The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-24

day, and while she stood in the door
yard watching the trail along which
she expected to see Lin DOwd'S mules
come galloping at any instant, great
plan took form in her mind
If L could only blow the old Horn
of Plenty to bits, Dick would admit
defeat and go home with me. There
he could have some chance in father s
office and would work, too, if neces-
sary. This suspense is killing him. .
She bit her lip thoughtfully as she
went down the hillside to the mine.
She was familiar with the workings
and had often helped Dick, holding
the hand drill and fetching and carry
ing for him faithfully.
She opened the door of the tool shed
and rolled key of gunpowder into
the mouth of the tunnel. There she
inserted fuse into the opening and
carried the length to a large rock
half way up the slope.
There, you greedy old Horn of
Plenty. You've swallowed all our
hopes and our money. When you have
vanished, perhaps we can begin over
again somewhere else!'
Hester did not light her fuse then,
nor for several days, because Dick re-
quired all her attention. Lin Dowd
evidently had not heard her call for
help and she was compelled to do the
best she could alone and unaided.
On Thanksgiving morning Dick was
much better. He said he felt as strong
as lion and would get up and eat
some of the toothsome viands whose
odors filled the cabin with reminders
of Thanksgiving days in New Eng
land. Hester had actually shot and
killed a wild turkey and she was
jubilant over her skill. The turkey was
roasting in the oven now while Hester
put the finishing touches to her timed
vegetables and the pumpkin pies she
had made.
II suppose you covered the dyna-
mite, Hester?" asked Dick suddenly.
81 forgot, dear" she replied, and
she had also forgotten her intention
CT blowing up the mine. Thanksgiving
preparations had driven despair and
bitterness from her heart. Il vii:
run down there in few moments.
II believe 1 feel able to go my
SELF began Dick, who had dressed
himself and was trying his strength.
Hester made such protest that he
compromised on walking as far as
the big rock.
She stood in the doorway watching
him with tender eyes. He paused by the
rock, waved his hand and scratched
a match to light his pipe: He tossed
the flaming match end aside and Hes
ground and then a sullen streak OF red
ran down the hill toward the shaft.
THE fuse-fuse!" she screamed.
running toward her husband.
But she was too late! The quick
fuse had accomplished its purpose. 1t
rea ched the gunpowder--there was a
deafening explosion followed by a
detonation that shook the hillside as
the store of dynamite tore into the
earth.
She found Dick rising to his feet,
white and stern-looking.
what was that, Hester?'' he asked.
Tearfully, Hester made her confes-
sion, anu she had scarcely f1nlshed
other disaster-the little cabin they
called home burst into flames ignited
by the overturned coOkStoVe.
Half an hour later, they faced each
other amid the smoking ruins of their
home. Below was a jumbled heap of
upturned rocks that marked the site
of the Elusive Horn of Plenty.
Hester, wide-eyed and pale, was
afraid to meet her husbands eyes.
This was indeed a cruel Thanksgiving
her own fault, too!
A shout came up the hill Lin
Dowd had heard the roar of the eX-
plosion and had dashed his mules up
the trail to the Prentice claim. They
saw him leave the mules ana come a.
foot up the slope. He stopped at the
mine and studied the ground, then he
came hurrying to meet them.
Anybody hurt?" he asked anxious
ly,. and finding that the young set
tiers were intact, he tossed his nat
down on the ground and proceeded
to execute a weird dance around the
embers of their home
Are you crazy?" demanded DICK
at last.
Almost admitted Lin GREATNESS
Iy, pausing to confront them lou
folks better come down to our house
to dinner. Sarah's got a wild turkey
with all the trimmings. You two
will want to give thanks all the rest
Of YOUR Iives-understand?"
I'VE don't understand" replied
Dick grimly.
Come with me, them Lin led the
way down to the upheaval that mark
I'd the site of the mine Look at
-his-and this The explosion has cut
INTO the vein that you always believed |
was there-you wouldn't have found
it any other way, and, well, guess
you're a millionaire for keeps!
''That Horn of Plenty mine has Ger,
.ainly overlooked with scotland
rn darned glad of it-and If you |
solks can stop hugging each other |
you better come along down and get |
some Thanksgiving dinner!-(Copy-
light, 1915, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)
-fHn- sRuH I'm TGAFnnls