Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-31
PARTLOW'S LUCK.

nOnicS OF Mr.. Jackson BlttS, late OF
BoomleSs New Chicago, rounded bed
in the timber road a moment after a
man mounted on a racking horse, en-
tered it from sideway which Joined
the main road a little beyond the bend.
The raclling of the eauestrian's steed
was kept from becoming monotonouS
by a tendency upon the part of the
racker to stumble at the slightest
provocation, and his rider, as he
weakly reversed the horse at the
sound of the buckboard's approach,
and came racking towards it, looked
as if persistence in that mode OF
travelling might speedily result in
shaking him to pieces.
He was thin and wan, as if from a
recent illness, and his mouth had a
discouraged droop at the corners.
He begged to share the blackboard
scat with Mr.. Bits, suppementing the
excuse that he was in danger of being
unable to long keep his joints together
if forced to continue the victim of the
rack.
"a feller," he said presently, with
a mournful tone that was almost a
sigh "a Teller must save himself all
he llin-'specially when luck's agin
him.
He had fastened the racker behind
the buckbCard and crawled onto the
scat with an Um-ah ~ of relief
The two men exchanged the civili-
tics of era sing the time O day" and
Mr.. Bits, having done all that cour-
,esy demanded of him, was ready to
resume the attack upon the chaotic
schemes with which he had been
wrestling before the appearance of the
other.
"When 1uck's agin him" his pas
senger repeated sighfully, "as it is
agin me -
i" reckon So" agreed Mr.. Bits, en-
couraging but littl - evident de-
sire of the other t, 'annlge in rem
iniScenCing.
Mr.. Jackson Biirr.~ Aete of New
Chicago, was Interested more in juno
ton City and the financial benefit he
expected to derive from the place than
in the woes of the man beside him.
He had approached New Chicago
six months before with the same
wrestling with schemes that now tore
him.
The boom at that settlement had
waxed and waned, and Mr.. Bits had
failed to enrich himself: but with the
ever springing hope that animates the
true boomer he was now on his way
70 Junction City filed with still
greater confidence than he had enter
tained upon approaching New Chicago.
1t was decided and announced that
the Dakota and Gulf Railway would
cross the Transc continental Railway at
certain point where there was not
little of natures handiwork to be seen.
The road-bed of the Transconti-
mental, a shanty on the line between
two homestead claims, an apology for
Il fence. another for stable-that was
about all there was to be seen.
This was at noon. A little later the
agents of the two railroads and one
of the proprictorS of the shanty on the
line between the claims were actively
at work with gang of men, and be-
fore 10 o'clock of the following day
the entire section had been staked off
in streets aud lots.
At noon the sale of lots began, and
before night many had been sold BY
sunset half dozen shanties had been
slapped up'' and Junction City began
to he.
nc TdDltllN Nlun NlllNh bHC news
Of the newborn boom travelled was
astonishing. The next day the build
ing of houses and the coming of in
habitants began in good earnest.
Shanties sprang up. Others came
on wheeled trucks from deserted
claims and more or less eXcuselesS
settlements. Tents were plentiful.
There appeared what out of courtesy
were called stores. There. too, was
a "hotel" the accommodations of
which were little short of awful. and
a saloon where was dispensed liquid
comfort mostly of the " BattleaN'
brand.
A day later the initial number of
the Junction City Pioneer was
sprung unon the settlement by an
enterprising gentleman who had pre-
viouslv founded the Sumrer Pioneer
and the New Paris Pioneer" There
were also many other evidences of the
daring and activity that a newborn
boom develops.
Bits passenger wriggled about on
the seat of the blackboard and sighed
again.
"Luck's ben agin me ever since [
kin remember" he ventured presently,
"Name's Partlow-Oracle artlow."
He paused to note the effect of this
announcement.
Mr.. Bits uttered an uh-huh'' Of
assent, and withdrew within his shell.
"Yep," continued Mr.. Partlow with