Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-04-03
pearoea, a Gear, slnguIarly white com-
plexion, and an expression of more than

oearuea, a GEAR, slngularly white COM
plexion, and an expression of more than
ordinary refinement.
In q tone very different from that Of the
reckless humor he had at first assumed, he
said: II beg your pardon, but I lost my bal
ance in trying to get this COMPOUNDED boot
of, and, as you see, the wall between us
proved iimsy; and, as they say in tho play,
Here I amir"
N offense under the circumstances, I'm
sure" was my reply.
81 Thought these boots In the mines," said
he; paid two ounces for them, and they've
given me no end Of trouble. They object
seriously to going on in the morning, and
when once .on object as strongly to going of
at night"
This was Mr.. William Broener. He was
from the mines, and mining was his business.
We drifted into sociability that night. The
rent in the wall was not repaired next day,
and remaining open soon developed a certain
companionship between us. He seemed to
Hike my company; certainly he was attractive
to me. We went about much together, and
within the week our intercourse had grown
to something beyond that of a mere 'pass-
ing acquaintance"
There was much in Broener attractive to
men and women. Physically he was as finea
specimen of manhood as ever I laid eyes on.
He was generous, and had an easy manne Of
dashing into peoples companionship aud con-
fidence, which to me was both a source of nd
miration and irritation, since I lacked it en-
tirely. Broener seemed at home everywhere,
and on relatively familiar terms in any circle
to which five minutes previous he had been O
total stranger, while I writhed in the bonds
and letters of a certain awkwardness and re-
serve which at times seemed to compel me to
do and say the very things most calculated
V keep me outside that atmosphere of socia-
bility which I desired to enter and breathe.
.Ket this t6s6h extent constituted the bond
between myself and Broener. He, knowing
his power and keenly alive to It's recognition
and appreciation by Others, liked to nave
about him an admirer Nke myself, whom
in q sense The could take under his wing
and protection.
"Come with me to the Mines" he said, q
few days after our acquaintance had COM
menced. Give a bit of a claim left and
we'll work partners"
I assented. To 60 to the diggings, direct
ed and befriended by IN experienced and
| lucky miner, was an opportunity seldom
found in those days.
I lay more than usual stress on the phrase
"lucky miner" Gold, diggers were com
PEELED to believe in luck. Lucky men
| struck it rich wherever they went. These
were sometimes in. character the extremes
of recklessness and dissipation. No mat
ter. Their steps seemed directed, and where
they went they turned up ~gold-often to
be spent within a few hours. But the
spree over they went plodding, poking
about bar, fiat or c~revice, turning up more
Of the yellow metal in dust or chispus
while regular habits and sobriety worked
hard and could barely make both ends
meet. So marked were these phenomena
that the inquiry was not uncommon on the
part of those who had ventures to make
regarding the leading prospector: 'Is he a
lucky man!"