The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-22
THIS MAN LOST
A RICH CHANCE.
Copper Fields in Montana That an
Old Miner Rejected.
HE WAS OUT SEEKING FOR GOLD
Led on "A Wild Goose Chase by
Wooden Legged Liar-PegIeg's
Evil Intentions Were
Frustrated.
HE WAS OUT SEEKING FOR GOLD

tell his story:
Il had a little experience up in the ST.
Mary's country once" ne said, and sew
eral times l walked right over those
leads. scarcely giving them passing
glance. for / was hunting placer ground,
knew nothing about copper quartz, and
thought the groupings were merely u
blowout OF queer looking rock. | didn't
ind any placer, but | had a mighty
hard trip ana some exciting times. and all
on account OF believing the tales Of
the all-hredest Lar that ever struck
Montana
I'm the winter Of AS traded with the
Indians out on the plains and when
spring came l disposed OF my robes and
moved up to Sun RIVER. thinking to put
in the summer with A ranching friend
who lived near the crossing. one sun
day lot of Us. hunters. traders. ranch
men and the like. were sitting out in
front of the tavern, summing ourselves
and spinning yarns. when a lone horse
man hove in sight crossing the bridge
and approached at Il slow gait As he
came near every one started for he was
n stranger TO us all. and a hard-lOoking
case. His clothes were in rags, his hair
and whlskers were about two feet long
and looked as If they had never been
combed. He had an awful big mouth e
short. turned-up nose, and little black
eyes like a muskrats as sorry a parcel
Of weary skin and bones as was ever
seen. and when he dsmOunted we saw
that he had a wooden leg. a sharp-point-
ed stump that he had whitfield out him
self
'Howdy. gentlemen. howdy, he said,
q thin, squeakng kind OF voice, as he
came hobbllng up to where we sat. Come
and jine me in a drink On this glorious
summers day. he says
I'VE filed into the tavern after him,
poured out our liquor. said How and
swallowed IT, all of us looking at him
and sizing him up the bes. we could.
and when he pulled out a greasy
buckskn sack and called on the bar
slave for his scales, you can bet every
one OF US wanted TO see what was in ii.
Twas gold dust, all right-big, coarse,
deep yellow husband we just fell over
each other setting up the drinks trying
10 get acquainted with that one-legged
fellow and find out where he got 1t.
He drank every time we asked. and
the boys all nearly got laid out trying to
make him communicative. Along to-
ward evening he and | were the only So
Der ones IN the party; even the bar slave
was paral.zed. | wished many a time az
terward that ! had got paralyzed, too,
instead of pouring my stun into the
spittoon every time: st would have saved
me heap OF trouble.
STRANGER MAKES A PROPOSITION.
We'll. along about shutdown I said I'd
60 Larc
and the cripple proposed to 20 along
with me and turn his ont with mine. So
We went over across the river where
nine were turned out. all except one
had plcketed. when 1 rounded them up
and brought them in to water the strang-
er declared that he had never seen finer
stock; and they We're four Is good team
horses as could be found i'm the country.
- spose.' he says, you've got
wagon. too?'
Yes | said. I've got a good one There
It's over by the cabin. Three and a quar-
ter at Balm; hold up forty hundred on
any road
Partner. said he. you're just the
man I'm looking for I've found the rich
est placer mine you ever heard Of. and
L want some one 10 help me work it,
"'Put her there ! said. giving him
my hand. I'm with YOU on any kind OF
"a proposition. Give me your lay
Wen. It's just this squeaked the
cripple hitting me a snifv glare with
hose rat-lIke eyes Of his. Its JUST Il '5.
] was a-prOspectin' along the mountains
north of here when run across
hkely-look ng creek: the wash was fine.
followed II up for a piece till | come 10
"A bar. sunk down six feet to bed rock
and / washed out four pans. There's
what | got And ne pulled out the
greasy sack and tossed It over to me.
There were four ounces in IL If there
was a pennyweisht.
"'Hmir / said. Fitting the sack and
handing it back to him. They mus
surely be rich digg.ngs. Give me your
proposition. If it's anything like a square
deal, I'm with you.
Partner. he replied = give yor hail
them diggins if you'll furnish everything;
The slUice. boxes and tools, the
transportation. everything needed Ia open
Up the Giccvcry.
II consented. ard the next day went 10
he store and laid in a. stock Of grub AID
everything else needed not fOrgctting a
suit Of clothes blankets. and tobaccS for
iy partner. The stranger hal told
kev story, and / thought I Was
q fool to doubt his sincerity. but ] finally
made up my mind not 20 take any
chances OF travelling off alone with him.
SO. watching my opportunity, ! Jet my
frien F'roggy into the secret, told him
10 tell Others of cur friends and he ready
0 follow Us at any time. About the time
gol to the ~,nch with my purchases ana
had unhltchcd. PegieS came stumpsng
over from the tavern as sober as ever
.ihergh he had drank a gallon OF whis-
ks. more or less. during the day.
SOLICITORS ABOUT THE LIQUOR.
Got everything he asked. Didn't
forget "A nve-eallon keg of ticker, | hope
II you did. go over and get II now, ana
wen pull out to-nigh, as soon as every
enc goes TO bed
All right said. I'm go back and
buy the whisky. But see here I'VE Gone
my share OF The agreement ana spent
lot Of money and / now want 10 kno"
where the mines are
Tie fellow CO. sidered moment ana
ihen told me that they were near ST
alarys lake. When We get there. ne
said. we can see The place plain, only
few miles beyond
"Of course. when | went back after the
LIQUOR | gave the boys the word. and
when we sneaked so quietly out Of the
title settlement that night ] felt easy.
Tor knew they would start right behind
rs. We Travelled steadily all night, and
the sun was just rising when we drove
down into the valley or the Teton. ana
camped below. About an hour after we
had made camp saw couple OF teams
and wagons and two men on horseback
com, in sight over the ridge. and knew
my friends were on hand. They were
our postmaster here. joe Kip. Charley
Thomas OF Birch Creek: Frank Monroe.
faxsfaI Irish- Erpprh-