The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-01
The Great Notchers Company.
"a story in four parts by Percival Rids-
dale in the New York Evening Post)
PART Ill

| "a story in four parts by Percival Rids-
dale in the New York Evening Post)
PART III.
Solomon Creek, a placid stream, was
! now a raging torrent for the old prediction
| that II it rained on st. Swithins Day IL
| would rain for forty days after seemed
| likely to be fulfilled in the July which saw
| the formation Of the Great Notchers Gold
Mine Co." 1t had rained for twenty days
after, before the sun shone bright and
clear on the morn OF the conpany's de-
Ysarture, and this rain had swollen the
stream SO that fording was no longer pos
sibie and the strongest wimmer-Tommy
himself-dared not take the chance Of
swimming across to the rocky island.
The old miner was not to be baked by
the rushing water. however. Taking one
Of the axes the boys carried, he set to work
to fell goodly tree SO that it would fall
across the stream, and in the course Of an
hour or so the whole party had crossed
to the island on this :mprovised bridge,
Now. If youse feilers II give me some
breakfast the old man said, 'TIl be after
goin' home for my tools and things"
Most Of the boys had brought a lunch,
and all were ready to divide with their
new-found acquaintance, who quietly OBJ
served, when their appettes were ap-
reased, that all the provisions carried by
the brave party had been consumed.
After breakfast they walked about the
island, and some of them showed the old
man the Devils Cave, large enough to
hide all the party in case of pursuit.
The old miner seemed deeply interested
more so than the boys saw any occasion
for, as he examined the rocky walls close
iy, and hammered away at parts of il with
pick until he had handful of fragments.
Then. when they Went into the open again,
he called Tommy aside.
Tommy" said he Use got a discovery
to tell We about. Did you see me getting
these pieces land he exhibited his hand
full of fragments. well, say, what dye
think it is? Rock! Yep, rock. But what
kind er rock? Quartz, I tell We. gold
quartz. Dye hear. laddie buck, gold
QuartZ?"
Tommy gaped open-mouthed at the shin
ing chips. He was speechless.
We'll, say" continued the old miner,
with enthusiasm, Il alters says as how
ings, cause know how gold lays. I does.
An there, what dye see? AS good gold
as there is IN Klondike."
'Ah, go way said Tommy, doubtfully.
well say, don't I know? 1 don't say
us there's as much as at Klondike, but it's
just as good. Look at it,
The particles certainly looked attract
i've Tommy picked up few and balanced
them critically on his flnser-end. They
were noticably heavy.
Now, say continued the old miner,
Il don't say as there's a lot of 1t here,
but there's enough to sell for a couple 'er
thousand dollars, an that'l carry us to
Klondike. Say, that's where I'm goin'. any
way; an you'se, too, you bet; but there
amt no harm in maxim couple er thous-
and first, is there?'
Tommy admitted that there was not.
well, you just tell the boys, and let 'em
get to work on it, an I'll go home for my
tools Say, we divvy share an share alike,
don't WEI"
well, / guess yes" said Tommy; "but
you ought to have two shares. cause we'd
never have discovered it."
Nope" exclaimed the old man, decisive
ly; share an share alike is my saying,
an that goes. You fellers hustle. 1 won't
be long gettin' back"
Tommy ran off to tell the boys, and
hearty cheers greeted his announcement.
Off they trooped to the cave, and the old
man shouted from the opposite bank to
the last few:
"Say. I'm goin' to chop this tree loose.
so your daddies can't get at youse if they
comes here
''All right" they cried, and hurried on.
ard the old man, with few strokes, chop
ped away the bridge, watched it float down
the rapid stream, and then ambled along
slowly down the mountain to the Notch
and Bradigan's.
In the cave Tommy took upon himself
the position of foreman, but so eager were
the boys in their lust for wealth, that il
was some time before he could make them
work in an orderly manner. There was
light enough for them to see a clearly
marked vein, of a foot or so in width. in
the rock, and this they attacked as il their
lives depended upon 1t. Most of them had
picks a few axes, and a few shovels. FL
nally, when the first impulse of work had
worn off, Tommy divide his men into
gangs; those with picks to chip off the gold,
those with shovels TO carry 1t out to the
open. and those with axes to cut down the
brush at the month of the cave, and en-
large the opening.
For couple of hours the work pro-
gressed briskly. Quite goodly pile of the
quartz was growing larger and larger near
the tunnels mouth, and good-s:zed holes
had been made in the wall. The boys mad
stripped off their coats and thrown aside
their hats in the first hour. and now were
resting at frequent intervals. II was hot;
there was no doubling that. The island
was barren Of shade, and the heat of the
sun seemed doubled on the rocks. Some
few, utterly exhausted, crawled into the
meagre shade of the small bushes. but
were quickly recalled by the others, and |
told to do their share of the work If they |
wanted a share of the gold. A couple of |
fights started, but Were quickly stopped |
by Tommy.
AS 4 drew upon noon, the boys began |
10 feel hungry, and Tommy at once found |
himself confronted with a great problem. |
There was no food on the island, and there |
was no means of obtaining any. Some OF |
the boys found a couple of huckleberry |
bushes and quickly picked them clean. |
Then some one suggested they cross the |
stream and pick more To their surprise. |
they found they could not get across. The |
tree-br.dge was gone. They had not real |
lied before what this meant, and as they |
saw their plight there was a good deal OF |
Tommy was inportuned 10 |
do something but he was helpless. There |
was nothing 10 be done but wait for the |
return OF Jim Walker.
II guess he'll be back by dark. boys"
said Tommy, consolingiy; but it was poor L
consolation.
Some or the boys Went DOWN 10 the
stream and drank a good deal Of water, |
bat ii had rot the filing effect they de-
sired Others Suckled their belts tighter |
and chewed some brown and bitter winter |
green leaves A few spoke harshly about
Tommy's lack OF forethought in not tell
ng them 10 bring more eatables; but Tom
my quickly stopped that
The afternoon dragged along slowly. The
boys could not work on empty stomachs-
4 few tried 10 DO so. but threw down their