The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-02-16


cabin on the cliff begged me 10 stop up
that way any time l was passing. and
"hi md his paTdner" would he mighty
glad 70 see me, and have q yarn about
things In general,
again resumed my seat on the log, and
had nj "a, ..e 30 long 'efore was accosted
by n second citizen" and much the same
process Of questioning gone through-end.
ing with the same profterel spirituods
hOspitality--the formula being, however,
varied in this instance by his requesting
me to "hist in blast - which, being
done. again sat down on the log-with a
wre,ched headache-the whisle5 being,
need scarcely say, of q character undrink-
nble in even honI ',athic quantities, by
any one but thoes lo...y accustomed 10 it.
A few citizens INV began 20 collect at the
sigh; Of stranger. with some of whom l
got into conversation. and found them (as
Is frequently The case far from unintelli
gent men, and CAPABLE md willing TO sup
ply me with much rough, practical. goo
rgical Information regarding mines. and
This favorable commencement 10 my nc
quaintance with the Orleans Barites. was
not however 10 last. and in few minutes
l was destined to experience the truth of
what my Swedish friend had warned me
Of inst then a rough looking CT stomer
approached the circle. He was ressed in
a buckskin shirt. buckskin trousers and
moccasins an old Californian sombrero-
n most villanous description Of hat when
it gets sold-overshadowCd n most ruiIianly
style Of countenance, while over Lis shoul-
der was heavy rifle, and on his hip
large Colts revolver At glance | took
the fellows character in, nd waa prepared
for him.
"WhaT dye come from. colnlr' was
the question, uttered in n bullying tone OK
voice-"and whar ye gwine to-prospect
irg. l cal'late1"
had now wretched headache. pnd felt
IN no temper to be bothered, especi ally by
such fellow Pesides my blood was get
ting warm 1T the tone OF the mans voice
very different from the o.hers-and the
half contelnptuous smile and wink he gave
to those around him rs he noticed my halt
hesitating appearance. He however mis-
took the cause Of my trepidation. Hooked
nj ths fellow steadily my right hand was
in my jacket pocket, and instinctively bat
silently il there cooked small but terribly
effective Dcrringer pistol, and without
hin ever suspecting anything, carelessly
turned the rnuzzle inside my pocket in the
direction Of his person and then replied
to him-slowly but firmly, watching every
movement Of his eye, and prepared at the
slightest hostile movement to fire.
Well. judge. I'm not aware this is the
county court and that | avn at your bar;
still don't mind answering your ques
tions. I'm an Englishman-sged twenty
6ve-unmarried, and no present intention
Of being-of no particular profession, BIZ:
a mining engineer by inclination just ct
present-come from Jermyn street, Lon.
don. some four years ago. though latterly
from Manzanillo in Mexico, likewise from
Grass Valley, Observation-Disclosures. Van
couver lsland-Cariboo, British Columbia
and lastly from Jacksonville, Josephine
County State of Oregon, Unit, Stats of
America-husiness, my own lockout go.
ing to stay here as long "a it suits me--and
after l am done, intend TO go baC whence
! came. Any more questions TO aek If
tina = not sufficient will be happy to
answer any more, though ihat's about all
have to tell, my very good friend p
The good.natured crowd laughed and ap-
rarently saw the joke, or rs they plra cd
it, that " stranger had got the dead wood
on Jed > bat the rowdy seemed puzzlol
and uncertain how TO act. finally, after
looking at me forn mh ute Iall the time as
STEADILY watching him--he grOwled out
"TheD tnbe 8 drink, curse yel'
The request was issued in nm insulting
tone Of vOice-more command than a
more request, aud even had | cared TO ac-
cede to it unde, other circumstances, was
determined not TO be bulleA into anything
by the fellow. knowing well that If did
I would only be the excuse for future
quarrel. and the loss of the prestige had
already gained; 80 replied with NY finger
on the trigger of my concealed pistol. my
hand being still carelessy in my pocket
and no one suspecting anythipg-enuuci-
ating each word slowly
"No, sir thank you. You must excuse
me. | have already drank with several of
your citizens. and the liquor in this section
don't agree with me. have got bad
headache, therefore you must excuse mo
drinking ara II Now. 1'mDS you all the
same" While / said hcso words kept
my eye still OF my man waiting for the
first movement, bat sti he kert II ) rito
over h.s shoulder Instantly his manner
cuanacd f'om the bally N to the rate.
" llev yc got ANYTHING agin' me. cap -
replied That that wo Ill be impossible,
considering that had n 'ver seen on heard
of him in my life before AMI that / had al.
ready given the reason for my declining
his kindness.
Then you'll either have to fight or
drink T.
can well remcmbe at the time thai,
quick as thought. fct my life hanging
OH thread as the crowd cleared out from