Mohave County miner., 1889-09-07
riore than dozen times. For the last two

more than dozen times. For the iast two
days they had done nothing The Colonel
was ON strike. Even Jim White, the con.
trolling spirit Of the camp, could not keep
him at work Tue Count who originally
had been styled "Nocoant" cut down for
every day use. 70 Count did not have tha
nerve 10 Join boldly In a strike, but instead
complained Of lame leg, which he kept
carefully wrapt in q canvas shot. bag, and
which ismcness hc accented by spasmodic
limp Whenever thA thought occurred to
nim.
As work ceased the Prodigal became rn.
easy. Ho would spond hours up on Little
Mountain, or wander aimlessly about the
sluciees. He could not entertain the
thought Of breaking camp While he never
asserted himself, or even took part In the
discussions, the pleading look In his baby
ish blue eyes told only too plainly what his
feelings were.
On this particular afternoon II was rain.
ing-a cold, drizzling rain. For that reason
the Colonel had listeners, even II they were
unwilling ones, TO his nendacious war
stories. The rigors OF winter were giving
place TO a greenaess Of verdure that In any
other country would herald spring. But in
California IL stood for no such happy
dcnoucpent The month OF January had
given place to February. Tho snow under
tho spell Of the midday Sun had slipped
away down the mnny canyons, and had left
behind the harsh, sbra.ied lines VI d land.
scape that was a yes barely covered by the
tender grass. The misty glimpse OF this
picture through the dirty 2x3 window, the
chilling dampness Of the weather. the low
ness OF the larder, sli rohspired 10 depress
the spirits of the fve. Even Jim White
feand himself acquiesclne in the clamorous
wishes Of the Count and Colonel The
Cripple said he didn't care -, and went
on with his game, The Prodiga, alone stood
uncommitted by speech, Tho mine had
been named In his honor, and was tho basis
OF all hia hopes. Around 1t were gathered
The brightest dreams OF his life. For two
long years he had worked INCREASINGLY.
With every cleanup he had expected
that the next would send him home TO Annie.
His faith had never Jagged. HIS silent de
Termination had Kept up the spirits OF the
Others Lie was serious matter with him !;
he never laughed; he seldom smiled, and
paradoxical as 1t may seem he never hiss-
phemed, but on one eceasipa. and that was
one afternoon when Tho Count came running
and shouting into the shanty with painful
OF black sand and iron pyrites. the Prodieal
took one look at the shining spooks, jumped
into the air, knocked both feet together and
screamed: "Marrted, by Gcdr' although
the Colonel aiterwarA remarked, in dis.
cussiag the matter with Jim White, that IT
sounded more like a prayer than an oath.
So on account OF his paramount interest
the final decision as TO breaking up wa. left
10 him. The Colonel ceased his monoiogue,
and turned TO the Prodigal. .'Shaii We
vamose the ranch, old mani'' The Cripple
threw up his cards with disguised air.
jim White let the shovel slide from his
knees. All eyes were turned upon the
Prodigal lie glanced uneasily from one 10
another, blushed, picked up his hat and left
the camp. Gone to talk with Annie, said
the Colonel, with shrag OF his shoulders,
and all lapsed irte d despondent silence.
Two hoaIe PASSED. The Count with badly
Affected limp, put over the coffee pot, with
the remark, ''That's the last OF it.n jim
White went TO tho door and looked oat.
Raining yet; some one ought to look up
the Prodigal.n Another hour passed. The
Cripple knocked the ashes from his pipe,
TOOK his hat and started across the cheer.
less gulch and up the mountain.
When the Prodigai left the cabin, his life
seemed 70 have gone out from him. The
talk Of throwing up the claim on the one
hand had benumed him; enfeeblcd him. On
the other, II had awakened him from q
dream that had lasted uninterrupted for
tive years. Never for moment had he
doubted OF ultimate success. Not partial
success, but one grand and overwhelming
one that would give him Annie and home
AS he asccnded the mountains side, perhaps,
for the last time, his thoughts became In
coherent, fiighty. They went back 10 Yer.
mont He knew IL was winter there with
all its rigor. He knew the snow lay deep on
the rugged hills and narrow valleys OF his
New England state. He could see the low
old farm house, the ram -shackle barns, the
straw stack, the crumbling fences, all alike,
made beautiful by their mautle OF white
He pictured his father, his younger broth
ers and sisters happy around the glowing
arch-fire. A little later he knew he would
be remembered In their evening prayers
Then he thought Of Annie; Of their child
hood days of unalloycd csmpanionship and
innocent love. Her sweet girlish figure;
her timid delicate face; he. great confidins
blue eyes; her pure generous love, all passet
before his half-crazed vision. He pressed
his clamy hands TO his feverish brow, anc
half articulated sentence escaped him
"My God, am going crazy,' Gradually
from the chaotic mass OF his thoughts anC
hopes came full realization OF the problem
before him. With loving, almost caressins
glance, he gazed about him-on the raggec
seams OF the gulch beneath. filed with IL,
wild sonorous music-on the freshly borr
foliage, dropping under its burdens Of moist
ure-on the little cabin far below, Just visi
bic in the last shimering rays OF the sun
up at spow-crowned serrated folds Of th,
Nevada's, and then he looked above hin
for the great moss covered bowldcr, unde
whose shade he had spent so many hour
communing with his loved ones. His ey'
sought the familiar spot, bat found NJ
bowlder. He looked farther up. 1t wa
gone. Bat where, He took step. HI
paused. A gaping chasm was at his feet
! He dropped on his knees, regardless OF tn
pools of water that had collected in the fis
sures Of the rocks Far below he could dis
| tinguish q vast mass OF debris. He realizet
what had happened The bowider stoo'
but few rods back, and above the canyo
| in whose bed they had been yainly washin
for gold. The sapping action OF winter
rains and its own great weight had loosenc
the eravelly slope. causing landslide, com
| pletely obliterating all traces Of their fee
| bic efforts In the river below. Unbidden,
groan came to his lips, and the word bus,
ed" He fell fiat upon his body, his hea
hanging over the preclpice. An hour passed
The rain beat down on him unnoticed.
helped TO still the heightened beating c
his temples. Consciousness slowly return
cd His eyes opened Cleans Of lgt