Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-27

posed calcite and chung tenaciously as Meekins
wrenched with his powerful arms at the handle.
With sudden loosening the pick broke away,
carrying with it slab of calcite. the snap of the
strain throwing Red on his back. The mourn
ers found it difficult to resist smile of gee at
Reds mshap.
The latter scrambled to his feet grumbling at
the cussedness of rock. and stood eying Grossly
the part he had uncovered. Suddenly he
stopped and ran his hand over the spot: then
in feverish eagerness with his hat he brushed
away the debris of earth. Holy smoke, Pc
Loo" he cried excitedly next instant, Here's
a solid vein of silver, four inches of It'll It's a
strike. l tell youl"
In his excitement Red had forgotten for the
instant. his solemn occupation of grave digger
he was oblivious to everything but the delicate
gray metal of precious worth that spoke of
riches.
1t wasn't in human miners nature to resist
the call of strike. and, shameful to relate, the
men who minute before had stood in dejec-
ton about the shallow pit now hoped eagerly
into its hollow, like boys scrambling for hand
full of tossed pennies Meekins, as author OF
this discovery. stood back wiping the persplra-
ton from his forehead listening to the enthu-
siastic confirmation of his announcement. He
was the first to remember the somewhat sac
religious divergence.
"Gen 'lemen'' he said. with impressive so
1emnity. there's lady present. and "a"
Red checked his utterance, and coughed apollo
getically: he had been going to say "a body.
He stepped out of the trench. followed shame
facedly by the others.
Things is kinder diff rent" Peloo said.
Were terrible sorry, Mrs. Hanson, that the
depositin' of your late husband is not so agree
able as it should orter be-"
oh. please do-do- l don't blame you.
1t can't be helped; but"
~ LAS Peloo said lady, you best come along
with me back to the hotel.' He turned to the
group of men. SOS to prevent any misunder-
standin' this strike an our neglected
dooty, this claim staked on my permit, all
legal an accordin' to law, an also l guess I'm
the man that made the strike"
Red was interrupted by hustle of d1scon-
tent. cough or two from the men; even Peloo
turned and looked at him half angrily. But he
continued in an uneventful voice:
What was gon' to say is, said stakin' was
done for Mrs. Hanson. an that goes. This
claim. an all the silver therein. belongs to the
lady as has met with so much sorrer. Genie
men. JUS ask you to agree to that as wit
nesses.'
Peloo held out his big paw. saying, "Shake.
Red!" He was followed by the others, each one
grasping Reds hand in solemn appreciation.
The transfer papers'n all be made out
proper an accordin to law, an the claim be
recorded in due course" Red added with a
great burst of technical expression.
The widow, overcome by the strain of wait
ing and this sudden alternating good fortune.
burst into tears. Peloo nodded to Red and
then down the hill. and Meekins going awk-
wardly up to Mrs. Hanson said with rough ten
derness.
Il guess we'd best get back to the hotel.
You're mighty tired
The group of men watched the two go
slowly down the hill on the little trail, and pres
emily Peloo spoke. WELL fellers. we got to
finish this job. Red's-well, Red was always
square: this don't count nothin'. An as for
the husband here, guess it's about the fu'st
an las time that he ever done that little lady
a good turn