The Shasta courier., 1872-11-16
ADVENTURE IN A NINE.

posed to have occurred in one of the numer-
Gus mines on the Pacific coast, is given in
recent work, published in England, en-
titled "Pracical Jokes with Artemus
Ward, by Mark Twain and other Humor-
ists."
81 How are you off for fashionable society
in this city 2" asked Artemus Ward of Mark
Twain, when the two humorists met at the
International Hotel, in Virginia City,
Nevada"
"Our bar rooms are we'll attended in the
evening, and we have some roble ball
rooms on the side streets, where the hurdy
gurdy girls provide the music, and little
shooting adds to the fun" replied Mark
Twain.
You must put me through tonight"
said Artemus. II am not heavy on the
shoot; but my soul yearns toward hurdy
gurdy girls We will 20 into society"
Virginia City, at that time, was one of
the most extraordinary towns in the mining
territories. Its streets were shelves cut out
of the sides of a high mountain, its popula-
tion consisted Of miners, teamsters, bar
keepers, spectators, gamblers, adventurers,
and loafers, its soil was silver, and its sur
roundings sand, sage bush and savages.
The Indian with his scalping knife in his
girdle, and the white man with his pistol in
his belt, passed one another on its planked
footways, slowered at each other in its
dreary suburbs. In the bars and dance
rooms might be met rough clad men fall
nationaities French, English,
German, Mexican, and Brazilian all alike
disposed to dlink, dance, fight, play cards,
| or pop at one aIo;her with their pistols as
circumstances might suggest, or fancy
prompt. Ward ard Twain visited three
dance rooms in the course of the eyening.
In the third there was very pretty Ger
man girl who played polkas on the hurdy
gurdy to the dancers, and who spoke a
little broken English. She had lock of
sadness about her. Artemus became inter-
ested in her appearance, and after dance,
with Mark Twain tor his partner, drew the
hurdy gurdy girl aside, and entered into
conversation. x = Two days afterwarl, and
Mark Twain arranged that Artemus and be
should pay visit to the Gould aud Curry
mine, subterranean town burrowed into
the sides of Mount Davidson, and out of
which many thousand tons of silver may
have been tax en-. Some idea OF the extent
may be formed from the fact that it con-
tains about five miles OF tunnels, passages,
and underground streets. Artemus knew
that his friend Mark would prepare recsp-
tion for him in the mine, and therefore
suggested that the hurdy gnrdy girl should
be invited togive them little music with
in the mountain. The way of descent in
to the Gould and Curry was by tunnel
or adit, down which tramway led far into
the mine. x After some dozen toasts
had been duly honored, the sound of
hurdy gurdy was heard in the distance
along one Of the dimly lit passages
Artemus started, and cried out-"That's
my German friend. Bring her in here"
Instead of coming nearer, the sound
seemed to recede.
"Gentlemen excuse me-" said Artemus
~ want to speak to that young lady,
| She must come and have some champagne"
We will 60 after her, and fetch her."
said Mark Twain. "Sweet music leads the
way Come on"
From tunnel to tunnel, running all sorts
of dangers, Artemus and his trends hur-
ried along, the hurdy gurdy still myster-
iously keeping ahead. Mark Twain grew
tired of the pursuit, and suggested the
probability of falling down shaft
"I must find her" said Artemus "but
it's no use calling out to her again She's
frightened, making away from US. That's
she. l see the light ahead. Now she's
turned up another tunnel.
Keep to the track, them" said Twain,
holding up light he had borrowed from
one of the miners. "But had you not bet
ter let the girl go?"
"No, come on. There's the hurdy gurdy,
louder and nearer. This way. Round the
corner Hi! iIurdy gurdy Music Fa-
derland Gretchen-stop
Just then the music ceased, the distant
light disappeared, pistol shot resounded /;
through the subterranean ways, and, in a
few seconds, Artemus and Mark were con-
fronted by two men, whose faces were so
covered with dirt that in the gloon it was
impossible to distinguish the countenance
of either. One of them pointed a pistol
toward Artemus, and roughly demanded ::
why are you following my wife?"
'Is the young lady with the hurdy
gurdy your wife? ?" stammered Artemus
I" She is, if have not killed her, And
I'll blow you to eternal blazes for trying
to steal her."
"She did not tell me she was married
She ="
She She's bad enough; but it's you
you pair OF thieving loafers. Stand still
and say your prayers before l put bullet
into both of you."
g Don't shoot us in the mine," expost-
ulated Mark Twain. " Let US have
little fresh air to die in" /.
My name is Slayful Jim. have had
a hundred men for breakfast have
Slayful Jim is not man for palaver, nor to
have his wife stolen from him. Say your
prayers and let me shoot"
The other man, who had kept silent, now
interfered, saying be knew Mark Twain,
and did not believe him to be william.
But how is the other loafer ?"