The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-06-03
THE JACK POT.


mentioned the fact that Mr.. Charles Dwigh
Willard has been appointed librarian of the
Los Angeles library. and the further fac
that he was for years q contributor Of tn,
Argonaut. He was indeed. Up to the time
that he became secretary Of the Los An
geles chamber of commerce he furnished
the Argonaut with the following stories
1.-THE Herald of Fate" 1.-THE Fall of Ulys-
ses." THE Doppelganger." THE Diamond
Of Dorey." King Cole" The Itinerary OF
Caliban." THE Palimpsest," THE Turn OF
. Hand" 'Tomasson." Auto Da Fe,''
The Earth Bubble" Sentence Suspend
ed" Evolution OF News, !" 1.-THE JACKPOT
The Family Tree.' IAN Introduction -
affairs Of State" "Fingal. the Hoodoo."
"A Superfuous Man." "A Sense of Jus
tice." Joan Of Arc" ''The scapegrace.' .
The Mortal Coil" IAN Amendment to
More" Poor Little Girl" Female Rela-
tions.' Second DEATH" Subsidy Bill,'
"A Lost Soul" Earlier Bird" Brothers
Keeper" by Any Other Name" 1.-THE In
cident at Casey's." "The Masculine De-
coy" Jonah and the Mascotte." and
Boys and Frogs" Among these there is a
great diversity of treatment. AS a sample
Of Mr.. Wizards humorous style, the an
nexed story. 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.-Eds.J
THERE were five of us in the party
IL six, counting Long 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
] tend to gettin' this stuff unpacked,"
said Long Tom; there amt no one
there. My pardner, he's down below"
"The cabin appears to be two cabins"
said the colonel, as we approached it.
THAT is for economy in 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, achair
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 |
slong the group.
well, that staggers me-" said the
stock broker.
Him." said the professor, in a mys-
terious tone, and rubbed his chin.
The stove was a plain, small cooking
range, rather old and rusty. The
strange thing about it was its position.
Its abbreviated legs stood upon large
cedar posts, which were planted in the
toor and were over four feet in height.
This brought the stove away up in mid
air, SO that the top was about on level
with the face of the colonel, and he was
a six footer.
We formed in a circle about the stove
and stared at it as solemnly as a group
IF priests around a sacrificial tripod.
We felt of the postss-they were firm
and solid, showing that the mysterious
was a permanent, not a
temporary one. Then we all bent our
,ecks and opened our mouths to look
up at the hole in the roof through which
he stove pipe vanished.
Suddenly the stock broker burst out [.
INTO a laugh.
"Oh, l understand il now" said he.
Understand what's" asked the colo ,
lei, sharply.
why Long Tom has his stove hoist :
d up SO high from the floor"
$50 do L." said the doctor; 'but 1 sus- s
'ect that my explanation is not the | I
anne that anyone else would offer, II
well, l will bet that am right"
aid the stock broker, land put up the I
Money"
Il am in this" said the Judge; 81 have !
clear idea about that stove and will
Jack it." III
MAKE it jackpot" said the colonel: Ii
] want to take hand" II
The stock broker drew a small vel h
wv coin out of his pocket and dropped O
on the table. Id
He has the stove up there" he said v
to get better draught. In this rare s.
ed mountain air there is only a small I,
mount of oxygen to the cubic inch. 4
nd combustion is more difficult to Sc O
IRE than in the lower ATTITUDES. have Il
card that If you get high enough YOU !,
mt cook an egg-that is, / mean. s
ater won't boil-or something like Il
aat." he continued. thrown into sud.
IN confusion by the discovery that the &c
'ofessor's eye was fixed upon him with b
sarcastic gaze,
rs that supposed to BE- science 2" de- "
anded the professor. Ia
WOW - ~ ssset broker das.!l 4