The Portland daily press., 1880-03-01
N. Y. Sunday SUM-
A Montana Miner.
ICONCLUDED.

did it make to you whether they lived or
died?'
Never will forget the look the grand
fellow gave me as he said: "Well, by -!
task to try to beat selfishness and inhu-
manity into his handsome head; so that
conversation dropped, with huge increase of
admiration on my part for my comrade.
Long after Ed thought was asleep could
hear him giving vent to snorts of astonish-
ment, and in a bewildered, injured under
tone repeat the only profanity ever knew
him to be guilty Of, well, by p Once
saw him rise on his elbow and look into
my face as lay on my back. The full moon
shone brightly ON me. 1 saw him look long
and earnestly at me, and then he lay down
muttering, "By -, he was only joking"
The next day finished my engineering
reconnaissance, and it was necessary for me
to 60 to Deer Lodge. So parted from Ed,
agreeing to meet him at the mining camp on
Elk creek in week or ten days.
Arrived at the camp on Elk creek / asked
for Van Thusen. He had gone fishing.
The camp was in narrow valley. Steep
hillsides rose from the water almost. To
the south the slope was wooded. The
northern slope was bare. The stock of the
camp had eaten the bunch grass very close.
The strong winds constantly blowing had
shifted the top soil; it was gone, leaving the
above the soil in moss-like clumps. There
were few stunted pine trees with ragged
limbs on this northern slope, all leaning to
the northeast. There was no inn in this
camp; so l went to the low log saloon
Putting my blankets and rifles behind the
bar, told the barkeeper that was friend
of Van Thusen's and wanted to sit around
until he returned from fishing. There was
stove in this saloon, number of stools,
Gvo bot oh fax
boxes filled with poker chips. Back of the
bar on a rough shelf, stood an array of
white bottles. Many small greenish drink
ing glasses with thick bottoms were on the
bar At one end of the bar stood pair of
delicate good scales. On hearing my name
the barkeeper took lively interest in me,
and pressed me to partake of drinks, ''just
one little cocktail but begged off on the
ground that couldn't stop at one In the
came tearing down the valley, and the min
ers, quitting work, came focking into the
bar-room. 1 was introduced to many as
''This is the friend Van was telling us
about" Ali were very kind to me. A vol
ley of profanity from the street in front of
the saloon; the door was opened and
slammed to again; and there, shaking the
snow from him, stood ruffian with two re-
volvers belted on him. Spanish spurs were
hat was turned up in front, revealing a
mean, scowling face. Striding to the bar he
called: Drinks for the crowdr' One or
two only drank with him. He boastfully
Dragged of his skill in playing poker, and
wanted "some gentleman to play" He
was accommodated at once. Declining to
play ''freeze out' for drinks, or to play any
thing, or drink anything worked my way
into corner and went to work on my note
book. All about me heard, ''Kings up;"
"Take the pot;' "Ace full;'' sit beats
fush;'' and smiled as heard the doleful
voice of a "bluffer" say ''Nine high"
There was hearty laugh at this exposure
of lean hand. 1 heard the voice of the
strange ruffian who had besought ''some
gentleman to play with him, yelp out,
"Four kings! That pot is mine" The
said, "Hold on! l have four aces. The
money is minev' With an oath the ruff
fan pushed back his chair and walked to
the bar. He swallowed full glass of
whisky and then fiercely glared over the
room. Filling his glass again he stood glar-
ing around. Seeing me writing in corner,
he put the glass on the counter and strobe
over to me. Standing in front of me he was
about to speak when l rose up, looked him
squarely in the face, and asked, "What do
you want?' Our eyes met. He looked at
me for an instant and said, "Nothing,
thought knew YOU" He walked back to
the counter, and l, looking over the ROOM
saw half dozen revolvers disappear under
the tables and the miners that handled them
smiled at me. / now took curious interest
in the ruffian. He stood, glass in hand, at
the bar waiting for neutrality-suspicious. and
waiting, thought, as many a time | have
stood by deer lick. "You are watching
for game, my friend,' said to myself. I
watch him. The door opens, and the furious
wind, driving the snow before it, rushed in.
and in the midst of the snowy shroud stood
Van Thusen. He stood stamping his feet
and shaking the snow from his clothing. A
dozen tl men called out, GLOW are you, Van?"
What luck fishing? Some poker player
called out, ''Four of kind. Take drink
for me, Van?" With a nod and smile the
handsome fellow stepped up to the bar. As
he asked for his liquor, the ruffian, with
vile oath, threw his untasted whisky into
Van Thusen's face. Instantly the gambling
ceased. Every one turned on his stool and
watched Van Thusen. 1 saw many revolv-
ers drawn and silently cooked. A great 81
lence settled over the room. Standing erect
Van Thusen drew white handkerchief
from his pocket and wiped the liquor from
his face. Then, asking for water, he bathed
his burning eyes. Drying them, he replaced
his handkerchief in his pocket, and looked
at the man who had so outrageOusly insulted
him. He looked in the muzzle of sx-shoot-
er-lOoked beyond it into the cowardly ewes
of the brute who held it. / saw Van Thusen
gather himself and heard him say in a low
clear voice, sit may miss fire." Taking the
chance, bright, heavy loaded knife flashed
out from the back of his neck and with
forward stride he struck tremendous down.
ward blow. The sharp report of an exploded
cap and the body of the ruffian, with four
ribs cut off and split heart, falling dead,
showed that Van Thusen had successfully
taken the risk of a damp charge or a dirty
nipple. Washing off the blood from his
knife in glass OF water, Van coolly re-
marked, THAT man was coward. Now
will have my whisky" He drank it and
walked over to me. OF course l spoke nv
admiration of the courage he had shown.
II am not aware that have shown any,"
he quietly remarked, but added with flush
that no one, unless it were drunken friend,
could insult him without killing him or get
ting killed, and then said softly, Frank,
nave never insulted man in my life"
While we were talking some men carried the
dead man into back room. Some one
cleaned the floor and the gambling was re-
sumed.
Mentioning that had to cross the Bitter
Root mountains and go to the head-waters
Of the Big Blaekfoot river as soon as the
storm broke, Van Thusen said he would 90
Win iuc' ne wanted TO go TO the Sun river
valley, and to go by way of the Cadotte pass.
so the trip up the Blackfoot river would not
be out of his way. Next morning the storm
was over and we rode eastward over The Bit
ter Root mountains, and in few days were
camped on the head waters of the Big Black
foot. One night we lay under our blankets
on tiny branch of the river, far up in the
mountains. was just dropping to sleep
when the unearthly cries Of a panther. SO
like the SCREENS of distressed woman that
for moment was deceived. woke me thor
oughly. We lay awake, listening to the
cries, when Ed asked me if I had ever seen
grizzly bear
Eyes, Ihave seen the brute, and I don't
admire his physical or moral characters
tics''
Ed lay quiet for q few minutes and then
said softly, "That animal is the only thing
on earth l fear" He stopped; then with
little nervous laugh said, "Don't laugh at
me and will tell you something" Without
waiting for me to reply he began:
"Once was on my way for the Kootenay
pass. found mon alone in a little log
hut, lying sick on his bed. / stopped to
nurse him. That man had shot at a prizzlv