Cañon City record., 1901-07-11

to expire, and the mortgage wished
the money. He lived in the city, 500
miles distant, and did not care for a
risk where the security was liable to
be crushed beneath 80 feet of snow,
as both Plumas and Sierra counties
were famous for heavy snowfalls.
George Barton had not been able to
save enough money for the mort
gage. Avalanches had covered the
mines and kept him from work.
Then one night in returning home
he could not find the shoot and had
wandered off and when discovered
was badly frozen. Ii was the custom
in the village for the miners when
going to work to plant staff with
rag streamer at the entrance of
the shoots. so that they could find
their homes if a storm came up But
the wind had blown Barton's flag
down.
Then there was another trouble.
For a number of years George Bar
ton had been a contestant in the ski
races which are the principa amuse-
ment Of the people of these counties
Of California in winter. but in every
one he bad been defeated-more,
humiliated. as twice, unable to con-
trol his long legs. he had al first
wabbled, then slipped and gone
down the slide upon his back amid
the roars OF laughter and gibes of
the crowd Of spectators.
"The funniest thing about it." re-
marked the storekeeper, 'is that
George thinks he can ride and al
ways lays it to his skis or the dope
But. bless your heart. man might
Jest as well try TO ride on stills as
them legs of his'n. They amt built
for skim They'd make a good skid
for bridge. Ny. how he did tan
gle ". legs and arms all in knots !
Why don't some of you chaps tell
him nature didn't intend him TO
ride skis Z"
"Why don't you tell him 2" retort-
ed listener, laughing.
"Waal. ii amt my business, and
get heaps Of fun out of him, but
it's the truth, he amt got any
sense"
"He's entered for next week." said
one Of the group.
"WhAt for = the sweepstakes 2"
asked the storekeeper.
''You bctl' was the reply. Hes
got some dope that's like CREASED
lightning, and you can't get the Sc
cret out of him with team of wild
horses. Gus Lindbcrg offered him
$40 for a cupfdl, but he wouldn't
look at him, and he's given it out
that he expects 10 win"
He'll win If the prize is for ty-
ing his legs into knots,P laughed the
storekeeper. "He can't equal the
time he went TO Miss Bates party
and slipped at the head of their
shoot. II was as feet il it was a
foot, and he went sliding down like
log of redwood mile a minute.
I The front door was shut, and he
struck it feet first and landed right
in the party, his legs all in knots"
The ski races had been announced
for a week, and Long Barton had
entered. The grand prize was $3.50,
and he believed he could win it. But
on the morning of the event his
mother made some excuse for re-
manning home and was the only wo-
man in tho hamlet not present at
the races. She could not bear to
witness his defeat. The course was
on the slopes of the sierras, a splen-
did hill 1000 feet long, slippery as
glass, and of so sharp an angle that
man could not ascend it, and once
on it with skis. it was race like the
wind for nearly half mile. then out
on 10 gradual slope into the valley,
where the little village lay buried.
Every town or village in Plumas
and Sierra counties Of any preten-
sions had ski club, and many OF
the members were experts who had
performed wonderful feats, and for
this race the pick Of every club was
on hand at the top of the CLASSY
slide, while an admiring crowd Of
men, women and girls looked on.
The curious Norwegian snowshoes,
which were eight feet long, four
inches wide and half an inch thick,
were being given their final polish,
every contestant having his especial
"dope,' which was his secret. Apart
from the others stood Long Barton
strapping on his skis, which had a
polish such as had never beer seen
before They cleaned in the sun
with dazzling hrillinncn- II "dnne''