The Portland daily press., 1894-07-09
HIS LUCK PENNY.

1t is Saturday night on an Australian
goldfeld. The bar Of The jolly Diggers is
crowded.
News has gone abroad that Dog Kel-
larcy has broken out again. and as he al
ways takes care to have his little bouts re-
memborea a crowd soon collects.
On this particular Saturday he has set
himself to try conclusions with Kanga-
ZOO Jack Of the Midas claim. 1t is gor-
geous strllg3 lo-even old Wall Eyed Bill,
who is exacting in such n2attpss, is COM
PEELED to admit that. They fight anyhow
and everywhere, under tables and under
chairs, whilc the lamps fare, the dogs
bark, and tic 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 concus-
sion of the brain.
Then when Dog Kellarey counts his
broken fingers every one suddenly remem-
bers the unguGrded state of his tent and
vanishes into the darkness, not to reap
pear 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 occasion of great
Importance, and ranks even before new
finds or waTGens' decisions
About l / o'clock the coach creaks and
groaps up the street, to pull up before the
flaming lights Of the Jolly Diggers. 1t is
a curious, l3llGbcring old construction, rid
ing on leather springs and drawn by five
strong horseS--s sort of badly brought up
cross between an antique mourning coach
and dilapidated Indian ghari
The driver, to whom is intrusted the
lives and heressfters of the half dozen pas
sengers, travels tie 240 miles between the
goldflelds and civilization twice weekly
and is always Ereternaturally thirsty. Gus
tom, however, forl3ids his leaving the box
before he has seen his horses embarrassed
and led away and exchanged the usual
pleasantries with his own particular adj
mirerS. When in due time he does de-
scend, passengers, diggers, loafers and dogs
escort him into the hotel, and in half an
hour the excitement is over.
On this occasion, however, it is destined
to last longer Dog Kellarey, advanc-
ing, invites the driver to take refreshment.
After complying with the request that
individual gets out to the vehicle, to return
with a bundle. Then unwrapping the
shawls, he places on the table a baby girl.
She cannot be more than years old and
is fast asleep, her little head and it's pretty
curls piIlowed on one tiny arm.
Every one presses round to look with the
exception Of Dog Kellarey, who has no
curiosity in the matter of babies. Then
questions pour in thick and fast: Whose
is it?" "Whered ye get the kiddy, ma
tey?" 'Whose youngster is it, Bill?' etc.
Any other man would be bewildered-
not so Bill Burns. He says slowly and sol
EMMY, as if aware of his unique impor-
tance, For Dog Kellarey."
'What'' shouts that gentleman.
"That's lie, you Bill! Who says the
kids for me?''
IT do replies the driver. "Poll Waites
of Wild Dog showed it aboard along with
It's duds for yer The little un's father
pegged out on Saturday-'Flash Dick of
Wild Dog Greek. Is last words was, Sen
the kid to my old mate, Dog Kellarey,'
an so 1 fetched it along, an the passengers
made up the fare among 'e1n, SO THERE'S
nothile to pay--theren'
''Old Dick pegged out'' the Dog num-
bles slowly. odd Dick pegged out an sent
is kid to me-"
The crowd is SO tickled with the idea
that it ventures upon laugh.
The laugh decides him, and stepping up
alongside the sleeping child he sings out:
THE kids mine, an the man as laughs
agin 'er laughs agin me. Now let's see
i'm as is game to grin!'
He has evidently gone home, for no one
answers.
Sunday morning, and Dog Kellarey's
claim is the center of attraction. The lit
tie arrival of the previous night plays
about the tent door, The Dog, fearing
harm to her from his crowd of visitors,
carefully defines his boundary and threat
ems dire penalties on the head of any man
who crosses it.
News, ncws!-great and glorious news!
News which runs like wildfre through
the field, which flies from tent to tent
from the police cells on the hill to Dutch
Joe's across the fat, past the Eureka,
down to the day dawn-never stopping
until every one has heard it,
Dog kellaray's proverbial bad luck
has turned at last-he has bottomed on
the lead; the new claim has turned up
trumps with a vengeance"
1t is full OF gold-specks, specimens and
nuggets. Not nuggets as small as peas,
but large as teacups. Not here and there
but in big deep lead, fortune at every
drive of the pick.
The luck penny, who has been sleeping
in the shadow of the tent, watches and
shuckles at a piece of glittering mica In
his excitement the Dog sings out:
'BeTs, tits er as done it. There's the
lass that brought me luck!''
Three p. m. More excitement
A nugget weighing SO pounds! The
monster of the field, a wonder of the coun-
try and a fortune to it's Under.
Picks and shovels are thrown down, tho