The state herald., 1892-04-08
THE GREAT CINCH.

Arizona was lonely enough. The
rocky walls shut out the morning sun
rays and the only trees In sight wero
somber evergreens and thickets OF
,haparal. Tho aspect OF the rugged
landscape was suggestive OF their
primitive inhabitants the Apache In.
iian and the grizzly bear.
Yet In this secluded spot there were
signs OF human life and activity In
the shape OF rude miners shack"
open in front with three sides formed
Of upright poles chinked with mud.
and roof Of overlapping splints. 1t
stood near large freshly dug hole In
tho canyon side.
Picketed by ropc tied to his fore
leg an aged burro was feeding on the
dry heritage OF the canyons bottom.
In the excavation In the mountain
side q raw-looking youth was working
very moderately using alternntively a
pick and shovel. A shock OF tow
hair ran wild beneath his hat brim.
and II stray tuft like a tassel appeared
through hole in tho crown. This
young follow was Joe Dobbs. late OF
Missouri and the object OF his labors
was TO develop Peg Log Crawford's
newly located mine Great Cinch. In
Bueno canyon In the Chiricahua
range.
This mine was at present In tho
stage of q hole In the ground with
prospects ahead but tho indications
OF mineral were good and had grown
better as the digging went on. A good
face had been cleared away against
the rock. and when the proprietor
now on "A trip TO town for supplies
should return, blasting was 10 begin.
Joe was not to share in tho profits OF
the mines Development He was
merely n shiftless boy picked up
dead broke at Camp Bowie and
taken along by Crawford for tho sake
OF his work and company at tho prico
Of his grub" and shadowy promise
Of wages II the mino turned out well.
The decrepit burro had boon turned
out TO die by his Mexican owner and
Joe had driven him to camp 'as u
starter for herd. he said.
Having repaired TO the shade OF the
shack" he cut some slices from the
small piece OF bacon for his use md
raked together tho embers OF tho
campfire.
There was no wood cut and before
setting out TO get some Joo sat down
TO rest His eye fell on the large vaiise
that Peg Log Crawford always kept
carefully locked and out OF tho way OF
harm. In tho hurry OF departure tho
miner had left the key in tho lock
and 1t occurred TO tho boy that IL
would be good time TO see what was
inside.
Joo turned the kcy and opened tho
sacred valise. 1t contained two pairs
oil cotton socks some specimens OF
ore. and a bulky package wrapped In
n scrap OF army blanket
Joe united tho cord tha, fastened
the parcel and unrolled tho covering
from wooden box that had once held
Malaga raisins Frying of the top OF
the box with his knife no saw that II
contained about two dozen OF what
looked like long, thick candles Had
tho youth been more thoughtful, and
known moro OF lotterS he would have
spelled out tho words 'dinumite dan
geruss written In blue chalk on tho
cover but ms II was that inscription
passed unhecdod with nil tho warning
OF risk 1t conveyed. He had heard
vaguely OF dynamite but knew moth.
ing OF how 1t appeared or should be
handled. Tho cylindrical objects bo.
fore him ho half thought might DO
some form OF candy
n don't SOC why old Peg Log should
be so mighty pcr,icklnr bout this out.
iit O. stuIf," he said 10 himself, as
picking up fake OF the substance
that had scaled from ono OF tho pieces
no put It in his mouth and tried II
with his tongue 1t had swoctish
taste and he set his teoth into II.
II Joe had applied his grinders with
the force and enthusiasm that he
would have shown In cracking hick-
orynut there might have boon n pre-
mature explosion and my story never
have been told; but no quickly discoy-
cred caustic property In the sub.
stance aud. not liking tho flavor spit
II out He put the box on nnt rock
that served MS u table. convinced that
he wanted nothing OF Its contents.
CHANGING to glance up tho mountain
side ho saw tho boughs shaking in n
scrub oak. At the back N tho camp
lcErcd ono OF those old stylo army
rlfcs chiefly formidable 10 tho ono
who fires thom. known MS tho Long
Toni" With moro animation than no
had shown nj any former ,lmo In tho
day. Jos seized tho ilre.arm and ex-
clnlmcdi
II sccs ycr and ycr my meat; hero
goes fur Drilled squirt for dinner :"
md started up tho mountain 10 secure
tho game.
Tho path which he must take 10
reach tho place whero ho had soon tho
squirrel was steep and roundabout
Whom. after hard scrambling over
rocks bo camo near tho place whore
he had seen the squirrel. that ovnsivo
rodent was not to DO found. hut
climbing higher and LOOKING beyond
tho summit, Of tho ridge Into n little
mountain park ho saw 10 tho wind.
ward among tho plno trees across tho
valley rod deer which caused him
10 abandon tho squirrel n, once.
Hits great mornin' fur critters
ns,ir ;" said joo TO himself In high glco.
Who'd n thunk that trinln' squir'l nd
lod up to door N thar may DO
sum,hIn' n hcap blrgcr'n ono deer n
waiiin' fur mo-"
There wns something N heap bigger
n waltln'." Crack. cinek. crack camc
tho sharp report Of several riiea OF
on his right, thcro was n singing Of
bullets about him. no close that ono
passed through his hat and thoro nrosc
hidcou- yelling outcfy, which mado
his flesh orocp mud for moment wonk-
onod him 50 much that ho nearly
,umblod from fright
Tho symptoms Of returning courage
- a