Beadle's Dime Novels No. 309: Mountain Ned — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“ke FIND: 25 They searched, but the rocks gave them back no sign. They determined to find a sheltered camp and watch until One or the other managed to catch sight of the mysterious Flying Scout. But they waited three days and still no sign. Ou the fourth day Sno@griss and Jan went out together, leav- ing Ned in camp. He bad reasons of his own for wishing to Prosecute bis search alone that day. The two men, who had become fast friends, shouldered their pieces and marched away, while Ned sat on a log on the bank of a little stream, indolently kicking aside the earth with the toe of his mocca- Sin. As he did so a small fragment of dusky red metal ap- Deared upon the surface.” “ Hullo!’ cried Ned. “If that were anywhere else I should Call it a small nugget.” He picked up the fragment and scraped away the outer crust, and the dull gleam of ihe precious metal rewarded his Pains, “Whew! As Snodgrass says, this is a find. I'll bet mo- hey I’ve struck it rich, and if I have—” : “ Good-day !” ‘said a melodious voice at his elbow. “ You are Captain Campbell, I believe ?” : _ He whirled suddenly, dropping the nugget and car gy it ‘nto the earth with bis heel, and stood face to face ith Blaz- ing Star. She smiled sadly as she saw what disposal he made Of the gold. : _ “You need not take all that pains, Mr. Campbell,” she said, —™ pure English, “ No one can know better than I that there IS gold to be had for the digging in this mountain chain, vome here.” She took him to the edge of the stream, and thrusting her ‘aud into the clear water, took upa handful of sand. Spread- ng it out in her palm, he could see that nearly lialf the mass Was gold-dust ! | “ You are rich if you desire riches, Captain Campbell. As for me, all the wealth of the world is nothing to me since + ath doomed to pass my life here. I have been given to un- derstand that you pursue me with the idea that I am in dan- 8er from the man you call the Flying Scout.” ,. 2 saw him take you from the Indians, and that you. had fainted in bis arms.” : commiclbooks.conn