Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-31

this case wasn't going to court. The
ground was his by every rule Of right,
and lie would keep 1t or be carried of
with his boots OH. law or no law. So he
barricaded the tent. and either he or
enc of the miners was always on guard
with Winchester across his lap.
He was on watch and half doing be-
fore tie fire. which tastes good in this
altitude at night, even in summer,
when he heard little noise about an
abandoned incline IL little way up the
hill. With his gun ut cock he stepped
quietly UP there and was Mortified to-
hear Il baby voice come up from the
hCla. "Papl. l'Ze failed; tome det Jack,
papu." followed by sobs. There was n
little child in the incline; that was
clear. 1t WAS mystery how it came
there and miracle how it had lodged.
but it was there and alive. He called
down: Keep still. my boy. I'll come
and take you to papa. Don't move till
come; that's good boy" And with
out moments hesitation he walked
down the shelving, sliding floor and
was back OH the surface quicker than
am telling it, sitting on a bowlder to
get the tremble out 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 trick, was it!
You could have done it and without
getting nervous ether-that Is. II you
knew nothing about the incline and
had thought. as you naturally would,
that the boy was on the bottom. But II
YOU had known what do and what
Ben Jones did and then had done 1t
there isn't 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 1t went into
the ground at an angle Of about thirty
degrees and then took 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 a
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 plaintive call he
was there.
He was soon all right and asking the
little fellow how he got there. Il des
walked, and l failed down hard" was
the calm reply. 'I'Ze awful hungry. /
want somethin'. Jack tired" Jones
took him to the tent. struck light, got
some bread and butter and little milk
they had brought up from camp as
surprise for their morning coffee, and
the three miners-the men were awak-
ened by the dsturbance-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 q 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 ou name?" Jones answered
promptly: I'm Uncle Ben. Call me
Uncle Ben, Jack" Gall ite," with
yawn. "Uncle Ben, Jack seepy," and
almost as he said 1t he was sound
asleep.
Jones rather liked to hold him and
did while he said to the men: Boys. l
haven't the least idea where this mon
key came from. l know every kid in
the camp, and he doesn't belong there
l don't know anybody in the hills that
W
he dandy? But he belongs to some
body, and whoever it is must be about
wild by this time. We've got to look
them up and let them know he's safe.
You go down to Mercur, Bob. and If
any new people have come in the last
day or two and lost boy everybody III
know 1t probably. Jake, you go over
Lyon hill way. Go by and wake the
Kelly people up. They may know some
thing. He can't have come so very far.
His shoes are not quite worn out. 1t
won't do to wait till morning. His
mother would 60 crazy. Cut out now,
fellows. You'll soon get on the track.
I'll look after the little chap all right,
and If Walker and his gang show up l
guess can stand 'em off till you get
back. You'll find some one that knows
him."
AS they started he called out, "Tell
his mother he is safe as a church and
sleeping like kitten"
Jones hardly moved for an hour or
more. Then, thinking his charge might
suffer from cold, he was taken into the
abin and covered up snug and warm
in one Of the bunks.
Walker arranged with the Bliss boys
to come over early in the morning and
got back to Mercur just before dark.
He pushed open the cabin door, but
hadn't time to be surprised at the i'm
proved appearance when his wife
threw herself sobbing into his arms
and walled:
"Oh, John, our little Jack is lost"
"Lost! What do you mean, Minnie?
"Jack is gone" she answered. 1--WE
came down OH the stage this afternoon.
The girls and were fixing up the cab
In, and Jack was out in front. He
wasn't out of our sight five minutes,
but when we looked he was gone, and
we can't find him anywhere. Oh, our
March,