Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1870-08-17
MFNlNTOWN


among the hills, TO let him take the pos
session for week or so. 1t was a hut
where Joe was accustomed TO call when
he wanted to get fresh supply Of rum,
for the stockman had been a convict like
himself. and pal of his but, pal or no
pal, he sold Joe this time and no mistake -
ard have blown his brains out if I'd
been Joe," observed the brakeman with
a savage oath.
II honor your sentiments" responded
Mr.. Blake; "and from what I know of
Joe he shared'em. But, you see, when
he looked in one night at the hut, no
was there; but in his place
Simmons, looking the very picture of a
rough shepherd, was seated over the fire
making tea and cooking damper."
"Halloh where's the stockman here?'
asked Joe, stalking into the hut and ap-
froaching the fire; Joe want a feared
of the devil himself; besides, he was all
stuck around with bowie knives and six
shooters, 80 that he was caution to look
at.
"Where,s the stockman ?" says he.
Simmons only looked up for minute
then went on cooking the damper.
"He's gone" "
"Gone where-dead ?"
"Pretty nigh it. He's down at the
station with marsh fever. I've been or
dered up here in his place"
Sand who may you be, mate, when
you're at home" asked Joe, savagely,
for he was disappointed at losing his
friend. s''' - '''.'
"When I'm at home !" said Simmons
still busy with his damper," if home
means England, I might be lord mayor
or chancellor Of the exchequer, for any
chance I have Of gettin5 back there ;
but being here where I am, I'm only a
jailbird, like you, mate" '''-
Joe who wasn't accustomed to bold
speaking of this kind stepped back a
pace or two and laid his hand on six
shooter.
"Who do you take me for ~ he asked
With an oath.
Il don't take you for any one but your
proper or your improper self" said Sim
mons quite unmoved, and filled two tin,
mugs with the sweetened tea.
"And who am 2" 81
"Joe the Tinman.'' ..,,.
"Joe handled his pistol as one pre-
pared for action, brft Simmons burst into
a laugh.
leave off handling your barking-iron"
he said, "and take that mug of tea. I'd
advise you TO put rest of rum in it, for
the nights dipper. 7z' iaa
You know where the bottle is, so make
no bones about it. When old Mike-that
was the name of the stockman-sent me
up here in his place, he didn't forget to
say who was his friends and best custo-
mers.
"All this was said in SO easy and COM
Portable way that the bush-ranger was
thrown off his guard and no wonder, for
Simmons was tall, thin, young fellow at
that time, and the Tinman, beside being
armed to his teeth, was middle aged, short
and with the muscular develo-
pement of bull. The hut was miles
from any other habitation, and the mig
what with wind and rain was a screamer.
$50, Joe the Tinman and Simmons the
trap, sat to their tea together, and a jol-
ly night they had Of it. I've heard.
The pitcher of spirits was filled and
emptied again and again. Songs were
sung and tales were told till the noisy
revelry within the lonely hut almost ri
vailed the dash of the rain and the scream
Of the blast without.
"Towards morning each took to boast
ing Of his powers of doing this thing or
that thing, and among other things, Sim
mons, who'd been when a mere boy a sort
of acrobat at a circus, boasted of his pow
els Of Jumping. i'
"Now," he said, "supposing tho traps
were about me, and you was one Of 'em,
I'd clear short man like You at a bound
and provided you weren't armed, I'd
defy dozen like you to catch me. "
The Tinman, who was bumptious in
his cups. denied this.
"Why," SAID he, "if you was to try to
leap over me, as you say, I'd just up with
my arms and pin your two thread paper
legs So" g.s,.,,.
He illustrated his words by action, but
Simmons snly laughed. ia n1h lB.aRe
"Nonsense! I'd skim over you as a
swallow skins over bit o'water. You
wouldn't even touch my shadow as ]
passed. stl ~ ~ H..
1.-THE Tinman, drinking more rum,
grew angry. a ss4 o F'a'
= I'D like to see you try it. You're
more of a grasshopper than a properly
built man, that's what you are. Come,
I'll bet you this good watch that you don't