The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-06-15

Cried q witch-hazel rodp"
"NO," rather surprised.
"P'raps you've got . magnet"
"No. I did not suspect the presence
Of iron In this sandy SOIL" answered
Jetf.
The gfissts-headed old man drew 4
long breath.
..'There amt no teiiint what folks
will find" said he, plunging his spade
once more into the earth, SDigaway,
lads-dig for your lives. Moon sets 1t
eleven, and there amt no use WOrkin'
arter moonset."
I'VE might get lanterns" suggested
Jelf.
"Lanterns amt no good!" was the
brnsque reply.
When the moon disappeared behind
the hills, every man left Of work, and.
departed without much ceremony Of
adieu.
Jack made haste to pick up his tools.
"Well," said he, s'we've made pretty
considerable Roadway: but OF all peo-
pie l ever saw these men are the most
eccentric. One would think awell had
never been dug BEFORE"
During the day the neighbors hung
around the spot; staring; peeping; and
prying. as If they were all eyes and
tongues.
$50 ye've commenced to dig ehp"
said Il woman, in a saffron-yellow SUN
bonnet and a dyed cashmere cape,
what was going to the p~ost-ofice, and.
who stopped to watch Nanny in her
occupation of sowing aster-seeds under
the window.
eyes," said Nanny.
"'Twon't be no good" said the
woman. "Evcr SO many folks have
tried it afore. Iwish 1 'knowed how
many spadc-edges has been wornaway
on this plaguey soill"
And she went her way. dragging one
foot after tho Other with spiritless
perseverance.
"Haow We gettin' onp" said a brisk,
fat little female, who had been downto
the edge Of the water.
'Oh. nicely!!" said Nanny.
"Pity the moons so fur of the full"
said tho fat woman.
"Will that make any diffcrencet"
asked Nanny.
"All the difference in the world"
announced the obese female. "Ain't
no use diggin' without We dig by the
light of the MOON"
And she walked off.
At noon d gaurit old man stopped IS
he drove his wagon of jingling tfnware
past the gate.
"I've heern tell as we've took to dig
gin'," said he. 'tHow come We ever to
settle on that there ma'shy piece q
ground to dig in.n
.'My husband thought there were
favorable indications there" said
Nanny.
"No one ever tried that there spot
afore," said the gaunt old man. "hut
p'raps your man knows the countryP"
.No." said Nanny; mot at ALL"
ing with the dipper handle, "I'd a-dug
Bean! il would a-done his heart good to
see the s'ile turned up again. Ye
dunno Jimp He put up this house. It
was him sold it to Nathan Shorey-as
bargained it off to you folks. He's in
the asylum, Jim Bean is. Got to dig
gin, ye see, an couldn't stop; went to
his brain. Any tinware to-day or
crockery? Mop Well, I go by every
Thursday mornin', and so good-day
to vel"
At the dinner-table Nanny amused
her husband by IN account Of the num-
Der of odd enquiries which had been
lcvclled ut her during tho morning.
81 think the people here must be the
most curious and meddlesome in the
world" said she.
"But after ALL" said Jack, carving
the nice little chicken which, as Aunt
Prue complacently observed, twas
grown on their own premises" '.it 10
rather pleasant to find oneself the OBJ
iect Of such genuine interest"
At that moment the door few open,
and in hurried . red-faced perspiring
man, crying, "Shares!" rs he 1ung
his hat on one chair and himself into
another.
Sir" said Jack, rising in some con-
fusion, II have not the pleasure ofyour
acquaintance"
I'm the man that owns the East
Medder!" gasped the new conner
"t'other side o the stun wall where
ye're diggin'. And I say shares! Ye've
undermined my stun wall, and ! amt
a-gOin' to be left out in the cold! No,
By 5l lingo. I .in's-not II I know my
.But," reasoned Jack. "your hou..
is half a mile up the hill. II wouldn't
be possible to get sufficient headwsy
Ito-"
.soh, hang your headway!" said the
redfaced man. ''lf any mar digs undel
my stun wall, he's got to go shares
that's the long and the short Of It
Amt that the rule. Parson Glennl"-k
a small gcntlemanly-looking person,
who stood knocking at the door.
"What is all this about" imploring.
ly asked Mr.. Jclf. gentlemen, pray
sit down! Let us get at the bottom O
this mystery"
II have heard Of your undertaking
MI. Jclf," said the mild-voiced village
clergyman. bowling to the ladies.
almost every ono has, I should
think" groaned Jelf, cycling his carv
ing-knife with moody determination.
with the deepest chagrin, said th,
reverend gentleman.
'Eha" said Mr.. Jelf, opening wild
his eyes.
"And I have come hither. added th
clergyman. ito warn you Of tho o.
fate Of others who have yielded to thi
. most unhappy delusion, and entrea
!. you ere It be too late to desist. On
y poor wretch. who lived in this yer,
r 49, a. MN