Mohave County miner., 1889-09-07
explained whore ne had found he prodlrsl,

explained where ne had found The Prodigal.
A hurried explanation showed that the
main bar had been washed out and loosen
ed the great bowider above the guich, which
in Its descent had smashed the rim rock and
bed seventy feet above where they had
been tunnclling. The excitement Of that
night was intense. With visions Of untold
wealth on one hand. and the Prodigal at
deaths door on the other, the men spent q
night that was remembered TO tho longest
day they llved. Just ut daybreak Jim
White awoko tho Count with d kick and
sent him of To the Snakes Ford for doc
tor. The Projigal remained Unconscious.
There was not particle OF color. Ia his face.
and II took tho united Efforts OF the three
to keep him warm. Then ho went into
delirlous fever; he reared and fought with
the desperation OF maniac, BY the time
the doctor arrived tho Colonel dropped on
the bed completely exhausted.
For TIVE weeks the Prodlgal recognized
no One. A Chinese nurse was imported.
The young physician staid by HIM night and
day. The first day OF tho sickness Jim White
took him one side and said in Voice husky
with emotion: "Dce, you stand By us.
Bring the lad aroand and your fortune Is
made. Why, he can't die. Damn il, man
he Is rich, and has got 10 go home and mar,
=; Annie
Tie Prodigal Mine was a success. New
placers were discovered along tho entire
length OF the guleh. Ia a few woeks ths
whole place was transformed A town
sprarg np. Miners fiocked to the guleh
Claim stakes could be seen at every avail
able point A gambling hall was opened.
A half dozen bars were soon In full blast.
License ran rio' Law was unknown.
Only ono restriction was imressd ON the
ungovernaple spirits Of Prodigsi, This,
tho cne law on the unwFitten statutes OF
the town, was set forth by Jim White In a
speech before the Little Innocent Sa-
loon" "ln conclusion, gentlemen he
said, ''let me add, the man after who IN this
claim u named, and who discovered the
placer that has mado this town what II In,
lies at the point Of death In yondcr shanty."
The Speakers voice trcmbied. tHe may
never get well, but while he lives be IL NO.
ing 70 have the best theee efe dlygings can
give Around that shanty want absolute
silence, and the man that don't take on his
cap when he passes that ere door, his got
| To- hight jim White" A r3uslug cheer
wound up the speech, and ali went 70 drink
tho health OF the prcdjgai.
The rode tsltalry OF the town exhausted
ltsel; in Its attention on the ProdlgaL
Rough miners We'd with one another In sit
ting up with him, and the shanty was trans
formed into bit Of the tropics by the
abundance Of flowers brought In every morn
ing by even the roughest freauehter Of
The Little Ihnocentn Yet skill and nurs-
ing had no effect The spark Of life had
been gradually dimmed by FIVE years OF toll,
hardships and broodiug. He fingered two
months. One morning Just as the first
| sounds OF life were heard In the new town,
the Prodlgal awoke from has long sleep. A
| look OF intelligence came into his big blue
| eyes, as they rested on the great manly face
| of the Cripple, The young doctor placed
his finger ON his lips TO enioin silence, but
the sick man needed II not He put out his
thin emaciated hand and graspei the
| strong palm of his watcher nOid man,
have been sick" The Cripple nodded. II
have not long to live" a sob escaped the
| lips Of the Cripple. "Don't feel so, old man;
was the claim sucoess." He continued
| going back 70 tho day he became uncon-
scious. The Cripple nodded again, and
placed his finger on his lips. A smile lit up
the sufferers mouth. "We are RICK then;
thank God Cripple give me your hand
| again. When die, bury me here on top Of
Little Mountain where can look down In.
TO the valley of the Sacramento and talk
--with--A.n.n-i-e.n He paused from sheer
exhaustion. The doctor gave him q
l ,.sxsk kNax, nj "A
| Cripple, and tell her died with her name
on my lips. Where-are-the-boysr" The
| Colonel, Jim White, the Count, and num-
Der Of the new miners stood by bis side.
''Good by. boys; you have been kind to me.
1 Don't forget the P-r-o-dig-a-L" A smile
passed over his face; the first rays Of the
morning sun shown asian, over the barren
tops OF Little Mountain, and bathed the face
Of the dying man In rich warm color. For
an instant, II seemed to bring new lease
Of life-then the struggle was over. His
gentle spirit had spanned the mountains,
desserts and valleys and was back among
the green Mills Of his home--bacK with
Annie.
A month later q letter was received in q
little Vermont hamlet. bearing the post
mark OF an outlandish California mining
town. With trembling fingers Is was
opened by gray.haired old man. 1t ran
as follows:
! PnoDIoAL, Cal, April I2, 1868.
Mn. JOHN PEARCE
| DEAR FRIEND Your son died April the
tenth. We buried him here as he wished.
He had the biggest funeral ever held In this
town and was buried by a regular Elder.
His last words were: "Tell Annie ! died
with her name on my lips" Enclosed, find
draft on Miners Bank, Of Sacramento. for
$4,000, 70 be divided between you and
Annie Tel Annie VIC all love her, and
have named new mine after her. II there
Is anything more we can 40, we are your
humble servants. Yours in sorrow,
WM. SPARROW, The Cripple. y
JIM WHITE,
| Col. IcnAgoD ANgs,
HENRY LoN6, "Thc Count