The Ely miner., 1926-10-29

Lie w dltE DdUlSS lie Hdu UiVuSHt
her, II had an interesting trip, this
week.
Amos tossed the bag of tobacco to
Levine. "Where?"
back up on the reservation. Amos,
the pine land up In there Is something
to dream of. Why, there's nothing
like 1t left in the Mississippi valley,
nor hasn't been for twenty years.
Have you ever been up there?"
Amos shook his head. .T've just
never had time. It's an awful trip.
No railroad. twenty-mile drive"
Levine nodded. .'The Indians are
In awful bad shape up there. Agents
In 1t for what he can get, 1 guess.
Don't know as | blame him. The
sooner the Indians are gone the bet
ter it'll be for us and all concerned
Whats the matter with 'em?'
asked Lydia.
"Consumption-some kind of eye
disease starvation"
The child shivered and her eyes
widened
You'd better go on with the Water
Babies, said John. "Has Tom fallen
into the river YETI"
mo, he's just seen himself in the
mirror" answered Lydia, burying her
nose In the 6electable tale again.
ITS wonderful story" said Le-
vine, his black eyes reminiscent. at
has some unforgettable verse in 1t.
Well, as was saying, Amos, that tim
ber isn't going to stay up there and
rot-because, I'm going to get 1t out
of therew
Howl asked Amos.
"Act of congress, maybe. Maybe a
railroad will get permit to go
through, eh? There are several ways.
Well die rich, yet, Amos"
Amos pulled at liis pipe and shook
his head. you will but I won't. 1t
isn't in our blood"
"Shucks, Amos. Where's your
nerve?"
Amos looked at Levine silently for
moment. Then he said huskily:
MY nerve is gone with Patience.
And If she isn't in heaven, there isn't
one, that's ALL"
Lydia looked up from her story with
a quick flash of tragedy In her eyes.
"Well,' said John, smiling at her
gently, "if you don't want to be rich,
Amos, Lydia does. I'll give her the cot.
tage here, the first fifty thousand ]
make off of Indian pine lands.
"Mr Marshall says like HI you'll
| get some Indian lands,'" mused the
child
Both men exclaimed together
what"
Lydia was confused but repeated
| her conversation with Marshall.
$50 that's the way the wind blows
said Levine.
"You don't think for minute
! there's a banker in town without one
hand on the reservation" said Amos
Lydia, you're old enough now net to
repeat conversations you hear at home
Don't you ever tell anybody the things
you hear me and Mr.. Levine talk over
Understand" sharply.
| "Yes, daddy" murmured Lydia
flushing painfully.
"You don't have to jaw the child
that way, Amos" Levine's voice was
impatient. Just explain things to
her. Why do you want to humiliate
| her?''
Amos gave short laugh. takes 9
bachelor to bring up kids. Run along
| to bed, Lydia"
"Lydia's net kid. She's a grown
/ up lady In Disguise" said Levine
ca.t.ching her hand as she passed anG
drawing her to him. Good night
young Lydia! If you were ten years
older and l were ten years younger
Lydia smiled through tear-dimmed
eyes. "We'd travel" she said.
Amos, always little moody and 9
little restless, since the children's
mother had gone to her last sleep
grew more so as the end of the year
approached. 1t was perhaps week
before Christmas ON a Sunday after
noon that he called Lydia to him. Pa
tience was having her nap and Lizzie
had gone to call on Mrs. Norton.
Lydia, who was re-reading "The
Water Babies" put it down reluctant
ly and came to her fathers side. Her
heart thumped heavily. Her fathers
I depressed voice meant just one thing
money trouble. Amos hesitated.
"Where'd you get that dress, my
dear?" he asked.
| Lizzie and l made it of that one
of mother's," answered the child. 'Ii
isn't made so awful good, but like to
wear it, because it was hers"
''Yes, yes" said Amos absently.
The dress was a green serge, clum
silly put together as sailor suit, and
the color fought desperately with the
transparent blue Of the little girls
eyes.
LYDIA" said her father abruptly
you're big girl now. You asked
for skates and sled for Christmas
My child, don't see how you children
are going to have anything extra fol
Christmas, except perhaps a little
candy and an orange. That note with
Marshall comes due In January. BY
standing Levine off on the rent, can
rake and scrape the interest together.
It's hopeless for me even to consider
meeting the note. What Marshall will
| do, | don't know. If could ever get
on my feet-with the garden. But on
dollar and half day, swan"
"No Christmas at all?" quavered
Lydia. won't we even hang up our
stockingsW
IF you'll be contented just to put a
little candy in them. Come, Lydia
you're too big to hang up your stock
ing, anyhow"
Lydia left her father and walked