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


Poker? / don't know what that is,
c replied the youth.
He's from the country said the Col
onel. compassiona ely, "an' hasn't haC
the right schoolin'. P'raps," continued
the Colonel, he'd enjoy the cock fight a
the saloon to night-these country boy.
are pretty well up to roosters. Ask him
Tom"
Tom put the question. and the party
in deep disgust, heard the man reply
> "No, thank you; l think its cruel tc
make the poor birds hurt each other"
"Look here" said the good natured
Bozen, the poor lubber's all gone in
amidships-see how flat his bread basket
is. say, messmate," continued Bozen
with roar and jerk of his thumb over
the shoulder, "come and splice the main
brace"
"No, thank you," answered the unrea
sonable stranger; Il don't drink"
The boys looked incredulously at each
other, while the Colonel arose and paced
the front of the saloon two or three
times, looking greatly puzzled. He final
ly stopped, ard said
"The mizzable rat isn't fit to be out OF
doors, an needs takin' keer Nv. Come
here, feller," called the Colonel; "be
kinder sociable-don't stand there a
gOwpin' at us as eff we was menagerie "
The youth approached slowly, stared
through :he crowd, and finally asked:
"Is there any one here from Pawkin
Center"
No one responded
Some men went out to CalifJrnv from
Pawkin Center, and 1 didn't know but
some Of 'em was here, come from ther'
mvself-my names Mix" the youth
continued.
"Meanin' no disrespect for your dad. !"
said the Colonel, "Mr Mix, sr, ortn't to
hev let you have come out here-you
amt strong enough-youll get fever'n
ager fore you've washed dirt half
day."
Il amt got no dad" replied the s.ran
ger; ~leastwise he run away ten years
ago, an mother had a powerful hard
time since bringing up the young 'uns,
an we thought l might help along a big
sight if 1 was out here"
The Colonel was not what in the States
would be called prayer-meeling man,
but he looked steadily at the young man,
and inwardly breathed a very earnest
God have mercy on you ALL" Then he
came back to the more immediate pres
ent, and looking about, said:
who's got sleepin' room for this
young MANI"
'1 hev," quickly answered Grump, who
had approached, unnotced, while the
new conner was being interviewed.
Every man started, and Grump's cOun
tenance did not gather amiability as he
sneakingly noticed the general distrust
"Yer needn't glare like that" said he,
savagely: Il sed it, an mean it. Come
along, youngster-its about the time /
generally fry my pork" And the two
beauties walked away together, while the
crowd stared in speechless astonishment.
He won't make much out NV that boy,
that's one comfort" said Black Tom, who
had partially recovered from his wonder.
AVER can bet yer eye teeth that his
pockets wouldn't pan out five dollars"
Then what does he want NV him?7
queried Slim Sam.
"Somethin' mean an underhan', for
certain" said the Colonel, "and the boy
must be purtected. And l hereby ap-
pint this whole crowd to keep an eye on
Grump, an see he don't make a slave of
the boy, an don't rob him of dust. An
| reckon I'll take one of yer with me an
keep watch Of the old rascal to night. 1
don't trust him wuth durn."
That night the boys at the saloon
wrinkled their brows like unto an I'M
pecunious committee of Ways and
Means, as they vainly endeavored to
surmise why Grump could want that
young man rs a lodg Men who pur-
sued whittling as an aid to reason male
pecks of chips and shaYings, and were no
nearer solution than when they be
gan. There was a number of games
played, but so great was the absent
mindedness of the players that several
hardened scamps INDUCED in some most
unscrupulous stocking" of the cards
without detection. But even one of
these, after having dealt himself both
bowers and the king, besides two aces,
suddenly imagined he had discovered
Grump's motive, and so earnest was he
in exposing that nefarious wretch that
one OF his opponents changed hands with
him. Even the barkeeper fixed the bot
ties badly, and on one occasion, just as
the boys were raising their glasses, he
metaphorically dashed the cup from
their lips by violent, Il tell you what"
and an unsatisfactory theory. Finally
the Colonel arose.
Boys" said he, in the tone of man
whose mind is settled, "'tain't COS the
youngster looked like lively comp'ny, fur
he didn't 'Tain't cos Grump wanted to
do him good turn, fur faint his style
Consistently, thar's sumthin' wrong.
Tom, L reckon I'll take you." And Tom
and the Colonel departed.
During the month which had elapsed
since his advent, Grump had managed to
build him a hut of the usual mining
pattern and the Colonel and Tom stealth
lily examined its walls, front and rear,
until they found creyices which would
admit the muzzle of a revolver if it
should be necessary. Then they applied
their eyes TO the same cracks, and saw
the youth asleep on pile of dead grass,
with Grump's knapsack for pillow and
one Of Grump's blankets over him.
Grump himself was sitting on fragment
of a stone, staring into the fire, with his
face in his hands.
He sat so long that the worthy Colonel
began to feel indignant; to sit in
eramped position on the outside of a
house for the sake of abused human ma
ture was an action more praiseworthy
than comfortable, and the Colonel began
to feel personally aggrieved at Grumps
delay. Besides, the Colonel was growing
thirsty.
| Suddenly Grump arose, looked down
at the sleeping youth, and then knelt be-
side him. The Colonel briskly brought
his pistol to bear on him. and with great
satisfaction noted that Toms muzzle &C.
cupied crack in the front walls, and
that he himself was out of range.
sI;oh. tron,or seemed to run through