5
t ;
? f I
Willi
SYNOPSIS . .
Jim Baladln listen to the History
of nelghborlne; Hostile Valley, with
trosstp of the mysterious, entlcln;
"Huldy: wife of Will Ferrin. Inter,
cited, he drive to the Valley for
day' flshlntV "Old Marm" Pierce
and hr , nineteen-year-old i grand
daughter Jenny live In the Valley.
Since little more than a child Jenny
has at Ant admired and then deep
ly loved "young Will. Ferrin, nelsrh-bortnrirarmer..older-
than she, and
who regard her atlll a merely : a
child. Will 'take employment In
nearby Aususte. Bart Carey, some
thing; of ne'er-do-well, is attracted
by Jenny, but the lrl repulee him.
Learnlna; that Will t coralnr home,
Jenny, exultlnf, etl hi long-empty
house "to rights," and ha dinner
ready for him. He comee bringing
his wife, Huldy, whe became the
subject of unfavorable gossip In the
Valley. Entering hi home, unlooked
'for, Will find seemingly damning
evidence of hi wife' unfaithfulness,
a a man who he know I Beth
Humphrey break from the house.
Will overtake him, and choke him
to death, though Humphrey shat
ter hie leg, with bullet. At Marm
'Pierce' house the leg amputated.
Jenny goes ,to break the new to
' Huldy. She find Bart Carey with
the woman. When ho leave Huldy
j deolaree she ha no use rot v"nait
c- ...a man, ana i leaving ai once, win
Is leeallv exonerated, and with: a
rv's '.home-made artificial'', leg carri
on," hiring a helper, Zeke Dace.
. v. 1 Month lateh Huldjr comei baok.
vv "i, .two year go Dy. z,eite i ana air
ble arising over Huldy, Amy Carey
. .commit aulold. Zeke Dace had been
.,'- ahowlng her attention, but Zeke had
; t succumbed completely ' to Huldy
; wiles. Saladlne come to the Valley.
. ' While ' fishing he Is caught la a
.-rbeavy rain and takes refuge at
. Marm Pierce's. Bart Carey arrive
. .carrying Huldy whonl he claim ha
fallen from, a ledge, and seeming-
' ly I dead, but while alone, the wom
an, with her last breath, 'assert
A i Will killed her. Horrified, Jenny de-
clde to tell no one of the aecusa
: tlon. ,
IU1DT VIII r.AHf Imuil .
'k.v '.':'.'tt ..l .' v.' '."..-. . ..i.
jbue marm rierce -poimea 10 we
:t" i : floor. Hew were wet, muddy traces
: wnprM nootea leet naa scooa wnere
soaked garments had dripped upon
1 : the boards. ir,vMi.:
T "It'g that Win," Mann Pierce do
Vs -r-Wflffl mrnriillv "Ha' forever nrv-.
r ing -around I She hot the 1 door
with a slam. .. .
. : : - .'.. nouin mine: vou a ne nervous.
' v V'vAniitid Jannv. flvlnff tiara alone.1
:u;'H he goggesteu. : : , . ?-"iivh '
s ;v TThe valley geu some loins,- ine
: J 1 I'T7a11.. .tin . Ant fcniM, knn
' '.,. . to M alone witnont neing toneiy.
' loq've got o know how; to be com
" nan for sonrself. to' get along
i -i nrnnnd here I" . And (be added with
'!f:-.'-"-c;ii' wry chucitie:."jMt tne eame, rm
.:? ; fnH as well Dleased to have yon
'-i' ''"J: WVam 'main nwa AfMtAntlt Ai VA11
iJrlJind, nor.sh Mid scornfully.
y-virnOf. I Oun fc pj uceu w uui
- - tTa MimM and irnAlL Knt I'd fla soon
l-feior ad that 1?
. v I1HVH K UIHU ail LUn nUUDU llKUf. UUR.
: t HQ waicnea ner canonsjy, out oe-
', ilore she could answer his unspoken
,; , porch ontslde 1 the door ; and they
, ' turned to see Bart appear. He
C leaned a steel roa oesiae tne aoor
-; ofnra ha MUM In. Re had ehanirfld
'Vfe Whoro'a WII17M Marm PlArr do.
