The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-10-13

could bring out 'Moneymusk' and de
Swarcs. Ribber' an git out'n de way
ole Dan Tucker like Jasper could. |
done miss bis iiidle a-jiggitin' away
out on lie po'ch Oh q summer even"
-Four months after Jaspc-'s departure
from home stout. travel stained black
man, slightly gray. walked slowly and
YEARLY mp the trail leading to Il new
and promising Rocky mountain mining
camp.
He carried little bundle tied up in
q red cotton handkerchief. The out
lines of a violin could be traced with
in 4 green cotton bag on his back. and
he gave his name. 1T the mouth OF q
shaft where he stonped to get a drink
of water, as Jasper Price.
'.Well. old partner" said the man
who gave him the drink Of water, YOU
look as If You had walked all the way
from Georgia.
You done struck pretty close to de
trewf, sab" said Jasper ruefully. Us
walked many weary miles oh de way,
an Ia q done walked de hull Of it Of
ii hadn't "a been for dis yer fiddle
lie had heard wild stories of the ease
and q1ickness with which fortunes
were made in this mining camp, and
in his simplicity he almost expected
to find nuggets of gold and silver TN
regarded on the streets
He found quite different state Of
things People here had to work hard
for their living. as elsewhere, only the
reward of energy and industry was
| perhaps larger and more prompt than
| in the older parts of the country.
Jasper could get no farther, and pres
| emily he found himself possessed of
some share Of the restless energy OF
powers seemed to be aroused by the
spirit Of activity that was in the crisp
and eXhilarating mountain air.
No one could be supinely idle long in
such place rs this great mining
| camp ,Jasper was soon busy with AK
and saw and hammer. putting up Il lit
tie cabin for himself on Il corner lot he
| had staked out as his own
When the cabin was done Jasper
nailed IL pine board over the door on
| which was the one word ''LAWnDry.
He could not read or write, but he had
| induced an acquaintance among the
miners to paint his sign for him.
| In his spasmolic hours of Industry
when at home Jasper used to help his
wife with her daily washings and iron
ings and had in this way acquired
| something Of the wonderful skill that
had given her the reputation OF being
the finest laundress in all the country
roundabout her home.
Since Jasper Gid not know how to do
great demand for the one industry n
which he had some skill, he had re-
solved to open a laundry.
His success was great and immedi-
ate. There were as yet in the camp
very sfew women, and the prejudice
against Cinnamon was so great that il
was not safe for one of that race to
come into camp.
Before the end of the first week Jas
per was so overwhelmed with work
that he hired Il poor boy who had
strayed into the camp rs an assistant
Another helper WAS needed early il
the second week and still :. third Re,
fore the month WAS done.
jasper had Il flourishnS business ana
found It necessary 70 enlarge his
shanty lie developed 4 cal'acity foI
business thai he himself had nevei
suspected
| His industry increased with his sue
cess. There was plenty OF money III
the camp. and it was not long before
Jasper vas possessed of ten times as
much money as he had ever seen he
fore. Moreover. bis head was moi tur-s
ed by his success.
He had queer habit of going atou
chuckling to himself and saying: =
mus write Il iettah one Of desc days
for fac. l mus. HI! l bet hit'll h
mighty welcome iettah to de pussoI