Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-18
Dick PrOthGrO'S Luck
<[&
~

tnose sacred ashes. His eyes were blinded with
tears and smoke and the dust from the pile: but
still he continued He came across little stones
IN the clay now and again. His spade struck
! against them from time TO time or even cut into
them, for they were mere soft nodules. But he
shoveled them out with the rest of the dirt, and
went blindy on at his CHASTITY occupation
| Presently, as he worked, the sound of distant
wheels fell on his ear. It was Archie coming
back! If he meant to carry his scheme into exc
cution he must make haste now. There was no
time to be lost If Archie arrived he would dis
arm him and prevent him. Frantic with grief
he pulled out his revolver and held it close to
his left temple. For one awful second he paused
and prayed. He knew he was mad-what man
would not 60 mad in face of such blow ?-but
an the same he prayed wildly for forgiveness
Then he snapped the trigger right against his
brow, and waited to know he really dying
A terrible moment Of suspense followed. What
had gone wrong? The revolver had clearly hung
fire somehow. He had never known that trusty
weapon to serve him such trick in his life be-
fore. He took it down and looked at it careful
". As he did so the cartridge went off in his
hands and the bullet buried itself in the deep
clay bottom. What luck, to be surel The very
powers of inanimate nature seemed to fight
against him Why, he couldn't even succeed in
killing himself comfortably when he tried to do
so. He raised the pistol angrily to his head once
more. This time. at least, he'd take it
didn't miss and dsappoint him.
But before he could fire again terrible thrill
ran through his brain; thrill that made him
drop the revolver in his amazement. For he
heard, from the direction where the wagon was
advancing cry of surprise chds cry Of
simple wonder and astonishment. The cry went
through him like flash Of pain But it
JOY that unnerved him! Then, Daisy, at least
was safe Daisy had gone with Archie in the
wagon 1t was Dasy's voice; and for Daisy's
sake, at any rate, he dared not kill himself.
He raised himself to the top Of that strange
grave on both his elbows and looked around with
dim vision to see what had happened His eyes
were still blinded by the smoke and ashes. and
he could hardly make out who in the wagon
Then with another wild burst of gratitude and
joy he heard another voice he had never ex-
pected to hear again. Contrary to all PROBABLE
ty. all possibility almost, Bertha there as
well as Daisy and Archie
He flung down the spade in a strange access
of delight and rushed to the wagon. To the rest,
it was a moment of surprise and terror to see
the house burnt down, and that gaunt wan man
in his grimy shirt sleeves all stained with smoke
and dirt, dartng wildly out like some madman
to greet them. But to Dick, it a moment of
unspeakable Joy. House and land we're forgot
ten altogether in the sudden revulson of in
tense delight with which he saw his wife and
child brought back to him from the dead again
IT was some minutes before each party could
understand exactly what had happened, for at
first Dick could only look and laugh and cry
like maniac, and take Daisy up in his arms
over and over again. and lay Bertha down on the
ground, crying, upon her mattress. But after
awhile they grew more calm, and in broken
words explained how things had Jared on either
side with either Of them. AS to the grave and
the revolver. indeed, Dick remained for the mo-
ment discreetly silent: but the rest, he told as
we'll as he was able in brief sobbing sentences.
Then they kissed one another once more. that
husband and wife. strangely restored, and
wept with thankfuness, all houseless and home
less alone on the prairie
Presently Archie broke the solemn silence
eve must take Bertha somewhere for to-
night" he said gazing round ruefully. Perhaps
they could give a bed at McDougalPs."
They raised the mattress into the wagon again,
and were going to lay Bertha back on her impro-
vsed invalids couch when Bertha cried out,
ooh look at Daisy, Dick; what's that she's do
ing over there that dirt-heap yonder?'
Dick turned round, and with his bloodshot
eyes, saw dimy that Daisy trying to suck
one of the roundish pebbles he had struck his
spade against so often in digging. It was peb
| BILE as big as a hens egg. aud he was afraid the
child would fairly choke herself with it But he
would not go near that open grave himself, from
which he had been preserved almost by a mir
acle 1t fairly daunted him.
600 over and fetch her, Archie" he cried in
a tone of command. And Archie went to her.
But Daisy didn't want to be deprived of her
pebble ats pretty" she said, and went on
sucking at it.
he exclaimed looking close at the rough lump
and pressing it with his nail what earth's
this? It's as soft lead, and as yellow as
guinea!"
Then he burst into sudden loud laugh of
triumph Dick stared at him in amazement
thinking the painful drama of the last two hours
must have fairly made Archie lose his senses
But Archie waved the pebble frantically round
his head with a strange air of victory. "Dck
Dick" he cried. in his JOY, "uck's turned at
last; they're nuggets! they're nuggets"
And that's just how Dick Prothero found the
first rich paying placer Of alluval gold that ever
was discovered in Manitoba