, 1875-06-06

ter had given excuse for dozen minor fight
| when order WIS suddenly restored one aftoTnot
by tho entrsnce Of Billy and his neighbo1s, in
- the Judge and his neighbors were 6nl1hing
drink.
| The boYs immediately and silently formed
ring, on the outer edge Of which were ma.sed a
the men who had been outside. and who car
pouring IN like flies before shower. No on
squatted or hugged the wall, for it was uude
stood that these two meu fought only NIT
knives, 10 the spectators we're in Btate Of 1t
| ject safety.
Tbe Jadgs, altar settling for the drink.
torued: and saw for the first time his enemy.
Hello Billy said he, PLEASANTLY; 'slet'
take drink fitst~
Billy, who WAS red-haired man, with snap
pen8-turtle mouth, but not ayicious-looking mai
10 1or all that. briefly replied. "Au right" ant
these two determined enemies ctinkea the
gasses with the unconcern Of mere social drink
ers. >@@0 '0~'1@
But, after this, they proceeded promptly te
onstness; the Judge, who WAS rather sio,e on hi.
guard, vas the owner OF = badly-cut arm within
until hs had given Billy, who was pafryiug q
lhruss an ugly cash III his left temple: There
WAS busy hum during the I'd justment OF bets
on )" first blood" and the combatants very con-
sloeIateiy Ief1ained from doing serious injury
live mlputes more they had exchanged chest
wounds, both too slight to BE- dangerous.
bettlnR became furious; each man fought 80
splenddIy that the hoys were wnld with delight
aud enthusiasm. Bets Here roared back and
1oFth' snd when Pentecoet by virtue OF bis uni
7ersalIV conceded authority, commanded silence,
there VAS greataeal OF foger-teegraphy across
the CIRCLE and head-shakins in return.
such exquisite carving had mover before been
seen At Hanney's,-that Was freely Adnltted bY
Ill. Msn pitied absent miners all over the S.ste,
vhv n1;r tF.1
.ong-drawD-out systsm Of slaughter WAS not
more popular Than the brief aud commonplace
method Of the revolver. The Webfoos raptu1-
ous1y and softly quoted the good DR.. Watts
NY willing sonl wsuld stay
IN such place ~ thia.
when suddenly bis cup Of bliss was dashed to the
ground, for Billy. stumbling, fell upon his own
knife, and received severe cut in tho abdomen.
Wounds OF this sort are generally fatal, and
the boys had experience enough in such matters
to Know it. In an instant the men who had been
calmly vle1lng Gfe-and death contlict bestirrad
themselves to help the FufTeret. Pentecost
passed = bottle Of brandy over the counter half
\ dozen men ran to the spring for cold water;
others hastily tore OF coats and eren shirts, with
which to soften q bench for the wounded mau.
No one went for the doctor, for that worthy had
hEHt, and had knelt beside the wounded man at
exactly the right moment. After brief e1an-
ination, he gaTe his opinion in the following pro-
fessionA style: mo 60, Billy: you're doae
"Good God!" exclaimed the Judge, Who had
wntched the doctor With breathiesa interest;
t. amt ther' no chance 7"
Mary replied the doctor, decidedly.
" I'm ruined man-Im nsed-up cuss." said
The Judge, with look OF bitter anguish. II
wash I'd gone under, too"
" Easy, old huee," suggested ona Of the boys
" you didn't do him, YER know"
'*Thats what's tho matter !" roared the Judge
'avagely;, "nobody II ever know which Of us
whipped"
And the Judgs sorrowful1y took himself Of,
declining most resolutely to drink.
Many hearts wero full of sympathy for the
fudge; but the poor fellow on the beach seemed |
% need most just then. He had asked for soma |
'ne who could write, and was debating, in vhis~
'ers, letter 70 some person. Then he drank |
!omo brandy and then come mater rhen he |
reely acquitted the Judge OF having ever fought |
my way but fairly. But still hia mind seemed |
'urdened. Finally, in very thin, weak voice, |
10 stammered out, " don't want to make-to |
make it uncomfortable -for-for any of-you !
ellers, butts ther' a-a preacher in the camp ?"
The boys looked as each other inquiringly |
uen FROM every calling used to so to the mines, I
nd no one would have been surprised if back |
hdlog priest, or even bishop, haa stepped to the
ront- But none appeared, and the wounded !
oan, after looking despalringlJ from one to an
tA0AS
" Q God F.! hez . miserable wretch got to cut /
isseif open. an then flicker out, without any
odT to say prayer for him 7"
The boys looked borronfui--if gold-dust could |
avs bought prayers, Billy would have had
rst-class assortment in an instant.
- There's Deacon Adams over to Pattin'e"
uggested byBtander, "an' they do sag he's
eg'Iar sip~roarer at prayin'! But 'twould take
our hours to 60 M fetch him."
Too long" said the doctor.
" Down in Mexico, 1t the Cathedral" said an-
aen yer psy EN- for it. an they ssy it's jist
,e thins-suro pop. I'll give yer 1nr word, |
lily, an no go back, that ri see the jobs done
P u STYLE fur yer, ef that's any comfort"
'"1 want to hear it myself" groaned the snf-
'rer; II don't feel right; can't nobody pray
3body ia the crowd?"
Again the boys looked inquidngly at each
her, but this tina it was iitt!e shyly. II he
ID asked for some ono to go out and steal =
ule, or kill bear, or gailop buck-jumping
ustaug to Frisco, they would have fought Tor
It OF their line.
Tho silence became painful; soon s1ouched
Is were hauled down over moist eyes. and
and bare arms seemed to find some
ing unusual to attend to in tho boys faces.
9 Brooks commenced to blubber aloud, and
IS led out BY old Thompson. who ranted
anoe TO get out-of-doors 30 he might break
wn in private. Finally matters were brought
4 crisis bT "Moso no one knew his other
me. Nose uncovered sandy head, face, and
ard, and remarked:
II don't want to put on airs IN this here =
'wd, but ct nobody else ken say word to ths
rd about Billy Bent, I'm A-goin' 10 do it NY
t. It's = bizness I've never bin in, but there's .
thin like ttyin'. Ttis msctiu' u cum 10 order
wunst.
Hats OF in church, gentlemsn!~ command b
Pentecost. Q
III cana every hat, and some Of The boys .
sls down, II Nose kaelt bss4da tue bench, and g
d:
: Lord, here's Billy Bant needs 'tendin' to! :
e panned out his last dust. an ho seems to =
purity clear idee thes this is his last chance.
wants you to give him lift, Lord, an it's the
MON Of this house thet be needs it. Tatn't
70 us our bizness what he's done, an, Of it
Z, you'd know more about it than ve cud tell "
!; but it's mighty sarsin that CUBS that's Ii
n 10 the diggins for yeArs needs sight ct =.
ndin' up before he kicks the bucket" ~
That's so" responded two or three very en- Il
Itieally. to
Dilly'a down, Lord, an no decent man u
ewes that the Lord nd hit man when he's =
hasuf hot lana hata %r1 | j