Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-06-03

down: Keep still, my boy. IN come |
and take you to papa Don't move till
come; that's a good boy" And with
out moments hesitation he walked
down the shelving, sliding floor and
was back on the surface quicker than
am telling 1t, sitting on bowlder to
get the tremble ont of his knees and
wiping the cold perspiration from his
face, but with his treasure trove safe on
his arm.
1t wasn't much of a trick, was 1t!
You could have done 1t and without
getting nervous either-that is, II you
knew nothing about the incline ana
had thought, as you naturally would,
that the boy was on the bottom But If
you had known what 1 do and what
Ben Jones did and then had done it
there isn't n miner in the whole of
Floyd district who wouldn't be proud
to drink with you. We miners are not
very alarmingly good, but we do like
nerve Ben dug the incline and knew
that for some eighteen feet it went into
the ground Mt an angle of about thirty
degrees and then took n fall of fully
sixty degrees to the bottom of the
shaft, more than 100 feet away. To.
take that frightful fall and roll down
| the Jagged wall was to be torn into ten
| thousand pieces. Jones wouldn't have
gone to where the boy lodged without
| rope attached to him and two strong
| men at the other end for all the wealth
of Mercur, and yet within thirty sec
onds of hearing that plnintive call he
| was there.
He was soon all right and asking the
little fellow how he got there. II des
walked, and / failed down hard" was
the calm reply "I'ze awful hungry. l
want somethin' Jack tired" Jones
took him to the tent, struck light, got
some bread and butter and n little milk
they had brought up from camp as II
surprise for their morning coffee, and
the three miners-the men We're awnk-
ened by the disturbance-p proceeded to
interview the intruder and learn how
he came up there on the mountain at
midnight, more than two miles from
the camp and at least mile from any
other cabin. He was entirely content
ed. sitting on Jones' knee munching
bread and butter, but could give little
information about himself. His name
was Jack, and his other name was
Buster when papa was home Papa
was his father and mamma" was his
mother. He lived with papa, mamma
and Tatie and Edna" The little fel
low was communicative enough and
disposed to be good company, but they
couldn't even guess to whom he be
longed Soon he looked into the young
miners face and asked: Who is ou'
What on name?" Jones answered
promptly: Pm Uncle Ben. Call Inc
Uncle Ben, Jack" "All IT'D" with q
yawn. Uncle Ben, Jack seepy," ant
almost as he said it he was sount
asleep
Jones rather liked to hold him ant
did while he said to the men: Boys,
haven't the least idea where this mon
key came from. l know every kid il
the camp, and he doesn't belong there
/ don't know anybody in the hills tina
owns him. wish he were mine. Ism
he dandy? But he belongs to some
body, and whoever it is must be abou
wild by this time We've got to lool
them up and let them know he's safe
You go down to Mercur, Bob, and
any new people have come in the las
day or two and lost boy everybody I
know it probably Jake, you go owe
Lyon hill way. Go by and wake tn
Kelly people up. They may know some
thing. He can't have come so very fal
His shoes are not quite worn out.
won't do to wait till morning III
mother would go crazy. Cut out nov
fellows. You'll soon get on the tract
, I'll look after the little chap all RICH
. and if Walker and his gang show up
guess can stand 'em off till you g
o back. You'll find some one that know
" him."