.. MIILII 111 ! LLULUCB. UMI .UU WWACMIO. v
; "He wa'n't '"around," "Bart-:' er-
-s;. niflinAn. "nnFuxfl eicner. . a naureu
at . . i I...... n-MH aamh
. ?r' ; ttnej u uvaiu auuui. xiutu uuu cvuiv
xwhora'a .Tonnvl" ha nakcxt. -
'ff.''ii'-'flaa--ri. fntph Hnldv'a nlothA.'
. Marm Pleree told him. "It's a won-
, j , i' der yon didn't meet ner."
'.:-r 'V Bart shook his head, - ;' Saladlne
. saw-a broad leather belt abont
. .ni tn whlph a' holster hnnff.
- "tiniio, ne,uiu- lira pavs a
i Z U "Sure," ' Bart " assented,- and pro
v : duced It. Baladlne took the weap
on In his ' band& , It was an old
' ' model, the (front -sight gone, of
" heavy caliber; and when Jim;, hold
'.. . ing back the-, hammer,; gingerly
tried the trigger, he found that the
pun nwas feather-Mght S
. : . - "I always ; carry It when I go
flshlng," ; Bart : : explained, "Ion
j never know when you run Into a
moose down here in the woods, or
a : wlldcatTf-,! &M -M .
Marm. Pierce was In- the dining
room, and Bart lowered his tones.
"That's the gun Seth shot Will
. Ferrin with," he said. , :,
t Marm Pierce returned, and Jim
handed the' weapon back to Bart
The old woman was putting on
an .oilskin coat fBart, yon see
anybody, fishing down brook this
moralngr she Inquired. ,"i heard
there was, tracks along the bank."
"Wlu likely went that Way," Bart
my own self. When I came down
ii!ii. Figured It was him."
I mil Pierce pulled- an oilskin
1 1 i -
'
hat over , her white hair. : "I get
strangled or air, when I stay in
doors the whole day,? she declared,
and went out : As she closed the
door, they heard something slith
er . and fall, 1 and saw : her stoop
down, ' t
"Knocked your rod over, Bart"
she called. ' 1
'Can't hurt that rod," he assured
her cheerfully,;" she.: stepped' down
off the porch and disappeared to
ward the barn. ' ' "
"I met' W1U renin, ' and Mis'
Ferrin, and Zeke Dace, this morn
ing," Saladlne said. "I was on my
way to your place, 'till' I run into
the washout ; so I backed up and
left my Car ln'WUl's yard.'' . . V
: "I see ', It there a while ago;?
Bart -assented,;';;'':"'..,;;,:;'.,.'": .
, "Zeke looked like a sick man,
to me,'' Saladlne suggested. i
Bart grinned as though abashed.
"He's failed a lot," he said. "But
be ' was an able maq, two years
ago. : ; He worked, me . over, proper,
one day. The' Valley wlft whittle
a ' man down." And he added:
"Some, - like . Marm Pierce and
Jenny : here, they're always the
same,- and Will's always the same,
or - would ; be If It wa'n't for
Huldy. ' She's twisted htm, turned
him wrong ways," His brow cloud'
ed. "I wouldn't blame him for
anything be was to do. If I was
Will, td have. . . ." He changed
this, "If. she was mine, I'd have
known how to ; handle her I"
1 Rain, rain, rain; the ; lash of
whips against this little bouse,
the pelt of bullets. , i
vBart looked thoughtfully at the
door . into ' the' dining , room ; and
said huskily, with a nod toward
the other room: "You see her this
morning, you said. ' What did you
think of herr .
"She was a queer one," SalaHine
confessed. :
Bart' leaned forward with a deep
intentness. ' "Saladlne," he said.
"How would she come to fall J"
"Got dluy, maybe? Or tripped
over somethlngt" ' :.v :,. i
"She wa'n't the sort to get dizzy,'
Bart protested. "And the ledge Is
all smooth, and It's good footing
there.":-; r''::!!HV;:.-'--;,;J.;;, J.;- '.-:
."You mean to say she Jumped?"
