Patty Draws A Map

: The Gold Girl

That evening after supper, Patty sat upon her doorstep and watched the

slowly fading opalescent glow in which the daylight surrendered to

encroaching darkness. "How wonderful it all is, and how beautiful!"

she breathed. "The indomitable ruggedness of the hills--rough and

forbidding, but never ugly. Always beckoning, always challenging, yet

always repulsing. Guarding their secrets well. Their rock walls and

mighty preci ices frowning displeasure at the presumptuous meddling of

the intruder, and their valleys gaping in sardonic grins at the puny

attempts to wrest their secret from them. Always, the mountains mock,

even as they stimulate to greater effort with their wonderful air, and

soothe bitter disappointment with the soft caress of twilight's

after-glow. I love it--and yet, how I hate it all! I can't hold out

much longer. I'm like a general who has to withdraw his forces, not

because he is beaten, but because he has run short of ammunition. It

is August, and by the end of September I'll be done." She clenched her

fists until the nails dug into her palms. "But I'll come back," she

cried, defiantly. "I'll work--I'll find some way to earn some money,

and I'll come back year after year, if I have to, until I have

explored every single one of these mountains from the littlest

foothill to the top of the highest peak. And someday, I'll win!"



"Mr. Bethune is rich." She started. The thought flashed upon her

brain, vivid as whispered words. Involuntarily, she shuddered at the

memory of his burning eyes, the hot touch of his lips upon her

hand--her arm. She remembered the short, curt answers of the hard-eyed

Pierce. And the thinly veiled distrust of Bethune, voiced by Vil

Holland, Thompson, and the preacher whom he had affectionately

referred to as "The Bishop of All Outdoors." Could it be possible--was

it reasonable, that these were all so mean and contemptible of soul

that their words were actuated by jealousy of Bethune's success? Patty

thought not. Somehow, the characters did not fit the role. "If he'd

have explained their dislike upon the grounds of his Indian blood, it

might have carried the ring of truth--at least, it would have been

reasonable. But, jealousy--as Mr. Vil Holland would say, 'I don't grab

it.'"



She recalled the wolfish gleam that flashed into Bethune's eyes, and

the malicious hatred expressed in his insinuations and accusations

against these men. Could it be possible that her distrust of Vil

Holland was unfounded? But no, there was the repeated searching of her

cabin--and had not Lord Clendenning caught him in the act? There was

the trampled grass of the notch in the hills from which he was

accustomed to spy upon her. And the cut pack sack--somehow, she was

not so sure about that cut pack sack. But, anyway--there is the jug!

"I don't trust him!" she exclaimed, "and I don't trust Monk Bethune,

now. I'm glad I found him out before it was--too late. He's bad--I

could see the evil glitter in his eyes. And, how do I know that he

told the truth about Lord Clendenning and Vil Holland?" Darkness

settled upon the valley and Patty sought her bunk where, for a

restless hour, she tossed about thinking.



The following morning the girl paused, coffee pot in hand, in the act

of preparing breakfast, and listened. Distinct and clear above the

sound of sizzling bacon, floated the words of an old ballad:



Oh, ye'll tak' the high road, and I'll tak' the low road,

An' I'll be in Sco'lan' afore ye;



But, oh, my true love I'll never meet again,

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomon'.



Hastening to the open door she peered down the valley. The song

ceased, and presently from the cottonwood thicket emerged a horse and

rider. The rider wore a roll-brimmed hat and brilliant yellow chaps,

and he was mounted upon a fantastically spotted pinto. "It's--'The

Bishop of All Outdoors'," she smiled, as she returned to the stove.

"He certainly has a voice. I don't blame Mr. Thompson for being crazy

about him. Anybody that can sing like that! And he loves it, too."



A hearty "Good morning" brought her once more to the door.



"Just in time for breakfast," she smiled up into the eyes of the man

on the pinto.



"Breakfast! Bless you, I didn't stop for breakfast. I figured on

breakfasting with my friend, The Villain, over across the ridge."



"The Villain?"



"Vil Holland," laughed the man. "His name, I believe is, Villiers. I

shortened it to Villain, and the natives hereabouts have bobbed it

down to Vil. But he'll have to breakfast alone this morning, as

usual. I've changed my mind. You see, I share the proverbial weakness

of the clergy for a good meal. And against so charming a hostess, old

Vil hasn't a chance in the world." Dismounting, the Reverend Len

Christie removed his saddle and bridle and, with a resounding slap on

the flank turned the pinto loose. "Get along, old Paint, and lay in

some of this good grass!" he laughed as the pinto, cavorting like a

colt, galloped across the creek to join Patty's hobbled cayuse.



