The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-07-16
HER FIRST HUSBAND,

We're at the end of our string,
that's sure enough"
But to sell for such a ridiculous sum
as 81, 600 down! We have sunk three
times that much apiece, besides all
hard work"
Tough, friend, but it strikes me it
would be tougher to tramp back to the
States. Nobody but a greenhorn would
give a thousand for that hole in the
ground as it stands. We've got to close
with him, that's all of it, and, for my
part, I'm done with mines and mining.
I'll strike back for the old farm as O o
al I get $500 safe in my pocket"
"We've concluded to take you up"
said Homer Craft, the bigger and bluff
or Of the two men, when it came to the
final transactions, but I feel it in my
bones that we are doing a mighty fool
ish thing. If l hadn't agreed with Will
lard here not to hold out beyond this
date, I'd 60 back on the bargain now. l
was a fool not to stand out in black and
white for a couple Of thousand more in
case you strike it rich before our tracks
are cold"
This was only intended to keep the
newcomer up to the mark, as Willard
very we'll knew, but the buyers sympa-
thy was touched, and he answered ear
neStly:
II give you my word, gentlemen, in
a case like that l should offer a bonus
in proportion to the value of your work
In the mine. AS it is, l am putting
every dollar l a command into this
venture, and if my luck runs as yours
did I'll be worse off than you are, as l
have a wife down in Denver depending
on me-"
1t was late in the day when the trans
fer was made, but the new proprietor
pulled off his coat and went to work as
soon as his predecessors left the mine.
He tamped in the charge of giant
powder and set it of, working awk.
wardly, as n unused to such labor,
and undoubtedly he failed to step back
to a safe distance, for the exploding
blast caught him and killed him in
stantly.
The two miners, packing their few
belongings in the little cabin near the
tunnel, heard the reverberation and
looked at each other.
IF he don't strike q lead, it won't
be because he's stingy of powder" said
Craft dryly. Come along, Willard,
let's see what the fool has DONE"
There was q moment Of blank dismay
when they saw what had occurred.
Then Craft swooped down to grope
among the broken ore, while he turned
an excited face toward his companion.
Look here, Willard! Look here! It's
the lead! the lead! l say, it's a lucky
matter that no one in the camp knows
we made the transient
"Why?' asked Willard, with dry
and trembling lips.
Because We'll just %retransfer it,
that's why. Here is the deed in his
pocket. 1t is no robbery to take it back
and put his thousand in its place. A
thousand! l wouldn't take $40, 600 now
no, nor $50, 900 for my share. Why,
Willard, it's richer than we ever hoped.
It's a plain Intervention of Providence
in our behalf. To think how near We
came to cheating ourselves.'
And Willard, feebly protesting, al
lowed himself to be oyerruled by his
stronger minded partner, but his con.
science was sore over that breach o.
faith.
No Il appeared to claim the 81, ZOO
which the stranger left, though it wa.
advertised in the Denver papers, and b,
was soon forgotten by all except Will
lard, whom remorse preyed upon, bu
not to the extent of prompting him t.
restitution until it was too late.
He was seized with a chill one da,
while at work and the next was on hi
back, raving with mountain fever.
1t was known very soon that he coul'
not %recover.>
Its the evil that has come of on
treachery, Craft, and it will come o.
you, too, if you don't make restitution
They that are near to death see cleare
than the living, and I tell you that
won't rest quiet in my grave unless 20,
hunt up that woman and give her bac.
her own. II You lie to me, Craft, If 20
promise to do that and fail. l tell 70
that my footsteps shall haunt you til
the day Of your death"
He had promised simply to quiet Will
lard and had no intention of keepin
that promise.
In due time the fever did its work
and Willard was laid at rest in til
apology for a cenetery. Craft seemed t
be the only claimant for his partner
earthly belongings, and he availed hin
self Of his opportunity.
While at work one day in the min,
now panning out in great shape, thel
was . premature blast, which those WI
heard it believed had ended Crafts G.
feer. \
Yet amid the shower Of bursting roe
which few all around him he suffert