. Bart grinned almost in derision.
"She look to you like one that
would kill herself, did she r he de
manded. .
"No," Saladlne admitted. "No, she
didn't" ; '
"Iben put a name on It" Bart
whispered. "If she dldnt fall, and
didn't Jump. ..." ,
: But Saladlne was always inclined
to think twice before he spoke, and
there was matter enough for thought
here today. He shook his head, si
lently. ' - Bart though they were quite
alone whispered : "There ain't a
soul around here would blame
WHIP ,
But : Saladlne stared silently at
the store, and Bart did not repeat
"Huldy's Oeadl"
bis sinister suggestion; and a little
after, Marm Pierce came briskly In.
' "Well, you're let the fire go out,
between;, you I" she said sharply.
This was almost true!;- She whisked
off a - lid of the stove and thrust a
billet Jn,. scolding theni impartially.
She hung up her coat : and : hat
f Wet to the knees, I am. Got to go
Change." -; , ,:5:"; :; V x0:C?i:
. She left them, departing through
the dining room; and Bart's glance
flickered" after her through the open
door, as though his eyes ' were
drawn irresistibly that way- Then
the two men sat alone a while, till
Saladlne heard a familiar, sound,
remotely, coming - near. He rose
and moved to the door, Bart at his
shoulder, - .
A MM UU HI i:i Ik
T"'!'T?""' l'-..-,rl-'lV ,
..I a," SuluUiue re--I.
"A ii J Jcuny. In my. car."
And Bart said In a low, surprised
tone: "So tlsl I didn't know-, but
Will would've got out of. the coun
try by now I" i i-'
Saladlne, to avoid reply, opened
the door and stepped out on the
porch. Then Will and. Jenny, Will
with an old suitcase In his hand,
alighted from-the car and 'cam to
ward them bere.'";;t;;'?';;:'''W"i.,-;i;;''
a ',';:;:.--ve-,;;
When Huldy, with that black ac
cusation on her Hps, died,, Jenny
was . at first left : desperate ; till
quick loyalty brought her strength
again, and. resolution too. Marm
Pierce, seeing without understand
ing the girl's deep distress; as soon
as they , were alone, asked gently :
"Jenny, you all right? I'm trou
bled about you." .'-;,,'-,
"Seeing her die upset me," Jenny
whispered. "That was all. Granny."
Marm Fierce, only half convinced,
yet forebore to question further.
"Well, she's dead," she said. She
touched Jenny's arm reassuringly.
"Child, she's dead ; and WI1U he'll
be coming soon.1 Nought now to
keep blm away from you. .
Jenny's pulse failed and tne blood
drained from ; her lips. . "Don't'
Granny.".,' ; gne . protested' softly.
"With her lying there.- Not now."
And she urged;. "We'd ought to
dress her in dry clothes. Will, he
hadn't ought to see her so.",?,;,'
Marm ; Pierce nodded. Jenny's
though ts were plunging now. There
was in her a blind desperate hun
ger to see Will, to comfort him, to
assure him of her loyalty and si
lence and deep' understanding and
forgiveness too. She wished on
any count to see him, to be with
him now.'. Tet it was some time be
fore she devised that errand In
volving Huldy's clothes. ;
; Even . when she proposed , this
errand, Marm ' Pierce at , first de
murred ; but longing to be with
Will, Jenny would not be re
strained. In a ' sort of breathless
rush, she overbore her grandmoth
era remonstrances, and So was
away. . 1 1
; She took by habit the path to
ward the woods; and her .Hps
shaped unspoken words of tender
ness and comforting. , But when
she came to the dark border of
the. wood, the glrl paused, shrink
ing, reluctant to plunge into the
shadows. . This path would take
her by the foot of the ledge, by
the very spot where Huldy a while
ago had fallen to her death; and
Jenny could not endure the pros
pect So she retraced her way and
turned aside toward Carey's. And
halfway up the hill she saw ahead
of her-a figure, tremendous In the
dim rain, familiar, beloved. Will,
coming toward her. , She stood
weak and shaken by the sight of
him; yet when he came hear, lest
he might think she shrank from
him, she; took one step forward
to- meet him steadily.
