Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-09

could not have cared for them. What
difference did 10 make 10 you whether
they lived or diedPn Never will I for
get the look the grand fellow gave me
as he said "Well, by --i what else
would dOP" II was q hopeless task ~
beat selhsnness and inhumanity into his
handsome head 80 that conversation
dropped, with huge increase Of admir-
elton on my part for my cOmrade. Long
after Ed thought / was asleep i could
hear him giving vent 10 snorts Of aston
ishment, and IN a bewildered injured
undertone repeat the only profanity
ever knew him 10 be guilty Of. "Well,
by -" Once / saw him rise on his
elbow and a look into my face as / lay
on my back. The full moon shone
brightly on me. / saw him look long
and earnestly at me, and then he lay
down muttering, "By --,he was only
iokingl"
The next day finished my engineer
ing reconnaissance, and it was necessary
for me to go TO Deer Lodge. So /
parted from Ed, agreeing TO meet him
at the mining camp on Elk Greek in a
week or ten days.
Arrived at the camp on Elk Creek,
asked for Van Thusen. He had gone
fishing. The camp was in a narrow
valley. Steep hillsides rose from the
water almost. To the south the slope
was wooded. The northern slope was
bare. The stock Of tho camp had eaten
the bunch grass very close. The strong
winds constantly blowing had shifted
the top soil. II was gone, leaving the
delicate, wiry roots Of the grass stand
ing above the soil in mosslike clumps.
There were q few stunted pine trees with
ragged limbs on this northern slope, all
leaning to the northeast. There was no
inn in this camp; so went TO the low
log saloon. Putting my blankets and
rifle behind the bar, told the barkeeper
that l was friend of Van Thusen's,
and wanted to sit around until he re-
turned from fishing. There was a stove
in this saloon, a number of stools, five
blanket-covered tables, and few cigar
boxes filed with poker chips. Back of
the bar, on arough shelf, stood an array
of white bottles. Many small greenish
drinking glasses with thick bottoms were
on the bar. At one end of the bar stood
pair of delicate gold scales. On hear
ing my name, the barkeeper took a
lively interest in me, and pressed me to
partake of drinks, Just one little cock
tail, )" but 1 begged off on the ground
that could not stop at one. In the
afternoon a sudden mountain snow
storm came tearing down the valley, and
the miners, quitting work, came flock
ing into the barroOm. was introduced
to many as "This is the friend Van was
| telling us about.n All were very kind
TO me. A volley 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
a ruffian with two revolvers belted to
him. Spanish spurs were on his heavy
boots. The brim of his slouch hat was
turned up in front, revealing mean,
scowling face. Striding to the bar he
called: "Drinks for the crowd !''
One or two only drank with him. He
boastfully Dragged of his skill in playing
poker, and wanted ''some gentleman to
plavm He was accommodated at once.
Declining to play "freeze out" for
drinks, or to play any thing. or to drink
any thing, l worked my way into a
corner, and went to work on my note
book. All about me heard, "Kings
up;" "Take the pOt;" "Ace full p
at beats flush;" and 1 smiled as !
heard the doleful voice of a "bluffer -
say, "Nine high" There was hearty
laugh at this exposure of lean hand. /
heard the voice of the strange rufiian
who had besought "some gentleman "
to play with him yelp out, "Four kings
That pot is mine.n The low-voiced gen
tleman he was playing with said, "Hold
on! have four aces, The money is
mine!" With an oath, the ruffian
pushed back his chair and walked TO the
bar. He swallowed a full glass of whisky
and then fiercely glared over the room
Filling his glass again, he stood glaring
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
wantP" Our eyes met. He looked al
me for an instant and said, Nothing,
l thought knew you" Hewalked back
to the counter, and 1, looking over
the room, saw half a dozen revolvers
disappear under the tables, and the
miners that handled them smiled to
me. now took a curious interest in
the rufian. He stood, glass in hand, al
the bar waiting for something --stand.
ing and waiting, thought, as many a
time l have stood by deer lick. i" You
are watching for game, my friend" ]
said to myself. watch him. The
door opens, and the furious wind, driv,
ing 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 men called out
"HOw are you, VanP What luck fish.
ingP" Some poker player called out,
"Four of kind. Take a drink foI
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. In,
stantly the gambling ceased. Every
one turned on his stool and watched
Van Thusen. saw many revolvers
drawn and silently cooked. A great
silence settled over the room. Standing
erect, Van Thusen drew a white hand
kerchief from his pocket and wiped the
liquor from his face. Then, ask.
ing for water, he bathed his burn
ing eyes. Drying them, he replaced
his handkerchief in his pocket, and
looked at the man who had 80 outrage
ously insulted him. He looked into the
muzzle of six-shooter-lOoked beyond
it into the cOwardly eyes of the brute
who held it. saw Van Thusen gather
himself and heard him say, in a low
clear voice; " It'may miss fire." TAX
ing the chance, bright, heavy loaded
knifa hashah out from the hack of his