The Bossier banner., 1894-08-02
"A MINERS LUCK-PENNY.
rhs Romance of a Daughter Of
the Australian Mines.
1872.

1872.
Itis Saturday night on an Austria
Ian gold field. The bar of the Jolly
Diccers" is crowded.
News has gone abroad that Dog"
Eellarey has broken out again, and as
he always takes care to have his little
bouts remembered a crowd soon col
lects.
On this particular Saturday he has
net himself to try conclusions with
kangaroo Jack" of the Midas claim.
1t is a gorgeous struggle-even old
"Wan-Eyed Bill" who is exacting in
such matters, is compelled to admit
that. They fight anyhow and every
where, under tables and under chairs
while the lamps flare, the dogs bark
and the crowd expresses its admira-
ton in language full Of picturesque
detail.
kangaroo Jack" tires after the
twenty-sixth round, and his friends
carry him to his tent minus one eye
and plus concussion of the brain.
Then, when Dog" Kellarey counts
his broken fingers, every one suddenly
remembers the unguarded state of his
tent and vanishes into the darkness,
not to reappear until the sound of the
coach horn is heard on Portugee hill.
The arrival of the weekly coach,
bearing her majesty's mails, is an oc-
casion of great Importance, and ranks
even before new finds or Warden's de-
cisions.
About eleven o'clock the coach
creaks and groans up the street, to
pull up before the flaming lights of
the "Jolly Diggers." 1t is curious.
numbering old construction, riding on
leather springs and drawn by five
strong horses-a sort Of badly brought
up cross between an antique mourn
Ing coach and a dilapidated Indian
ghari.
The driver, to whom is intrusted
the lives and hereafters of the half
dozen passengers, travels the two hun
dred and forty miles between the gold
neids and civilization twice weekly,
and is always preternaturally thirsty.
the box before he has seen his horses
unharnessed and led away and ex-
changed the usual pleasantries with
his own particular admirers. When in
aue time.he does descend, passengers,
alggers, loafers and dogs escort him
into the hotel and in half an hour the
excitement is over
H..
on this occasion, however, it is des-
uned to last longer; Dog" Kellarey,
advancing, invites the driver to take
refreshment.
After complying with the request,
saat Individual gets out to the vehicle,
'oreturn with bundle. Then, unwrap-
ping the shawls, he places on the table
oapy girl. She cannot be more than
.Mo years old, and is fast asleep, her
hstie head and its pretty curls pillowed
on one tiny arm.
Every one presses round to look,
WIN the exception of Dog" Kellarey,
ssno mas no curiosity in the matter of
paoles' Then questions pour in thick
ana last; Whose is it?" "Where'd
= get the kiddy, mateyf" Whose
soungster is it, Bill?" etc.
any other man would be bewildered
not 80 Bill Burns. He says slowly
auu soiemnly, as if aware of his unique
por1anee: ',, For Dog Kellarey!"
"a, "nat! shouts that gentleman,
mats lie, you Bill. Who says the
Kids for me?"
W. doF' replies the driver. Poll
al.es OF Wild Dog showed 1t aboard.
oau with its duds, for yer. The little
.E.s iatner pegged out on Saturday
.asn Dick of Wild Dog creek. is
a,s ,s' words was: Sen the kid to nv
sa. sla mate Dog" Kellarey;' an SO /
mss ,sened it along, and the passengers
no.h:' e up the fare among EN-, SO there's
nOtain to -therer'
o,u Dick pegged out!" the Dog
saoles sn, slowly-"oId Dick pegged out
= sent is kid to me.'
lha. as :. crowd is so tickled with the idea
~ ~ y ventures upon laugh.
- ue laugh decides him. and. stepping
s;ps- a'ongslde the sleeping child, he
ss ou.: The kids mine, an the
No A Is laughs agin' 'er laughs agin'
a.. es,.,. NOW let's see i'm as is game to
ona :. mas evidently gone home, for no
arev,s rev q, morning, and Dog" Kell-
Ths ,,. .lalm is the center of attraction.
nirb. ns.le arrival of the previous
.naa h. pays about his tent door. The
erosss iearing harm to her from his
bourseol y visitors, carefully defines his
lies 10y - and threatens dire penal
sroases Ii. Ass" ei any man who