Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1892-06-10


found up to this time. am satisfied
that | did it cheerfully and cordially,
and he must have seen that meant
what | said. He seemed to grow in
better humor then and protested that
he needed nothing and would not con-
sent to a division. He expected to
strike it rich himself some of these
days, he said. 1t was about three days
after that made another find 1t was
one that almost frightened me when
looked at it first, it seemed so impos'
sible so unreal | am satisfied it was
the largest nugget that has ever been
found ! could not believe the evi
dence of my own senses, and stood
there, holding it up and looking at 1t ID
dazed sort of way, until Jasper chilled
out:
"'Hello! But that's something worth
whilen
81 was pleased with my good for tune,
but after all didn't think of it and gr,
crazy over 1t as some men would I
had never slept sounder in my life than
! did that night, with my treasure under
my head. But at last, even in my
sound sleep, came an uneasy dream
that something was crawling under my
pillow, and after awhile | walked with
a start to find some one bending over
me and hand under my pillow,
stealthily feeling for my hard-won
treasures With cry for Jasper
sprang up and grappled with the
robber With an oath he pushed
n pistol against my breast and
fired. BY the flash 1 saw that it was
Jasper himself, and then all was dark
ness and l knew nothing. How long I
lay there unconscious | never knew.
When | woke was lying In a pool of
blood that had flowed till it could flow
no more, and had coagulated and final
ly dried. ! was utterly unable to stir,
The wound was giving me agony, and
was suffering the most intolerable
thirst. | saw nothing before me but to
lie there and die by inches, for was
sure that Jasper had fled and was all
alone In this solitude. 1t was daylight,
broad daylight. had been there
twelve hours at least-perhaps twenty.
four. And now, boys, began one of
the most horrible experiences Of my
life. have never been able to look
back on it without shudder. There
come times to some of us, you know,
when we grow old in little while.
That was one of the times.
81 was lying there, half d, ad and
wishing could die the other half,
when heard step. thought at first
perhaps it was Jasper, and | felt sure
he would finish killing me and that
would be good thing. Then !
wondered, idly, if it were some of the
boys who had wandered from the camp
below. And then, all at once, became
conscious that it was not a mans step
at all, but the step of some animal.
Around and around the house it went.
Whenever it passed the wall near
which | was lying it stopped and
shifted at the cracks. Everything was
so deathly still that could hear its
heavy breathing. And lay still while
around and around the cabin.
But after all, didn't have to wait sc
long. 1t merely seemed long because
there was such an agony of waiting
The door of the cabin was made OF
small poles, riveted together with
wooden pins. 1t had been drawn shut
but not fastened, Slowly it began tc
move. Something was pushing agains
it from the outside. Directly it gave way
and came open with a jerk, and in the
doorway appeared the head and shoul
ders of grizzly bear ] had made NJ
my mind to die, but not in that horribl,
fashion. The mere thought of it al
most made me swoon; but | did no
swoon. lay there instead, while tn,
bear, the largest one ! have ever seen
slowly drew itself into the cabin anC
walked about the floor, shifting her,
and there as it went, and mounting
upon its launches to drag down a piec,
of meat from shelf and quietly devou
it.
'It seemed an age before it notice,
; more tortures than ever went into
similar length of time before. But a
last it turned and came toward me, an,
closed my eyes. can scarcely tel
you about it. My heart almost stop
beating when think of it. That hug
muzzle, nosing over my face and neck
that hot breath on my check, the Who'll
ponderous form stepping over me an
smelling and nosing from the othe
S side. And at last came the suprem
! moment. He grasped my arm and wa
1 just starting to drag me to the dool
' when there arose the sound of voices
Y little way off. Never in all my fife ha
= | heard such blessed sounds. TIL
grizzly dropped his prey and rushed ou
S at the door. Twenty shots were fire
e into his body, and he fell in full sigh
+ of where lay.
I THE next moment they came pourfi
i in, the boys from the camp, and TIT
u were all about me, and was cryih
like baby and could not say wore
1t all came out then. Jasper had gon
, uOWH 10 INC Olu camp WIFI DoIn u
u pacl-mulcs, and had told them that til
o indications were fairly good up OF
I way, but that had taken the fever an
died, and he couldn't bear to stay
: When he went on, saying that he wa
:. off for Denver, the boys packed up az
u started for our camp. Just in time,
o they had come ten minutes later
: wouldn't be here to-day. had har
+ work pulling through as it was.
l Jasper? Oh, he was killed by
II Mexican before he got to Denver. III
Mexican disappeared and the nugge
+ with him, and no one knows where
is now. Denver (Col) Cor. St. Lou
: Globe Democrat.