The Opelousas courier., 1899-08-12

SN1N sc n d a
l '#RN Frank Morri,
wants me to go VI
, the mountain with him after manzan,
ita sticks. He knows where the,
grow, acres of them, straight, JUS
right for canes! Mayn't I 60? Wei
he back early"
"And where do the manzauita canes
growY"
"Ob, it's way up Coyote Canon
beyond the old mine, on the side o.
the mountain. Frank knows. He's
been there"
Grandfather Bailey pondered a mo.
ment before he answered, II WOULDN'T
care, if:you would promise me to stay
away from the mine. 1t isn't safe TO,
boys to go there alone"
ooh, yes, sir! Well not visit the
mine!"
"And keep Out OF the poison-oak.'
II always give that q wide berth,
cir" .
With that Ben slipped out to tellhis
chum that it was ell right; he could
GO.
The next morning the boys were up
at sunrise, for the distance was some
sever Or eight miles, and they wished
to have ample time to select sticks
from the manzanita brush. Choice
manzanita canes really brought ten
cents apiece from the tourists st Con-
gross Springs, and some of them sold
for as much as twenty-five cents.
Ben and Frank climbed patiently
the steady grade Of the canon, in which
brawled q rising stream, fed by rains
in the north. They passed where the
road hung out, bracket-fashion. over
the stream, and reached the abandoned
mine, the tunnels Of which penetrated
tho mountain in every direction, and
some of the shafts of which were sunk
below the level. The immense works
Rugged the side of the mountain hun
dreds OF feet above the canon road,
while opposite, across the brawling
stream. the old smelling plant re-
manned tucked away in its nook in the
canon, and still occupied the whole of
it, as of old.
When the young cane.merchants
found the manzanita, they seated
themselves aud ate, as much as they
could of their luncheon; then they
went to work with a will on the hard,
leather-coated shrubbery, and soon
had collected q very choice assortment
OF canes.
1--WE can finish our luncheon at the
sulphur spring, just below the NINE"
said Frank.
The descent to the canon road was
accomplished with some difficulty.
They were obliged to rest every few
kods, because Of the heavy bundles on
Gcir backs. When they reached the
spring many Of their canes had been
dropped.
II feel as if I were throwing away
q good ten-cent piece" said Ben,
"every time we tighten nj load Of a
IT felt as if we we're leaving be-
bind us good ten-cent pieces, when we
took so few as We did," answered
who had thrown away half his
original pack.
They rested awhile beside the
heaved boulders into the
stream below, and wondered how far
it wa to the mine above,
"Let's 60 up and see," said Frank,
1t last.
"Well," replied Ben, obviously,
I'D like to-, but I promised grand.
'ather that I wouldn't"
II don't believe that he'd care, Just
look in the windows of the engine
"Of course there isn't any danger
n shat" assented Bon, land I know
wouldn't care; but I
Promised him to stay away from the
Suppose that we go up only as far
- the dump" persisted Frank;
that isn't anywhere neal the mine.
could 80 thsre all right" I
It'd like to 60 as much as you
said Ben, timidly. II wish {
hadn't promised"
"What is it you're afraid of? Your !
won't care-I know he |
Tou'tl He meant that he didn't want
to blunder around in the shafts
nd tunnels, where there are cave-ins 1
nd fre-damp, ard all that. OF course 6
70 don't want you to be hurt" {
Il don't think I'd BETTER" replied 7
Zen, still hesitating. "You see, grand
ather is always real kind to me, |
nd I'd hate to do anything that wasn't /
q~uare."
''Ill tell you," said Frank, as j
to settle the matter, 'sI'll ex- 8
lain the whole thing to your grand. 9
and if it isn't all right Til take j
II the blame on myself. That's square q
nougb, isn't it?" t
II cont think grandfather would 6
if he were here; do you?" u
"Of course he wouldn't" s
Il guess it will be all right, any
ow. Besides. we don't need to say k
avthing about it if we don't want S
It'll explain it all to him, if You S
y 50. You can depend on me every
o
With that the two started up the L
lmost obliterated path, and reached II
10 disused dump, which connected b
smelter on one side of the canon Il
it'll the mine on the other. In 6
'rraer times, when the tram-car n
its load of ore out Of the mine
} the dump, the ore was put into b
which ran on an endless wire o.
able. Ii
This cable went through the air,