The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-01-18

make pile here. No one win dream
Of hunting this out"
"Say, stranger!" said voice that
made US both jump. /" DO Il wash
well?''
And II there warnt long, lean.
ugly, yaller-looking chap looking down
at US, as he stood holding a mule by the
bride.
Why, afore week was over, so far
! from us keeping 1t snug, reckon there
was fifty people ia Yaller Gulch, wash
ing away, and making their piles. Afore
another week was over some one had
| set up store, and next day there was
gambling saloon. Keepit TO ourselves!
Why. stranger, Ireckon II there was one
speck of gold anywhere within 800 miles
our chaps'd sniff 1t out like vultures, and
be down upon 1t.
| II warn't no use TO grumble, and we
kept what we thought To ourselves,
working away and making our ounces
as best we could. One day proposed
we should go up higher in the noun
tains; but Hez said he'd be darned if
he'd move; and next day, If he'd wanted
me to 60, should have told him I'D be
darned II I'd move, and, all at once,
| from being red-hot chums, as would
have done any thing for one another,
Hez and me got to be mortal enemies.
Now. look here, stranger. Did you
ever keep chickens? P'raps not; but if
you ever do, Just you notice this You've
got, say, dozen young cocks pecking
about, and as happy as can be--smart
and lively, and inherent as chickens
should be. Now, just you 60 drop a
pretty young pullet in among 'em, and
see II there won't be row. Why, afore
night there'll be combs bleeding, eyes
knockad out, feathers torn and ragged
"a reg lar pepper-box and bowie set-to,
and all accuse Of that little smooth,
brown pullet, that looks on so quiet
and gentle, as il wondering who made
the row. Now, that's what was the
matter with us for who should come
into the Gulch one day but an old store
keeper sort of fellow, with as pretty
daughter as ever stepped, and from that
moment il was all over between Hez
and me.
He'd gota way with him, you see, as
| hadn't, and they always made him
welkim at thar store, when it was only
How do you doP" and . Good morn
ing" to me. / don't know what love
is, strangers; but If Jael Burn had told
me to 90 and cut one of my hands off to
please her, I'D ha' done it. I'D ha' gone
through fire and water for her, God
bless her and If she's tied one Of her
long, yaller hairs round my neck, she
might have led me about like bear,
rough as | am.
But it wouldn't do. soon see which
way the wind blew She was the only
woman in camp, and could have have
the pick, and she picked Hez.
Twas bout startin' mad first time
met them two together-she hanging
on his arm, and looking up in his face,
worshiping him like some of them wom-
en- can worship great, big, strong he;
and as soon as they war got by swore
big oath rs Hez should never have her,
and l plugged my six-shooter, give my
bowie whetting, and lay inwait for
him coming back
II was nice time that, as sot there,
seeing in fancy him kissin' her sweet lit.
tie face, and she hanging on him. II
was most mad afore, / was ten times
worse now; and when heered Hez
comm. stood there on shelf Of rock,
where the track came along, meaning TO
put half dozen plugs in him, and then
pitch him over into the Gulch. But
was that mad that when he came up
CHEEKY and singing, forgot all about
my shooting-iron and bowie, and went
at him like a bar, hugging and wrastling
him, till we fell together close To the
edge 81 the Gulch, and / had only 10
give him a shove and down he'd ha'
gone kelch on the hard rocks ninety feet
below.
"Now, Her," | says, SHOW about
your darling nowP You'll cut in afore
a better man again, will you?r
Yes, il | live" he says, stcut-like, I
so as couldn't help liking the grit he
showed. :. That's right he says
..pitch me over, and then 20 and tell
little Jael what you've done. She'll be
fine and proud Of yer then, Abinadab
Scales ~
lie said that As I'd got him hanging
over the rocks, and he looked me full In
the face, full Of grit, though he was as
helpless a. baby; but didn't see his
face then, for what seen was the face
Of Jael, wild and passionate like, ask
ing me what I'D done with her love, and
my heart swclled SO that / gave sob
like woman, as swung Hez round
into safety, and taking his place like,
= Shove me over" says, = and put me
out Of my misery"
Poor old Hez! hated him like py-
son; but he wasn't that sort. Stead Of
sending me over now he hal the chanco
he claps his hand on my shoulder, and
he says, says he, " Dab, old man. he
says, give il name, and let's go and
have drink on this. We cant all find
the big nuggets, old boss; and IL I'm in