Gilpin observer., 1911-12-28
HOW OLD suRTRuM DID IT.

mouth of tunnel. This house was
everything to him-blacksmith shop,
sleeping apartment and all else.
If he had any mineral, his dump
did not show much evidence of it.
Under glass, pyrites could be de-
tected.
How did he live? He always look
ed greasy and unkempt. No one ever
saw him in change of raiment. If
it were detected, it appeared more
disreputable than that which he dis
carded.
He was never known to invite
guest to partake of a meal. Yet he
was never known to beg for one. AL
ways had money when he came to
town for his monthly supply Of grub.
which he carried away in a sack.
He did not always buy at the same
place. Invariably he carried away
ham, flour and dried fruit
He could net he called eccentric.
Yet he seldom spoke to anyone; but
all knew him, his habits and where
he lived.
Some said he received remittance
every month; that his tunnel was
simply occupation, liked what he
was doing, which was all satisfying.
A stranger wandered into the
InI, Il IL 20
the old mans cabin. He found the
door open, hut no tenant, but wait
ed discretely without to see what
would develop.
After half an hour he espied almost
O. giant emerge hatless, disheveled
and coatless, bearing in his arms a
box quite full Of dirt.
The stranger, setting on a log was
more startled than the man with the
box, who merely gave glance in
the direction of the visitor, but said
nothing.
Deliberately the man with the box
dumped the contents to one side of
the door, where a little pile of dirt
had already accumulated.
The visitor expected word. 1t
failed to materialize. When it was
too late for him to address the man
with the box he had retired within
the cabin.
Taken aback at the. sudden de-
parture without uttering a word. the
visitor concluded he was an intrud
er, and thought to beat q retreat. He
was sorely tempted to remain in the
hope Of getting word with the
strange miner.
AS he was about to retire he
thought to take lcok at the dirt
brought OFT of the tunnel. He felt
he was not justified. However, from
where he sat. fair view could be
had. There was nothing attractive
about it. Looked Ike common dirt.
But why did he put it to one side?
The man hung around till dark.H He
saw the old fellow come out several
times. Once he threw a box of dirt
down the slid, of the dump. This in
dicated waste.
1t was all plain.
After dark the man who had been
watching the proceedings from a dis
tance came up to the cabin to peer ir
at the old man. He saw him pound
ing the rock in big mortar.
He guessed the rest.
This man was no miner nor pros
pector. He was in those parts more
from curiosity. Had strong in
clination to go into mining but hard
ly knew how. Rather, lack Of means
prevented him from handling the
matter as he would like. He had q
smattering of chemistry, therefore
knew just abort what the actions of
the old man meant.
He could not resist intruding. The
door being shut he knocked. He re-
ceived no answer. The pounding con-
tinued. Perhaps the tenant failed to
hear. Boldly he pulled the string of
the latch and walked in.
The old fellow continued his pound
ing seemingly oblivious of the pres
ence of the intruder. who hardly
knew what to make of the old fell
lows Indifference.
OF course the stranger sought to
draw him out. But not word could
he get. He had been standing. Then,
abruptly:
well, old man, so long; must be
going"
Il will tell you what to do" came
the startling rcjoinder in n mild-man
nered way.
Just you pay Hankensmith the
tEdrtieth OF each month fifteen dol
lars for grub and l will give you
half the proceeds OF the result Of my