Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-30

considered good ground, largely per-
haps because of the high value that
Hank placed on it himself. Stories
were current among the miners of the
vicinity of the fabulous figures that
it would take to buy it. It was re-
ported that in the early eighties Hank
had turned down an offer of quar-
ter Of a million dollars for his ground
which had been made by a big New
York syndicate. A Canadian outfit
also, had taken a bond on it later,
and had paid some money for the op-
ton because it was known that Hank
had made a trip back to his cid New
England home that summer, the first
time he had visited the old folks since
he came to the Hills, but after an eX-
animation the Canadian capitalists
lad allowed their option to become
forfeited. This was due, as Hank af-
terward learned, to statements"
that were made by local parties who
wanted the ground themselves, but
were unwilling to pay Hanks price
for IT, and more than once Hank had
traced "disparaginE statements of a
similar character" intended without
doubt, to depreciate the value OF his
property. to this same group Of men,
who were just then commencing to
buy up all of the valuable ground in
the ncighborhood
The developments on the Magrew
group consisted of number of shafts
an open cuts and tunnels. Hank had
started a tunnel from the Rumbago
gulch side of his property but, after
running it few hundred feet, found
that this tunnel was located too high
up to cut the ledge on the proper lev
el Besides, the dip of the formation
OF the country was toward Polar
gulch, and it was obviously from that
side that the property should be de-
vcloped The big tunnel which was
to prospect and develop the entire
group. was located some two hundred
feet below his cabin and here, year
after year, Hank steadily kept up his
assessment work, hoping to reach the
rich vein of ore which he was certain
was located just little way ahead.
Forty years had passed away since
Hank Magrew came to the Black
Hills and for almost forty years he
had owned the Magrew group. He
mad never lost his faith in the ground.
Indeed, his confidence had grown
stronger, and his belief had become
more fixed and certain, that he was
getting nearer the rich vein where
the big body of high grade ore was
located But he was getting old and
feeble. He lacked but year or two
of having reached the patriarchal
three score years and ten limit, and
the neighbors noted that he was fail
ing rapidly of late OF the men who
had come to the Hills when he did but
few were left One by one they had
passed over the great divide, and
those who were left behind like Hank
by their stopped figure and grizzled
hair were showing the weight and in
trinity of years.
Two thoughts had now taken pos
session of Hanks mind, and had late
ly comprised the sole subject OF his
conversation. First, that he must
strike the vein Of ore before the ap-
preaching Christmas, and second,
that he must go back once more to
the old home in England. me
nejghbors humored him in both or
his determinations, telling him as he
showed them specimens of the rock
which he was now finding in his
tunnel that he was undoubtedly get
ting closer to the vein, but when
coeaking of the old man among them
selves it was to the effect that Hank
was becoming "daffier" every day,
and that before Christmas in all prob
ability he would be prospecting be-
yond the "perlygates, on the other
side of the big divide.
The summer had passed away
quickly. the summer seemed to go
more rapidly now than formerly and
winter had started almost in the be-
ginning Of the autumn, with sep
tamber snow which seemed unable
TO 20 away. More snow fell from
week to week and by the middle Oh
naca,nber the snow was four feet
deem throughout the Bald Mountain
country.
christmas eve was here again, the
anniversary of the night when the
angelic hosts proclaimed over the
Garth the "glad tidings," and as Hank
looked out this evening upon the
great panorama of snow covered
country which stretched away from
his in every direction, he grew Wis
,hlv excited with the majesty OF the
scene. Above him lowered the dark
summit of Terry and yonder, SHINING
in the moonlight, stood old Balo
Mountain with its icy cap OF sno"
To the south standing like a lonely
sentinel was Clusters Peak. whiie far
away on the west he could see tne