The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-03-25

the claim, did you say?
The embyro bonanza king relaxed his
hold upon his companions coat and fell
back against the wall with folded arms
and an air compassionate but unyield-
ing dignity.
"Where is that claim, did 1 under
stand you to say, Governor Digby
Well, sir, that claim, Governor-that
claim is like the grave of Moses; it's
between the Lord God almighty az
mep
The governor made good his escape
with a friendly laugh and wave of the
hand, and l was left alone with the man
of my sterious wealth.
That man." said he, turning toward
me with An air of cd acquaintanceship,
"that there man used to be governor of
the State of California, an he hasn't got
no more eye for business than-than you
have. Facti I've known him since
'5S; nice, friendly lad, too-but he don't
know a big strike when he sees it: !:
queer, amt it?'
"He has rather comfortable look," F"
I suggested-"lke a man who is not
accustomed to want"
Ou, uO1 ICCAOh l11C OlO SONOlAO1
collected good deal o. stuff round him,
in small way, you know, stranger; but
he's never done anything big, and he's
had chances-he's had as good chances
as Pye had, stranger!"
" You seem to be well acquainted
here-did you ever know a man named
Cavendish-John Bunyan Cavendish p
/ asked the question with one of those
sudden impulses which we are always
ready to call inspiration, if successful,
and forget it if otherwise.
Ny new-found acquaintance shut one
eye and directed the other heavenward,
as if the names of all old residents were
written above.
"That's a very peculiar question,
Squire" he said, slowly; "a very pecu-
liar question; an I'll tell you why: my
names Cavendish-Uncle Jack Caven-
dish; but the rest of it," he added,
shaking his head Iehectively, "John
Bunyan Cayendish, did you say p
sounds as familiar as an old psalm tune!
Look here, Squire, if you'd struck me
on this about three hours ago, I'd have
pauned out better; but the man that's
got the amount O business on his mind
that I've got, always gets muddled 'long
about noon; like enough if we's to
have something to take-oh. Squire p
/ had taken his arm and stepped out
upon the pavement. There was not a
doubt in my mind concerning his iden-
tity. Where we went was matter OF
small importance. He pushed open q
pair of swinging green shutters, and
followed his unsteady steps across the
saw-dust floor. The saloon was empty,
When my companion had drained his
glass, l motioned him to one of the tables
a little aside.
Now, my friend" said, ~ want to
have little conversation with you about
that mine of yours; you see. l couldn't
help overhearing what you said to the
governor out there. 1 trust you'll par
don that, to begin with"
"There's no further apologies neces
sary between you and me, Judge:
know a gentleman when see i'm, an
know a judge of liquor, an, Judge,
don't know 'em apart"
He drew bit of ore from his poke
and laid it on the marble table between
US.
"Do you see that?" he said, leaning
toward me confidentially, and gazing al
his treasury with melting fondness; i
you had the grip, Judge, you coulc
squeeze that into a fifty dollar slug Will
your fist. Well, sir, that mine is jus
full O. that. All it wants is working
an I tell you, Judge, there's men il
this town'd give everything but thei
wives and children for the chance
give Governor Digby this morning
factp'
1 brought my limited knowledge o
metallurgy to bear upon this specimen
before me with the air of an expert
"It is simply IMMENSE" said; &c;
man doesn't walk into a thing of tina
kind without skill; you must have beel
in the business long time Mr.. Cayen
dish"
"Uncle Jack, if you please Judge
Well, sir, I've been at it nigh thirty od'
years-not steady, of course-of an OF
you know. It's Just this way, Judge,
you can take broad view of things, an
want to get rich, minin's the thing; bu
for small mind, an daily expenses
there's nothing like trade-that's whs
said when l went into the book-bino
ing @ business;
ask %
1 was lingering the bit of ore indiffe
emily, as if more interested in it tha
his reply.
"From York state, Judge, yes, sir;
come from York State; let me see,
| fifty.one, an l amt seen no puttit
piece O. dirt than that since struck tt
slope. tell you, sir"
:" 1t is prodigious," 1 interrupte'
gravely; 81 don't wonder at your el
thusiasm. Did you leave any brothe
in New York;
His face altered strangely. 40
"There was two of u.s." he sal
quickly" Jamie an me-"
All at once it occurred to me that Il
letter in my pocket, addressed in Jam
Cavendish's angular hand, might
something more than mere legal doc
ment. l had seen the writer often.
austere, reticent man, bent upon gai
aG least so they said who knew him be.
If his life had ever known breath
romance, it must have lain cold al
still for years, like bit of moss in {
heart of an agate.
J "Just Jamie an me-; repeated 4
companion, musingly; eve was orphan
! an was the Oldest. Pd look after hi
good bit, and sent him to school.
, haven't spoke of him for thirty yea
Judge, but somehow the lads been ru
. MIN in my mind ever since you So
: that name a while ago. John Buny
: Cavendish. Do you know, Judge, 1 |
| l;aua to God that,a INV nama9 Yas q
1 tell you it's queer thing for mai
, own name to come up and slap him
) the face, like a ghost, isn't it? Y
e sir; it's devilish queer thingl Jo
Bunyan Cavendish," he repeated, slo
, ly, looking past me with a strange
i tender, absent gaze, "Do you thi
: Jamie'd know me, Judge? A m
e roughens a good deal in thirty yea
t don't hep
t 81 think 1 have met your brother,