Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-11-14
The Dead Town.

and ranges of the rugged mining
region of Central Nevada, and the
sun was but little more than two
hours high, but getting higher and
hotter every minute.
Along the deep ruts Of the old
wagon-road. which wound through
a crooked valley, there were riding
two men of widely different ex'eri-
or, although they both were sutfic-
iently noteworthy in their way.
The 'oac in front, upon whose slow
movements the other was rapidly
gaining. was mounted on a stout
old mule, whose dull ambition he
continuously assisted with hearty
thwacks of what was left of the stock
and lash of Il worn-out "bull-whip;"
and q curious sort Of a customer
was he. His dress was an odd
commingling Of the rags and relies
OF civilized clothing with articles of
Indian make, not to speak Of sun
dry rude improvements" that
spoke probably of his own handi-
work. His hat, for instance, con-
sisted, of q greasy and battered an
telope-skin, stretched over an in
comprehensive frame of willow
twigs and rusty wire, and had such
a "flap down" behind and such a
"hap up" in front as suited admira-
bly, a way the wearer had Of bear
ing his snub nose high in the air,
as if he perpetually discovered
something unpleasant in the sur
rounding atmosphere. 1t needed
no second glance Of an experienced
eye to determine that Mut man had
been a long time "in the noun
tains." In fact, he Was just return
ing from prospecting and mining
tour of prolonged tol and peril, but
of very satisfactory success; and
there is 10 other time in his wild,
adventurous life when your genu-
inc miner so thoroughly appreci-
atcs his right to carry his nose as
high in the air as he pleases. And
yet our miner seemed to be in no
particular hurry, for all his occa-
sional applications to the tough
hide of his old mule, and least of
all, did he seem disposed to avoid
the man behind him.
The latter wore the uniform of a
United States cavalry officer, spick
and span new, with the shoulder
straps Of a captain, and u general
appearance Of having just been to
the barber's, that was in strong con-
trast with the outward man OF the
mule rider in front Of HIM. He was
well mounted on a sleek skinned
and periectly-groomed fat gelding-
quite too fat for use in Il country
like that. The Captain, however,
did not carry his nose high in the
air, but rather seemed inclined to
send its long, sharp point ahead Of
him on general scouting expedi-
tion of its own.
"Ilullo, stranger!' said the man
on the mule, as he turned half round
in his tattered saddle; 81 say cap'n,
my names Bing. Do you know if
this 'er.'s the right road to Crook
ed Pine?"
Cant say, my friend" ,"rcplied the
captain; "never was here before,
and Pm just riding Oh ahead Of my
men to see what can find"
"Wall, then, cap'n, this 'ere as
the road to Crooked Pine, and Pm
gwinc right into that thar city my
self, as sure as my names Bing."
"All right" growled the captain;
"go in II you want to. l don't sup
pose any one will try to stop you"
Won't they, thought" returned
the man on the mule. "Wall, |
reckon you never was into Crooked
Pine in your life, and I'm just
gwine right in there, l am. Mebby
it aint bad place for you, with
yer army-blue on and yer cavalry
ieilers comm close on behind ye.
| aint got no cavalry but this yer
consarned old mule"
"Why," inquired the captain,
aiming his long nose at the man on
the mule. sis Crooked Pine such Il
dangerous place to get into?"
"You bet!" exclaimed Bing.
"Why, cap'n, it's just the deadest
town you ever hcarn tell on. 1t
growed powerful fast, it did. Thar