The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-10-24

gentleman turned to go about his
chores, "Td like to make you a prop
osition: 1t takes years of experience TO
learn how TO mine, and un'css q nan
has had the experience he's about
sure to make a failure if he attempts
to open up Il prospect. Now" he
went on patrOniHingly, "the PROPOSE
ton | was going to make is this: Beng
you have the ledge, l will supcrintend
the whole work for Il third Interest,"
"I think ! eau get along very well
without your scrviccs,' and Mr.. Long
turned abruptly and walked into the
barn.
The novelty of the situation, and
the fire occupied Roy's attention for Il
couple OF hours, when he began TO get
drOwsy. His mother suggested that
he lay down on the ground by the fire
and rest himself. In a few minutes
he was fast asleep. The fire had
burned down, but as the night was not
cold, the heat from the C pals and hot
ashes gave them all the warmth that
was needed. Roy had been asleep
about half an hour, and his mother
was about TO get up TO rcplcnlsh the
fire, when she thought she heard Il
rustic in the bushes but a little way
! down the hill. She shook Roy gently,
and whispered to him to make no noise
and TO listen if he could hear anything
down below IN the bushes.
Presently there was Il loud cracking
NOISE rs il something heavy was step,
ping on the dead brush. Roy graspcd
his gun and cooked 1t. His mother
touched him on the shoulder; he was
trembling violently.
"lt may be Il bear or some Other
wild animal,' whispered Mrs. Long,
" Point your gun down the hill to
where you think the noise is and fire.
In the moment there was a lout
report, supplemented by a yell as il
some N was in pain, followed by Il
crashing nC'sc, as something went
tearing down the hill. Roy, now
thoroughly excited began to reload his
gun. In his hurry and excitement l.,
put in the shot instead of the powder
which mistake he did not discover
until he had cncrgctically rammcd
paper wad down on the shot.
con, mammal what are we coins
to do now ?o he cried in despair.
con, well, dear, | don't think W,
will have any occasion TO use the gul
again. Whatever it was you shot a
seemed SO badly scared that dom
think we Will be troubled any more to
night SAID she assurngly.
The excitement of the past few min
utcs and his apprehension in consc
Qucncc Of the disabled gun 81
completely aroused Roy that he 81
: up the remainder of the night an,
looked after the fire.
The next day it vas reported tina
Willis lad been shot by mistake for
} deer. a doctor was sent for who hat
7 found it necessary to extract scvcrG
bId-shot.
} The report of the "T.ong Strike
: soon spread over the country, and tw
mining men from Golden came out
J look at the prospect. Thcy made a
offer Of ten thousand dollars for III
mine, which Mr.. Long concluded t
accept.
5 Mr.. Long now owns the Cottl
l place, which he is improving, and cN
poets III Il few years TO make one @
the best branches in that vicinity.
} Nothing was eve said about Mrs
Long and her sons lonely vigil on Tn
mountain the night after the discover
} of the Last Chuncc: and althoug
Willis deer story was generally belicl
ed, he lever after that could meet Nh
! Longs eye without a guilty look.