Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-11

iooind III dH communities, VINO claim eX
emption from all censure for interruptins
!, company or assemblage, either by intro
duclng some new topic or some parsonage
q from the half jocose manner in which i
was done, was found in this company, ant
), espieing Rosenburgh, who by the appear
/ ance, seemed to take some interest in what
was passing but inclined to say nothing il
spite of his attempt to look unconcerned
he proposed, with a loud voice, that Capt
Rosenburghs opinion be taken, which, he
believed, would settle the dispute. AL
'eyes were now turned upon him, and re-
quest was taken up by several simultane-
ously, and urged upon him. RosenburgI
replied, in substance, that it showed nc
great mark Of ability or correctness of rea-
soning, to form an opinion upon and about
a thing which had not been seen and ex-
j, amined. For his part he could not form
an opinion properly without those aids
and he proposed that all 90 down and look
i for themselves ThiS-Avas agreed co with
alacrity, and all, save Tom, Picayune Jack,
and Nick Todd, started in company for the
lead. Tom tipped wink to Jack, and
took Nick by the arm, and started into the
saloon. Tom called for the best the house
afforded for the three, which was drank in
silence, after the three glasses had been
placed together and that peculiar click was
heard, indicative of the social harmony
which existed in their respective hearts, for
the pleasure it afforded;
Tom, pulling his flask from his side
pocket ordered it filled with the choicest
liquor the house could turn out. While
the keeper of the saloon stepped into the
cellar to fill the flask, Tom hurriedly infor-
med Nick what he intended to do on the
ground, which was as the reader already
knows, the boldly claiming the right to
Dummy's lead by prior right of digging on
the same range. He intimated to Nick
that it would not be loss in his pocket, if
he could see evidence enough, after exanl-
nation of all the points, to Justify him in
siding for TOMS right, and boldly main
tanning it, should occasion require, on the
score of justice and miners rules. Nick
took in his meaning at once. Tom peck
citing his flask, started with his brace of
companions in rapid pace, to overtake
the company, which they did, but short
distance before arriving at the diggings.
There they found Dummy at work pi-
ling up in a compact heap the smaller pie
ces of mineral which he had thrown out
the day before.
After some coarse jokes at Dummy's ex-
pense, Of which he paid no heed, by some
Of the rougher portion of the miners as
fsembled, Rosenburgh asked him if he had
any objection to the boys looking with
some attention at his lead, remarking to
him at the same time that dispute as to
Itheseeurse it. would take aoins ;-.as ,t,ev
came down to settle it.
Dummy started up with some surprise,
which increased in perceptible degree as
be discovered upon looking around, so ma
ny persons together, whom he had not be-
fore seen oil account Of being SO deeply alb
sorbed with his treasure Not understan-
ding distinctly what Rosenburgh had said,
and consequently not knowing what bro't
such large number of persons about him,
his fears began to rise In his mind that
their visit b0ded evil to him, and he be-
came terribly excited, ahd wildly tossing
about his arms, rolling about his eyes and
writhing his body into almost any magma
BILE shape, he said, i'll broken and indistinct
sentences, which by the rise and fall Of his
voice, with the kissing, grating noise made
at the end of almost every word by sud
denly closing his teeth, rendering it quite
difficult to understand what he said, that,
Observation-Disclosures, I--strike-
'em-and- OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
bout-'em-afor Nobody-shan't-
have'm-no-way. The-min'al -is-all
mine. faint your n-1ior yottr'n
your n-Arot your Nor obody's-but--it
-'longs-to me-" he said, pointing his fin
ger at several Of the miners, and keeping
his arm moving, with bis fore-fnger strait,
all around the. company present. "lt's
i mine-all Inine-and the-piece up-to
delight House-is-mine-
j You've come'd-to rob-me. [ know
you have-all of ye--to steal--my dig
gins. You're-thieves you're rascals-
Il you're varmints-you'r devils-away with
We, We hull brood of hell-away!" In ut
4 terinc the last few words, Dummy had
clinched his fists, spread out his arms al
right angles with his body, and leaped as
\ high as he could into the air, and coming
\ down, brought his arms forward for the
\ purpose of driving off the company. See
ing that they did not move, he sunk upon
, the ground, buried his face deep into his
/ hands, groaned out, "Pm-ruined-I NJ
ruined gone-Tm-gone" At this
point there was some minutes OF silence
l some regarding Dummy with pity and
some with curiosity; Tom Frost was the
i first to speak.
Il .P'rhaps when the hull truth is know
5 bout them diggins, Dummy won't fee
5 quite so bad" broke in Tom Frost at thu
} point at may turn out, the boot Is OF
5 'tother leg, and Dummy amt any more t
) do with 'em than the man in the moon"
j At this strange speech from Tom, caus
!, led al eyes TO be turned upon him at once
: and several voices were heard at the sam
: time, calling out, sswhat dye mean! wha
0 dye mean!"
d 81 mean just this, and nothing shorter;
added Tom. "It's no use keepln mum an,
i Longer on the point. / claim Dummy
ri nsl,es 1,,1l $50 ovnry Mound ont