Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-08-15

carefully, staggered back to place it on
the cleaned bedrock behind One Of
them slipped, and 1t crashed against a
brace which held the sIuices in place.
These boxes stand more than a mans
height above the bedrock, resting on
supporting posts and running full of
water. Should a sluice fall the rush
ing stream carries out the gold which
has lodged in the rifles and floods the
bedrock. raising havoc Too late the
partners saw the string of boxes sway
asls bend at the Joint; then, before
they could reach the threatened spot
to support IT, Slapjack Simms, with
Shrek. plunged Tapping down into the
cut and seized the f1ume. His great
height stood him in good stead now,
for where the joint had opened water
poured forth in cataract He dived
under the breach unhesitatingIy and,
STOPPING, lifted the line as near to its
former level as possible, holding the
entire burden upon his naked pate.
He gesticulated wildly for help,
while over him poured the deluge Of
iuQd0t UatCks ~ CAtEtS0 LIS 6uR
ing waistband, bullying out his yellow
trousers till they were fat and full and
the seams were bursting, while his
yawning boot tops became as boiling
springs Meanwhile he chartered forth
profanity in such volume that the ear
ached under it as must have aehed the
heroic Slapjack under the chill of the
melting snow He was relieved quick
~, however, and emerged triumphant,
though blue and puckered his wilder
ness of whiskers streaming like timber
stalactites, his boots loosely 'squish-
ing" while oaths still poured from him
in such profusion that Dextry whis-
pered:
"Ain't he a ring tailed wonder? It's
plumb solemn an reverent the way he
makes them untamed cuss words sit
up an beg. It's privilege to be pres
ent. That's gift, that is"
You'd better get some dry clothes"
they suggested. and Slapjack proceed
ed few PAGES toward the tents, hob
bling as though treading on pounded
glass.
"Ow-ww he yelled. these blasted
boots is full Of gravel"
He seated himself and tugged at his
foot till the boot came away with a
sucking sound; then, instead Of emp
tying the accumulation at random, he
poured the contents into Dextry's emp
ty gold pan, rinsing it out carefully.
The other boot he emptied likewise.
They held a surprising amount of sedi-
ment, because, the stream that had
emerged from the crack in the sluices
had carried with it pebbles, sand and
all the concentration of the rifles at
this point. Standing directly beneath
the cataract, most of it had dived fair
ly into his inviting waistband, follow
ing down the lines Of least resistance
into his boot legs and boiling out at
the knees.
wash that he said. You're apt
to get a prospect. 2
With artful passes Dextry settled it
in the pan bottom and washed away
the gravel leaving yellow glittering
pile which raised yell from the men,
who had fingered curiously.
HE pans $40 to the boot Leg one
shouted.
.How much do you run to the foot.
Slapjack?'
He's reg'lar free milling ledge"
mo, he amt; he's too thin. He's
nothing but a stringer, but he'll pay to
work.
The old miner grinned toothlessly.
Gentlemen, there amt no better
\ ay to save fine gold than with under
urrents an blanket rifles. I'll have
TO wash these garments of mine an
clean up the soapsuds cause there's a
hundred dollars in gold dust clingin'
to my person this minute" He went
dripping up the bank, while the men
returned to their work singing.
After lunch Dextry saddled his
broncho.
I'm goin' to town for pair of gold
scales, but I'll be back by supper; then
wen clean up between shifts. She'd
ought to give us a thousand ounces the
way that ground prospects" He loped
down the guIch, while his partner re-
turned to the pit, the flashing shovel
blades and the rumbling undertone of
the big workings that so fascinated
him.
It was perhaps o'clock when he
was aroused from his labors by shout
from the bunk tent. where group of
horsemen had clustered. As Glenister
drew near lie saw among them Wilton
Strive, the lawyer and the big, well
dressed tenderfoot of the Northern,
Mcnamara. the man Of the heavy
hand. Struve straightway engaged
him.
SAY. Glenister, we've come out to
see about the title to this claim"
what about it"
well, it was relocated about a
month ago" He paused
Eyes. What Of thatg"
A{1o1Iovau hos com ,aaf,nnd emit -