Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-20

against the well-side, got the fore-legs
in his left hand and his hind-legs in his
right, swung him over his shoulders,
and started up the unstable ladder
By this time the goat decided he ought
to be friendly and started an investi-
cation of the man who was able to
handle him. He began on MEG s sus-
penders and had ehewed one end off
before Nee, was aware of what was
taking place. But before any serious
damage was done, the two arrived at
the surface, covered with mud and tired.
The goat released, trotted home, while
Nee, weary, wet, and mud-bespattered,
went into the kitchen and kindled Il
fire.
In few minutes there was roaring
blaze and McG., sat down to dry his
clothes and rest. As a goldseeker, he
had, so far, failed; but he was not dis
couraged, Presently, the warmth of the
room induced drowsiness, and drowsi-
ness induced dreams. McG., thought he
had the coveted pot of gold in his hands
and was dispensing favors right and
left to all his friends. He realized the
power of riehes-bought an automobile,
built beautiful home, and then pur-
chased a fast steam yacht on which he
sped to the tropics, where he lolled in
the ardent rays of sun. But the sun
got hotter and hotter, so hot the plank
ing began to smoke and the brass to
melt. He could scarcely walk across
the deck. Then he woke up to find the
kitchen stove red-hot and the walls
afire.
In a second he jumped for the water
pail, threw the contents on the blaze,
and ran to get more. In few moments
the whole house was roaring furnace
and he could only stand and watch it
burn What would Samanthy say when
she saw it2 What explanation could he
make? Neighbors hurried to the scene
but too late. Only the rafters We're
left and they soon fell. He took his
misfortune philosophically turned over
the useless bucket, sat down on it, pull
ed out his pipe, filled the bowl with a
favorite mixture, and lighted it with a
burning ember. If it was going to
burn, whey let 'er burn,
The fire burned fiereely and then died
quickly down. The rain that had been
falling lightly increased to torrent and
soon only smouldering embers marked
the place where his house-his and
Samanthy 's-stood. But Samathy and
the kids had gone. He was left alone.
He did not mind the loss of the house
so much; he was not altogether regret
full that Samanthy was away, but he
did feel deeply because the babies were
gone. 1t was because Of the babies that
he had searched so diligently for the
gold he believed hidden in that mud
flat, that turn of the river where a lit
tie mountain stream joined the big one.
1t was the logical place fer a gold de-
post aud he felt sure ii was there. He
did not tell Samanthv of certain bits
of color he had panned now and then.
bits that assayed many dollars TO the
ton. He was after the pocket. but.
somehow, the location had eluded him.
1t was evening when the sun suddenly
broke through the rain-clouds aud flood
ed his ruined home with golden LIGHT
The blackened timbers lay in tangled
shapes. Still, he sat ana smoked and
looked at the scene. Finally, he arose,
and began to poke stick among the
ashes over the spot where he had thrown
the dirt and gravel taken from the vel.
AT least. he might save what was ieft