Putnam patriot., 1910-05-13
By HARRIET L. eEnpIs.


 or, ''one of the best asyin' holes tn the groun' before it ran out was the Last Hope mine. It's name was given it by the man who struck it. who was and fully intended that if it didn't re- lieve his necessities he would hang himself to the limb of tree that ex- tended directly over it. He sold hls claim for $Io0.ooo 10 company and retiree first off from this here story.
 "The president of the Last Hope lived In the east and sent out man. sger from that region. MT Parkhurst. among other things. at home had been superintendent of a Sunday school Naturally he didn't Ike the appear ance of a Colorado minin' camp. The cussin' that was going on was just like fireworks. The saloons did d bet ter business than the store. When ever the wind rig the playin' cards filled the air like a snowstorm. As fer Sunday. there was no work on that day. but instead of services there was gamblin'. There was few women In the camp. but they was worse'n the men.
 MT Parkhurst looked the ground over and sized up the situation. What that camp needed was wives He ar gled that men without the restrainin influence of wnssen would naturally turn into wild animals and he resolv- ed to send for some gals. He called the miners together and told 'em that if they would turn out the women there was In camp he would send for a carload of real geod. true members of the female sex to be helpmeets for 'em. The miners agreed and Mr Parkhurst wrote Miss Amelia Bowers who had succeeded him as head of his Sunday school, to come out with a dozen of the best behaved and best lookin' young women she could pick up. Her influence WAS far more need ed in the west than where she was Husbands would be provided.
 Miss Bowers. a middle aged. con sctentious woman. concluded that it was her duty to accept the situation and proceeded to collect dozen young women who would rather get married than work. She also shipped several hundred Bibles and hymn books. The company paid all expenses and give each gal a hundred dollars to sit up housekeepin with.
 "The day Miss Bowers arrived with them twelve gals was n screamer. Not man would work. and every one of 'em went to the tavern where the coach was to unload While they was waitin Ben Higgins. an old feller who was a leader among 'em, made lem a speech remindin' 'em that they mustn't be in toe much of n hurry to wed and that gals liked 10 be court ed. There wasn't enough gals to go round by any means. but any fightin for 'em would spoil the whole busi- ness. If the men behaved right an other lot would be provided: If they didn't those who had come would go back.
 When the coach drove up to the tavern door there was yell. Some of the gals was on top. and they was mighty good lookin'. Them miners hadn't seen a decent woman in years some of 'em-and they wasn't used to such beauty. II was like angels comin down from heaven. The men was re- spectful. you bet. There's no place where good woman Is so reverenced as where she's rarity. A way was opened from the coach to the tavern. and fhe gals went inside, but there was sfch a howl for 'em that they come out on to a balcony and stood there, while the men at an order from Huggins. the old feller who had spoken 10 'em short time before. took of their hats The gals looked kind of funny. as if not knowin' what to make of the reception.
 "If the manager had sent for enough gals 10 go round in the first place there wouldn't likely have been any trouble. As il was. several of the most desperate men each saw among the lot q gal he wanted. and some of 'em wanted the same gal. The gals hadn't moren gone back into the tav- ern before there was half dozen fights. Huggins he goes on to the manager. and he says:
 "'Mr. Parkhurst, I'm afraid there's a-eoin' to be commotion in this yere camp. Why didn't you send for enough for a feedT
 Aa
 "'The most natural way. the way the men would ,ake to easiest, would be 10 raffle 'em.'
 "Mr. Parkhurst looked glum. You forget. Huggins, he said. that a wo- man has the right to marry whom she chooses. To rafiie them would be to give them away without their consent. That wouldn't do al all
 Well, Mir. Parkhurst, all I've got to say is that if something isn't done. and that pretty quick, there won't be enough men left to furnish husbands for this lot of gals
 "Tm afraid we'll have to send the women back said Mir Parkhurst.
 "T reckon said Huggins. scratch iu' his head. we moght git the men to draw lots for . chance to gff some one on 'em.'
 .'That's a good idea; try It.
 ~Huggins went away and called . mass meetin' of the suitors. He told them that a dozen men must be eho- sen by lot to offer themselves each to a girl. If a man failed to find eny one of the girls be wanted and who wanted him that left . girl for . second drawin' of chances. Many of those present would rather have fought for their chance; but. recogntzr