The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1895-12-20

making rich strikes and selling out
their claims at n big figure.
THAT spring young fellow had
come out from the states and gone to
work In the store. He was very
quiet sort of a fellow-had little to say
10 anyone and was good worker. But
there was something on his mind. A
blind man could have noticed 1t. be-
cause he would sometimes In the mid
die Of his work, and get to thinking
and studying. He was little moro
communicative toward me than the
rest.
Zone night after supper my strange
friend-let us call him Jim--had taken
q stroll UP town. About nine o'clock
he came rushing in with copy OF the
local paper In his hand. His face was
flushed and his manner excited.
THAT settles 1t. Bill. I'm of for the
new district. Just read here what
strikes have been made out there the
past week. Better pack your traps
and come along
swell. I read the news. and the fever
struck me. too. The rush was fairly on.
and In two days time we had fitted oil.
and were among large cavaleade that
was striking out for the new Carbonate
camp" (The old man referred to Lead
ville) I'VE reached the camp. stnked
out claim and set to work with will.
We struck fairly good lead and de-
cidcd to follow II up.
There are many pleasant features to
a prospector's life. and there are also
the shady sides. We lived In n tent
on our claim, cooked our own meals
md washed our own clothes. The
camp itself was about MS wild n place
rs It has been my fortune to see be-
fore or since. All the elements OF n
frontier mining camp were thoroughly
represented.
I'VE did not frequent the place much.
bu, put In our spare time In building
n board-and-log shanty. preparing for
the coming winter. Jim worked away
With n vengeance. He seemed to be
almost In n state Of fever. Our pros
poet was getting better ns time nd
vanced and We became reasonably sure
Of some returns. sooner or later. Win
ter get In emily In the mountains. and
~ the days grew shorter. our hours OF
labor were cut down.
1T was Just n few days before Christ
mas. An unusually heavy snow had
fallen. and II was bitter cold. So we
decided to let the mine take caro- of
itacif that day and remain near tho
warm IRE.
IL had long wanted to know some
thing about my companion. But It was
ever tho rule among us Western men
not to nsk questions, but wait for ex.
changes OF confidence. which inyarin.
bly, came In good time. broke tho 81
lcncc by telling Jim the story OF my
naphnsard life.
HE finally gave me few items from
his own, and I learned that the chief
object Of his stay Ia the West was to
acquire n fortune. II possible, In order
90 marry young lady In tho East.
who from n financial point OF View was
a little above his station. Unfortunate.
" for him md his friends. failed to
learn his name and the place ho called
home.
"Thc day before Christmas tho
weather broke tmodcratod ana va
went TO the mine to put In u good days
work. We had now quite shaft down
with cropn-cut about twenty feet long'
which we had lately started for os-
tioring purposes. We worked In the
latter that day. and soon encountered
T. formation different from 7y,hing we
had 20 Tar discovered. The earth was
row aof,, and great caution had to be
eselclsad In working. 10 avoid cave
IN. which would have meant death to
both Of M.
AS II tho esme thorght had moved