Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-13
THE DEAD TOWN.

1t was among the tangled ridges 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 crooked
valley. thexe were riding two men of
widely-diffel-ent exterior, although they
both were sufficiently noteworthy in
their way. / The one In front, upon
whose slow movements the other was
rapidly gaining, was mounted on a stout
old mule. whose dull ambition he con-
tinuously assisted with hearty thwacks
Of what W hs left of the stalk and lash OF
. worn-oydt I" bull-whip )" and curious
sort of n customer was he. His dress
was an Todd commingling of the rags and
relics /of civilized clothing with articles
of Indian make, not to speak of sundry
rudz Improvements" that spoke proba-
biz of his own clumsy handiwork. His
mat, for instance, consisted of greasy
y and battered antelope-skin, stretched
over an incomprehensible frame of will
low twigs and rusty wire, and had such
"flap-down" behind and such flap
ND" in front as suited admirably way
the wearer had of bearing his snub nose
high in air, as if he perpetually discov-
cred something unpleasant In the sur
rounding atmosphere. 1t needed no
second glance of an experienced eye to
determine that that man had been a
long time in the mountains. In fact,
he was lust returning from a prospect
ing and mining tour of prolonged toll
l. Of of of cr1n
cess and there Is no other time LII bus
Wild, adventurous life when your gen.
uine miner so thoroughly appreciates
his right to carry his nose as high In the
air as he pleases. And yet our minel
seemed to be in no particular hurry, fol
all his occasional applications to the
tough hide of his old mule, and, least OF
AL. did he seem disposed to avoid the
man behind him.
The latter wore the uniform of {
United States cavalry officer, spick anG
span new. with the shoulder-straps of &
captain. and general appearance o.
having lust been TO the BARRIERS, thai
was in strong contrast with the out
ward man of the mule-rider In front OF
him. He was well mounted on a sleek
skinned and perfectly -groomed fat geld
ing-auite too fat for use in country
like that. The Captain, however, did
not carry his nose in the air, but rather
seemed inclined to send its long, sharl
point ahead of him on general scout
ing expedition of its own.
"Hullo, stranger " shouted tn
man on the mule, as he turned hal
round in his tattered saddle; 81 say
cap'n, my names Bing. Do you kno,
If this 'ere's the right road to Crooke'
Pine
Cant ssy, my friend" replied tn
captain !; /" never was here before, AM
I'm Just riding ON ahead of my men t.
see what / can find
"Wall, then, cap'n, this ere is tn
right road to Crooked Pine, and In
swine right into that thar city myself
sure as my names Bing."
"An right, . growled the captain; ''g
m if You want to. I don't suppose an
one viii try to stop you.
ssWon't they, though ?" returned tn
she man on the mule. I" Wall, l reckon
{, YOU never was inty Crooked Pine in We
life, and I'm Just gwine right In there,
am. Mebbe Il amt bad place for you
with yer army-blue on and yer cayalr
fellers comm close on behind ye. ain
got no cavalry hut thus yer consarne'
cid mule."
way inquired the captain, aimin
his long nose ct the man on the mule