Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-06-10
HIS MINING STORY

AliCHu JoHuSUu-DuSloI JOuHSOu- at
the entrance to Olympia Their last
meeting had been on the Yukon river
in the Klondike.
Buster was typical Canadian, and
his greeting was ELUSIVE. Hush was
decidedly cool.
My word, if you amt dood!" said
Buster, with his eyes, the searching,
blue eyes of the westerner, running
over his friend.
I'm at home now, you know" an
swered Hush.
LET me introduce you to Mrs Flax"
said Buster.
Hush bowed The lady was unmis-
takably American, and looked, in her
frock of mauve muslin, as dainty and
fresh as a sweet pea He could hard
ly believe she was friend of Buster.
Mrs. Flax is goin' in to see the
show, but | can't wait" continued
the Canadian, $50 perhaps you'll take
her round?"
Il shall be only too happy" said
the Englishman.
in a soft voice.
Buster shook hands heartily and
lounged away. Hush gave a sigh of
relief and followed Mrs. Flax into the
mining exhibition.
What would you like to see?" ask
ed Hush.
Mr. Johnson told me to take it in
quickly" said Mrs. Flax.
Poor old Buster!" said Hush, with
a laugh did he expect you to be
interested in hammer, drills and boil
ers and steam pumps?'
perhaps he's not so we'll acquaint-
ed with mining as you are, Mr..
Huish,' observed the lady.
"Oh Buster is a man of some ex-
perience," he answered. patronizingly.
"He certainly understands mining
but he naturally doesn't regard it from
the same standpoint as myself"
What is your standpoint"
THE standpoint of the novelist-the
observer-the man who looks for real
romance and true adventure" replied
Hush.
isn't that lovely!" said Mrs Flax,
with enthusiasm. Cant Mr.. Johnson
appreciate your standpoint"
II am afraid poor old Buster only
appreciates dollars"
"Is that so?"
Her voice sounded bored. She look
ed Indifferent, and stopped to examine
a safety lamp. Hush was seized with
the desire to make her look at him
again with those soft gray eyes.
Have you read any of my books,
Mrs. Flax?"
''Why, no! What are they called?"
"A Girl in Gold Mine is consid-
cred the best"
ut sounds vurry interesting''-he
saw the gray eyes again. Where have
you laid the scene?"
I'm the Kootenay district, British
Columbia"
For the lands sake!" exclaimed
Mrs. Flax, you must tell me all about
fright now!"-
Hush took her into the Diamond
Prospecting Camp, found couple of
chairs sufficiently far from the band,
and told her all about it, from chapter
one to the last page.
The woman was a good listener. He
enjoyed himself intensely.
'The story is founded on fact" he
said. 1T happened at a camp in the
Kootenay. The mine was called Old
alamity after it's owner, and the
heroine was the only daughter"
did you know them?" asked Mrs.
Flax.
"Well-no," said Hush, with some
hesitation, "but l knew all about the
girl. l can truly say wrote her from
life
Then your lovely tale isn't really
first hand?"
Hush was annoyed. He thought the
question unnecessary Mrs. Flax has
tened to conciliate him.
II mean it's so vurry clever, but is
1t quite fair toImake her so rough?"
my dear lady, she was the daugh-
ter of Old Calamity, a Dragging, drink
ing, swearing Old miner.
did Mr. Johnson tell you that?"
Buster Johnson told me she went
down the mine, nearly every day, with
the men-dOwn the shaft On a swing
ing ladder, and they pulled her up in
the bucket that is used to carry ore"
THAT wanted nerve" observed Mrs.
Flax
"She rode astride, and dressed like
a boy, and smoked, and played CAPT
tai game of euchre'
''Turr'ble grill" said Mrs. Flax. with
a shudder.
They left the Kimberly mines after
Hush had delivered a brief lecture on
diamond washing, and went to look at
the mineral specimens from Rhodesia.
Hush waxed eloquent on hydraulic
gold mining and free milling. He
made her examine case after case of
copper ore; he raved over peacock
colored malachite in quartz: he ex-
planned the process of smelling: he
went at length into the intricacies
of compressed air engines, crushers
and pulverizers-he showed her every
exhibit to be seen at Olympia.
1t was o'clock when they left the
exhibition.
Il am going to dine with Mr.. john
son." said Mrs. Flax YEARLY
Dear old Buster! Doesn't he bore
your" said Hush.
81 am not easily bored" said Mrs
'T'm not easily bored, said Mrs Flax.
Hush put her in a taxi