West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-24

this day."
fered the plaques of prospectin' from
the MexicOs to the Circle, an yet
don't begretch 1t none now that I've
struck pay"
While they spoke two miners strug-
gled with bowlder they had unearth-
ed and, having scraped and washed 1t
carefully, staggered back to place IL on
the cleaned bedrock behind. One of
them slipped, and 1t crashed against a
brace which held the sluices In place.
These boxes stand more than q mans
height above the bedrock, resting on
supporting posts and running full OF
water Should n 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
and bend at the joint; then, before
they could reach the threatened spot
TO support 1t, Slapjack Simms, with q
Shrek, plunged tapping down into the
cut and seized the hume. His great
height stood him I'm good stead now,
for where the joint had opened water
poured forth In q cataract He dived
under the breach unhesitatingly 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
icy, muddy water. II entered his gap
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 II as must have ached the
heroic Slapjack under the chill Of the
melting snow. He was relieved quick
ly, 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:
Amt he ring tailed wonder? It's
plumb solemn an reverent the way he
makes them untamed cuss words sit
up an beg. It's a privilege to be pres
emit That's n gift, that IS"
You'd better get some dry clothes"
they suggested, and Slapjack proceed
ed o 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 aud tuggcd 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
~ gold pan. rinsing II out carefully
Tho other boot he emptied likewise.
They held q surprising amount Of sedl-
ment because the stream that bad
emerged from the crack I'm the sluices
hnd carried with it pebbles. sand and
oil the concentration OF the rifles at
this point Standing directly beneath
The cataract, most Of Il had divcd fair
~ into his inviting walstband. follow
ing down the lines OF least resistance
into his boot legs and boiling out at
the knees.
wash that" he said. You're ant
70 yet O prospect"
with artful passes Dcxtry settled II
in the pan bottom and washed away
the gravel, leaving n yellow glltterlna
pile which raised n yell from the men,
who had fingered curiously.
Tie pans $40 10 the boot leg" one
shouted.
How much do you run to the foot,