The Lincoln County herald., 1871-06-01
"Aflsr Yeur Scalp, Partner"
tFrom the Overland Monthiy.1

[From the Overland Monthiy.l
A mountain trail-a narrow, tortuous,
difficult path. Two miners, with their
estates tiod up in ropes and bfung across
their backs, scrambled wearily up. just
at the stecpest part the foremost halted
short, turned about, deliberately unslung
his pack, sat down upon it and sighed.
As he looked across the green expanse
Of the valley below, to the brown majesty
Of tho opposite range, and over into the
fathomless ether beyond, look not Of
earth orept into bis eyes, impressing his
face with something Of the glory Of trans.
fguration. His companion, rough aud
hard though he was, observed the change,
and appeared to have some vague and
imperfect idea Of its nature, for, without
q word, he grounded his own baggage
and sat himself thoug ghtfully upon rock.
For some time the two maintained ST
lence which was intensified rather than
broken by the just distinguishable mur
mur of the river 1000 feet below. The
wind whispered it's eternal secret to the
pines, and the sun flaming grandly above
flung wave after wave Of light against
the hills, which sent back faint pulsations
of heat as if it we're an echo.
"Jim"-and the voice of the miner was
choked and husky, as if troubled in its
lower depths by some struggling emotion
-"Jim. we two have been good friends,
amt we2"
Whether il was because be did not
thoroughly know what was coming, and
so declined to commit himself, or whether
he had delicate consciousness that to
reply would imply misconstruction Of
its purport, Jim maintained q great 81.
lencc, merely shifting his ePeat hands
alternately. the one above the other, upon
the vertical handle Of his pick. The
uncertain light in the eyes of the speake,
grew, by imperceptible degrees, into o
positive CLEAN of intense longing as be
continued:
Jim, I'm not feller to ask favors
you know that. Ever since We two've
been partners, you've never knowed me
to git man to hold my dust while
attended to the cards, without my beiu'
willln' to hold hisn the same. Now
partner, 1 feel that l can't drift no fur
ther on this level, and guess I've go1
to go lower down. But fore 60, wan
you to tell me, honest, who twas sho1
me that night at the fandsngo over tc
the Spanish Camp. The thought that
was fred into by some stranger who
wasn't takin' no hand, aud come near
havin' my light snuffed out by some one
unknown to me, is not good thought te
die on. When git down yonder, and
they ask me who made that hole in yel
baokT I'd like to tell 'em so't they oould
spot him when he comes. 'Taint no case
for human justice; We haven't got moth
ing Invented yet as'd DO right to him
And, Jim, don't you never 20 for him
yourself; that mans too mean for KILN. :
Tho dying msn ceased, but jim bowst
his head lower over the pick handle II
silence, and seemed struggling to sup
pres sob. Finally helasked 10 an al
most inaudible tone:
"Bill, are you quite sure you are play
ing out fAst2 ,-. Hf :.
"Im collin up my riata, Jim" q
SLOW long mout you last yet?"
I "Not more'n ten minutes at the out
side." .rr-t4a
Jim Strengthened himself upon bis rool
with jerk. aF
"Bill, won't never get after that fel.
ler-Ieast ways not till commit suicide
l fred that shot that's s.doin' for you T.
Then, half apologe eticaily, II didn't know
you then, Bill, or I shouldn't q sho
without singin' out to you that I was or
it."
That extremely moribund miner ros,
to bis feet; more properly, there was I
vast upheavsl of his frame. which seemed
to expand at every point as it finally
lowered aloft like blasted cedar.
"Jim," he famed out, "board's fai,
play; and ever since We two've beer
partners you never knowed me to TAKE
back . card. But in saying what die
about human justice, throwed away ,
queen when l knowed l held 4 bower
Jim, I take back that play; I'm after
your scalp, partner !" @
The spot is still pointed out to ths
traveller. 'F ~