' Will looked down at her for
long moment In silence. He said at
last heavily: '
"Jenny, where you going In this
rainr
"To find you, Will," she told him
. Tm on my way to Bart's," he ex
plained. "To see if maybe Huldy's
there 1"
. Jenny felt her spine chllL "She's
not there, Will," she said. "She's at
our house."
' He frowned In a deep bewilder
ment" "Your house?" :: ; . ;
v f W11V she' told him' gravely,
"Huldy's dead!" r ...v
The man stood huge above her;
wind whipped bis. hat-brim, ...rain
lashed his cheek and struck his face
and filled his eyes. ,. He wiped his
eyes with bis hand, shook the water
oft his hand, wiped It on the Side of
bis coat A storm, visibly, swept
across his countenance and left a
shadow there. : - ; V
Yet she thought he was not sur
prised; and she spoke quickly, to
spare him .need of speech. "She
fell off the ledge down back of your
house," she said. "Bart found her,
and fetched her over to our place,
case Granny could do her any good.
But she died."
; He asked, after a long moment,
dumbly; "Bart know how she come
to fall?" . -.- ,
-Jenny steadied her tones,' made
them all reassurance. "No one will
ever know that, Will," she said ;
and she added: "We did all could
be done 1"
"I guess you would," be agreed.
His shoulders bowed as though un
der a crushing load; and after a
moment he said heavily; "Well, Til
go on over."
But Jenny checked him. "I have
to get some clothes to dress her,"
she said gently. "You'd best come
back to the house with me, show me
her things." - '-
He accepted this without speech;
and he and Jenny climbed the
steep grade side by side.:; In Will's
barnyard Jenny, saw a car standing,
and so remembered Saladlne. "That
man, he's over, t'the house," she
told WilL :.' "I . guess he woaidnt
mind If we drove his car over. Hell
want It and that way we can keep
Huldy's things dry." , ' 1 3
."Over there, Is heTWlll echoed.
with haunted eyes, "Last time
see Huldy," be said, "she was tak
ing htm off down to the ledge. Said
she'd show film the brook trail."
And his brow furrowed. "I want
to talk to him," he said, ominously.
. "He left her on the ledge," Jenny
urged. , "He never see her, after."
They went Indoors,: ."Now yon get
some dry clothes onto you," she
bade him.. Til pack the things
we'll not J 1 , . . ,, uure are they.
Will?"
He looked at her In a sort of
shame.. ;. "In there,".,he said, and
pointed through the dining-room
door to the bedroom beyond. "That's
hers. I mostly slep' up attic". Ho
opened a door beside the stove, and
the heard him climb , the narrow
stairs.' ,
She selected What she required;
and then on impulse, she made Hul
dy's bed. .; Huldy's nightgown she
put away; and when, she was done.
the room was in immaculate order.
It pleased her to leave all things
as. Huldy would bare wished to
leave. ;them',;Uf.'i;i:5!' ' ' "
When she bad packed the suit
case, She came back to the kitchen,
and called up the attic stairs: "I'm
ready, Will" , i
He answered her, alter a mo
ment ; iTm coming, jenny."
When they were In Saladine's car,
Will Said: -"The road looked to ui
And He Stood Looking Down at Hit
-' Wife's Body.
like we could get through down to
Carey's, Jenny. . We'd save a lot of
time that way.".;1
She made no comment trusting
such matters to his Judgment; and
he turned the car down the hill and
drove on across ' the bridge, past
Bart's, out to the Valley road, and
thus in toward Marm Pierce's farm,
In the yard they stopped, and Will
took the suitcase from the back of
the car. Saladlne and Bart were on
the porch to meet them ; but If Will
had known a passing doubt of Sala
dlne, it was forgotten now. He
said to the other man :
"Jenny told me you was over
here. I didn't knew as yon'd mind
if. we drlv', your car over."
, "Glad you 'did," Jim agreed;
and Bart gripped Will's hand.
