The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-10-25

The hours slipped away, and the BOYS
commenced to take farewell drinks, when
HoOsler Jake remarked:
"l move ther don't be no more shootin' at
sight this side the crick Their heu been
times when gentlemen's missed their man,
an laid out some feller inside of his shanty,
Of course that's excusable-no gentleman q
to blame for mistakes that comes of havin'
his early eddication neglected, but there
amt to be no practiein' on wimmen."
"That's so !" responded the crowd so
emphatically that men who shot wild con-
sidered themselves solemnly warned.
Had the next mornings sun possessed a
human countenance, it would have been so
paralyzed by what it saw that the whole
solar system would have been seriously dis
arranged, for there, in the principal and only
street at Betmicks Turn stood Hoosier
Jake IN white shirt and clean shaven face.
The contagion spread rapidly, and Jake's
razor was SO industriously borrowed that
its edge soon resembed that of superanu-
ated hoe. Men disappeared mysteriousIy,
to return clad in such gorgeous raiment as
could be purchased at the stores up and
down the creek. Parleyvoo, the only French
man IN camp, heated pipe stem and tor
tured his long hair inte a thousand little
curls. The restless Nashua spent several
hours in deep thought, and finally relieved
his mind by speech:
Mark my words" said he, "the one of
'em that gifts her IL be chief of the hull con-
cern."
1t was evident that the rivals looked at
the matter in the same light, and their en-
deavors soon relieved their followers of any
responsibility in the matter. In fact, when
a Baretop Bilyite offered three ounces to
one that two of the great men would leave
camp as soon as the success of the third
was made public, his bet remained uncover
ed. Each man loyalty bet on his own fav-
orite chief, but the chances were SO even
that few odds were offered. For couple
of hours the faint hearted of two parties en-
deavored to hedge, for Tom Luggs appear
ed in new hat, but the stout hearted sup
porters of Norfolk Ben were rewarded by
seeing their champion placidly displaying
watch guard like unto a pump chain. The
Baretop Billyites were very respondent, for
whole evening passed without their leader
being seen at all but when the morning
light was thrown radiantly back from pair
OF highly polished boots on the feet of the
bald headed hero, his followers countenan-
ces indicated content like unto that of the
constituents of Congressman who has tri-
umphantly sustained himself before an in
Vestigating committee.
For days the claims remained unworked.
What was the getting of gold compared
with the joy of watching one continuous
fight of an entirely new sort? The days of
five minute encounters with knife and pistol
were regarded with pitying contempt. Drink
ing to their respective champions, tossing
dollars playing cards, and shooting at marks
to decide the question, and betting on the
main issue and its collaterals, occupied the
entire time of the excited miners. A fight
or two was arranged between over jealous
friends of the three leaders, but on being
warned that in the natural course of events
no dead man would be able to see the end
of the affair, the disputants postponed the
trials by battle.
One evening, just after the provoking
Nashua had expressed a desire to know
whether either member of the reigning trio
had ever dared to even speak to the widow
at all, Hoosier Jake appeared at the saloon
with rather sheepish face, and remarked
1.-The wldder would like to see all you
Eellers up to the house, eff convenient"
Every one started, and the barkeeper
left the door unfastened and hasten after
Hoosier Jake stood in front of the new
mouse until the latest straggler had arrived;
then he went into the house., and immedi-
ately emerged with the widow, in a white
dress and red face, and white-faced man
in suspiciously clean clothes. The white
faced man took off his hat and said
If any of you here present know any rea-
son why these two persons should not be
joined in bonds of holy matrimony, declare
them now or foreve rafter hold your peace"
Three scores of lower jaws fell simulta-
neously, and sixty pair of upper eyelids
sought superintendent hat rims. The
white-faced continued.
None: Then in the name of the Lord
| pronounce you man and wife, Amen"
Slowly the astOnished men recovered
their senses, felt for their revolvers, and look
ed each one tenderly upon his own particular
chief. Suddenly Baretop Billy uncovered
his innocent scalp, tossed his hat in the air
and cried:
"Three cheers for Hooser Jake, the
pluckiest man in camp"
The cheers were given with vigor that
seemed to shake the very rocks about them.
The groom bowed, the bride blushed and
smiled, and the crowd did as it always did
when embarrassed or astonished-it flock
ed into the saloon. They were still staring
and speechless when the three rivals enter
ed, arm in arm, and approached the bar.
They faced about there was dead silence.
and then Norfolk Ben said
Boys, there's been considerable feelin'
an discussin' on the subject, but it's settled
now. There's only one man got any right
to be chief at Betmck's Turn, and that q
Hoosier Jake. Us three resigns in his fay-
or, an ask the crowd to drink good bye
with u.s."
The glasses were placed, each man nod
ded to his own particular bottle, the glass;
es were clashed high in air and then emp
tied at swallow, the three bowed themselves
out, and Betmick's Turn saw them do more
forever. r Erening Mail.
You've LADIEs.-It is not your dress
your shawl, or your pretty fingers, that at
tract men of sense. 1t is the true loveliness
of your nature that wins and continues to
retain the affection of the heart. Young Ia