The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-07-20

The Heavenly Snowshoe' and of
how quick this would all be knocked
in the head when Kittie and old man
German learned of my good luck. I
went into the saloon frs. where I
could generally count ON findin the
old man of an evenin, but they said
he was in the parlor with Prot and
Kittie takin in the music.
when l went in after knockin,
they all looked surprised and didn't
e very hearty, but 1 knew what
had come to me and what was COM
in to Prot and didn't mind, but
started in right away and told 'em
what I'd found, and opened up the
flour sack I'd brought my specimens
down in, and laid 'em all out on the
table under the light of the hangin
lamp, where they showed upricher'n
any specimens ever I see. They all
got round the table and admired
'em, and Kittie was very friendly,
and the old man German got very
much interested and excited over it
all, although he was generally pretty
cold blooded about most things.
There wasn't any more singin or
playin that e~venin, and pretty quick
Prot said good night and left us,
lookin cheerful. Old man German
asked me all sorts of questions about
the size and dip Of the ledge and the
nature of the croppin's, and Kittie
sat by the table and was brighter and
chatter than I'd seen her in a
month. When I told the old man I'd
located him in with me on the claim,
he was pleased all through, and we
arranged to meet next mornin and
talk up the best way of handlin the
property. Then at last we said good
night all round, and I went up to
the adobe feelin all toned up with
satisfaction at the style in which my
prayer was workin.
Next day old man German and
me had our talk out, and it was set
tied between us that we was to To-
cate extensions of the 'Snowshoe,'
start in developin and incorporate
the whole business right away, set
tin aside part of the stock for what
old man German called a 'workin
capital, and meantime the old man
vas to put up for expenses. Things
went on almost too smooth for the
next month. The ledge opened up
very promisin. Kittie was more
friendly every day, and, as for Prot,
he never turned up nowadays-any-
way when I was round.
"Now my folks back in Missouri'd
been writin on an average once every
six months for the last five years,
urgin me to come home and see 'em
before they all died off, but I'd never
had no means to go or any way to
get anyup to now But when anoth-
er letter came about this time, still
naggin to come on, I showed it to old
German, for he said I'd got to go,
and he'd lend me the money to 90
with and look after things while I
was gone. The old man kept his
word. He did look after things, as
you'll see, ma'am.
"Well, this was in April. l got
back and saw the folks, took a little
general passear all round, and it was
way into August before I fetched up
n evenin on the stage at Germans
again. At the first glance, before l
got down, l e there'd been some
considerable changes in the hotel
since I'd been gone. The main build
ind been reprinted, and there was
a complete new outfit of red settees
on the front porch. A strange man,
with the air of ownin the whole
plant, came out from the Office, and
there was no sign of old man Cor
man or Kittie standin in the front
door, as was usual when the stage
came in.
II felt a sort of sinkin at the heart
at all this, as though somethin bad
was goin to happen to me. I wasn't
kept long in doubt, though, about
the state of things. I hadn't been off
the stage five minutes when 1 learn
ed it all. Quick as I'd left old man
German sold Prot all the 'workin
capital as a starter. Then between
'em they worked up a scheme to sell
me out on a delinquent assessment.
Then they struck an English syndi-
cate and sold out the property at a
big figure. Next thing Kittie became
Mrs. Prot, old mar German closed
out the hotel, and the three of 'em
lit out for no one knew where.
"Well, ma'am, I won't dwell on
my feelin's OF how I expressed 'em
when I heard all this and found it
true, for that's neither here MOI
there. I could see, after I'd cooled
down and reflected, just how it all
came about. I'd 'hoodooed' every
thing up there on the summit by ask
ing for bad luck to strike Prot, and
by usin the pointed language I've re-
ferred to SO close on top of nay pray
er when the 'Snowshoe' went waltzin
down the hill.
"This, I think, ma'am," conclud-
ed Calkins as he rose and stirred up
the campfire, Twill illustrate my re-
mark that while there's nothin pray
er won't do if you're dead in earnest
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