, "Guess you know, Will, how I
feel about this,'Tie''saIdr
"Guess I do," Will agreed. They
all came Indoors.
"Set down here by the stove,
Will." said Jenny softly. "Your
hands are bound to be cold. Take
off your coat and dry."
. "I went out to find you, Will,"
Bart explained. "But you wa'n't
there."
. "I was out hunting them," Will
assented, and he looked at Saladlne.
"She didn't come back after she
went with you," he said. "When
it come on to rain, I went to find
her. ' Huldy was foolish about rain,
kind . ot - She'd stay out in it
claimed to like It"
He added: "But I couldn't find
them nowheres."
"Where's Zeke?" Bart asked.
"I dunno," Will confessed. "I ain't
seen him sence."
"Jenny took the suitcase into the
dining room where Huldy was, and
closed the door between. Marm
Pierce was there; she said crisply:
"Back, be you? Fetch Will?"
"."He's In the kitchen," Jenny as
sented. "I want to get her dressed
first, make her look as nice as we
can before he sees her."
Marm Pierce nodded, watching the
girl; and she saw that Jenny'a coun
tenance was illuminated, and by
much "more than mere happiness ;
much more than the selfish happi
ness which, if she loved Will, she
might find In he fact that now he
was free to love her. too. It was
as though she were committed to a
task in which she found pence and
pride. ',;:-:-- -
While they were busy here, the
rain was pitiless outside. The aft
ernoon, though1 It was not yet late,
was already shrouded in a- sort of
dusk when Jenny went at last to
bid Will 1 come ta.WtiW 'S W" -v,
; Will followed her into the dining
room where Huldy lay; and he stood
looking down at bis wife's body, his
Shoulders bowed. Jenny was close
beside him, almost touching him;
her head nodded faintly ones or
twice. " was as though she spoke
words of comfort and of hearten
ing; yet her Hps did not move.
(TO BE CONTINUED) ,
i ;
v' the for Sugar Can
- Hawalians make boards out of
the "begasse that la left over when
the 'Juice Is squeezed out of the
Sugar cane. But boards In the trop
ic gre of questionable .value at a
building material because the white
ants eat them op. So, In Hawaii, a
bit of poison ' is " mixed, with the
begasse which makes it Immune
from insect attack. The product is
called canec and Is sent in (rest
quantities to the Philippines for
use . - -
New Autumn Wcolens Striking
By CHERIE
lTOOLENS to
vv
"suit" the smart
woman this fall are
thaf fnaplnntinz we
are not going to be able to resist
thorn and VOU wouldn't if SOU COUld
after once glimpsing them. From
every Inch of their woof and their
warp the woolens brought out this
season radiate a beauty of coloring,
of texture, of novelty In patterning
and weave which is simply taking
the world of fashion by storm.
Seeing that the American mills
and the mills abroad are giving us
the most amazing, the most beauti
ful woolens fancy can picture, It Is
to rejoice that the English habit of
wearing sportsy or tailored cos
tumes for all daytime occasions In
contrast to most resplendent and
glorious formal fashions for evening
has spread to America. Now that
the smart thing to do this fall is
to go very colorfully and handsome
ly tailored In the daytime, it is
safe to predict that dresses, suits,
swagger costumes together with
three-piece ensembles made of
stunning woolens will predominate
by a large majority in the wardrobe
of every fashion-wise woman.
One of the most dramatic ges
tures which has to do with this
sweentne vocue for erand woolens
ts the costume which goes fifty-fifty
gorgeous cloth and nigh-colored
suede.
Another thing likable about the
new woolens Is that they are so
delightfully soft and caressing to
the touch, and give ear to this bit
of good news they are so woven In
combination of yarns, they do not
wrinkle.
Just to mention a few of the
smartest and newest of new woolens
there are kemp tweeds, bright
nubbed tweeds of unusual treat
COAT OF PIGSKIN
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
- Have you heard about the too-chlc-for-words
new polo coats which
are made of fine pigskin? Just study
this picture and see how smart they
are down to the slightest detail.