"My, that bacon smells good," he said, a moment later, as he stood in

the doorway and watched the girl turn the thin strips in the pan. "Do

let me furnish part of the breakfast," he cried, eagerly and began

swiftly to loosen from behind the cantle of his saddle a slender case,

from which he produced and fitted together a two-ounce rod. "I'll take

it right from your own dooryard in just about two jiffies." He affixed

a reel, threaded a cobweb line, and selected a fly. "Just save that

bacon fry for a few minutes and we'll have some speckled beauties in

the pan before you know it."



Pushing the frying pan to the back of the stove, Patty accompanied him

to the bank of the stream where she watched enthusiastically as, one

after another, he pulled four glistening trout from the water.



"That's enough," he said, as the fourth fish lay squirming upon the

grass. And in what seemed to the girl an incredibly short time, he had

them cleaned, washed, and ready for the pan. While she fried them he

busied himself with his outfit, wiping his rod and carefully returning

it to its case, and spreading his line to dry. And a few moments later

the two sat down to a breakfast of hot biscuits, coffee, bacon, and

trout, crisp and brown, smoking from the pan.



"You must have ridden nearly all night to have reached here so early,"

ventured the girl as she poured a cup of steaming coffee.



"No," laughed Christie, "I spent the night at the Wattses'. I had some

drawing paper and pencils for David Golieth. Do you know, I've a

notion to send that kid to school some place. He's wild about drawing.

Takes me all over the hills for a mile or two around the ranch and

shows me pictures he has drawn with charcoal wherever there is a piece

of flat rock. He's as shy and sensitive as a girl, until he begins to

talk about his drawing, then his big eyes fairly glow with enthusiasm

as he points out the good points of some of his creations, and the

defects of others. All of them, of course, are crude as the pictorial

efforts of the Indians, but it seems to me that here and there I can

see a flash of real genius."



"Wouldn't it be wonderful if he should become a famous artist!"

exclaimed the girl. "And wouldn't you feel proud of having discovered

him? And I guess lots of them do come from just as unpromising

parentage."



"It wouldn't be so remarkable," smiled the man. "Watts, himself is a

genius--for inventing excuses to rest."



"How is the sick man?" asked Patty. "The one you went to see, over on

Big Porcupine, wasn't it?"



"Yes, old man Samuelson. Fine old fellow--Samuelson. I sure hope he'll

pull through. Doc Mallory came while I was there, and he told me he's

got a good fighting chance. And a fighting chance is all that old

fellow asks--even against pneumonia. He's a man!"



"I wonder if there is anything I could do?" asked the girl.



Christie's face brightened. "Why, yes, if you would. It's a long ride

from here--thirty miles or so. There's nothing you could take them,

they're very well fixed--capital Chinese cook and all that. But I've

an idea that just the fact that you called would cheer them immensely.

They lost a daughter years ago who would be about your age, I think.

They've got a son, but he's up in Alaska, or some place where they

can't reach him. Decidedly I think it would do those old people a

world of good. You'll find Mrs. Samuelson different from----"





"Ma Watts?" interrupted Patty.



The man laughed, "Yes, from Ma Watts. Although she's a well meaning

soul. She's going over and 'stay a spell' with the Samuelsons, just as

soon as she can 'fix to go.' Mrs. Samuelson is a really superior old

lady, refined and lovable in every way. You'll like her immensely. I'm

sure. And I know she will enjoy you."



"Thank you," Patty bowed elaborately. "Poor thing, she must be

frightfully lonely."



"Yes. Of course, the neighbors do all they can. But neighbors are few

and far between. Vil Holland has been over a couple of times, and Jack

Pierce stopped work right in the middle of his upland haying to go to

town for some medicine. I tell you, Miss Sinclair, a person soon

learns who's who in the mountains."



Christie pushed back his chair. "I must be going. I hate to hurry off,

but I want to see Vil and caution him to have an eye on the old man's

stock--you see, there are some shady characters in the hills, and old

man Samuelson runs horses as well as cattle. It is very possible they

may decide to get busy while he is laid up.



"By the way, Miss Sinclair, may I ask if you are making satisfactory

headway in your own enterprise?"



