The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-06-15
AMANDA'S PRIZE.

ng that time had made for himself a
reputation as one of the closest" men
in the neighborhood. He had a wife
in his younger days, so the older peo-
pie said, but she died n few years
after their marriage-of starvation,
some of them said. He was reputed
to be very sharp and there were few
who could beat old Jake out of any
thing. He now kept a housekeeper.
Amanda Gregg, whom he had picked
up and given a home in exchange for
her services, consisting mainly in pre-
pairing two meals a day. He
ate more than two meals a day, n in
the morning and one in the evening.
1t was said that he spent more money
on shaving than on meals. He once
bought a razor and tried to be his W
barber, with the result that he had
his upper lip plastered up for a week
or two. After that he always let the
village barber do the work, though not
perhaps without some deep thinking.
No one knew just how much he was
worth, but it was said it was not far
lEOJu Ulle pltO,UOO hlulh. Il a." 49,
expenses. He gathered his own ire
wood from the forests near by, oc-
casionally trapped some game in the
same forest and raised his vegetables
in a small garden in the rear of the
house. Thus day by day the Dill ~
fare at his table seldom varied. Ii he
could trap nothing he had no meat
that day. And the neighbors wondered
why Amanda Gregg stood this IL re-
manned with him for so many years
Poor thing, she knew no better, they
thought.
One raw autumn morning tId lake
started out to gather his fuel for the
day and made his way down the rofd,
crossing the creek and into the forest.
Gathering a twig here and there as ne
walked along, he soon thought he had
enough for the day and started toward
his house again. AS he trudged along
with his load he shivered and wondered
If it was going to be much colder dur
ing the coming winter thar it was
now. If so, he thought, Amanda Gregg
could just as well go to the forest for
the fuel as not. He was in the midst
of these thoughts when he reached the
ramshackle structure which served as
a bridge across the creek near his
home, and which he had himself built.
He IA about half way owe when
splash! Over he went into the water,
the bridge having given way. Tho
creek vas pretty deep at this point
and old Jake thought surely his last
moment had come. He yelled Justify
for help, however, and Oon saw his
~housekeeper appear on the shore, call
ing to him to hold on for a few mo-
ments. Hanging on to the supports OF
the bridge, consisting of a few sway
ing planks, he called to her "for Gods
sake save him" and "he would see
that she would be rewarded when he
reached Shore Amanda Gregg did
not tarry long before she had pulled
out of it's hiding place a leaky old boat,
and In q few minutes more she had
the old nan on shore again, with WIS.,
ions of a big reward in her mind.
Old Jake, however, did not mention
the matter until he had finished his
evening meal, when he retired to One
of the rooms upstairs and soon re-
turned with something in his closed
hand, which he held behind his back,
like n playful child. After "A great deal
of questioning as to what she would do
with the contents of his fist, he opened
it and exposed to her view-a silver
dollar!
"Now, Amanda" he said, you must
not spend your money on any woman's
fancy, but do as l tell you. Go to jag
| sons barber shop and buy a lottery
ticket. l have heard that several peo-
| pie in the village have already been
lucky. Just think Of it! Suppose you
should draw S15,000n'
Amanda had not a bit of faith in lot
%teries, but she promised she would do
as he wished. She knew it would be of
no use to try to contradict him then,
So the next day, while the old man was
again out gathering wood ne used the
boat this time), she made a trip to tbs
village and returned in time to be ii
advance of the old man. That evenins
he asked her what lumber she had
mo. 1894" she answered quickly. S.
quickly, indeed, that the old man looked
up with surprise, as Amanda was in
clined to drawl out her answers Blu
he thought nothing further of it, think
ing that she had her mind on the mum
Der all the time and that that made he
answer so quickly. He did not believe
much in lotteries himself and had new
err tried them, but when he gave Amau
da the money the thought came to hin
that here was the chance to test tn
stories of almost fabulous winnings be
ing circulated in the village. He woul,
lose nothing by it if she didn't get get
prize, now that he had parted with hi
dollar anyhow.
About a week later Jake Barnsb,
was seated in the only chair of whic'
the barber Shop in the village of b
could boast. While he was thuS seate
some one opened the door and aske
Jagson, the barber, who was at wor
on old Jake's face:
We'll, Jagson. what luck this time?
whats your number?' Questione
Jagson.
mo. 42,533."
Nothing answered JagsOn with
grin.
Old Jake had been doing in the chai
but he was wide awake now. He no
remembered that this was the day fo
announcing the prize winners. Wit
suppressed excitement he he asked ia.
son which numebr had won the capt.;
prize.
mo. 1884" answered the barbe,
Immediately adding, as old Jak
jumped in his chair: Look out; don
jump like that again; came neal Gu
ting you that time"
WHO got the prize, do YOU know :
asked old Jake.
t mo: it didn't come to this village"
At this answer old Jake's hopes fe
again, but rose with greater fervor :
he thought: Amanda couldn't hay
been mistaken: she never lies" IL