Barre evening enterprise. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-1898, 1898-04-16
STORY OF A MAYOR.

II mayor. Ashcroft was one of those satel.
: lite towns whose existence was due
n principally to handful of unfortunate
= prospectors who had wandered from the
, central mining star. Aspen, Colo, was
Ashcroft's mining star Lonergan was
a scotch-Irishman, feet 5 inches In
height, with decidedly apologetic
stoop. His eyes were blue, his hair
shaggy red, and for lack of razor and
as a time saver he wore full beard.
Peto had fought in the civil war and
prlded himself on being an American
miner to the core.
Big finds were being made at Ash.
croft, and she had claims which were
panning out rich stuff. Part of her pop.
ulatlon was composed of certain ele-
ment recognized in all the new camps
OF Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona
as bad men,
Peto knew bad man and could han.
die him. That was one reason for his
election. Tho winning of a mining
camp Office is usually through individ-
ual merit, Justice is close to the surface
IN an such camps-that is, the Justice
Which weighs mans character and
treats him according to the marking of
the scales. 1t is true that the miner. in
Judging of companion worth, entire
~ sets aside the enthusiasm which
prompts his comrade to talk half the
night about prospect hole which will
pan out the richest stuff on record.
Huch weakness is overlooked, for even
inc dlscourser knows he eulogizes; so I
90 MS hearers, and no harm is done.
1t after six months residence in a
mining camp a popular demonstration
IS made IN mans favor, he may be |
sure he has assayed at high figure, 1
Ihus 1t was in Peters case And now I
ne mad won a distinction which would a
FOLLOW him through all camps-he was b
Ashcroft's first mayor.
lie first few months Peter dignified 81
me Office with his presence were filled Il
with hard work and considerable risl, a
Threats meant for the mayors ears al. t,
ways reached them, but his duty. he h
alo' was located and patented, and be o,
h'ehned working 1t out And he did W
u WAS hot the gambler he was after. for
ARDS and tables were necessities and if
ne banker was obliged to be straight err
ut IL was the bad man who hastenod of
hto camp Gu his mission of hold m
i"iia jumping, crookedness and general bu
leaAleas that Pete looked for and Gle
ound' so it was that the first few str
'oht.ns were busy ones, but this work thu
fousht Its reward for some of the had Th
zen left--a few were buried outside Of ba
10 toWn-and Pete won a wide ram. nr,
'tlon 1or being uncomfortable ouick
18th his gun and hasty in temner who oa for
'ecutlng the high duty the citizens Of nc,
shcro1t had imposed on him. VIII
rlnally office duties slaokened and Off,
''e had tlnle for thought His thouphts lea
inferred upon subject which mada one
m LOOK slightly i'll at case. Thew were nan
oushts without verbal outlet. peto bro
I'd no confdants. o'e D-o
Inc mayor of Ashcroft was in lovo roo
"a engaged to be married. sew,
Yet for year he had lived in this ill., con-
mining camp and no one had known ers
Noro OF MS secret. No one ever heard WIN
10 reVea! anything about his nrivote can
airs or his family and no one ever fro,
red ask question. o'oi aa o
MS mining etiquette-it saves from THU,
ana preJudice-is one item ~ on r7on
W. h' e code of social mining laws In t
r'ny OF study and adoption outside Of bur,
,"'ip' The thought that troubled pile
20, iiost' now that he had time TO sent
en- on 1t, was how to get out of camn II
noo1 revealing his mission-that ~ stril
~ married. 1t was a matter close tn box,
heart, too close to be commented of I
VI ny Ashcroft. Then there was an. the
:, ,'', LUZ silence; he knew the meet
> would give him a send off, and he tho
, o,,a ",o,u IT, 1or he was a modest spiri
IA ..i, 'o" iuss ana show. argu
~ could we'll afford to marry. fo, A,
ign ne was not rich he had had fair. had
GOA luck. His claims Paradox and the |
spect were in b;s ~
d nor sixteenth ;ntoroSt 10, q md
ny one else. Not that he was close west'
INNING was principle with Loner' your
and a partner somet;nos ;... .uner- stuck
j. principles, so even though a cash AN
rest might have aided tha do " I'sh in by
t OF his claims and at two ssp work
over bad places he cboso ~, . aoioeu and
poor or uncert, ;,,I.. o n:i and
ne night while STANDING o. ~, lioI. and d
talk drifted from naH;,'o Wv: no'el IN
new strikes to the iast h., ppeis sentir
mad been in camn Tb;s,, r man slider
o 49, downing his "three fingers t went
-. "n experienced gulp, he turned r. mat i
~ End s--:.. 'o " camp.
hoyo =