The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-01-28

1 hNA6tAA w tOllk oOAlO OlhuIOANtiIs VII
on the sly, while / was away at my Of
fee. She placed it on my finger when
saying good-by on board the ship.
Twas the product of her own loving
labor and I'd give the last ounce of dust
I've got in the world to have it back
again"
Three weeks had passed away since
o'Brien's mishap. Sunday had come
again. 1t was to be his last on the Dig
gings He intended TO start on his six
days trip to Melbourne, so as to be
ready for the sailing of his ship.
Many of us had been occupied for
hours in writing letters TO send home
! by him, and in the afternoon, feeling
the need of little recreation, we went
out to indulge in the harmless amuse-
ment of throwing the boomerang, that
same mplement-the only one in camp
which had caused O'Brien's trouble
and the sight of which he had of late
so detested
On this occasion, however, wt.ther
moved by a spirit of good fellowship,
or realizing the unworthiness of his
aversion, do not lInow.-he came out
to witness the sport.
We were on the same ground on
which the blaclSfellows' competition
had taken place, and as it was now the
middle of the Australian summer, the
soil had become very dry, and by con-
stant tramping of many feet was deep
in dust.
This particular boomerang was a
prettily finished weapon, two feet seven
inches long and about eleven ounces in
weight
Some of us had become quite expert
in its use, and now, as we threw one
after another, several good shots were
made, though no one had as yet sue
ceeded in hitting the target, blue
flannel jumper (blouse) hung on
stake behind the starting crease. But
at last young fellow named Wells,
came within eighteen inches of it and
was declared the winner. O'Brien was
getting interested
"Pooh!' said he, 81 can beat that my
self"
Try u throw or two, Dick" shouted
a dozen pleased diggers, and he stepped
up to the mark, boomerang in hand,
But, either owing to lack of practice or
because of his reduced strength, the
missile, on leaving his grasp, did not
take its usual bold fight, but fell to the
earth some twenty-five yards in front
of him. l, happening to be nearest,
ran to pick it up for another trial. 1t
had fallen directly on an old cart truck
and was nearly buried in dust.
put the toe of my boot under it, in
tending merely to flirt it out, but
kicked rather hard and sent it three
yards away, where it alighted on q
sun-killed shrub.
On STOPPING to recoverit, the familiar
glitter of gold met my eye. With
scarcely hope / bent still low
er. Yes, twas no Illusion; for there
snugly nestled in.the heart of the with
cred bush and upheld by interlacing
twigs, lay the lost ring!
We were accustomed to surprises in
those days, hence l was able to sup
press the Jubilant yell which almost
rose to my lips, The much-berated
boomerang had nobly redeemed itself.
With it in one hBnd and the golden
circlet in the other / sauntered care
lessly back to O Brien. He was prepar-
ing for u fresh cast, when 1 said: Hold
on, Dick. Maybe you'll make a better
throw with this on your finger" and I
held out the ring. Then regretted my
abruptness. Poor Dick gave one glance
with amazed, wide-open eyes, turned
white, reeled for an instant to and fro
and, with an inarticulate cry, sank in
heap to the ground.
But there on my outstretched palm
still shone the priceless ring! Twas
no cheat, beguiling his overwrought
senses Now it lay in his own grasp,
tangible, real, untarnished! Carefully
he scanned the inscription, as if, per-
chance, some mocking demon might
have assumed its outward form. All
doubt was gone, and in another mo-
ment the precious token had found its
old resting place.
Then the overjoyed fellow shouted
and laughed and cried, hugged half q
dozen of us in turn, fondled the lucky
boomerang and otherwise disported