The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-11-11
BOLIVAR'S BURRO.

Camp Welcome, nesting in pict-
uresque valley in the heart of the
Rocky mountains, was one of the pret-
tiest little mining towns in the far
west.
Here lived Amos Liddie, youth
still. but one who knew as much about
mines and mining as many who boast
ed of being '49ers. He was bookeeper
and general assistant to his father,
who owned a controlling share in the
largest mine in the region-the Idaho
When Mr. Liddie was absent from
Camp Welcome the affairs of the mine
were left in the hands of Amos, who
was so trustworthy that there was
never fear that things would go
wrong under his management.
1t was during his fathers absence.
on one of his occasional visits to an
other mine in which he owned an in
terest. that Amos awoke one morning
to find himself in trouble.
Boiivar's burro had disappeared dur
ing the night, and Bolivar, was clamor-
ing for satisfaction.
Bolivar was big camp roustabout,
of character so violent that he de-
served the title of desperado; and his
burro was the most vicious donkey in
those parts. Together they made a
most thoroughgoing pair of nuisances.
The Idaho mine was situated far up
among the clouds on Little Cotton-
wood mountain. To reach it the
course was by. a shorse-tramway, a ia
miliar construction among the noun
tain mines. A steam railroad was i'm
practicable, owing to the steepness of
the mountain; and the tramway took
its place. Several burros- those COM
ical but useful little animals, which
look as if they were half jack-rabbits,
half mules, and which are natives to
the western ranges-were employed to
draw the light cars up the. mountain.
Bolivar made his living by hiring
his burro to the Idaho's manager for
use in this tramway. The living was
like the donkey pretty poor. perhaps
but still it was q living The burro
was standing joke among the miners,
and Bolivar,s devotion to it was in
proportion to his dependence upon it.
The animal was chronically troubled
with inertia to an amazing degree; it
was scrubby and fiea-bitten as well as
vicious, and altogether an extremely
poor apology for a creature with claims
to usefulness.
Mr.. Liddie used the donkey only
when circumstances made it necessary.
He would have bought it fright, but
Bolivar did not choose to sell, prefer
ring to hire it with the privilege of
haggling over the price of its service.
Naturally Bolivar had an unduly
high notion of the value of its labor.
and he never neglected an opportunity
to exhaust Mr.. Liddie's patience when
they came to settlement.
During the night mentioned this
burro had mysteriously disappeared
from among its fellows in the Liddie
stables, and, as was to be expected.
Bolivar was in a high state of excite
ment.
Somebody has stole thet beastr'
the big rough declared vehcmently.
II don't think So, answered Amos
calmly.
why don't you think soP''
.'Well.'' sale, the boy, sit's not worth
stealing. If ANYBODY but lunatic
were going to steal a burro he would
not take that animal"
Bolivar grated his teeth in rage.
Tibet thief showed he had good
sense when he took my Solomon" he
averred, stroking his straw-colored
beard dramatically. s'If he amt stole, u
he continued, where is hep He was
in your possession, an tharfore you're
responsible for 'im,n Bolivar exclaim.
ed. loudly. sAn' you can't pay me
any too soon. nuther!'
How muchp" asked Amos smiling
in anticipation of the reply.
Fifty dollars, eff a cent" said Boil
var. Then he went off into long ac-
count of Solomon's virtues.
Fifty cents would be nearer his
value" said Amos. .'and rather thar
pay you $50 l think we'd better lool
around little and see if Solomon can
be found"
Bolivar was forced to acquiesce il
this decision. though he was mani
festly impatient for the money ther
and there.
Where was the burro? Either his
hitch-strap had become united and he
had strayed away or else some one had
taken him.
The truth of the matter was some
one had taken him. and the some one
was Bolivar himself.
The willy rough, becoming trifit
more destitute than usual. had hit up
on the plan of stealing Solomon, Sc
creting him in the mountains. and
then holding the Liddies responsible
for his loss. The opportunity seemed
especially favorable when Mr.. Liddie
was away, for he hoped to frighter
Amos out of large sum.
That day Amos devoted all the tims
that he could spare from his regular
duties to searching for the missing
burro. Bolivar searched also, Oh
made pretense of doing SO.
But Solomon was not to be found.
Toward the close of the afternoon
Amos had occasion to go mp the tram
way to the mine, and having accom-
plished his errand was starting on hi:
return to the valley.
The mode of descent was not the
same as that of going up. The burros
that pulled the cars up were not need
ed in going down. and were sent bacl
to the valley by way of the Wahsatcf
canyon; while the cars were allowed
to shoot down the tramway by theil
own weight, restrained only by brakes
The tramway was extremely mar
row, and clung to the lodges and -crag:
sin what seemed-but only seem ed
svery insecure manner. The track was
covered nearly the whole way by !;
snow-shed, the roof of which inc lineC
at an angle with the mountains side,
and in the sides of which were hole!
that let in light and air.
Amos had gone down on the cars
many times, and understood thorough
ly how to handle them. He arranged
himself in a comfortable position ant
gently loosened the brakes.
The car was off with an easy roll
Far below in the picturesque valley
Amos saw a horseman who looked likt
baby on dog. The cabins of CAM
Welcome looked like play-houses. l
is long distance to the bottom.
In moment he was spinning along
the light car swinging around th'
sharp curves. and bits of white flash
ing past where the holes were cut fo
light. He deftly loosened or tightenet
the brakes as the grade rose or fell
and by this means went at stead,
rate of speed.
He was about halfway down, ant
was shooting along at swift rate
when. in patch of light from one o
the holes ahead. he saw, standing OF
the track-SolomOni