The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-29
The Great Notchers Company.
"a story in four parts by Percival Rids-
Gale In the New York Evening Post)
PART l.


"a story in four parts by Percival Rids-
Gale In the New York Evening Post)
PART 1.
The gold fever had struck Sugar Notch.
There was no doubt of that. The men talk
ed OF Klond;ke at Bradigan's every night.
and the women talked over their back
fences in the daytime. or borrowed the pa
per from Mrs. Bradigan 70 read about new
discoveries and big fortunes made in a
week. Nobody. however. started on the
long journey. It was rumored that Bradi-
gan as to sell the saloon and go. and that
F'ahey would mortgage his house, and even
that Mrs. Dougher would sell her cows TO
grub-stake Johnn.. her eldest son. None OF
these transactions took place. however, and
the Notch satisfied itself with talking
about what might be. and being envious
of successful miners about whom the pa
pers told.
There is no doubt that some of the young
men would have gone had they been able
70 raise the money needed. but the No
had been working only half-time and funds
were scarce and unpaid orders on the COM
pany store numerous. Half-time and only
sl.O0 car. with laborer to pay. too IL
10. conducive TO much wealth. Indeed.
some of the men had not saved enough
money to bet al single cock-fight.
The question Of cash did not! however.
worry Tommy Callahan. He was disgust
ed with the men for not showing more
spirit. and Denny Doris. his great chum
and chief confederate in all his undertake
ings. agreed with him.
What youse think of such dubs?" Tom
my said to a crowd as they walked home
from the breaker. Here they be a-settin'
around doin' nothin' but talkin' about big
HOSTS, an how much they useter make at
the mine: an instead of soin' out TO them
gold-ields, like ambitious parents would
be. they let's their children work instead OF
gettin' edicat:on. and they sets around
doin'-doin' nothin'."
Tommy had mbibed good many novel
ideas for boy of his age by perusing po-
Etical circulars, attending conventions. and
reading the newspapers. His friends ac-
cord:ngly respected and honored him. and
Tommy was their acknowledged leader.
Then, too. Strong Boy Murphy had
taught him something about using de
mits.'' as Murphy called them. so that
Tommy had more ways than one Of en-
forcing his arguments.
"Ef 1 wuz a man." continued Tommy.
wat dye think I'd do? Why. I'd be out'en
this place in ten shakes of a lambs tail,
and be of for them digg:n's in Alasky.
Den it wouldn't be more N SIX months be-
fore I'd come back here, buy out de Whole
comp'ny, bounce old Pegleg, and give
youse all jobs as bosses.
Pegleg was the breaker boss. and used a
switch; hence his unpopularity.
Den I'd sport around with pair OF
spinners. just Ike de ole man. and drive
down here from Wilkes-Barre every day,
and give youse an josh;ng up
Yes, you would" said one of the boys.
aggressively.
Tommy was too full of his subject to
fight. however.
why. even we'se could go out dere. I
read somewhere about a couple of kids
stealing a ride all de way across the coun-
try an 1 guess we amt no slouches al
stealing rides; is we, Denny?"
Denny, with remembrances Of ride on
"a coal TO Wilkes-Barre on circus day.
agreed with, "Well, guess nit
An once We got out to de coast" con-
tiaued Tommy warmly. why ii 'ud be
easy to step on one Of them steamers,
an when We got to Alasky, why, de rest
would be easy, too Wat do some of them
hlokies as is going there know about min
ing? Why, dey wouldn't be in it with US"
After the Diamond Spoilers had beaten
the Suggers that afternoon, Denny Doris
sought out Tommy and led him mysteri-
ously into corner.
Now say" he said. when they were out
of hearing of the crowd. did youse mean
what yez said dis mornin'?''
What about?"
What yer givin' us? Why. about tina,
gold that youse is goin' to dig up in
AIasky.''
Tommy hesitated. He had not been as
much IN earnest az he seemed.
"Why?" he asked automatically.
Cause, If yez is, I'm wild yez. Me old
man Civ me lickin' cause old Pegleg
locked me for loafin', an / amt go.n' to
stan it. amt. Say, will yez go?"
KIN We get a crowd?" asked Tommy
thouehtfully.
What yer want a crowd for?"
"We'se got to have about ten." said Tom
my conclusively.
well. I guess Dicky Ward an Paddy
Mangan ill go, and perhaps Bob Daily
II come ef Susan Jane II let him."
Bob Daily as one of the crowd who was
In love, and was admired by some of the
! boys and despised by others in conse'
Quence.
well, Denny" said Tommy finally and
after deep thought. "youse go around and
see what de boys say, an I'll get TO WORK
an organize a plan"
Tommy spent several hours in the wash
kitchen that night, and aided by his faith
| er's mining-lamp. a piece OF blasting-pa'
per. and a pencil. evolved the Grea'
Notchers Gold Mine Co.
The articles OF Incorporation as prepar-
b.-T follows.
| "evry Member OF this co. must pay loC
,nmisn fe.''
.'svry member of this CO. must swar toe
! keap it's cekrets.'
| "evry member of this CO. swar 10 WORK
! hard and Divy with the Rest"
"eyry Member must not back out
'"Fhos. Callahan must be president and
| boss
! To this document was attached rudC
! skull and crossbones, and the next day
twelve OF the boys s.ngned II, and In IN:
next two days as the twelve began 10 talH
about II. there were twenty more applica
/ tions for membership. Tommy had OBJ
| iected at first TO more than ten memb ers
| hut the increase OF importance thirty
" ould give him al length broke his frs
/ resolution, and by the end OF the week ev
cry boy OF the fortyeight on Tommy
side in the breaker as a member Dur
| ing the week there was great skiTmisl
ing UP OF old bofes, rags. and scrsp-!ron
and by midnight on Saturday forty Of III
bows had deposited the required ten cent!
! with Denny Doris. who had been chosen
| treasurer. The other eight had failed. a;
| Denny said. 10 come up and were drop
| ped from the list.
| Tommy had al arrangements made L
! leave early Sunday night on the train O.
"empties" that passed up the road q