The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-05
S-Grand finale.

guage which was that strong and pointed
that II there'd been any stop or feein'
to that snowshoe 1t would have brought
up within 30 feet l mention this with re-
gret, ma'arn, because l see now that If
hadn't been moved 10 make them re-
marks. just fresh on top the prayer, things
would have turned out different, but be-
ing young and hotheaded, and thought
less, then, of course, l didn't look ahead
for consequences.
There was notin' to do but to 20
down TO the ledge where the snowshOes
lay, pick up 1t and the mail pouch and
get on my way again. The ledge was
rotten with the weather, and pretty well
broke up, already, and, aside from the
small pieces just knocked out of it, there'd
been one big chunk loosened up, which
had rolled just away from the ledge and
lay with the fresh break turned UP to the
sun and dazzlin' me with its brightness"
mo, young man''-this to a knowing
suggestion FROM Mapton-'Tt wasn't
mica, of course, nor mica at all That
piece of rock was just criss-crossed all
over and through with coarse wire gold
1 stood starin' at 1t a full minute before
| could get it through my head that
l was lookin' at rock that would go
over 5000 to the ton; that 1 was the
discoverer and owner of that ledge. and
that hndin' II just mean to me everything
worth havin', includin' of course first
and foremost, riches and Kitty German
while 1 stood there recollected. with
a start, that riches and prosperity and
Kitty German was what I'd been prayin'
for hard five minutes before and here A.
all was within my reach in answer to
that prayer, just as If ii had been on tap
so to speak, all the time and I'd Just
| turned the spiggot. Naturally 1 was some
excited, but kept cool enough to put up
monuments and a location notice all right
and christened the claim the Heavenly
Snowshoe.' as bein' somehow appropriate
to the situation.
you can imagine, ma'am, I wasn't in
no state of mind after this to keep on
with the mail to Brown Bear and Round
out, just wanted to get back to Cor
mans, and let 'em known about the
strike. So climbed up the hill again for
the other shoe, pounded of some good
specimens to show what I'd found, and
was back again at Germans a little after
sunset.
when I went down to the hotel after
I'd cooked supper and cleaned up at the
adobe, could hear Prot singin' and Kit
~ playin accomplishments, as usual; but,
instead of rilin me, as 1t had all along l
just laughed to myself when I thought
of the Heavenly Snowshoe, and of how
quick all this would be knocked
in the head when Kitty and
old man German learned of
my good luck. 1 went into the saloon
first, where l 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 seem very
hearty, but 1 knew what had come to me
and what was comm to Prot and didn't
mind, but started in right away and told
'em what Ia 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 up richer'n any specimens ever
1 see. They all got round the table and
admired EN-, and Kitty 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
playiu' that evenin', and pretty quick
Prot said goodnight and left us not
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 Kitty sat by the table
and was brighter and chatter than ia
seen her in month. When l told the
old man I'd located HMM with me on
the claim he was pleased all through
ana 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 satisfac-
ton at the style in which my prayer was
woTkin'
Next day me and old man German had
our talk out, and it was settled between
us that we was TO locate extensions of
the 'Snowshoe start in developin' and
incorporate the whole business right
away, settin aside part of the stock for
what old man German called a 'worlSin'
capital ana 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'
kltue was more friendly every dav. and
as for Prot. he never turned nm pop-s
days-anyhow when 1 was round
NOW. my folks back in Missouri'd been