Yon can get them either in natural
or rich dark dyes. The model il
lustrated has all of the latest
"touches," such aS big, roomy bel
lows pockets,; the new sash belt
which ties' so casually, strap-band
sleeves' which are adjustable about
the wrist deep-set yoke and an In
tricate seaming which gives the
garment exquisite finesse. The hat
ts of pigskin to match the coat The
paisly print scarf is up to the mo
ment In style. .
i.i & , mt
';'.-, - , yX
ii .. ' W
$f ' A
r-' ,'? ; '
i... 1 i I " ilmiiiiiiiiiiiniinOTrninr--'"'-''n
I 4&
NICHOLAS ; 5
ment, sawtooth checks, marl tweeds,
broken plaids, chevron stripes, om
bre plaids, ribbed dlagonnls and
others too numerous to cite.
The coIorinRS of the versatile
woolens hrousht out this season are
a triumph both In art and of sci
ence. A complete wardrobe may be
planned to Include several colors,
none of which conflict because the
most vivid plaids and gay hues are
given dusky overtones which blend
into one grand symphony via misty
lnterweavlngs of grayish or brown
ish yarns. The attractive Seion Cot
terlll collection of London which
was recently shown In America by
the Chicago wholesale market coun
cil stressed particularly this fea
ture of color blend in smart w:l
ens. The trio of high-style woolen
fashions here pictured were dis
played In this exhibit
See Illustrated to the left in the
group a perfect travel costume. The
Scotchy plaid in black and white,
of which It is made, has a heavy
nub yarn Interwoven to give high
lights of canary yellow.
A new chevron-stripe wool In
tones of amber, rustlque and brown
makes the suit with tuxedo top
coat (centered in the illustration).
Note the smart cross-scarf of the
Jacket Semi-fitted lines and woolen
bnttons give a new smart air.
The new skirts are marvelouslj
built They are most deceptive.
They look as Innocently pleated and
paneled as you please, while in real
ity they are concealing slits which
allow for perfect freedom of action.
Such a skirt Is the one to the right
In the picture. "Swagger collegl
enne" describes this ombre plaid
suit In rich tones of dubonnet red
and ivory. It has a snug collar and
stock scarf and is worn with match
ing sweater.
C Western Newspaper Union.
LUXURIOUS METALS
TOUCH UP FABRICS
Inspired by Oriental and period
Influences fabric manufacturers
have outdone themselves in produc
ing beautiful and luxurious metals
on every type of silk ground.
In addition to being important for
afternoon and evening gowns, the
new metals are widely used for mil
linerynotably turbans scarfs to
be worn with wool as well as slllc
suits, blouses, waistcoatsi bags, van
ity and cigarette cases, in superb
evening sandals and evening jackets
that have a decidedly new look.
Metals with solid burnished faces
In silver, gold and newest of all
copper are shown in the market
and considered especially good for
Jackets and accessories.
Silk crepes with double borders
In metallzed broche show distinct
traces of Persian, Hindu and Jap
anese influence In their rich color
ings and delicate patterns.
Sheer silk gauzes, completely
metallzed, form one of the newest
and loveliest of the metals.
Pink Rates Coolest Shade
and Looks Most Expensive
Pink, fashion's favorite color this
summer, Is the coolest-looking and,
incidentally, the most expensive
appearing shade you possibly can
wear. There are pink linen and
shantung suits for town and conn
try, handsome pink sweaters to
wear with white skirts when you
week-end out of town and glamor
ous evening gowns in various tones
of this lovely shade, . One particu
larly nice evening gown Is fashioned
from double layers of pink chiffon
and is worn under a billowing wrap
of matching material.
Paris Loves Blaa
Blue is a favorite; color of Paris
this year., 8mart women seen at the
races are many of them gowned in
navy with white relief; also navy
and white prints. Pale, misty blue
crepe frocks are worn with darker
Mao hats, bag, and shoes. ,
GOLLZiT
PHANTOMS
rasdnating
Tales of
Lost Mines
sv
Ctfttha L Watsea
Cu.