Patty shook her head. "No. I'm afraid I'm making no headway at all.

Sometimes, I think--I'm afraid--" she stumbled for words.



"Is there anything in the world I can do to help you?" asked the man,

eagerly. "If there is, just mention it. I knew your father, and

admired him very much. I'm satisfied he made a strike, and I do hope

you can locate it."



The girl shook her head. "No, nothing, thank you," she answered and

then suddenly looked up, "That is--wait, maybe there is something----"



"Name it." Christie waited eagerly for her to speak.



"It just occurred to me--maybe you could help me--find a school."



"A school!"



"Yes, a school to teach. You see, I have used nearly all my money. By

the end of next month it will be gone, and I must get a job." The man

noticed that the girl was doing her best to meet the situation

bravely.



"Indeed I will help you!" he exclaimed. "In fact, I think I can right

now promise that whenever you get ready to accept it, there will be a

position waiting."



"Even if it is only a country school--just so I can make enough money

this winter to come back next summer."



"I couldn't think of letting a country school get you. We need you

right in town. You see, I happen to be president of the school board,

and if I were to let a perfectly good teacher get away, I'd deserve to

lose my job." Stepping to the door, he whistled shrilly, and a moment

later the piebald cayuse trotted to his side. When the horse stood

saddled and bridled, the man turned to Patty: "Oh, about the

Samuelsons--do you know how to get to Big Porcupine?"



Patty shook her head. "No, but I guess I can find it."



"Give me a pencil and a piece of paper, and I'll show you in a

minute." Leaning over the table, the man sketched rapidly upon the

paper. "We'll say this is the Watts ranch, and mark it R. That's our

starting point. Then you follow down the creek to the ford--here, at

F. Then, instead of following the trail, you turn due east, and follow

up a little creek about ten miles. This arrow pointing upward means up

the creek. When you come to a sharp pinnacle that divides your

valley--we'll mark that [^] so--you take the right hand branch, and

follow it to the divide. That leads, let's see, southeast--we'll mark

it S. E. 3 to D; it runs about three miles to the divide which you

cross. Then you follow down another creek four or five miles until it

empties into Big Porcupine, 4 E. to P., and from there it's easy. Just

turn up Porcupine, pass Jack Pierce's ranch, and about five miles

farther on you come to Samuelson's. Do you get it?"



Patty watched every move of the pencil, as she listened to the explanation.

And when, a few moments later, the big "Bishop of All Outdoors" crossed the

ford and rode out of sight up the coulee that led to the trampled notch in

the hills, she threw herself down at the table and with eyes big with

excitement, drew her father's map from its silk envelope and spread it out

beside Christie's roughly sketched one. "What a fool I am not to have

guessed that those letters must stand for the points of the compass!" she

cried. "It ought to be plain as day, now." Carefully, she read the

cabalistic line at the bottom of the map. "SC 1 S 1 1/2 E 1 S [up arrow] to

[union symbol] 2 W to a. to b. Stake L. C. [zigzag symbol] center." Her

brow drew into a puzzled frown "SC," she repeated. "S stands for south, but

what does SC mean? SW or SE would be southwest, or southeast, but SC--?"

She glanced at the other map. "Let's see, Mr. Christie's first letter is

R--that stands for Watts' Ranch. SC must represent daddy's starting point,

of course! But, SC? Let's see, South Corner--south corner of what? I wish

he'd put his letters right on the map like this one, instead of all in a

row at the bottom, then I might figure out what he was driving at. SC, SC,

SC, SC," she repeated over and over again, until the letters became a mere

jumble of meaningless sounds. "S must stand for South," she insisted, "and

C could stand for creek, or cave, only there are no caves around here that

I've seen, or camp--South Camp--that don't do me any good, I don't know

where any of his camps were. And he'd hardly say Creek, that would be too

indefinite. Let's see, C--cottonwood--south cottonwood--short cottonwood,

scarred cottonwood, well if I have to hunt these hills over for a short

cottonwood or a scarred cottonwood, when there are millions of both, I

might better keep on hunting for the crack in the rock wall."



For a long time she sat staring at the paper. "If I could only get the

starting point figured out, the rest would be easy. It says one mile

south, one and one half miles east, one mile south, then the arrowhead

pointing up, must mean up a creek or a mountain to something that

looks like an inverted horseshoe, then, two miles west to a. to b.

whatever a. and b. are. There are no letters on the map, then it says

to stake L. C.--L. C., is lode claim, at least, I know that much, and

it can be 1500 feet long along the vein, and 300 feet each way from

the center. But what does he mean by the wiggly looking mark before

the word center? I guess it isn't going to be quite as easy as it

looks," she concluded, "even when I know that the letters stand for

the points of the compass. If I could only figure out where to start

from I could find my way at least to the a. b. part--and that would be

something.



