The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-23

from Aggy's tone Of voice that this was
he proper thing to do. I'VE didn't use
10 handle our dirt no other way out in
Uuc1e -Chuckle county" =
is that so?" cries Aggy, very much
surprised Well do you know that very
few people dor"
1T makes me tired" answers the man
IN knowing way, ito think of the way
some folks mines. Now that you've call
ed my attention to 1t, I don't recolIect
that I've heard Of anybody using a
ground-sluice rocker the way you speak
Of. since 4 left old Usckle-Chuckle coun-
ty" And here ! got a little violent again.
because I can't conceal my feelings as
we'll as Az. I had to have several at
tacks on the way out when Ag was
brought to close quarters, but we did
pretty well on the trio.
Well, gentlemen, there's the Golden
Queenl" says Aggy when we turned the
bend in the creek. Seems funny that
such an undressing looking heap of
rocks and stuff as that should be a gold
mine, don't it?'
he see by their faces that they was a
little disappointed and that he'd better
get in his crack first. Then the question
come UP of how we was to get them fell
lers to dig where we wanted EN- to- with
out letting EN- see we wanted EN- TO-
But, Ag, he was able for IT,
pick in anywhere's-one place is just as
good as another THAT was the gospel
truth for Ago But If you don't know
just where to start suppose we try an old
miners trick, that Mr.. Johnson there,
make no doubt, has done a hundred
times"
Johnson, he smiles hearty. Yes, yes!
That old camel" says he. I'D nearly
forgot all about it-let's see-how is it
you do it?"
First you throw up a rock" says Ag.
20. now 1 remember! Surew says
johnson. You throw up rock."-He
stopped, smiling feeble and uncertain.
waiting to hear the rest of it.
Suppose we let Mr.. Daggett Chat was
the tin horn) do the throwing?" says
Aggy He's a new chum, and we fellers
always feel they have the luck. You may
think this is all foolish superstition"
says he, turning to the gambler. but
tell you, honest. there's a good deal in
it" and that was the second true thing
Ag said that day.
Daggett he threw up the rock.
Now, go and stand over it," says Ag.
Daggett goes over according, but he amt
| pointed in the right direction.
Now. you turn around three times
But after he does it we weren't no bet
| ter off than before for the chump landed
| just as he had started.
Ag surveyed the ground
Now, you walk backward three steps.
| then four to the left, then back five more
amt that it?' turning to Johnson.
That's it," says johnson, Shaping his
leg. That's her! The same old game!
Lord how it all comes back to fellerw
And just where you land, you dig"
finishes Ag. handing Daggett a pick.
Daggett sinks the pick to the eye the
| first crack
"Goshr' says he Seems kind of soft
here!"
rs that so?" cries Aggy, highly ex-
cited. Then you've struck gold for
sure!' Having put 1t there himself, he
felt reasonably certain about it.
Well, they scraped up the bed rock.
and Aggy offered to let Johnson pan 1t,
but Johnson said he'd had to quit min
ing because his hands got so sore swing
ing pan. so Daggett he kind of scram-
| bled the dirt out after a fashion, and
| there at the bottom was our ounce and
half of gold. Well, l want to tell you
| there was some movement around
there. We weren't in the same fix of
| friend of mine who loaded a pan for
tenderfoot with four solid ounces. and
when he slid the water around on that
nice little yaller new moon in the corner
of the pan. ''Humph!" says the tender
foot; don't you get any more gold than
| that out of so much dirt?"
Four ounces to the pan only means
about hundred thousand dollars a day
income
"Gooramightyp' says my friend, plumb
disguised. I'D have had to borrow all
the dust there is on the creek to satisfy
you-did you think 1t was all gold?"
1t broke my heart to see the way that
man Daggett washed the fine gold into
the creek, but he was familiar enough
| with handling the dust to know that
| ounce was good money, even Y II did lools
| small He turned pale, and begun to dig
| for dear life. There was no prying him
loose Well. that's a point Aggy hadn't
counted ON. He managed to slide over
near me.
For heavens sake. FTyl" he whispers.
Fly down to Uncle Peters, and get
| some more dust or we're ruined! I'll
| put II In the pan somehow il you'll only
| get 1T herel Hold the old man up If you
have tolbut get that dustp
begun to holler very melancholy, and
prance around. By-and-by 1 pulled my
freight loose and careless down creek.
''Sayi' says johnson. =" here goes
your friend, Mr.. Jones! Shall 1 ketch
him?"
20, no." says Aggy, 'let him alone
he's used to it around here-hell be back
right away again"
When l got out of sight I bumped for
| Uncle Peters.
Sure" says the old man when told
him our troubles. Take the whole
blahsted clean up, by. We honest men
hes got to stand by each and one another
don't let that rascally tin horn escaped!
So I grabbed Uncle Peters hard-earned
savings and hustled back again.
AS soon rs l got in good view Of the
outfit, / knew something was wrong by
the look of Ag's face; but what it was got
me- for there was both them fellers in
the hole now, digging dirt like all possess
ed. Daggett had busted his suspenders,
end the other lads coat was ripped up
the back; but they didn't care; they were
mauling the fair face Of nature like gen.
uine lunatics, and cussing and swearing
| in their hurry.
well. what's the matter with Ag?"
thinks l. Then fellers amt got on yet,
| that's CERTAIN" but he looked as IL he'd
swallowed a stroke of lightning the
wrong way Never see a man-particular
a man with Aggy's nerve-look so like
two cents on the dollar. I didn't have
to be cautious in my approach. as our
| fet,, ylg e.