Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-02-28

Prot said good night and left us,
lookin cheerful. Old man German
asked mo all sorts of questions about
the size and dip of the ledge and tho
nature of the croppin's, and Kittio
sat by the table and was brighter and
chatter than I'd seen her in a
month. When told the old man I'd
located him III 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 wo said good
night all round, and 1 won't up to
the adobe feelin all toned up with
satisfaction ut tho style in which nv
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 tho 'SnowShoe,'
start i'll devolopin 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
was to put up for expenses. Things
went on almost too smooth for the
next month. The ledge opened up
very promisin. Kittie was moro
friendly every day, and, as for Prot,
he never turned up nowadays-any-
way when was round
Nov my folks back in MiSsouri'd
been writin on an average once every
six months for the last five years,
urgin me to como home and SEQ 'em
before they all died OFF, but I'd never
had no means TO go or any way to
| got any up to now. But when anoth-
or letter came about this time, still
naggin to como on, showed it to old
German, for he said I'd got to go,
and he'd lend mo tho money to go
with and look after things while l
was gone. Tie old man kept his
word. He did look after things, as
you II see, ma'am.
well, this was in April. 1 got
back and saw the folks, took little
general pasSear all round, and it was
way into August before fetched up
one evenin OH the stage at German s
again. AT the first glance, before /
got down, see thcre'd been some
considerable changes in the hotel
since I'd been gone The main build.
ind been repainted, 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 tho 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.
Il felt sort of sinkin at the heart
at all this, as though somethin bad
was goin to happen to me. wasn't
kept long in doubt, though, about
the state of things. hadn't been off
the stage five minutes when learn
ed it all. Quick as I'd left old man
German sold Prot all tho 'workin
capital rs starter. Then between
EN- they worked up a scheme to sell
mo out on a delinquent assessment.
Then they struck an English syndi-
cate and sold out the property Mt q
big figure. NeXt thing Kittie became
Mrs. Prot, old man German closed
out the hotel, and the three of EN-
lit out for no one knew where.
Well, ma, am. l won't dwell on
my teelin's or how expressed 'em
when l heard all this and found il
true, for that's neither here nol
there. 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 Two re-
ferrcd to so close on top of my pray
or when the 'SnowShoe' went waltZin
down the hill
This, think, ma am" conclud
ed CalkinS rs he rose and stirred VI
tho campfire, will illustrate my re
mark that while there 5 nothin pray.
er won't do if you're dead in earnest
and pray hard enough, at tho same
time it's just as true thatif you over.
load your prayer or pack q lot OF
truck on 1T that don't belong to the
load, or show temper while it's trav,
elm, it's just bound to go balky and
mako trouble for you. kansas
| City Times.