"Anyway, I know how to make a map, now, and that is just exactly what

I needed to know in order to set my trap for the prowler who is

continually searching this cabin. It's all ready but the map, and I

may as well finish up the job to-day as any time." From the pocket of

her shirt she drew a photograph and examined it critically. "It looks

a good deal like the close-up of one of daddy's," she said

approvingly, "and it certainly looks as if it might have been carried

for a year." Returning the picture to her pocket, she folded the

preacher's map with her father's and replaced them in the envelope,

then making her way to the coulee, extracted from the tin can two or

three of her father's ore samples. These, together with a light

miner's pick, she placed in an empty flour sack which she secured to

her saddle and struck out northwestward into the hills.



At the top of the first divide she stopped, carefully studied the back

trail, and producing paper and pencil made a rough sketch which she

marked 1 NW. She rode on, mapping her trail and adding letters and

figures to denote distance and direction.



Her continued scrutiny of the back trail satisfied her that she was

not followed. Two hours brought her to her journey's end, a rock wall

some seven miles from her cabin. Producing the photograph, she

verified the exact location, and with her pick, proceeded to stir up

the ground and loose rocks at the base of the ledge. For an hour she

worked steadily, then carefully replaced the dirt and small fragments,

taking care to leave the samples from her sack where they would appear

to have been tossed with the other fragments. Indicating the spot by a

dot on the photograph she rode back to her cabin and spent the entire

afternoon covering sheets of paper with trail maps, and letters, and

figures, in an endeavor to produce a sketch that would pass as a

prospector's hastily prepared field map. At last she produced several

that compared favorably with her father's and taking a blank leaf from

an old notebook she found in the pack sack, drew a very creditable

rough sketch.



"Now, for putting in the letters and figures," she said, as she held

the paper up for inspection. "Let's see, where would daddy have

started from? Watts's ranch, maybe, or he could have started from

here. This cabin was here then, and that would make it seem all the

more reasonable that I should have chosen this for my home. C stands

for cabin, or, let's see, what did they call this place. The sheep

camp, here goes SC--Why! SC--SC! That's the starting point on daddy's

map! And here I sat right in this chair and nearly went crazy trying

to figure out what SC meant! And, if it weren't so late, I'd start

right out now to find my mine! If it weren't for that a. b. part I

could ride right to it, and snap my fingers at the prowler. But, it

may take me a long time to blunder onto the meaning of these letters,

and anyway, I want to know 'who's who,' as Mr. Christie says." She

continued her work, and a half-hour later examined the result

critically. "SC 1 NW 1 N [up arrow] to [union symbol] 2 E to a. Stake L. C.

center at dot," she read, "and just to make it easier for him, I put

the a. down on the map." With a sigh of satisfaction the girl

carefully placed the new map and photograph in the silk envelope, and

placing the others in the pocket of her shirt, fastened it with a pin.

Whereupon, she gathered up all the practice sketches and burned them.



Glancing out of the window, she saw Microby Dandeline approaching the

cabin, her dejected old Indian pony, ears a-flop, placing one foot

before the other with the extreme deliberation that characterized his

every movement. Patty smiled as her eyes took in the details of the

grotesque figure; the old harness bridle with patched reins and one

blinder dangling, the faded gingham sunbonnet hanging at the back of

the girl's neck, held in place by the strings knotted tightly beneath

her chin, the misshapen calico dress caught over the saddle-horn in a

manner that exposed the girl's bare legs to the knees, and the thick

bare feet pressed uncomfortably into the chafing rope stirrups--truly,

a grotesque, and yet, Patty frowned--a pitiable figure, too. The pony

halted before the door, and Patty greeted the girl who scrambled

clumsily to the ground.



"Well, well, if it isn't Microby Dandeline! You haven't been to see me

lately. The last time you were here I was not at home."



"Hit wasn't me."



"What!" exclaimed Patty, remembering the barefoot track at the spring.



"I wasn't yere las' time."



Patty curbed a desire to laugh. The girl was deliberately lying--but

why? Was it because she feared displeasure at the invasion of the

cabin. Patty thought not, for such was the established custom of the

country. The girl did not look at her, but stood boring into the dirt

with her bare toe.



