Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-07-30

I'm pick up q ride"
I Mr.. stump selected a leg OF fried
chicken, and bit into il reflectively.
Wen, it could be done that way" he
decided. yep. Ellie. you can 60 ahead. I"
Mike Brent had Just finished laying
cedar boughs in his cabin to take the
place OF his stolen mattress and blan-
ketS. He considered boughs and news
until he could do better he must put up
with It. After q supperleSs, sleepless
night he found himself thankful that
the thief had not taken the stove and
dishes as well. He was starting out 70
negotiate some groceries on credit at
the deputy sheriff's store. when Ellie
came smiling down his freSh-turned
widened trail.
There was nothing in Ellie's appear
ance to connect her with the theft Of
the previous day, nor to suggest her
present errand. To him she was just
little girl with an engaging smile.
Lost, little siSter?" In looking on
her bright tousled head his heart lifted
with the same Joy he took IN the spring
flowers, or the soft thrill OF the earliest
robin.
mo. I amt lost" she said coolly. II
Jest come TO see you, mister"
Come TO see me? What did you
come TO see me for, child2"
Il thought you might tell me about
Mike Brent stared at her wordIessly.
He was aware that there was an un-
healthy activity throughout the hills
men and women staggering under the
weight Of sluice boxes and pickaxes In
q helpless search for gold But this
little girl, this delicate sweet-faced
baby He checked back those explosives
that were returning so readily to his
lips the last "a hours.
Has all he'll turned loose in the
mountains? Is humanity souring out
here in the hills? Who sent us this
influx Of unfits2 Child, have you
mother. have you homer"
Sure" answered Ellie, her eyes dart
ting hither and thither in her quest Of
hidden gold Were campin' up by
town. We come IN last night. Can't we
go in your house and talk, mister?"
Go home to your mother. II I had
anything at all here I'd say take 1t
with you. Yesterday I was robbed. To-
day have nothing-not even food. Go 7!
away"
You mean you amt got any gold /
at alp" asked Ellie incredulously. But 1
don't you did $40 worth every day? /
What did you do with 1t alp"
There's days when don't dig ten /
cents worth. Go back and spread that /
around your camp. Not ten cents
worth"
II don't believe you" said Ellie. She
turned up the trail again and went
back TO the highway.
Mr.. Stump, as certain as Ellie that the
miner had bigger cache Of gold some
where around his cabin, traded Ia the
title dust he had taken from the
wood pile for gas, and went back TO
he prospector's dwelling himself. 1t
vas still early forenoon when he
cached there, and according TO his
the time when the miner
would be out st his work. He parked his \
ar In a manzanita thicket near the
highway, and went down the trail on
DOT.
But Mike Brent was at home. He
lad Just returned from the store with
he few groceries-in all one dollars
7orth--that his credit had been good
or. Now Mike Brent was bigger and
lusEier man than MIR. Stump cared to
ncounter anywhere, and when he
1rned and frowned down on him Mr..
Jump felt qualm Of fear.
Were neighbors, he offered quickly.
Who's we2" growled Mike Brent
you and me. seed the house, and
Jest come in to see who's livin' here"
"Afoot?" Mike Brent looked at the
tile mans shoes, measured with his
We the tracks they left in the soft
irt of the new trail, and then stared
the shoes again.
We'll, no. got little car up there.
can get you something in town"
Where you campin'2"
up near the town"
Then how come we're neighbors?"
ut amt far with a car"
'Prob1y not, prob1y not" Mike
rents hand rested on his revolver.
Then here's where take a ride.
here's things In your camp I'd like
, see. I'll go along with you"
Mr. Stump drove the four miles to
8 camp with varying bursts Of speed.
started out with his foot hard on