Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-16

Homestead law demanding a place oc
residence on each claim
Then. before they had got more
than fairly settled, the TranSconti-
mental Railway put in an appearance.
cutting their claims in twain. aud re-
mRerating their owners but Scantily
therefor.
No serious misfortune had over
taken MIR. Paltlow. however. but his
accustomed i'll luck manifested itself
enough to keep him in mind Of the fact
that man is of few days and full of
trouble.
The only cow possessed by the
partners choked to death on almost
the last of their turnips; the chinch
bugs made merry with their dis
couraged looking wheat, and a train on
the Iranscontinental so frightened the
team of horses that Blue and Partlow
owned jointly that they ran away with
borrowed moving machine and Mr..
Partlow, running the former and en-
dangering the life of the latter.
But all this was nothing more than
he expected, he said sighfully, and it
was therefore met with becoming
resignation by Mr.. partlow. But Mr..
Blue, less familiar with misfortune,
began to look with suspicion upon his
partner as a sort of modern aud de-
generate Jonah.
Shouldn't wonder,n commented
Mr.. Bits.
1t had been but lately that Partlow,
though feeling physically out of shape,
as he expressed it. had ridden to New
Chicago on an errand of no interest to
us, and while returning had become
weak, i'll, and delirous, and, as he
learned afterwards, had been found
wandering aimlessly about at con-
siderable distance from the way he
should have pursued. and faithfully
followed by his old horse.
Partlow had been taken in and
cared for by kind souls and was now
only just recovering from severe ILL
ness,
He was ready to prognostioate
more i'll luck for the future.
Prompted by what he had believed
a premonitiOn he had, before leaving
the double claim, given Mr.. Blue
laboriously executed document re-
sembling a power of attorney, giving
him authority over his claim during
his absence.
And now it would not surprise him
concluding he had felonously run
away with the racking horse, had in
dulged in some retaliatory measure.
He could not see how Blue could avoid
entertaining an uncomplimentary opin-
ion of him at the very least.
The claims air Jest over beyond
the timber thar he continued, "an'
wouldn' be surprised if''--
He f..rfhar fa..oI, III =, ~ xrvour
rupted by the appearance of a little
squad of horsemen who came galloping
towards them out of the timber just
ahead.
That's Ike i'm front. The rest air
strangers to me.'' he said, gloomily.
" Wonder what's m ?''
Ike, what''--he began, as the
horse reached the blackboard.
Shut up ~ broke in Mr.. Blue.
+" We've got surprise fer youl ~
Partlow doubled up little closer on
the seat of the blackboard. They
were half way through the timber be-
fore he spoke again.
Wonder what they're up top he
muttered to Bits. Maybe they're
goin' to hang me or sump'n! Say,
Ike, ! hain't done nuth'n', an D.
Shut up ~ broke in the gentleman
addressed.
Jest my reg'lar luck" sighed Part
low. But hain't done nuth'n' ~
As they emerged from the timber
he looked up to see the familiar OUT
lines of the shanty on the line between
the two claims.
Instead he, wide-eyed and open
mouthed, beheld newborn bustling,
booming Junction City, with its al
ready respectable showing Of houses
and tents.
There appeared activity everywhere
men hurrying hither and thither,
more shanties and tents springing up,
a building just rolling in on trucks, a
new depot rising skyward-in short,
the springing up of prairie " city,
"W'y-w'y-I-how-where''-
Mr.. Partlow threatened to collapse.
It's part nv the SURPRISE grinned
Ike Blue. You an me own half NV
the town. Morn thousand dollars
worth NV lots sold already. an more
a-goin' all the time. Prices risin'
every minute. Wen he rich men yet.
Ork, ole feller -
"I-my luck''-
HAS changed at last. I found out
where you was very soon after you
was taken sick, but as you want in
any great danger | reckoned on not
lettin' you know anything about this
till could spring it on you all at
once.1
ell can't believe itl, faltered
Partlow. "P'-
"Oh, it's all trne y
Rich-luck changed-I can't be-
lieve my senses - said Partlow.
slowly. ] reckon I'm losin' my mind
or sump'n' 70
He rose to step down from the buck
board, and he, weak from his recent
illness and the excitement, fell for
ward to the ground.
His arm is broken in two places,o
was the verdict of the doctor who had
arrived at the settlement in good time
to be called to the cabin whittier Part
low had been carried
The sufferer uttered what sounded
ike a sigh Of relief.
"'Things air all right yet - he said,
weakly. hain't losin' my mind.
after all. I'm still Oracle PaFtlow !''--
Tom p. Morgan in Philadelphia Sat
urday Nigbt.r