The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-08-30

suOuiu' III trump nlaue tne ret an.
}, trouble, dispose Of him promptly, an
give the PETE clear title to a of Grump
rights and properties.
The agent came. and one by one III
boys deposited their dust, saw it weighe,
iand took their receipts. Presently Their
was stir near the door, and Grump an,
Pet entered. Pets gold was weighed
his mothers name given, and a receip
rendered.
Thinks he's goin' to hev conviction
in writIn,'' whispered the doubter to tn
Colonel.
But the agent finished his business
took the stage and departed. GrumI
started to the door TO see the last of il
The doubter was there before him, anC
saw big tear in the corner of each o
Grump's eyes.
A few days later Grump went t.
Placerville for new pick for the Pet
the old one was too heavy for a ligh
man, Grump said. Pet himself felt
rather lonesome working on his neigh
bor's claim, so he sauntered down the
creek, and got kind word from almos
every man. His ridiculous anatom,
had escaped the grave solong, he was sc
industrious and so inofensive, that the
boys began to have a sort Ct affection fol
the lad who had come so far to "helE
the folks"
Finally, some weak miner, unable tC
hold the open secret any longer, told the
Pet about Grump's operations in dusi
Great was the astonishment of the young
man, and puzzling miners gained sym
pathy from the weak eyes and open
mouth of the Pet, as he meandered
homeward, evidently as much at loss as
i themselves.
Unlucky was the spirit which prompt
ed Grump in the selection of his claim
1t was just beyond a small bend which
| the Run made, and was therefore out Of
sight of the claims of the other men
belonging to the camp. And it came to
pass that while Pet was standing on his
own claim, leaning on his spade, and
puzzling his feeble brain, there came
down the Run the great Broadly, CHIEF
of the jolly Grasshoppers, who were
working several miles above. Mr. Broadly
had found a nugget a few days before,
and in his exultation had ceased work
and become a regular member of the
bar. A weeks industrious drinking
developed in him tnat peculiar amiabil-
ity and humanity which is characteristic
of cheap whisky, and as Pet was small,
ugly, and alone, Broadly commenced
working off on him his own superhuous
energy.
Poor Pets resistance only increased
the fury of Broadly, and the family at
Pawkin Center seemed in imminent
danger of being supported by the town,
when suddenly a pair of enormous
snubby hands seized Broadly by the
throat, and a harsh voice, which Pet
joyfully recognized as Grumps. ex-
claimed:
"Let him go, or I'll tear yer into
mince meat, curse YER"
The chief Of the Jolly Grasshoppers
was not in the habit of obeying orders;
but Grump's hands impaired to his
command considerable force. No SOON
er, however, had Broadly extricated
himself from Grump's grasp than he
drew his revolver and fired. Grump
fell, and the chief of the Jolly Grasshop-
pers, his injured dignity made whole.
walked peacefully away. The sound of
the shot brought up all the boys from
below.
They've fit" gasped the doubter,
catching his breath as he ran; "an' the
boy-boyis had to lay him out"
at seemed as if the doubter might be
right, for the boys found Grump lying
on the Ground bleeding badly, and the
Pet on his hands and knees.
How did it come about?n asked the
Colonel of Pet.
Broadly done it," replied Grump, in
a hoarse whisper; "he pounded the boy
and / tackled him-then he fired"
The doubter went around and raised
the dying mans head. Pet seemed
collecting all his energies for some great
effort Finally he asked: What made
you put your dust in my pouch?"
"Cause." whispered the dying man,
putting one arm around Pets neck and
drawing him closer, "'cause I'm your
dad; give this to yer mar" and on Pets
homely face the ugliest man at Painter
Bar put the first token of human affec
ton ever displayed in that neighbor-
hood.
The arm relaxed its grasp and fell
loosely, and the red eyes closed. The
experienced Colonel gazed into the up
turned face and gently said:
pet yer an orphan"
Reverentially the boys carried the
dead man into his own hut Several
men dug grave beside that of Perkins,
while the Colonel and the dOubter acted
as undertakers. the latter donating his
only white shirt for a shroud. This
duty done, they went to the saloon, and
the doubter called up the crowd. The
glasses filled, the doubter raised his own
and exclaimed:
Boys, here's to the corpse is
the best looking man in camp"
And so he was, For the first time in
his wretched life his soul had reached
his face, and the Judge mercifully took
him while he was yet in his own image
The body was placed in a rude coffin
and borne to the grave on a litter of
spades, followed by every man in camp,
the Colonel supporting the only family
mourner. Each man threw on a shovel
ful of dirt on the coffin before the filing
began. As the last of the surface Of the
coffin disappeared from view, Pet raised
a loud cry and wept bitterly, at which
operation he was joined by the whole
party. JAMES F. BowNAS.
MIR. KEARNEY's eloguence in massa
chusetts has already caused the death
of one bloated capitalist. Captain
Peter Simpson, heavy manufactures
near Springfield, Mass, was fatally shot
by one of his employees last week with