Fool's Gold Fortune, Part I

Lester sat in Lisa’s café that morn, his eyes mindlessly staring out the door, it was July of 1889, and new work young Lester now had to find. He’d left Jud’s ranch when he refused to pay, did some small jobs, but not much came his way, had heard some mines were opening up here, but he might starve before they did, he feared. Then walked in a man, his beard silvering, said, “I’m new to the town, but I am willing to pay a dollar a day if you dig in my new mine, the name is Alan Higgs.” That caught the ear of all the dining men, and Lester was there amongst all them; ’twas good money for just swinging a pick, the crowd signed on, their names came fast and quick. Alan told them how to get to the spot, a remote shaft he’d named the ‘Hidden Slot,’ and Lester got a chuckle at the name, but the next day he went out all the same. Two dozen men had been hired to dig, the thought of gold excited them like kids, Alan said, “Boys, for thieves I do no care, but work hard and I’ll see you get your share.” The men went down, and they began to swing, but very quick Lester noticed something, the gold they found did not glisten quite right, and hefting it, he swore that it felt light… “It’s damn fool’s gold!” an upset miner swore, and to the daylight all the miners tore, to test the oar under the sun’s bright glare, and they did not like what they saw up there. “There’s no gold here!” one big man yelled at Higgs, the owner shrugged,“I never spoke of it.” the big man cried, “Boys, there won’t be no share, that’s nothing but a liar standing there!” The men fumed and threw down picks and shovels, one said,“Come on, let’s thump this old fools skull!” Several advanced, to see the damage done, Higgs dropped his coat, revealing two big guns. The men growls, annoyed but not stupid, “Let’s walk,”one said, and that’s just what they did, they left at once, just Lester still remained, he stared at Higgs, thinking:Is he insane? Then said to him,“You claimed that you could pay, show me the dollar, and I might just stay.” But Higgs was prepared for this very test, pulled a dollar, placed it in Lester’s vest. “I’ve got more and I reward loyalty, by God I swear, you’ll get your salary, and since none of those heathens seem to care, when we’re done you’ll get a whole quarter share!” Lester fought back the urge to roll his eyes, but daily pay he would not just pass by, so what if Higgs was digging up fool’s gold? If he got paid, then he’d do just as told... CONTINUES IN PART II