Quick to see his advantage, Mills sprang past them toward the woods, like a cat.
“Halt!” called the sheriff.
But Mills heeded not, and when the smoke which followed the bullet from Sheriff Smith’s revolver cleared, it was plain that Mills’s case would be tried in a higher court than Nootwyck.
CHAPTER XII
SIX years have passed by. It is March and we are here at The Laurels again.
Can this beautiful city with its population of ninety thousand be Nootwyck? Electric lights, street railways, stately residences, handsome public buildings and all modern conveniences. What magic wand wrought this change?
Foreign capital has flowed in, Old Ninety-Nine is still rich, and every Nootwyckian regards “Old Ninety-Nine” himself as the patron saint of the valley. The mine is worked on the co-operative plan and, thus far, results have justified the experiment.
Educational advantages are of the first order. Genung University, situated on the piece of land known as “The Pines,” is a model institution ranking with any in the State. The corps of instructors is composed of eminent men and women and every means is employed to keep the standing first class. Manufacturing is encouraged. Farmers find a ready market for produce, thus developing the magnificent agricultural interests; a railway center, Nootwyck’s prosperity is assured.
Mr. and Mrs. De Vere seem supremely happy. Jack, now the proud father of one little girl and three boys, is a prosperous ranchman, and his letters assure his mother that Dora is simply the best wife that ever a man had. And the children—!