The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-01
LUCK TO SILVER CAMP.

men who had lived Wild adventurous lives
on land and sea, the place was as quiet and
peaceful as though IL had been settled 10y u
community of Friends, whore the ties OF
brotherly love had usurped the dignity Of the
law and robbed it of half its glory, The
rough miners were an intensely practical SET
Of men, and il seemed as If they had all come
10 Silver Camp for the same purposc-tD re-
deem partly the wi!dnesS of their early career
by devoting time and attention to the art Of
money making. But the earth yielded up
her boarded treasures Of gold reluctantly, and
the stern discipline that she required from
those who would dig into her bowels Of
wealth nipped in the bud the sanguinc an
ticipations of many youthful dreamer and
hardened the already rough characters OF tue
frontier districts Ia the characteristic
words of Sandy Tip; "She amt got more
gold in her than she wants herself, | guess,
an she's bound ter mako us fight fur every
mite tibet We can squeeze out o her. How
sOmever, we amt greenhorns bout sich work ;
we've been thar a. lore"
The unlettered sage prophesied rightly
The grim, silent miners took up their work
each morning where they had left 1t the
night before, aud stubbornly swung pick and
spade through all sorts of weather from
morning until night, even though the return
for their work often amounted 10 less than
half dollar a day. At night time they
smoked their pipes with rs much satisfaction
as though they were the owners OF unlimited
wealth Over and above the discouraging
fact that they were faring poorly, every
miner had n vague, indefinite feeling that his
streak Of III luck would pass away in time
and PALMER days would come. This hope
was adroitly disguised in Sandy Tips favor
tie remark.
When the millennium for Silver Camp did
come it was first announced by a stranger.
A beardless miner had entered the camp one
bright May day, and, after purchasing sup
posed to be worked out mine for mere song,
he set resolutely TO work, repairing the
damages done to the mine by the last owner,
and then making preparations TO so on with
further excavations. The older inhabitants
OF the place shrugged their shoulders at the
innocence of the young 'un, but no word
Of advice was spoken to him, except the
laconic remark Of one OF the miners, who one
day met the stranger on his way to his hut:
Eye don't find much dust thar, dye-young
'unl faint likely that you will, nuther."
The stranger merely smiled softly at this
suggestion, which was intended as a kindly
act; but apparently no considered his wisdom
of more value than that Of the old miners
for, instead OF changing his position, he
seemed TO work all the harder in his mine.
From the first he was very reserved in his
actions and words, and he Sc dom associated
with the other members Of the camp unless
business demanded it. No one objected TO
tbi1 ~, urlx FOR np ba ,,Iaea
seemed 10 be, Leave alone, and to DO let
alone" About two weeks after the strangers
advent, the first excitement for years was
created by the announcement that gold had
been struck The news ran from mine to
mine like wild fire, and in half an hour all
the men were surrounding the lucky finder.
1t was the youthful looking, beardless
stranger, who stood in the center Of tho
group, and explained how he had made the
lucky stroke. A few doubted the genuine
ness of the gold at first, but several nuggets
were handed TO them to examine, the stranger
showing delightful ignorance rs to itsquality
and value which caused more than one
grizzly miner TO smile pityingly at the
flushed handsome face of the owner Of the
gold.
ITS the real stuff" muttered one burly,
red fianneled individual. slowly weighing the
nuggets in his hand AN yo can depend on
it, stranger, thar's plenty more where this
cum from. These yellow nuggets never go
alone"
"An' tibet mine o yers ought ter be wurth
anywhere from fifty tor one hundred thou
sand, clean cash" interposed second repre-
sentative Of Silver Camp
WHAT Fifty thousand dollarsr' ex-
claimed the beardless youth, his eyes show
ing his surprise as much az his words Then
all my misery and waiting arc rewarded at
last. Thank Godl But it is too good news
to believe Where can get half that price
for itl-who would give mo thirty thousand
dollars for itf
The stranger looked around upon the group
OF faces about him, and seemed to wait for
an answer.
"Well, stranger" remarked the first speak
er, after little pause, II don't want ter take
advantage OF yer ignorance. 'rain't my
natter TO be adoin' SIGH underhanded work.
But ef $30OOO is yer price, reckon my pard
an me will buy tibet claim OF ye. III tell 20
beforehand, though, tibet 20 can get double
tibet price If ye wait long enough; but Of
cash is any object ter ye, ys can hev it ter
night in as good gold as tibet ye dug out Of
yer mine. Eff lisa go jes' say the word, an
we'll walk up ter the cabin, an settle it afore
nightfall."
The face Of the stranger still wore doubt
ful expression but it soon cleared up as he
turned to the bidder for his gold mine and
said:
men, don't know much about these mat
ters, for have never followed the business for
any length Of time; but this gentleman's
offer is fair one, and l think will take it.
came here to make fortune so that could
marry-could go into business in the east"
The face Of the stranger flushed up quickly,
as he unwittingly revealed his secret, and y
knowing look passed across the countenances
Of the miners One or two whispers could
be heard about "a sweetheart in the case,'
"a rich father-in-lsw, an a poor son-iu-law."
Although not intended to reach the ears Of
the speaker these remarks were plainly audi
bic, and they merely served TO confuse the
young man more than ever. But moment
later he recovered himself, aud, turning to
the miner who had offered u buy his claim,
he said:
81 will accept your offer. ] need the cash,
and ! want 10 start for the east as soon ~
possible Keep out enough from the thirty
thousand to pay for your best horse. can
then start for home at once, where such a