Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-12-01

y
and business thriving, for most of the
claim owners either had gold dust on hand
or could easily obtain enough for all ne
cessary expenses. SO when Armfeld in
vited the boys in to help "open the house"
there was a goodly attendance OF the red
shirted gentry, and the bar Chat most
essential adjunct of every place where
business of any kind was transacted) met
with most liberal patronage. Scattered
among the throng were few fresh from
the States" the advance guard Of the
immigration that was pouring over the
plains, while the fact that there was to be
sort of "house warming" had drawn
together pretty much all the idlers in the
camp. | was assisting Armfield on the
occasion and dispensing the fluids with a
liberal hand while the crowd, not to be
outdone in liberaity, was putting them
down as fast as we put them up.
There was breakup of the assem- blage
toward midnight, except of those gathered
around the te-banks, for those insti-
tutions were sure of patronage whether
the mines were worked or not. was
about to aghome, when stranger came
to where Twas standing and, pointing to
Armfeld, asked
"How long has he been here ?"
" Who, Armfleld ?" said l, 40, its be-
tween two and three months"
"Armfed ?" repeated the stranger,
sis that what you call HIM ?"
"That's his name," said 1.
"Wall, maybe it is; but he looks
enough like Bill Shively, ('Missouri Bill'
we used to call him in Cousa) to pass for
his brother"
"This is not your man." said I. 81
knew this mans folks by reputation back
in Illinois,"
Wall, p'raps I'm mistaken but DON It
think it, Lemme have little whisky"
passed the desired liquid to him and
soon after went away. 1t was late when
I came around next day and l found
Armfeld in the best of spirits.
"She'll be here IN less than a week,
Joe," was his greeting. They've got to
Ragtown and will stop day or two to let
the animals rest little. That desert,
you known, is rough on stock. Bill
Simpsons seen her and told her Just what
road to take to get here. Stood the trip
splendid, you bet. Won't be fixed
though ?"
gave him my congratulations as n
matter Of course.
"I'm thinking, though to go over and
meet 'em at Hangtown. There's nc
preacher, or squire, or anything of that
kind to splice us. viii you run the con-
cern until come back"
"Why, of course l will"
81 thought you would, and I'll take
'em by surprise. Let's see. They're
about Red Lake tonight and tomorrow
they'll cross the Sierras. Give 'em three
days moro to reach Johnson's Rach.
| start from here Monday morning II
catch them there so be ready for Monday.
The time would no doubt have passe,
slowly to Armfed had he not found S
much to do to fix up that room. Their
was no end to the ways in which he ar
ranged the furniture and pictures, an
when | thought he could not find any
thing more more to do, back he would b
working as busy as q mailer. But it wa
arranged at last even to his satisfaction
Sunday morning | was on hand to TAX
charge of affairs while my friend mad
his preparation for the journey. 1t wa
only twenty or twenty-five miles throug
the mountains to the emigrant road, bu
the country was innocent Of anything ex
cept pack trails unless the traveller too
the wagon road toward Sacramento unit
it joined with the great thoroughfare use
by the incoming immigration. Sunda.
in the mines is always a busy day, and i
the state Of society then it was much NOR
so than at the present time. All days wer
pretty much alike to the deliver in th
mountains, and if the Sabbrth was observ
ed at all it was only by the few who ha
not left the faith and traditions of the oil
homestead behind them with the home
stead itself. The operations Of the mine
alone were suspended, all other brancht
OF business seemed to go ahead with grea
er energy than during the days of labo
In truth Sunday was the day Of the weel
. for the saloons, the hotels, and the gamt
ling houses. AS it was in in other places
SO it was in the goodly mining town {
Indian Diggings.
Toward evening, when the lengthenn
shadows Of the pines cast grateful coo
ness over the parched earth, a couple {
horsemen rode slowly down the hill an
approached the camp. They were we
mounted, and as they reined up in from
of Armfeld's door there was nothing i
their appearance to attract unusual OF
servation. To the inquiries Of one as
the chance for lodging and place fc
their horses, told them they need G
no further, and taking the tired animal
to a shed which had been hastily erecte
for such uses, / gave them liberal SUP
ply of barley and went back to the house
The strangers soon made themselves q
home and engaged in conversation wit
some OF the miners. They said nothin
to either Of US in regard so the bushes
on which they had come, nor as to thei
destination. Armfeld retired early, as h
wished to take an early start and reac
Hangtown by noon. | noticed that tn
two new corners kept close watch Of a
his movements, but thought nothing of
at the time.
Your partner leaves the night wor
TO Won | sect said the elder of then