The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-03-30

half mile away. AT length, mot seeing
more, Of the frog, Pete conclu.
ded that he had killed him. He gave
him . parting curse, and, being now
wrought up to such pitch Of excitement
and nervousness that he could work no
more that afternoon, strobe away, put on
his coat, and went home.
The next morning he returned to his
claim and his work. He had washed out
several pans of dirt and was getting good
pay out Of them, when suddenly there
fell upon his ear the shrill cry Of,
''Struck it'll"
The first note sent thrill through
Pets's frame like tho sharp shock Of IN
electrical battery, then chill fell upon
his heart aud his hair almost rose on
end. His evil genius, rs he Tow firmly
believed the little green frog to be. was
still there, alive and Ut his old tricks.
He kicked ever the pan of dirt he had
dug and made rush for the reservoir,
the frog "plumping'' under the water at
his approach. Peto again went into the
reservoir with his long-handled shovel
and charged about at furious rate. but
he could see nothing Of the frog or any
thing that looked like it. Being deter.
mined to do for his tormentor this time
Pete went for his pan and began trying
to bail out the reservoir. Finding this
too great task he got pick, dug down
the embankment of dirt and rocks form.
ing the little dam, and eargerly watched,
with uplifted shovel, for the frog As the
water ran off. The water all ran out,
s,,% %ho E.on. v,,oc ~ uI,ora ~ Ia eoov,
Pete then waded out in the oozy bed
pond, digging and blowing about with
his shovel, but he failed to start the
little goblin frog. He then arrived at
the very reasonable conclusion that the
little imp had rushed out Of the reservoir
when it was opened. He cruised about
the spot for an hour or two, going down
the channel Of tho ravine, turning over
rocks and beating tufts Of grrss with his
shovel, but saw nothing Of the frog.
Thinking his evil genius had BEEN washed
down through the canyon into the Carson
river, Pete concluded to rebuild his dam
in order that he might have water ready
for use in the morning. This job done he
went home, feeling quite sure that he
had either killed or permanently oustcd
MS little enemy.
The next day he returned to his work.
Before starting in, however, he walked
around the reservoir several times, peer.
ing keenly into the water and kicking
every bunch Of grass about its margin.
The frog was nowhere to be sean or start.
ed.
Pete then went to his prospect hole
and began to dig, stopping occasionally to
cock nm eye toward the pond and to lis
ten for the freq. All promised well for
Pete. He had dug pan of dirt without
the hated interruption, and was on his
way to wash it out when -"Struck it -?
Struck it? :" was squeaked from the pond
by the goblin frog.
This was too much for Pete. The pan
dropped from his hands, his under jaw
fell, and he sank down upon the nearest
rock, where he sat and considered the
matter. AS he was wondering if it was
possible for him ever in any way to rid
himself Of the evil thing that had des-
troyed his luck, the frog again sang out
s'Struck it !! Struck itl''
MAY the divil burn yep cried Pete,
I haven't sthralck 1t, and what's more l
never will wid ye there. ye dirty little
blsckguard! Must I come afther ye
again, ye unclane haste Of the divil!
"Struck it!' said the frog.
I'VE think so - said Pete, and catching
up his pick he rushed to the reservoir,
and began digging down the embank-
ment.
Presently he paused in his work and
said: "It's Of no use. Haven't [ tried to
get him in all ways! No; when l get
the wather of he'll be gone. He's no
human frog! I'll jist let him how'd pos.
session and I'll hunt me smother place.
Divil the lick will I ever sthrikc here
again; its the divii's own child he is -
Pete began to gather up his clothes and
tools with the intention of vacating the
place, when he stopped and gazed visit.
fully at his prospecting hole. "a prom.
Using place it was. too, in the main," said
he. ':Now shall be tormented away by
= dirty little haste like you! No; I'll
give him warmin' yet and oil the likes
Of him. I'll pepper him tomorrow - So
saying, Pete put on his coat and sthruck
ward the pond IS he Departed.
The next morning Pete went up to
Johntown and borrowed shotgun he
then bought = quantity of powder and
shot and returned to his claim, saying, as
he strobe along; "I'll kill that frog if
it's among the possibilities -
On reaching his claim he crawled to. q
rock near the edge Of. the pond,
! and seating himself upon it. watched
for some hours, but the goblin frog was
neither to be seen or heard. -- :.
"Ho has run away" said Pete, ''but I'll
kill him if no is anywhere on tho face Of
the green earth T. ~ -:s. I
He then moved along down the canyon
and presently saw what seemed to be his
tormentor. He blazed away and stretch,
ed the creature dead on the margin Of
the rill. He was just beginning to re-.
joice over the victory he had gained when
up from the very spot jumped another
frog the very picture of that he had kill.
ed. Peter looked ct the new apparition
and then turned and gszed on the slAugh
tered animal to be sure that it was dead.
Finding it stretched lifeless on the ground
no went after the second frog. This was
finally slaughtered, ana he continued iii.
hunt down the canyon. All that day hi
hunted frogs, blazing away 1t everything
lthat moved i tho water, or looked 1t 81
like : froG. +s.5 .:.sss=s $e.s*.. i ..,
The next day he bought moro ammu
milton and again went on the warpath
along chs canyon, firing 50 I frequently
that some Of the miners above thought