The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-12-08
CHAPTER VI.
The Old Cinnabar.

Daddy, here Is a man I found down
at the head of Antelope gulch; he
had lost his way, so I brought him
home with me-" was the simple man
ner In which she launched me; and
/ found myself shaking hands with
an elderly man who looked as IL he
might be q farmer, or a miner, or
something Of that nature-you will
know what / mean-flannel shirt,
trousers tucked into boots, iron-gray
whiskers oil ove his face, an eye as
mild as a collie dogs.
"You done plum right, Jeanie," he
remarked; and then to me-: "Come
right on in, stranger, and be at home.
If you don't see what you want, ask
for It." After which he went to take
care Of the piebald pony.
The log cabin proved to be primitive
only on the outside. The Interior was
a dream of cozy LONELINESS. A hang
Ing lamp lighted 1t, and In it's mild
glow / had my first real look at the
girl.
She wasn't beautiful in any show
girl meaning Of the word; she was
something far better-piquant, charm
Ing. A round little face, wind-tanned
to a tint as delicious as the blush In
the heart of an apple-blossom, a jolly
bit OF a nose, tip-tilted enough to be-
speak a healthy sense Of humor, a
mouth neither too large nor too small
upheld by a firm, round chin, and the
chin upheld by an extra firm little jaw.
As she had admitted, her eyes were
blue-the blue that shades into violet
and they were well-set; wide apart
and perfectly fearless; the kind of
eyes fit to match the straight-lined
brows that usually go with them.
I sat before the cheerful blaze,
~chuckling quietly to myself over the
mad adventures of the day and their
highly romantic, not to say miraculous,
outcome. Beyond all name Of doubt
] had stumbled upon the three tails
mans Of Cousin Percy's cryptic letter.
BY the most marvellous of accidents
] had discovered the girl, the horse
and the dog; and, IL the remainder Of
Percy's letter were to be taken at
Its face value, 1 should now be In
touch with my legacy.
As to the character of that legacy,
there could be no further question.
Grandfather Jasper had left me a
mine; and I raj fully prepared to
find It the drowned mine of Bullerton's
story. What I might be able to make
Of 1t was a matter which could well
be postponed to another day. Just as
I reached this postponing conclusion,
the girls father came In, drew up q
chair on the opposite side Of the
hearth, and began to make me well
! come In a mild-mannered way, saying
that they didn't have much company,
and were always master" glad to see
4 new face. He did not ask me any
troublesome questions; and beyond
telling me his name. which was Hiram
Twombly. did not volunteer any In
formation about himself or his daugh
ter, nor did he explain how they cam,
20 be living In SO much comparative
comfort In such an out-of-the-way
place.
A little later the girl returned I.
at the table. and presently we hat
supper. It was an amazingly goo,
meal; crisp bacon. fried potatoes. no
biscuits and honey, and coffee tina
Wns most delicious In spite Of tn,
condensed milk which was made t
norve - cream.
After we left the table the blue
oted maiden rot housewifely busy. ant
- old ma and ! ut before the nr'
nd smoked. I don't remember jus
~ Il was that NJ finally driftel
oround 10 automobiles. and motor boat
ma ouch things. but ~ DID, and may
I may hare braeged Z BIT ebou
1oxlng dz>yea - flnA1rso prssfl