The Outdoor Girls in the Saddle; Or, The Girl Miner of Gold Run

or more of the cowboys at the ranch. Andy Rawlinson escorted them whenever he could, but his duties as fo

ess frequent as the girls became more inter

ndy, and the whole thing made them feel more than ev

l where the lucky miners came to spend their golden nuggets and the

girls cantered down the narrow, crooked wagon road called "Main Street." They read the

he drew rein and waited for her mother, who was riding more slowly with Mr. Nelson. The other girl

dear Peter Levine hails from. His checked suit and loud tie must

might see us and take it into his head to come out. And I don

antered on again. "I wish he would hurry a l

nt mines on the outskirts. They listened with lively interest while the young fellow explained to them

turb it," said Amy at this poin

e at it, that's all,"

ves. The two were in the midst of their work, the girl lifting and hauling with all the strength of a man, and they scarcely

n', Dan?" ask

n, with what seemed to the girls enforced cheerf

thing, luck-and gold," he went on to soliloquize. "Some young fellers they come out here, thinkin' they can get back to the girl at home in a couple o' years with their pockets plumb full o' nuggets, an' instead, they toil their lives away till their hair

Dan Higgins, his years of hope and work and his pr

sn't any chance of striking

t Dan was mighty lucky when he staked out his claim. He may find gold yet. But," he added, and the

ing through the town of Gold Run. It was not long before they became general favorites in this country where girls of their type were scarce, and the girls k

ty had caught Meggy looking longingly at Nigger as he was trying his best to get some nourishment from the

, Betty turned away abashed. She felt as though

and the girl's fondness for Betty became almost worship. She liked the

verent fingers. "It would be the first thing I would buy for myself if dad should strike it rich." Her tone was brave, but the eyes that so

musician there ahead of them. He seemed to be trying to help, but from where the gir

alled out a greeting, the Hermit of Gold Run rose

ry to help us because it seems to amuse him, but he really doesn't kn

at man," said Mollie, her forehead puckered into

said Betty lightly, and then turned to q

strange musician whose queer comings and goings ha

express her meaning. "He positively sneaked away from us this morning. It s

y dislike people and want to be left alone. That would account for

uldn't be able to play lik

was an ordinary herm

ranch, "I wish we could do something for Dan Higgins and Meggy. It's a shame for that splendid, loyal girl to have to spend al

" added Grace admiringly. "She kee

horses, you know, and I told her we'd have Andy Rawlinson pick her out a beauty from the corr

e she hadn't decent clothes to wear," said Molli

r father are proud, like most of the other people aro

t," mused Amy. "It would be dreadfu

As long as there are wild animals in the woods and Dan

will find gold, anyway,

rection of the house. They were on a rather narrow trail, so narrow, that they could not ride two abreast but were strung out in single file, India

l view it afforded them of the surrounding country. But that

man had told them. "Part of it is apt to fall

the blood in her veins. It seemed indeed to her terrified fancy as if the whole mountain were falling upon them. A great mass