Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-11-16
HER FIRST
HUSBAND
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. sAAAAsA,


to the States. Nobody but green
horn would give thousand for that
hole in tie ground as it stands,
We've got 10 close with him, that's
all of ii, and, for my part, I'm done
with mines and mining. I'll strike
back for the old farm as soon as ]
get $500 safe in my pocket"
"We'yc concluded to take you
up" said Homer Craft, the bigger
and buffer of the two men, when ii
came to the final transactions, "but
l feel it in my bones that we are
doing a mighty foolish thing. II
/ hadn't agreed with Willard here
not to hold out beyond this date Id
90 back on the bargain now. | was
a fool not to stand out in black and
white for a couple of thousand more
in case you strike it rich before oui
tracks are cold
This was only intended TO keep
the newcomer up to the mark, as
Willard very well knew, but the buy
er's sympathy was touched, and he
answered earnestly:
81 give you my word, gentlemen
in a case like that ! should offer 4
bonus in proportion to the value Of
your work in the mine. As it is,
am putting every dollar ] can com
mand into this venture. II my
luck runs as yours did Ii. worse
off than YOU are, as | have Il Witt
down in Denver depending on me.
1t was late in the day when the
transfer was made, but the new pro
prietor pulled off his coat and went
to work as soon as his predecessor.
left the mine.
He tamped in the charge of giant
powder and set it off, working awk
wardlv, as one unused to such la
Dor, and undoubtedly he failed tC
step back to a safe distance, for the
exploding blast caught him and kill
ed him instantly.
The two miners, packing tnil
few belongings in the little cabi'
near the tunnel, heard the revcr
beration and looked at each other.
''If he don't strike u lead it won''
be because he's stingy of powder,
said Craft dryly. Come along, VIII
lard; let's see what the fool has
done"
There was moment Of blaTh
dismay when they saw what haC
occurred. Then Craft swooped dow
to grope among the broken ore
while he turned an excited face TO
ward his companion.
Look here, Willard! Look here
It's the lead. the leadl | say, IT.
a lucky matter that no one IN The
camp knows we made the transfer!
why" asked Willard; with dry
and trembling lips.
Because we'll just retransfer 1t
that's why. Here is the deed in hi
pocket. 1t is no robbery TO take Il
back and put his thousand in IT.
place. a thousand l wOuldn't
take $4,000 now-no, nor 500,
OOO-for nv share. WHY. Willard
us rlcner than we ever hoped. It's
plain Intervention of Providence
in our behalf. TO think how neal
we came to cheating ourselves"
And Willard, feebly protesting
allowed himself to be oyerruled by
his stronger minded partner, but
his conscience was sore over that
breach Of faith.
No one appeared 70 claim the ST.
600 which the stranger left, though
it was advertised in the Denver pa
pcrs, and he was soon forgotten b,
all except Willard, whom remorst
proved upon, but not TO the extent
of prompting him to restitution un
til it was too late.
He was seized with chill one
dav while at work and the next wa
Oh his back, raving with mountain
fever.
Il was known very soon that h,
could not recover.
ITS the evil that has come of ON
trcachery, Craft, and it will come
on YOU, TOO, if you don't make res
titution. They that are near t
death see clearer than the living
and ! tell you that ! won't rest quie
In my grave unless you hunt up tina
woman and give her back her own
If you lie to me, Craft, if you prom
lee to do that and fail, tell yo'
that my footsteps shall haunt yo'
till the day Of your death"
He had promised simply to que
Willard and had no intention o
keeping that promise.
In due time the fever did 1T
work, and Willard was laid at re-
in the apology for a cemetery Graf
seemed to be the only claimant TO
his partners earthly belongings, an'
he availed himself Of his oPportu
nifty.
While at work one day in tn
mine, aow panning out in grca
shape, there was premature bias
wEicl, those who heard il belle
hid ended Crafts career.
Yet amid the shower Of burstin.
rock which few oil around him h