Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-05-01

haid, but | do be think1n OF the poor
ould mother back across the wather.
What will become of her and of them
all, widout the money promised to
sind?''
1t was in vain they spoke of the big
nugget he had found, telling him he
should have it and do with it what he
pleased. He would hear of nothing of
the kind. That belonged to the men who
had put up their money for him. His
gold was still under the big bowlder,
where he had fired his last blast. He
had seen it once, and he would see it
again and get it.
The men who had backed Mike-haf
a dozen in number-ascertained the
address of his widowed mother from
men who had known him at home, and
selling the big nugget, which proved tc
be worth SO. 500, sent her check for
the amount
Mike shut himself up in his cabin
and was seldom seen outside of it DUR
ing the daylight hours. Men mining on
the canyon, however, reported that he
was in the habit of prowling about of
nights. They said they had frequently
seen light up at his claim very late
at night just at the spot where be had
demolished the big bowlder. Upon in
vestigation by friend, it was found
that Mike had got into his head that
the pile of gold he had seen had been
sunk deep into the ground by an evil
spirit. However, he would yet get it, as
one night each month at midnight-he
did not know what night-all the big
nuggets came up to their old nest under
the bowlder All he had to do to beat
the goblin that had lived under the big
rock was to be on the watch and shout
when the gold appeared, 'Mine, in the
name of the Blessed Virgin"
Though he wanted nothing to do with
any one, yet he was always peering out
at the chinks of his cabin. watching
those who passed by. When any one
came along the trail, he would pop his
head out at his door and utter his new
warcry of "Mine, in the name of the
Blessed Virgin" Seeing that the life
be was leading was making him worse.
his friends on the canyon tried to get
him out of his cabin, offering him big
wages to work in their claims. All was
useless, however, until one day man
happened to say he had big bowlder
in his diggings he wanted blasted out.
Instantly Mike pricked up his ears and
was all attention. He was ready to set
to work upon the bowlder at once
Being given trial, it was found that
he was able to work as we'll and intel
ligently as ever at drilling and blasting.
While engaged in that work he seemed
quite sane, but he could not be induced
to do anything in the mines except blast
bowlders For that business he seemed
to have perfect mania and could ac-
compiish nearly as much in a day as
two ordinary men. Battling with the
bowlders was seen to brighten him up
wonderfully, and he was given all the
work he could do in his favorite line
by the friendly miners up and down
Slug canyon.
One day after Mike had been for some
months waging a war Of determination
against the bowlders of Slug canyon his
friends up in Downieville had big sur-
prise All unheralded and unexpected,
the "Widdy Maroney, with raft of
tall and buyom daughters. landed in
their midst, fresh from the Gould sod. "
They had come to make their home in
America land look afther poor Moik. +"
Manageable girls being at that time in
great demand, the family were heartily
welcomed and well provided for at
once. 1t was then SO contrived that
Mike was suddenly brought into the
midst of the whole crowd without hint
being given him beforehand that his
mother and sisters were in the country
The surprise so shook him up mentally
that the balance wheel i'll his head at
once started up and moved along as
smoothly and regularly as ever.
Soon the family were comfortably set
He'd at Downieville, and Mike with
them. His last blast had not been SO
very disastrous after ALL 1t had not
only fetched the big bowlder, but had
also fetched all his people out to Amer
lea to a good home. and the raft Of
bouncing girls to where they all soon
captured good husbands, three among
whom had been Mikes hackers, and
helped pay for the powder exploded in
firing his "lasht blasht. Dan de
guile in San Francisco Examiner.