Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-02-20
AT THE FOOT OF CENTRES, TRAIL.

When L was at Harvard, my rom |
mate and bosom friend was Charley |
Despard. He was of very good family, |
but not very well off, and when our col |
lege career was concluded, and I took
my seat in Bates & Blog's Office 70 court
the Goddess Themis, he went OF to push
his fortune in the Golden State. ,-+ssFssgs
Charley was queer sort of fellow
capable of great exertion, but deplora-
bly, lazy, always making good resolu-
lions, and never carrying them into exc
cution without an atom of vice in his
constitution, and yet always getting into
scrapes. After he went to California,
we correspondent pretty regularly, and
from his letters I learned that he was
experimenting In new business every
other week. Now he was in 8 soft goods
store In San Francisco then he ran
paper in Denver then he drove stage
between Auburn and Forrest Hill then
he was billiard maker In San Francisco;
and finally he told me he was in for big
thing in gold mines at Green Flat,
and inclosed his photograph to show
how he looked in his working clothes. I
could scarcely recognize my natty friend
of former days III the lanky figure pic
tured on the cardboard A SLOUGH cap
perched on the back of his head,
wisp of handkerchief tied around his
neck, while hirsute appendages of
Samsonic dimensions covered and en-
circled the place where his face ought
to have been. But his big eyes were
there, looking out just as true and hon
est as ever, and so / knew it was Charley.
even though he did wear big boots, ard
carried six-shooter slung at his side.
He stuck to the mines all spring and
summer, and his letters were full of
hope and radiant with success, until at
once they stopped suddenly, and nothing
more was heard Of him. was wonder
ing what had become of him, whether
he had come to grief and was ashamed
to write me bad news, or whether
worse fate had overtaken him in the
wllds of the far West, and made inquiries
of some of his friends, but none of them
could tell me anything about him, so [
was fain to sit still, hoping against hope
that he would turn up.
One evening / was all alone in my
room, watching the Pickering light of
the fire play over each familiar article of
furniture, too lazy to get up from chair
ring at the door, and presently figure
recognize my old chum, but whenI heard
the accents of his voice my fears and
doubts all faded away, and / welcomed
him as one come back from the dead.
Why, Charley, is that you? Where
have you been? When did you get in
the town ? How's things in general %
60 Yes, it is me. Got in from Califor-
mia this morning. Things is first
rate.
Why, what swell you are. Why
didn't you come right here? Where
have you been? I know there's some
thing up"
"Guess you're about right. Hit it
thar, pard. You bet"
And then he relapsed into silence, and
demolished lavender kid glove in try
ing to take it off
''What's up, old man? Let's have it.
Go ahead"
"Well, amt right sure what's up.
I've struck lead, and it looked no end
: of good, and now when | take the dust
to the store it won't sell"
Please to interpret and bear IL
mind that I am not SO learned in mining
lingo as you are. y
Well, then, here goes" But i
didn't go.
lizard up? You don't look like it
"No. Got half million to my credi
with Clews? %
Woman?"
eyes, and she's the best little woman
In the world-at least [ thought sh,
was" And here the other kid GLOW,
burst up in a most decided manner.
"Now, see here; you have come to
professional man, and if you want solac
and advice make clean breast OF it, an
tell me all your story"
"Well, then, you know my last lette
to you was from Green Flat, the on
with the photo
eyes, I got it. There you are, owe
the mantel-piece, in the custom of til
period"
"That mine turned out real goo
thing. We washed out about twent
thousand in two months, and then "
got rid of the concern to 'kriscan con
pany at million and half, so I Al
pretty happy that way"
"Glad to hear it. But about h,
ladyship."
ssWell, when the thing was done, al
the money is at the First National, v
all went off to the bay, and Irish NJ
got shot one night. He lived just lo1
enough to make his will, and split b
share between me and old Tom Norris
81 regret the untimely departure
Irish Ned, but I congratulate you tn
he was able to dispose of his proper
satisfactorily. But the lady?"
elm comm to her. There was
lot of legal foolin' after Ned's dea
about the inquest and the probate of b
will, and I got tired of loafing at 'Frisc
SO made tracks up country and had
look around the Flat. That was rath
worse in the way of poison, so one MOI
ing went and took Bucker out OF t
corral, hitched him up, got on top, a
set off for slashing gallop. All OF
sudden / took a notion I'd never Sc
the Yosemite valley, and, as it wasn't
ride from the Flat, I went right {
Bucker and I got along first-rate, a
we were down to the foot of the Gt