West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-09-07
THE LuekY SHOT.

host of the Travellers Rest" az he as.
sisted me to take of my heavy riding
coat.
4" Very wet, indeed - i replied. "Pve
had my share of it during my thirty
miles ride to-day.
Mine host conducted me to room
with a CHEEKY fire burning in the CRATE.
and having been served with good hot
supper, and my fayorite glass Of good
hot brandy, began TO feel more com
Portable. drew my chair up to the
fire, encased my feet in pair of easy
slippers, and filled my pipe preparatory
TO quiet smoke, when / was disturbed
by the entranceof my host.
" Won't yon join the company in the
next room, sir? We have "A social club
held here twice week, and perhaps
they may amuse you during the even
ing"
"With pleasure" replied. So, tax.
ing my. glass and pipe, / followed my
landlord into large room, which was
almost filled with numerous company.
AT the moment of my entrance they
were listening with evident satisfaction
to a story told by one of their number.
My host briefly introduced me, and 7
took chair close to the story-teller, and
"Now, Mr.. White, you must begin
your story again, in honor of the gentle
man" So Mr.. White recommended.
You must know, gentlemen he
began, that the scene of my tale lies
in australia, just about the time of the
gold fever there"
The tones of the speakers voice
seemed familiar TO me, and / gave him
a searching look. What did / see =?
The lobe of his left ear was missing.
half started from my seat, upsetting
the glass of brandy by my elbow, and
startling the company generally.
beg pardon, gentlemen; a sudden
spasm--that is all !" stammered out.
" It is the same man." j soliloquized.
/ was supplied with fresh glass of
brandy, and Mr.. White resumed:
Well, was only young fellow at
the time, and had got bitten by the gold
fever, like many other people besides.
Every paper contained 7dazzlipgE ao.
counts of the riches to be found n-that
far-off land, so at last r matleSupA my
mind TO 20 and try my luck. When \
told Mary, she cried, and tried to dis
suade me, but IL was Of no use; was
determined and soon after left home
for London, where I entaned my name
on the books as a steerage passenger on
board the clipper-built liner, Austral-
asia"
"Mary was his sweetiearty inter.
posed my left-handineighbot. I NW.H
well remember the day we sailed.
The scene at the docks was very affect
ing. Husbands were parting from wives,
brothers from sisters, fathers from child
Ten, young fellows from their sweet
hearts, and j was not sorry when the
tug tOwed US out TO sea. We were a
motley company. There were repre-
sentatives of all classes-laborers, me-
chanics, brOken-dOwn lawyers, and stu
dents, clerks, and good sprinkling,
too, of the hangers-on about town, and
even a couple of Methodist ministers.
All were going TO try their. fortunes in
the Now EldoTado. We had very good
weather during our voyage, and suf-
fered but little from sea-sickness.
made many acquaintance, but there
was one man L took an aversion to. He
was called Mapping Bill. He was a
tall, broad-shouldered fellow, with n
great shock of red hair and a close
cropped beard a pair of small. ferret.
like eyes that seemed to vanish beneath
his shaggy eyebrows when any one adj
dressed him, and an expression that
showed him to be the reverse of a quiet
and respectable man.
In due time we arrived at Mel.
bourne. IL was then a mere collection
of wooden houses and hsstiiy.thrown-uu
shanties, and was peopled by representa-
tives from nearly all civilized nations
on the face Of the earth Twenty of ms
formed party, bought some tools. and
proceeded 10 the diggiugs on foot Ar
irving there, we bought claims, and set
to werk 10 unearth the long.talked of
gold Ny chum was steady-eoine fell
low, called Sandy Scotchman. We
dug a shaft, hauled up blythe gold.bear-
ing earth, and washed il in n Iar0e box
with plates full Of holes. The water
washed away the earth, leaving the gold
in the form Of nuggets and dust on the
plates. For n week or 80 we found little
or nothing, and my golden dreams be.
gan 20 wane. Then one morning Sandy
gave shout Of Joy, and, hastily. "a.
cending the shaft, ! saw in the cradle
several nuggets of purc gold. I was
half mad with delight and for the rest
OF the day ] worked with The energy of
two men. BEFORE niglitfall we had more
pan twenty ounces Of small nugget,
aad dust We stitched Il up in small
canvas bags, and hid IL for safety in the
MOOR ~ the tent We asrut - ttf. 80 t.