CHERRY COW GHOST
DID yon ever hear of a haunted
mine? :
If all abandoned mines are no .
haunted, they ought to be.
The old Cherry Cow mine, It
eastern Arizona, had a ghost It
once bad been a pretty fair gold
mine aDd Mike Church, its discov
erer, made enough out of it to buy
a nice little house and an orchard,
where he tried to settle down and
spend his days In comfort But
Mike, like the rest of the breed
known as prospectors, could not be
happy in such a setting. He would
wander away without a word and
disappear for weeks and months,
only to return again, weary but
happy. He had been off prospect
ing hunting for another Cherry
Cow.
During his absences, a yonng
man named Bill Richards, who
lived nearby, would take care ot
Mike's place. He did this Just as
a gesture of friendliness, because
he liked the old fellow, and when
Mike was at home he would re
gale Bill with tales of wonderful
mines and their equally wonderful
treasure.
He had many good words to say
for the old Cherry Cow, as well,
and he enjoyed telling about the
days when he bad several men
working there, taking out "some
mighty good-lookin' ore yes, sir!"
But the ore had run out, and so had
Mike's Interest In the mine.
One fall morning, seeing no
smoke rising from the little house
In the orchard. Bill went over to
investigate. As he had suspected,
Mike was not there, but a letter
lay on the kitchen table, and this
was unusual. Picking It up, Bill
saw that It was addressed to him.
He opened It and read the mis
spelled scrawl within :
"Dere Bill I'm oft on a trip a
long one this time, if i don't come
back In a yr you take the plase
and everything I got its all yures
this Is my will. Mike."
Bill was touched. H knew the
old man meant It, but he hoped
that cold weather would find him
In his little house again.
Winter came, and spring. Then
the rumors of a ghost began to
spread about Someone had gone
up to the abandoned Cherry Cow
shaft, and had seen a shadow that
flitted out of sight and could not
be found again. A miner who
passed that way after dark report
ed a strange light that seemed to
shoot straight out of the shaft A
cowboy who rode by said that his
horse had snorted and shied as he
passed, though nothing was to be
seen or heard.
Aroused to suspicion by these
stories, Bill Richards went up to
the Cherry Cow to Investigate. He
found nothing but the shaft from
which Mike's modest stake had
come, with the rotting boards that
had once been a shaft-house lean
ing above it. He called, wondering
If his eccentric old friend could
possibly be about, but a scolding
blue-Jay gave him the only answer
be heard.
The years went by, and no one
knew what had become of Mike
Church. At last, urged by his
friends, BUI produced the letter,
and while It was not a legal will,
since no other claimants to the
estate were found it became Bill's
property.
But now the Cherry Cow was
avoided by everyone who had busi
ness up that way. No one wanted
to be frightened by a ghost, and
even the strong-minded who
claimed there were no such things
as ghosts saw no reason for going
near the mine. At last an eastern
er came to town, hunting for a
mine, and wandered up to the
Cherry Cow.
He liked the place. Although
Mike had always contended that
his ore had been a stray pocket, the
newcomer said he believed that he
could find a vein. He became so
enthusiastic that the stories of the
ghost merely amused him. "I'll lay
that ghost," he promised, "I'll take
the spell right off the Cherry Cow."
And so he bought the mine from
Bill Richards. He hired a small
crew of men to clean out the shaft
and unwater the sump.
But before long one of bis men
came to him. "The water's down a
foot," he told the easterner.
"There's something down there
the Mexicans won't go on mucking
out they're afraid to touch it."
"I'll go down myself and see. It's
that fool ghost, I suppose, that's
got them worried. Well, I don't
want any ghosts around here." And
he hurried to the shaft.
. . . They knew that It was
what remained of Mike because
they found his old-fashioned watch.
The burial was Informal and hasty,
for there were only bones and
shoes and a few shreds of clothing
left The Mexicans quit of course,
and it was some days before an
American crew could be hired.
Bill Richards went up alone and
said a Uttle prayer for Mike at
the grave. And the ghost never
haunted the Cherry Cow again. But
Mike was right the easterner nev
er found his vein, either.,