The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-08-08
GOLD IS
WHEREYOU
FIND 1T
By cLARIssA MAcKIE
,clure Newspaper syndicate. ]

creek, remarked Bart WeLlS as he
rode with his brother across the broken
country. Il know you're planning to
spend your vaction there, Pete, but
why can't we both goT'
Peter Wells smiled. "You know the
reason, Bartl We've thrashed the
whole thing out before. Father can't
be left alone with the ranch and the
few men we have now; when you took
that hunting trip you might just as
well have gone to Little Greek instead.
You knew about it."
Bart nodded brusQuely. 'Ill get Late
Smith to come around and help dad;
oh, come ON, Pete, be good sport;
let's both go!"
Peter was thoughtful. At the same
time he was rather weary Of argument.
He knew that his younger brother
would never be satisfied unless he, too,
went to the Little Greek district,
where they had located claims the year
before. Now gold had been discov-
cred in the district, and stampede
was on. 1t mattered little which one
Of them went, but 1t really was Peters
turn to have vacation from the dull
routine of the ranch. Still, Peter ar
gued, he could go later, but the bloom
would be gone from the adventure If
he gave this chance to Bart.
"Toss you for 1t, Bart" he said,
suddenly. IF you win I'll go LATER"
do you mean lit"
"Sure thing"
"You're a good scout, Peter; ! am
ashamed Of myself" admitted Barton,
but his eagerness to go overcame his
conscience, and so the brothers tossed
a coin and, as usual, Bart won.
you certainly spoil Bart" re-
marked Mr.. Wells the morning Bart
rode away on the prospecting trip.
'You are getting a raw deal, Peter,
my lad, and l only wish could spare
you both. Later, when I can get a
bunch of men together, you could both
go. In the meantime what are you
going to d0?"
"Ride the range; watch out, as
usual, for Slicker and his gang" was
Peters reply.
"By the way, Peter, Hanson tells me
that there is email camp back there
In the canyon; says it's new. You
might ride around and take a look at
it. Might be one of Slicker's out
posts"
''I'll ride that way this afternoon. l
want to ride off my crouch because /
can't go bye-bye and find chunks of
gold at Little Creek" laughed the
young man as he strobe toward the
corral.
"Gold is where you find it, SON."
called his father as they parted.
Peter was to remember that remark
afterward.
AS he rode across the range to the
dark blur where the foothills began
and where Green canyon hid itself
away in a tumble of trees and thick
ct, Peter was thinking of the day
when he and Bart had first found the
canyon, which belonged to the Wells
property. They had been youngsters
of twelve and fourteen-that was only
twelve years ago--and they were play
ing game of prospecting for gold,
burrowing in the ground like prairie
dogs or merely scratching the surface
In pretended search for the precious
metal. Then, losing themselves in the
thicket. they suddenly found them
selves at the narrow entrance to a
most enchanting little canyon, all
luscious green. grass and ancient oaks
and cottonwoods, with little stream
twittering through the middle. Since
then 1t had been their favorite haunt
for picnics and camping out. Peter, as
he conned the words of his father,
thought that it might well prove to
be some rendezvous for Slicker, the
cattle thief, and his gang. So, as Pc
ter neared the canyon, he went warily
with his beloved horse, Jerry. At last
they reached the entrance to the can
yon. and here Peter dismounted and,
leading Jerry, peered down into the
The eastern wall lay in sunshine, but
the western slope was in shadow, and
down in the group of big oaks. in the
very spot that he and Bart had once
played at digging for gold, something
yellow glittered. Tieing the horse to q
sapling. he slid down the grassy trail
When the trail turned, he could see
the gray canvas of small tent. There
were no horses about and no one on
guard. as there would have been If II
had been one of Sllcker's camps.
Haiti" said firm young voice
and Peter, who cherished deep re.
spect for shotguns In the hands OF
women, halted at once, and at sec
ond command put his hands over his
good-looking head.
Anything else l can do, ma'amr
be asked, good-humoredly. as he
brought his eyes around to look at his
captor. At sight of her beauty, worn
carelessly like an everyday garment
he stared at her pure golden hair