The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-09-04
Mackay's Hard Days as a Miner.

Maclxay's Hard Days as Miner.
When John w. Mackay worked as
poor placer miner, he was always care
full to put by enough when he could to
put him in position to seize an OPP
portunity when it offered, or, saving
that, to have something laid away for
rainy day, says the San Francisco
News Letter. But prudence can't put
virgin gold In the ground, and Mr..
Mackay's claim on the Feather peter
ed. He'd worked at it for months,
and pan as he might the color got
fainter and fainter. He sat in his
lonely cabin one rainy night, supper.
less, reading, by his last tallow candle,
work on mineralogy, which he had
borrowed from lordly and surprised
engineer. Above the noise Of the storm
came knock on the door. Andy Hep
worth, keeper Of the All Souls saloon
at Thompson's Bar, staggered In. His
stagger was caused by several things.
One Of them was lot Of his own whis-
ky, which was under his skin; the 9TH
ers were two sides of bacon and sack
of -four, which weighted his shoulders
and hands.
"John," he said, ''you never spent a
dollar over my bar or any other bar
at the camp, and that shows your good
sense, but the boys tell me you're in
hard luck, and / know a man when
see one. Here's something to keep you
going" And he threw on the rough
floor the sack Of flour and two sides of
bacon. He retained the whisky.
1t was good many years later. when
Mackay had become a rich man, that
he again met Hepworth, gone in health,
crushed in spirit, lounging among the
crowd Of hopeless ones who hang like
flies about the bunghole of the stock
market, sugarless for them
Hello, Andy!' cried John, delighted.
"You don't mean 20 say you remem-
Der meY said the broken man.
Remember your laughed the mil
lionaire "You bet do, and that -four
and bacon too. Broker
Fiat"
"Pll carry you a hundred of Con.
Virginia.
Good enough, John. You've rescued
me from hell When shall SELF"
when tell you"
But he wouldn't sell when he was
told, and Mackay had to pay the loss.
This happened three times. Then the
millionaire put his arm through Hep.
worth's and took him up to his office
one day.
ANDY" he said seriously, ''has whis~
ky gotsyou or can you let it alone?"
"Yes, l cam
Honest Injun?"
straight"
"All right There's no use trying to
help you in stocks. You're a gambler,
and when the fever gets hold Of you
you won't listen to me or anybody else.
All Souls was first rate saloon. and
you knew how to run it. That's your
forte. I'll send Dick Dey out to find
good place, and you put yourself be-
hind the bar. Come back in two DAYS
$50 p NJ
At the hour appointed Mr.. Dey9 ana
Hepworth were there.
Here said Mr.. Mackay. Drawing q
check There's $4,000, Andy. Dick
struck an Al place OH Market street.
You can buy it and have something
left to stand a run Of barasca il need
be. Keep the bottle for other folks.
and you'll be I'll right. If you. don't
but hope you will for your own sake.
and don't you ever forget, Andy. that
that flour q nh bacon will o txryo,,e. ", &,
draft at sight for grub stake
I'm happy to say that the new All
Souls was a success. that Andy be-
came as temperate as parson and
that he did the manly thing and paid
back every cent Of the $4,000 out OF
less virtuous mems pockets. If yea
GOn'l believe It, ask Dick Dey.
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