Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-03-16
NUMBER 10.

write and want to hear from him when he gets
below ;" answered Jim tearing another envelope
and turning to the signature. g Well, this is
pretty cool'' he continued holding up the letter,
is This is from him too"
s!Where's that dated?' asked George
q Dated. Why at Grub Gulch, five miles up.
Cuss his picter, see what he says:
GRUB GULcH, Aug. 7th.
uFR1ESp BArEs-Pursuant to promise write
to let you know that Pm getting along WE'LL
Poor whiskey here too III try the brandy as
come back. Truly, H. F. SMITH"
"Pd try his head with pick handle if he was
in reach roared the irate Jim when he had fn-
ished reading 81 Now, what dye think the fool
means? Is he drunk what?''
81 Think said Lee, the storekeeper, I" that
he's paving you off for that ball room trick last
spring He swore he would if you gave him
half a chance If all them letters amt from him
I'll miss my guess"
A broad grin spread over Jim's face. Well,
if he has done that III give him credit for bein'
sharper than ever thought him. Let's see if
tits So"
Sure enough, every letter was from the i'm
mortal Hank. Each announced his arrival at the
place and described the quality Of whlskey, and
that was all.
The crowd by this time had got hold of the af-
fair and Bates got it from every quarter. But
Jim was of the kind who can take joke as well
as give one, and having mounted boot box, he
at once.
Gentilmen," said Bates, waving his hand
impressvely. I" You have read the volumlnous
correspondence which came to me this afternoon
That shows the estimation in which our friend
Smith holds me. Though lost to sight to MEM
ory dear is his motto, and dear enough he s been
to me. Smiths good feller; we served him out
last winter and now he retaliates Thar is where
he 8 right, for revenge is sweet. Now he 8 ahead
of me, but before nj ght IL be ahead OF him, and
if you chaps will stop here an hour L IL show you
how | mean to do it. Let's all take drink.
AS soon as the drink had been taken, Jim
hurried off He soon returned with an old pair
of breeches belonging to Smith, which he had
found in the latter,s wood shed where they had
been thrown with other refuse; they were in fact
the pair he wore while at work in the diggings,
covered with mud and patches from one end to
the other. Procuring -four sack Jim proceeded
to sew on some more patches in an artistic man
ner which being done the pants were soaked in
the muddy water of ground sluice to give the
patches the tinge Meanwhile small box was
prepared in which the breeches were deposited,
the box nailed up securely, and the whole direct
ed to Z" H. F. Smith Esq, What Cheer House,
San Francisco, - and given to the expressman
Williams, who agreed to carry it to Wells, Fargo
& Cos Office free of charge on his part.
1t not many days the box arrived at its
place of destination. Smith sitting on the
verandah of his hotel enjoying an after dinner
cigar in company with some old friends whom he
had picked up in the city, when the bar keeper
approached and handed him a letter. He opened
the envelope, and found within receipt from
the Express company which read ' Received of
j. j. Williams, one sealed package, weight %
pounds to be delivered in order as received
to H. F. Smith, What Cheer House, San Fran
CISCO" Smith turned to the bar keeper. q" Where
is this this package?' ?'' he asked.
&C The messenger has it in the Office
the reply. Hank arose and went into the Office
accompanied by his friends.
''This is the gentleman" said the bar keeper,
indicating Smith, the latter entered.
"Al right, responded the messenger, "here's
your box sir, charges, seven dollars"
Smith surveyed the package. 81 wonder
what can be in it, said he, musingly, half to
himself and half to his friends. 81 can't think
of anything have forgotten that the boys would
send me. Who the duce could have sent it?''
q Maybe its quartz which some one has sent
you to have aualyzed,' suggested one of the
friends, " don't your receipt tell what it is p
"No, it does not And don think its quartz
| It's hardly heavy enough By Jove," he added,
as a thought struck him, 81 know now what it
| is. The Fisher brothers were talking of sending
| fifty ounces down to the mint to see what East
Fork dust will coin, and have take9 this way of
doing it, as the charges two per cent, when it
is sent as dust. But they had ought to have
written
"Perhaps there's letter in the box"
sYou're right, | didn't think of that. Here's
your express charges, mister. Barkeeper, fetch
a Ratchet and boys let me tell you that if this is
what think it is, you'll see some of the prettest
dust that out of the mines"
The hatchet was brought and the lid of the
box pryed off. There bundle inside folded
in a newspaper. Hank tore off the paper and
revealed old pair of pants which he proceeded
to shake out, thinking the purse might be rolled
in them. But there was none.
Al. ,a.1 H.
out the pants till the broad patch on the seat
showed to fine advantage and the millers brand
on the -four sack which had been used. 'Teha-
ma Mills, Warranted Superfne," F" could be read
by all hands ssPm cussed if this don't beat
me'
Here's note that may explain" said one Of
his friends, picking it out of the box.
1t did explain. Amid breathless silence Hank
read
BAGDAD, Aug. 25th.
"DEAR FRIEND SMITH-Your favors, from No. l
to No. l6 the last dated at Sacramento came
duly to hand and were well appreciated assure
you. | am expecting to hear from you again by
the next express. Knowing you were obliged to
leave in hurry, take the liberty of forwarding
your epery day pants. They will do for you to
knock around the city in, and you can have
your good pants in order for the next ball. The
boys send their regards. Thine ever so much,
J. d. BATES"
Roars of laughter greeted the reading of this
epistle. Hank gathered up the pants, thrust
them into the box, and motioning the barkeeper
to set on the glasses fastened to the door, where
calling boy who was passing, he gave him a
dollar to throw the package" into the bay
But it was long enough before Hank heard the
last of his tevery day pants"
The autumn months rolled away and winter
had set in before Smith concluded to return to
the mines. His return was noised around
and the boys hocked in to see him. Bates was
among the foremost.
You kept your word and wrote to me-" said
he as they shook hands. 81 How about your
clothes, did you git 'em safe?
'Quite, thank you. Now, Bates, I'll tell you
what. You're deuced sight meaner than |
am, and if yer willing wen quit and call it
square"
I'm on it," responded Jim, lets drink on
the bargain
You fellows talk sensible" said Lee, setting
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