The Forrest City times., 1894-06-22
A MINERS LUCK-PENNY.
The Romance of a Daughter of
 the Australian Mines.
1S-2

1872.
 It is Saturday night on an Austra- lian gold field. The bar of the Jolly Diggers" is crowded.
 News has gone abroad that Dog kellarey has broken out again, and as he always takes care to have his little bouts remembered crowd soon col lects.
 On this particular Saturday he has set himself to try conclusions with Kangaroo Jack" of the Midas claim It is a gorgeous struggle-even old "Wall-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 it's admira- tion in language fnll 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 majestys 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." It is curious, lum bering 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 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 fields and civilization twice weekly, and is always preternaturally thirsty. Custom, however, forbids his leaving 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 dne time he does descend, passengers, diggers, loafers and dogs escort him excitement is over
 On this occasion, however, it is des- tined to last longer: Dog" Kellarey, advancing, invites the driver to take refreshment.
 After complying with the request, that individual gets out to the vehicle, to return with bundle. Then, unwrap- ping the shawls he places on the table a baby girl. She cannot be more than two years old, and is fast asleep, her little head and it's pretty curls pillowed 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 i'll thick and fast: ''Whose is it?" "Where'd ve get the kiddy, matey% Whose youngster is it, Bill?' etc.
 Any other man would be bewildered not so Bill Burns. He says SLOWLY and solemnly, as if aware of his unique importance: For Dog Kellarey'
 ..What. shouts that gentleman, "that's lie. you Bill! Who says the kids for me?'
 II do!' replies the driver "Poll Waites of Wild Dog showed it aboard, aloud with its duds, for yer. The little 'un's father begged out on Saturday Flash Dick of Wild Dog creek IS last words was: Sen the kid 10 my old mate Dog" Kellarey; an so l fetched it along, and the passengers made up the fare among 'em, so there's $ nothin' to pay-there.
 "ole Dick begged outr' the Dog mumbles slow,y-"old Dick begged out an sent is kid to ine.'
 The crowd is so tickled with the idea that it ventures upon laugh.
 Tine laugh decides him, and, stepping