Show 'Z5± STUDENT LII'l Claire Belmont's interest was deeply centered Xot at first in the mine itself nor in tile western character before her lint in that mysterious romantic something that always arouses and maintains human interest The transparent character or a twice-tol- d camp yarn may be affecting but that individual whose life’s tunnelling requires the work of years or the gold “iloat” we find in the quartz country reach down fascination deep to the world-ol- d of chance and mystery She was interested in the discovery of that mine— the property that had developed from a haunted prospect to a bonanza whose hoists never stopped and whose three hundred stamps dropped on quartz trammed from a mystic mineral vein — the Blue Bucket mine Jack himself had heard the story but once— his father told him just before he died It was not secret neither was it generally known Jack was now urged entreated to “tramp the old trails o’er” Claire asked him Hcw could mortal man resist ? “Well I’ll tell you finite — you don’t care i I call von Claire do you?” said Jack as he swung over a knot in the log “Tvas awav back in the Californey ’50’s The claims at the head o’ Sierra wus payin’ three ounces to til’ man sho- -ell in in Bill Sanford and Bob Bell wus two young fellers that had a claim there Thev alius made fine cleanups But when the news come that they hed struck it rich on Aider Gulch Montana they got the - er mighty fever and got it d bad It’s blasted queer” continued Dalton fumbling in his blue shin for a match “that a man's nevea satisfied He wouldn’t set stakes on a mountain of solid gold if he wus told that they wus better pay on another range” Dalton’s expression was natural language developed force through its simplicity The mountains the forests and the wild had He was a child ot been his books the west His great strong physique and masculine character had developed a heroic personality Xever before had Claire Belmont recognized these splendid faculties She pictured the man in university halls and thrilled beneath the portrayal “They had a mighty rough trp acrost this mountain country in that airly day” continued the narrator with much feeling “still a man would drive to hell through solid rock if he thought they would be But as I gold on th’ other side wus goin’ to say the boys started with luck against ’em : wrong moon p’raps Their trail led ’em Bob didn’t know too fur north where thev wus and Jim wusn’t sure But they wusn’t lost — no sir a western man never is One night Sanford noticed the north star or his compass wusn’t square with the world' Then they cut east fur the Saw Tooth Range” “Bill Sanford and Bob Bell went through this yer canyon pass” explained Dalton with a sweep of his hand “and on the way up they 1 1 is |