopted daughter of
John Carr, Ethel had been brought up
in the mountains almost as uncon-
trolled as the creatures of the ravines
themselves. Her hair falling down her
back, was plated, Indian fashion, and
fastened with bow. Although she
was 1s years of age. in her youthful
dress she looked far younger.
at is hard to learn to eat like one
of your ladies of the cities, where they
think they are so nice" she protested
with a little pout. You are always
scolding me because l don't use fork
when a spoon or knife is SO much more
convenient. I wish you would let me
eat the way want to-" John smiled.
You will get used to it soon enough.
And remember that you soon have got
TO take your place among the other
ladies of the world" From the kitchen
came the generously proportioned fig
ure of Bridget Wegan. middle aged,
fully she turned upon Davis.
"Oh. lave the poor habby alone,
Mister Davis. Sure what matter does
y make If one uses a spade or hoe so
long as the ditch is dug. And if a body
gets the vittles into ones mouth small
matter how they get them there. 'Tis
little thing to worry about. is it not,
Rainface.' The Indian grunted.
Fingers plenty good enough for
me-" he returned solemnly.
sill smiling Davis took down pair
of snowshoes from the wall, while the
girl followed his example. Drawing
on his gloves he turned upon his com
panions.
Anyway we'll have our last day on
the snow. Where do you suppose I'm
Gle John is, Rainface?" The one ad-
dressed shook his head.
"Me not know. But when master
go away with the sun sometime he
come back with the stars. If he moi
come pretty soon. me go find him.