"Well, you're here now, anyway," smiled Patty. "Come on in and help me

get supper, and then we'll eat. You get the water, while I build the

fire."



When the girl returned from the spring, Patty tried again: "While I

was in town somebody came here and cooked a meal, and when they got

through they washed all the dishes and put them away so nicely I

thought sure it was you, and I was glad, because I like to have you

come and see me."



"Hit wasn't me," repeated the girl, stubbornly.



"I wonder who it could have been?"



"Mebbe hit was Mr. Christie. He was to our house las' night. He brung

Davy some pencils an' a lot o' papers fer to draw pitchers. Pa 'lowed

how Davy'd git to foolin' away his time on 'em, an' Mr. Christie says

how ef he learnt to drawer good, folks buys 'em, an' then Davy'll git

rich. Pa says, whut's folks gonna pay money fer pitchers they kin git

'em fer nothin'? But ef folks gits pitchers they does git rich, don't

they?"



"Why, yes----"



"You got pitchers, an' yo' rich."



Patty laughed. "I'm afraid I'm not very rich," she said.



"Will yo' give me a pitcher?"



"Why, yes." She glanced at the few prints that adorned the log wall,

trying to make up her mind which she would part with, and deciding

upon a mysterious moonlight-on-the-waves effect, lifted it from the

wall and placed it in the girl's hands.



Microby Dandeline stared at it without enthusiasm: "I want a took

one," she said, at length.



"A what?"



"A one tooken with that," she pointed at the camera that adorned the

top of the little cupboard.



"Oh," smiled Patty, "you want me to take your picture! All right, I'd

love to take your picture. You can get on Gee Dot, and I'll take you

both. But we'll have to wait till there is more light. The sun has

gone down and it's too dark this evening."



The girl shook her head, "Naw, I don't want none like that. That

hain't no good. I want one like yo' pa tookened of his mine. Then I'll

git rich too."



"So that's it," thought Patty, busying herself with the biscuit dough.

And instantly there flashed into her mind the words of Ma Watts, "Mr.

Bethune tellin' her how she'd git rich ef she could fin' a gol' mine,

an' how she could buy her fine clos' like yourn an' go to the city an'

live." And she remembered that the woman had said that all the time

she and Lord Clendenning had been wrangling over the eggs, Bethune and

Microby had "talked an' laughed, friendly as yo' please."



"How do you know my father took any pictures of his mine?" asked

Patty, cautiously.



"'Cause he did."



"What would you do with the picture if I gave it to you?"



"I'd git rich."



"How?"



"'Cause I would."



Patty whirled suddenly upon the girl and grasping her shoulder with a

doughy hand shook her smartly: "Who told you that? What do you mean?

Who are you trying to get that picture for? Come! Out with it!"



"Le' me go," whimpered the girl, frightened by the unexpected attack.



"Not 'til you tell me who told you about that picture. Come

on--speak!" The shaking continued.



"Hit--wu-wu-wus--V-V-Vil Hol-Holland!" she sniffled readily--all too

readily to be convincing, thought Patty, as she released her grip on

the girl's shoulder.



"Oh, it was Vil Holland, was it? And what does he want with it?"



"He--he--s-says h-how h-him an' m-me'd g-git r-r-rich!"



"Who told you to say it was Vil Holland?"



"Hit wus Vil Holland--an' that's whut I gotta say," she repeated,

between sobs. "An' now yo' mad--an'--an' Mr. Bethune he'll--he'll kill

me."



"Mr. Bethune? What has Mr. Bethune got to do with it?"



The girl leaped to her feet and faced Patty in a rage: "An' he'll kill

yo', too--an' I'll be glad! An' he says he's gonna By God git that

pitcher ef he's gotta kill yo', an' Vil Holland, an' everyone in these

damn hills--an' I'm glad of hit! I don't like yo' no more--an' pitcher

shows hain't as good as circusts--an' I don't like towns--an' I

hain't a-gonna wear no shoes an' stockin's--an' I'm a-gonna tell ma

yo' shuck me--an' she'll larrup yo' good--an' pa'll make yo' git out

o' ar sheep camp--an' I'm glad of hit!" She rushed from the cabin, and

mounting her pony, headed him down the creek, turning in the saddle

every few steps to make hateful mouths at the girl who stood watching

from the doorway.