Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-01-08

uau any desire ter Try II over, Out u
kin be done. an it must be 10 this case.
Now. let US make this here knot firm
about you. So! that's comfortable.
Now you kin use both your hands an
keep from gittin' hurt by the rocks"
They swung him over the dizzy
height down. down. The rope swayed.
and Nat wondered II he would ever
reach the bottom, but he did. and.
obeying the commands of his compan-
ions. o o had the pleasure of witness
ing their safe but most dangerous
descent.
After all were down they made their
way to an opening in what appeared
the side of a solid wall.
Wonderful" said Nat. following
Sans lead.
Wen just sleep right here. to-
night. we're all played out. an to-
morrow we'll begin what's goin' to be
the most dangerous tramp we ever
had, likely we'll none Of US eyer see
daylight ag'in. One false step in
there. or some nest o. snakes or bears,
an it'll be all over with u.s."
III anything should happen" began
Nat. II mean il you or Jim should
get through and live to tell it. l wish
you'd see that my belt OF gold-dust is
sent home to my old father and
mother; it will maybe make them re-
member me kindly. and you can tell
them died b~ravely; it's been a year
next New Years day siuce l ran away
from home"
Kan away, did youp"
Yes. a lot of us young fellows were
shooting at targets, and lit was
lucky it did happen to be me-made q
target, accidentally. out of fathers
best horse. Il valuable animal. and one
that I loved myself"
oh! ho!" laughed Jim. that was q
nice target, indeed. What did the old
man sayP'
He said a number of things.r
owned Nat, the color rising to his
cheeks, land I'm sorry to say I IN.
swered back, and then | got my clothes
and came away. The last memory
of them l have was of the good din.
ner on the table, the big turkey in the
midst, and mother with her face buried
In her gingham apron. and father.
stern and pale. standing near, In grim
silence. II Uas too bad for me to kill
a horse worth two hundred dollars.
when there was a mortgage on the
dear old place that l should have
helped to pay-that's why | want this
little fortune to reach them-if posi-
ble."
The little ca y uO in the mountains
wa,cneu .ne .... come an. 60 ..4-
iously. How long. how long, they
kept saying. would it be before help
Gamer
There were but two and
some five youngsters among the few
miners. the women were brave. and
the children unconscious Of their dan
ger.
More than one. when given their
scant portion of food. set aside q frags
ment even of that for the little ones.
that they. 1t least, might not Be
hungry.
And the days came and went until
ten had passed; two were down with
fever. and all looked wan aud gaunt,
for even being half-starved was by no
means pleasant, and the worry that
was ever about them. the fearful
doubt, was as bad as the lack of food.
Nobody, as yet, volunteered to set out
to make the journey; all kept hoping
that they might hear from the first
party. but no word came. and the
four was almost gone, the weather
was severe. and the snow prevented
them from getting good fuel.
Well tear down m Of the sham
ties, that'll last awhile, and keep the
little folks warm"
So q house was torn down and d.
| vided. and two OF their most able
bodied men set out, hoping to meet
the returning party.
We will have something for to.
morrow" said the leader. q tender
hearted old man. and then il the good
Lord don't send us aid. l expect we'll
60 hungry awhile"
The situation wal frightful, and -
they counted up the days they knew
that another day would usher in the
New Year. and what = day it was to
| them!
Far away in another home an old
man and woman made ready for the
glad New Year. also. There was the
biggest and latest turkey in the whole
brood roasted, the incest OF pumpkin
pies baked. and yet the faces about
the board SO plentifully loaded were
sad ones.
Il keep hoping Nat will return"
said the mother. The did love my
pumpkin pies SO well. He'll surely
remember his old home now; he must
know how we want him back"
The father sighed. and just then
there came a knock upon the door. but
when opened it only revealed . very
tall and lank individual. who awk-
wardly entered. taking of his hat for
the real reason that the low doorway
would not admit him otherwise.
How do you doP' he said. bashful-
~.
Quite well. stranger" said the
farmer. have q seat, won't you, its
A. cold and blustery a New Years day
~ ever remember"
Yes" said the tall stranger. but
It's q good deal like last year. amt itp"
The mother turned her head. the old
man took of his spectacles and wiped
them carefully.