Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-05-04
THE JACK POT.
By Charles Dwight Willard.

J By Charles Dwight Willard. (
1A~~~>~~~~~>
1.-THE Los Angeles papers recently have
mentioned the fact that Mr.. Charles Dwight
Willard has been appointed librarian Of the
Los Angeles library, and the further fact
that he was for years a contributor of the
Argonaut. He was indeed. Up to the time
that he became secretary of the Los An
the Argonaut with the following stories:
1.-THE Herald of Fate" 'The Fall of Ulys-
ses," 1.-THE Doppelganger," 1.-THE Diamond
of Dorey," "King Cole,' 1.-THE Itinerary of
Caliban, - 1.-THE Palimpsest, 1.-THE Turn of
ed" Evolution of News" 1.-THE JACKPOT"
1.-THE Family Tree" IAN Introduction"
affairs Of State" "Fingal, the Hoodoo,"
IA Superfluous Man," "a Sense of JUS
tice," Joan of Arc" 1.-THE Scapegrace,"
THE Mortal Coil IAN Amendment to
More" Poor Little Girl" Female Rela-
TONS" Second DEATH" Subsidy Bill"
"a Lost Soul" Earlier Bird" Brothers
Keeper" by Any Other Name" 'The In
cident at Casey's," 1.-THE Masculine De-
coy" Jonah and the Mascotte," and
great diversity of treatment. AS a sample
of Mr.. Willard's humorous style, the an
nexed story, 1.-THE Jackpot" will be read
with interest by those who are not familiar
with his work and will be reread by those
who remember him.-Edsl
THERE were five of us in the party
six. counting Kong Tom, tie
guide. After two days hard climbing,
which the burros endured with exem-
plary fortitude, we arrived at the little
valley high up in the mountains,
through which threaded the trout
stream.
"Jest you all go over into the cabin
there and make yourself conf BILE, while
I tend to gettin' this stuff unpacked,"
said Long Tom; there amt no one
there. My pardner, he's down below"
1.-THE cabin appears to be- two ca bins"
said the colonel, as we approached it.
THAT is for economy in ridge-poles,"
said the doctor; sleeping apartments
on one side and kitchen on the other.
In the space between, you keep your
fishing tackle and worms"
We entered the right-hand section of
the twin cabin, which proved to be the
kitchen side. There was not much
furniture-a table of hewn logs, chair
of bent saplings, and rough bench.
However, we did not notice such
furniture as there was, for each MEM
Der of the party, as he stepped over the
high threshold, had his attention in
stantly attracted by the stove, and a
brief roundelay of CALCULATIONS went
along the group.
"Well, that staggers me-" said the
stock broker.
Him." said the professor. in mys-
FERROUS tone. and rubbed his chin.
The stove was plain, small cooking
range. rather old and rusty. The
strange thing about it was it's position.
Its abbreviated legs stood upon large
cedar posts. which were planted in the
floor and were over four feet in height.
This brought the stove away up in mid
air, so that the top was about on a level
with the face of the colonel, and he was
a six footer. -z-. ..>-..-
We formed in circle about the stove
and stared at it as solemnly as group
of priests around a sacrifcial tripod.
We felt of the posts-they were firm
and solid, showing that the mysterious
arrangement was permanent, not 4
temporary one. Then we all bent our
necks and opened our mouths to look
up at the hole in the roof through which
the stove pipe vanished. -
Suddenly the stock broker burst out
into laugh. #&# a. 4
ooh, understand it now" said he.
Understand what?" asked the colo
mel, sharply.
"Why Long Tom has his stove hoist
ed up SO high from the floor ~
$50 do t. said the doctor; "but I sus
pect that my explanation is not the
same that anyone else would offer"
"Well, I will bet that am right"
said the stock broker, land put up the
money ia
81 am in this" said the Judge; IT have
a clear idea about that stove and will
back it, ~ '@@+% %5# 4
snake it a jackpot" said the colonel;
II want to take a hand"
The stock broker drew small yell
low coin out of his pocket and dropped
it on the table. = se..
''He has the stove up there,'',he said,
ito get a better draught.e In this rare
fed mountain air there is only small
amount of oxygen to the cubic inch,
and combustion is more difficult to Sc
cure than in the lower ATTITUDES. have
heard that if you get high enough you
can't cook an egg-that is, I mean,
water won't boil-or something like
that" he continued, thrown into sud-
den confusion by the discovery that the
professors eye was fixed upon him with
a sarcastic gaze.
is that supposed to be science?" de-
manded the professor.
WELL said the stock broker. dog