Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-07-19
A MINING STORY.

we must work, said lin Flynn, glanc-
ing at the piece of paper in his hand.
''Yes," replied Joe Bagley, with a
sleepy yawn, ''but let's go TO roost
now. Wo can't do anything more to-
night"
The men, eight in number, had been
sitting around campfire discussing
their prospects. The Eureka Mine orig
inally belonged TO q party of Eastern
capitalists, who, having worked it for a
short time and finding it did not ''pan
out" according to expectations, sold
their interests to men who had Just TAX
en- possession of tho property, which
they firmly believed would prove an
Ell Dorado. They wcrc poor in purse,
for they had invested their all in the
new venture, but were rich in hope and
courage.
at is q wcll-known fact" Flynn
would assert twenty times day, "that
the Eureka is on range with the IA
nous Empire, which yields $780, per
ton, and we are sure to strike the same
vein. Some day we will wake up to find
ourselves millionaircs. 1t is only ques-
ton of time"
The next morning seven OF the men,
who were the actual owners, began
work, leaving ST Reed, whom they
termed the silent partner, TO do the
chores about tie camp. Reed WAS pale
and thin, and had an anxious, expectant
look upon his face. lie seldom spoke TO
any one, which fact had gained for him
the soubriquet of Silent or ST Reed. He
was devotedly attached to Flynn. who
had befricnded him while in Sacra-
mento, and exhibited such sincere grief
when he heard of his intended departure
for tho mines that Flynn invited him to
join the party.
The miners worked like beavers, delv-
ing into the earth that each felt certain
held in her virgin bosom the gold which
would enrich them. They began their
labors ut the first streak of the dawn,
toiling increasingly through the entire
day, each dreaming his own dream of
future greatness. Weeks sped by; pan
after pan was washed, the contents cx-
amined, then thrown aside. But they
wero not disheartened. The gold was
there. Tho next blow OF the pick might
reveal it.
One evening after supper, Joe Bagley
said:
Flows the fodder, S.P Last another
week. ehp"
"No, hardly enough ior another
week.
''You must put us on low rations, then.
What dye say, boys?"
agreed" they answered in chorus.
The next day, when 81 gave each man
his portion, they lauGhingly declared
That Eix.,,, haH a.Ncof,,oI 4l,N En,17 q
share-which was true; for Reed had
robbed himself in order that his friend
should have his usual supply. albeit no
one suspected the bit of self-sacritice.
The week was stealing by and they had
not "struck it." The hearts of the
miners were growing heavy with dread.
Yet they dared not give vent to their
fears. Each felt that success depended
upon his individual courage, and no one
was willing to dampen the ardor of the
others by expressing doubts Of their ul-
innate triumph.
One day while seated on the ground
eating their midday meal, little girl
appeared before them.
'Holy thunder!' cried Flynn, spring
ing to his feet, "Where did you come
from?"
please, sir, I've been walking ever
so far Ma saw yer camp fire las night,
and told me how to git here. She could
not come herself, cause Freddie's sick.
Nav sit down? I'm awful tred.'
She glanced timidly at the men,
then at the empty pot in which the
dinner of beans and bacon had been
cooked.
"Where does your ma livc?" inquired
Bagley.
''She doesn't live nowhere. We're o.
huntin for pa"
"Did We expect to find i'm herep"
''No, sir, but we're hungry, and ms
thought you'd give us somethn' to eat. =
The men roared with laughter. Some
thing to at,when they had just dcvour
cd their last cut of bacon.
s.Not another mouthful boys. We
must give the chick what's left" sale
Bagley, scraping the remains of cacl
dinner into his own tin plate. "Here
little one, eat this, and when you've sat
isfied the cravins, We can tell us where
70 came from"
"Please, I'd rather take it TO Fred
de-" pleaded the child, "cause e'slit
tie and sick"
Eye amt bigger'n q pint of cider yer
self" laughed Baglcy. Eat it, an wei
give 70 some for the others"
The promise satisfied the child, VIII
quickly devoured the contents of TIT
dish.
''Been on low rations. too, Ircckon,
chuckled one of the men.
tolI ahnttt tnnthOr
Where is she, and whose trail Is sh
onp" said Flynn.
.She's way down there in an old 10,
house where nobody lives. We was 60
ing to Kiwanna camp, cause VIC hear
pa was there, but Freddie's too sick
and mas afraid he'll die; so If vel
please give me some whites I'll goback
cause she's alone"
"What'll VIC do, boys?" asked Bag
ley. 1--WE can't leave the critters there
some of us must go with the chick an
bring them here"
"Rced can be spared" flggested on
of the men.
"Bahr' interrupted Bn Simmer,
surly, ill-natured fellow; Reed, wit
his white face, that grows whittier ever
dav. II the woman saw him She
think death had come for the youngste
sure"
The men glanced toward 81, who Wa
now leaning against tree, apparent
oblivious of what was going on aroun
him, and evidently did not hear the vi
feeling remark.
"Look here, boys" remarked Flynn