The Press., 1917-03-29
The Last
 Hope Mine How the Miners Were Civilized
By ALAN HINSDALE

aone of the best payin' holes In the gronp, before it run out was the Last Hone mine. It's name was given It Inv the mnn who struck it, who was much down at the heels at the time and fully intended that if it didn't re- IIave his necessities he would hang himself to the limb of tree that ex- tended directly over it. He sold ms claim for $10O,OO0 to a company ana retires first off from this here story.
 .sThe president of the Last Hope lived in the east and sent out a man. ager from that region. Mir. Parkhurst, among other things, at home had been superintendent O. a Sunday school. Naturally he didn't like the appear ance of Colorado minin' camp. The cussin' that was going on was just like fireworks. The saloons did better business than the store. Whenever the wind rig the playin' cards filled the air like a snowstorm. As for Sunday, there was no work on that day, but instead of services there was gamblin'. There was few women in the camp. hut they was worse'n the men.
 s.AIr. Parkhurst looked the ground over and sized up the situation. What that camp needed was wives. He ar gued that men without the restrainin' influence of women would naturally turn into wild animals, and he resolv- ed to send for some girls. He called the miners together and told 'em that if they would turn out the women there was fin camp he would send for A carload of real good, true members of the female sex to he helpmeets for 'em. The miners agreed, and Mir. Parkhurst wrote Miss Amelia Bowers. who had succeeded him as head of his Sunday school. to come out with dozen of the best behaved and best lool<in' 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 scientious woman. concluded that 1t 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 set up housekeep'n' with.
 'sThe day Miss Bowers arrived with them twelve gals was screamer. Not a man would work, and every one Of 'em went to the tavern where the coach was to unload. While they was waitin' Ben Huggins, an old feller who was a leader among 'em, made 'em speech, remindin' 'em that they mustn't be in too much of a hurry to wed and that gals liked to be cOurted. There wasn't enough gals to go round by any means, but any fightin' for lem would spoil the whole business. It the men behaved right another 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 Iookin'. Them miners hadn't seen q nice woman in years some of 'em-and they wasn't used to snch beauty. It was like angels cOmin' down from heaven. The men was re spectful, you bet. There's no place where a good woman is so reverenced as where she's a rarity. A way was opened from the coach to the tavern and the gals went inside, but there was sich 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 felIer who had spoken to 'em a short time before, took on 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 to go round in the first place there wouldn't likely have been any trouble. As 1t was, several of the most desperate men each saw among the lot a gal he wanted, and some of 'em wanted the same gal. The gals hadn't more'n gone back into the tav- ern before there was half a dozen fights. Huggins he goes off to the man ager, and he says:
 | "'Mr. Parkhurst, I'm afraid there's a-goin' to be a commotion in this yere camp. Why didn't you send for enough for a feedT
 What do you suggest, HugginsT
 ""The most natural way, the way the men would take to easiest, would he to raffle 'em.'
 ''Mr. Parkhurst looked glum. 'YoI forget, Huggins.' be said, that wo man has the right to marry whom she chooses. To raffle them would be tC give them away without their consent That wouldn't do at all.'
 Well, Mir Parkhurst, all I've go to say is that if somethin' isn't done and that pretty quick, there won't bt enough men left to furnish husband
 for this lot of gals
 "1'm afraid we'll have to send tn women back said MT. Parkhurst.
 "I reckon said Higgins, scratch
 in. his head. we might git the men
 draw lots for a chance to git som
 one O 'em.'
 That's good idea; try it.
 ''Huggins went away and called
 mass meetin' of the suitors. He toll
 them that a dozen men must be che
 sen by lot to offer themselves each t | SAls II Ahau AalAeu LO nnu dh
 one of the girls he wanted and wh
 wanted him that left a girl for sec
 ond drawin of chances. Many c those present would rather have tough
 for their chance; but, recognizin' tn
 delicacy of the situation and the pla
 hein' the nearest that could be sug
 gested to n raffie. it was unanimOusl
 approved. Blanks and ten prize slip
 were placed in a hat and ten men wer
 selected. Every one of the lucky te
 was ordered to black his boots. talk
 his trousers out of them, wear a cOa
 If he had one and report at the taver
 that eyenin' for introduction by Mis-
 Bowers.
 ''The next mornin' MT. ParkhurS
 called for Huggins.
 "'WelI, Huggins,' he said when tn