Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-07
"THEM's NINE"
Why the Lunch Stand Suspended.
One Of Joe Nelson's Yarns.

Our friend Joe Nelson, who has re-
Gently received the appointment Of
Under Sheriff, is a genial gentleman,
and by all odds the best story-teller
in the State. We have known Joe for
a great many years, and in all his
wanderings, whether as a drug clerk
in New York, a bearded miner in
Soth America, a hotel clerk in Vir-
ginia City, or a saloon-keeper or
Parks Bar in 40, he was always the
same ~jovial. good fellow. In early
times in California, joe was running a
popular saloon on Parks Bar, and
Kettle-Belly Brown, famous in Inc an.
nails OF the Comstock, and the original
of Mark Twain's Scotty Briggs, was
also a denizen of that locality. BUSH
ness was lively, for the placers were
rich, and X. b. thought he saw a
chance for a speculation, and applied
to Joe for a corner in the saloon to es-
tablish al oyster stand, which privi-
lege was granted. X. b. entered into
partnership with m Smith, the pop
ular Constable at the Bar, and the con
Germ started on the high road to pros
perity.
The Outfit Consisted
OF one brass kettle and stove, two doz-
en- soup plates, knives, forks, etc, and
a counter improvised from a plank
and two barrels. All the canned oys-
ters were bought up. and when served
up retailed at a dollar a plate. "There
was millions in it," and X. B. ladled
out the stews with much satisfaction
beaming from his ford countenance,
but with a canker eating at his heart,
and his partner was the cause OF It.
Poor Smith, like all great men, had a
weakness, and gentle oma was his
failing. In the excess Of his gallantry
he Z" set up" the oysters whenever
their delicate appetites demanded
them, and in settling for them fell
back on his half interest in the con-
Germ, by remarking, them's mine"
The thing was growing very mOnoi-
onous, and X. Il. demonstrated with
his partner, who promised TO restrict
his Iiberality. One evening, after a
good run of custom, Brown was pen
sively stirring the contents of the ket.
tie, and reckoning up the receipts,
when a party came in and ranged up
10 the counter. There were three high
toned sports, four ladies' of the Bret
Harte type, and Smith. X. b. suppos-
ing some OF the boys
Had Made u Winning,
And was treating on the strength Of
it, deity arranged eight plates of
steaming stews in front of the crowd.
1t was a fearful draft on the contents
Of the kettle, but eight dollars cash
was six dollars profit, thought Brown,
As be passed the pickles to a lady,
and blandly asked Smith If he would
have a little pepper in his.
Wine was called for and procured at
the bar, the stand being responsible
for it, and the barkeeper asked if Ar
kansas Dick "mu>t have struck the
right card" and "if he was treating"
Brown did not know, but rushed
back with the wine, which soon fol-
lowed the oysters, and the repast was
over. The guests slowly filed out, the
rear brought up by Smith, who re-
marked TO his partner,
"Ihetn's Nine, Brown"
1t was too much. Overcome with
rage, Brown seized al AK, and with
one fell blow demolished the
brass kettle, scattering the stew in all
directions, and shouting, "that's
mine !" Another sweep of the AK,
and the soup plates we're a total
wreck. "Them's mine !" Once
more the ak descended, and the coun
ter was kindling wood. That's
mine !" rung out on the air; aud as
Smith reached the door, the ak, pro
PEELED by his partners vigorous arm,
shaved off his left ear, in which lin
gered the cry Of" DIN your heart,
that is mine, too =" That il what
bursted up the oyster stand on Parks
Bar.
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