Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1924-05-23
The Clean
of Yellow
Metal
By ANTHONY REIMERT

SGT TELL you I'm through with you,
Jim Black, and you can either
git or will !"
ooh, I'll git, Tom Blenkins, don't
you worry about that. | was a fool
ever to come out with you"
you come out with me, not because
you was a fool, though God knows
you're that, but because you're that
greedy the thought of striking the
Mother Lode turned what head you
got"
Huh | guess | don't talk about
gold in my sleep the way you do,
nigh, after night"
SO saying, Black picked up his coat,
removed his tools and started for the
shack.
The two old partners had been
searching for the Mother Lode for
months. They had prospected together
for nearly twenty years, with varying
success. Now up, now down, they had
stuck together, In spite Of bitter quar-
rels.
But this quarrel was the culmina-
ton Of several. And this time 1t was
In earnest. Each of the two men had
vowed that he would never speak to
the other as long as he lived.
Tom Blenkins, left on the ground,
soliloquized:
Blacks his name, and blacks his
heart. He'd murder me for that thar
gold. Night after night, when he
thought | was asleep, seen him settin'
thar and watchin' me. And it's me
that discovered the Mother Lode. Why
should tell him how near we are to
fndin' 1t when he'd stick me with a
knife first minute l fell asleepT"
Black, eating his last meal In the
shack, was meditating:
Toms fair dippy over that Mother
Lode. HUH Mother Lode Thar amt
no mother lode nowheres around here.
He's foolin' himself. Me for the hills,
whar man can clean up a decent llv-
In with his pannin' without troublin'
about no Mother Lode"
When he had finished his meal he
packed his bundle and strobe away
over the hill. But he hadn't gone far
before doubts began to assail him.
Had he done right to break so finally
with his old partner? He thought Of
the years that they had spent together.
He had been hasty. Well, 1t was too
late now to take back what he had
said. But he was tired. He sat down
on the hillside. Underneath him he
could see Blenkins working away with
pick and shovel and pan.
The durn old fool" he said affec-
tionately. THE durn old fooll"
Tom Blenkins worked with a will.
IF ! uncover that thar Mother Lode
tonight I'll shore have done good
days business gettin' rid of old Black"
he soliloquized. "Ornsry, useless cuss.
Don't do days honest labor and
wants to came in on the strike And
him and me was goln' to have a good
time when we struck 1t Huh, not for
minel I'll have my good time to my
self"
He went to work with a will A
huge boulder obstructed the dry bed
Of the stream and Blenkins dug his
pick around 1t, trying vainly to pry it
pAA VI p'oAtAOh anu bNt at lhC Sdhh
derneath, For long time 1t resisted
his efforts. Suddenly 1t gave. The big
stone rolled out of position.
Blenkins uttered a cry. Underneath
was the CLEAN of yellow metal. He
put his hand down and pulled out
nugget.
Another and another. The cavity
was filed with nuggets. Frantically
he drove in the pick. As the stones
were loosened more and more nuggets
and cleaning gold dust were dis
closed
II 1t was not the Mother Lode 1t was
richer pocket than he had ever
struck in the course OF his life There
must be a hundred thousand dollars
worth Of gold in sight alone
He dropped his pick God. what
this meant to him And If Black
hadn't been such a fool, what times
they'd have had together Now he'd
have the good times himself. He
would.
Suddenly he realized that he would
be lost without his partner.
He glanced up as a stone bounded
down the side Of the Cliff. Black was
coming sheepishly toward him.
Say, partner. l guess | was feelln'
kinder sore" he began.
Blenkins leaped up and grabbed him
by the hand THE Mother Lode - he
yelled. Look, partnerl Say, guess
this means good times for you and me
at the coast together"