Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-09-13


There had been slight furry of
snow the day previous, and drifting
particles of frost glinted in the early
morning sunshine like floating bits of
silver. The snow-caps on the mount
aims had been piling higher and high
err, and the leaden cloud-banks that
hung about the peaks gave promise of
another storm.
Old John Barnacle, grizzled and I'M
kempt, came out of the little dug-out
set in the side of the mountain, and,
after giving himself shake, glanced
at the sky and then at the distant
camp.
You'll hev ter work in the tunnel
to-day by yersolf, Bat; I'm bound ter
go to camp fer some terbacker. It's
alters my luck to git out o terbacker
when thar's storm in the air."
Bat Barnacle stopped in his work of
shoveling snow and looked anxiously
up at his father.
"Seems to me you're out O. ter
hacker most every day lately, papr'
he protested. "You got some on'y day
before yistiday."
The shadow of an emotion akin to
shame swept over John Barnacle' s
face. He drew his eyes away from
the searching gaze of his son and al
lowed them to wander hesitatingly
over the adjacent mountains
81 low l do go ter the Pint toe
often, Bat. thet's fac! But it's ter.
backy this time, shore. They was
most out day before yistiday, an
on'y got teenty piece. It's gone; an
Tn tibet restless this ,mornin 'thout II
thet ] don't b'leeve / c'u'd work, no
how"
"Thar's the feel O. blizzard in the
air. urged Bat, IAN I've beer
worryin' bout you ever sence we heert
O. them slides at Aspen. The caps OF
ole Badly heur looks powerful threat
enin' sence tibet las blizzard. Ef
sh'u'd come anorther'n like tibet wee
git it cert'in."
THAR won't be any storm till night
nohow!" replied the elder Barnacle
again surveying the leaden cloud
banks and the frosty sky. "i'll b,
homo fore then; an eft wants to bill
after / git back, why, let 1t biz.
reckon the biggest slide tibet ever sill,
couldn't hurt this dug-out,"
He whistled to the dog and wake,
rapidly down the trail, leaving Bat il
utter loneliness.
Bartholomew Barnacle or BAT" a
his father called him, was perhaps fiji
teen. 1t was difficult to Judge of hi
age, for hard work and anxiety hal
stunted his body while ageing his face
His father had come to Bald Mount
ain the spring before. Mounted on a
old, blind horse, with Bat perched be
hind him, he had set out intending I
cross the divide. Near the poiu
where the dug-out now chung, the hors
had slipped and fallen, dislodging
great quantity of earth in his efforts {
regain his feet and revealing yer
promising streak of "pay-dirt"
Barnacle went no further, but set hi
stakes and named it the Blind Hors
claim.
Its the first good luck I've he'd
fifteen years, Bat, he said, exultantl,
Fan the blind boss brung it to us. W
must take good keer of him."
But the old horse died in the cours
of a month and about the same tim
there came "slip" in the "pa
streak"
Barnacle started a tunnel. hoping |
strike it again further In the mountain
but the death of the horse weighed @
him. The old craving for liquor, whic
the excitement had for a time lulle,
came back in all its force, and the wor
dragged. The camp saw him moi
frequently than the claim, and the Ii
tie labor that was performed fell mali
ly on the stunted shoulders of his sol
Bat leaned the shovel against IL
front of the dug-out and sorrowfull
watched his father out of sight.
"It's a good thing mans deadl" |
said, rs tear trickled down his fac
It'd break her heart eff she knows
pap he'd commenced drinkiu' agi
Nobody kin hev any luck eff they har
round saloons 'sted o huntin' fer it