The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-13

thing n the year passes without the first
claimant building a house or making
some other Improvement.
Cruzen knew his claim WAS lrst-class
strange gods, thinking he would get
some thing better The months passed,
and somebody else prowling around in
the neighborhOod of that original Cruzen
lain lain round much mineral, and camp
sprung up. Things We're booming, aud
the Cruzen claim was In the midst OF
the rush-withOut a spadeful OF work be-
ing done on IT, Others were anXiousIy
watching that claim, ready TO relocate it
dS soon as the db1th day should pass
ana the real owner was far away and
knew nothing Of the fortune in his grasp.
ltut about four days before the end OF
lne year IN some way he learend Of the
situation and started over the mountain
pell nell. He was running race against
time for fortune and time seemed TO
nave all the best OF It. Various DELAYS
held MIN back, and IL was on the afternoon
OF the last day of grace that ne came
down from the mountains and into the
valley, and some hours later he was on
his claim. He had two hours In which TO
10 800 worth OF work to save the claim.
w nat could he do2 Certainly he couldn't
build house in that time Then he
thought of a well. That was It, He
would dig a tcn-fOot well. and that would
let him out But he had no tools. He
must borrow. lie went to the man on
the next location and asked for a spade.
rms fellow was one of those who had
been waiting 10 adopt the Cruzen claim
ana, disappointed at Cruzen's arrival. he
refused 10 lend or sell any tools. The man
went TO the next claim, with Ike result
Nobody would sell or lend him anything
He returned TO his claim in desperation
lie realized that it must be very rich
Ihcre would be no chance to relocate n
though, and it must be lost He YEARLY
sat down beside a huge bOwlder that
Jutted out Of the ground, feeling that HIS
last nope was gone. IL had been hot day
ana ne had Travelled fast to get there
lie was oppressed by the heat and Thought
he was going to fam from overexertion
suddenly there was a crash OF thunder
ana ne looked up to see the heavens
lined with green, horrible clouds The
an instant the wind rose TO furious unfgbt
ana the clouds spat fire as they rolled
and churned about. The trees bowed
themselves and dead pines shot through
the air. Then out of the aWfulness az
a black distance came a writing. snalxv
thing that hung from heaven to earth
and travelled with the fury of the devil
Sruzeh had never seen anything like It.
lie chung to the shelter of his tutting
rock. He saw shanties leveled and
great pines cut Ike a barber shaving off
a stubble beard. An instant more and
the twisting tongue Of vapor was in his
territory. Up to this time Il had not
stopped, but just as II crossed the line
or his claim II halted. and for n moment
stood stu, writhing and turning at one
punt 10 the accompaniment OF persistent
thunder sound. Then, as though chang
ing It's mind, II II had one, It rushed
across the corner, and taking up the
shanty of the man who had first refused
to lend him tools, 1t damned that man
right well. Then 1t was gone
CruZen FASTENED over to the spot where
the twisting column had stopped Then
with a cry Of surprise he looked at his
watch. Yes, there We're still five minutes
TO his credit-and there. yawning before
him drilled by that writhing, turning
pillar of intensified force, was a beautiful
round and evenly dug well, the finest
ever known in that country And the
Cruzen claim was saved