The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-03-03

cabin and notice her father standing
, 10 the doorway chatting with Mineral
Bob, the best prospector in camp and
the third owner with Stacy and my
self in the Ajax. turned my head
aud saw the lights in the shaft-house
of the Big Giant mine on Red Mount
ain cleaning away in the distance !;
heard the changing bellows of the
blacksmith at his forge as be sharpen
ed the tools for the mornings work,
aud the deep boom of the blast in the
Little Emily mine came floating
through the still night air. Then my
eyes wandered back to the cabin
witch held Nellie. Bob was still
there, bis tall figure and br lad shoul.
ders contrasting greatly with the lit
tie old man in the doorway What
was be doing there so long | thought,
and | puffed my pipe yiciously as |
saw Nellie moment later join the
two. The night settled down, and
the cabins faded from view, their
presence only revealed by the light
shining through the licLle square win
oows or the sparks streaming out of
the stone and mud chimneys. II was
getting cool, too, and | knocked the
ashes out of my pipe and re-entered
my little home and stirred up the
smouldering embers on the hearth
An hour went by and the moon sent
its beams across my little table, with
its tin plates and cups across nay
esrthen and rocky floor, touching
lightly my books on o shelf st the
head Of my bed and resting softly on
the rolled-up coat that served me for
a pillow. / turned on my stool and
glanced OUT of the window. The tops
of the surrounding timber were sill
vered by the moonlight, and the cab
ias stood cut against the dark back
ground of the tall spruces. The sound
of singing came up from the saloon
and the wind sighed iItully now ana
then And so | fell into q sombre
reverie, and Nellie was the centre
about which all nv thoughts reyolv-
ed. Presently there was knock at
my door, and at my invitation Min
eral Bob entered
Hello Philadelphia" be said, Il
kinder thought you wasn't in"
"Wby 2" | asked, rather sorry of
the interruption, though Bob was
good company and no ole could look
into his merry, blue eyes and pleas
ant face, covered all over with lux
uriant, rich brown beard without feel
ing better and less out of spirits
"0b, | sort of calculated you'd be
somewhere around the girl How's
your chances, partner Good, eh ?"
Come, come, Bob. and stop your
nonsense. Here, fill your pipe and
sit down"
Bob laughed good-humoredly and,
pulling up stool. sat down near the
FIRE, and as be filed bis pipe, said;
I've dropped in oa little busi-
meas, about the Sunshine. you know"
allnding to mine Of his and one Of
The best in the camp "Ycu know,
I'm obliged to sink-ain't got no
chance TO tunnel, and the derned sur
face water is getting the best Of me.
Must have pump, if j want to do
snything-this bsiling water out by
the bucketful when she's coming 10
near as fast is of no account. You
know that 2"
| nodded assent
"Well, then, Philadelphia" said
be, as be lighted his pipe and gave
two or three vigorous puts, Il want
10 see what kind of a dicker | can
make with you about running the
mine | amt got the money to get
al engine and pump, though guess
| could borrow it, aud besides I've
got to 60 East on business inside Of
week and | don't want TO leave tue
Sunshine idle--I can't sfford it,
why don't you sell her to old
Stacy said. He's got some ready
cash.
But he's going out shortly and
wants 10 sell his own mines"
Going out, Stacy ?" ] demanded,
wondering why Nellie had never al.
luded to it.
"Yes, going to take that gal of his
back TO the States This amt no fit
place for pretty little thing like she
is, you know"
Nellie going to leave camp. By
iove, that wouldn't do No, if she
lett, | would too. | shouldn't lose
her, now that | had all bat won her,
SO said:
al tell you, Bob, / don't know that
l shall stay much longer myself
Perhaps you would ike 70 make me
an offer for nv interest in the Ajax
and let me attend TO your business in
the East, if can would be very
glad TO-"
NO; much obliged partner; but
no one can do what I'm going out
for, except myself Same time. |
might be able to handle my own
property better if | had the Ajax, too,
seeing as how the two claims join
each other on the same vein. | won
der if old Stacy would sell out cheap
enough ?"
"Oh, / guess So" | said ''espe-
cially if be is at all anxious to get
away. Ill speak to him for youn
"He said the other day." continued
Bob, as though be were carefully
weighing the proposition, that bed
sell to me on time if could get
good man to go my security"
Would be take me, do you
think 2"
Take you? A great sight sooner
than any other man in camp"
"WeIl, then, Bob, you give me
mortgage Cd the mine, and if his fg- /.
ures are not too high I'll indorse your
note and turn you over my interest
beside. TIE mine is selid vet, !
guess. though | haven't been 70 IL /