The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1880-08-06


ness promptly and pleasantly. He treated
the lofty Blethers with perfect respect
He also attended thoroughly to any rea-
sonahle demands made upon him by
BletheFs's pets-the store-keeper. the
keeper of the boarcling-house. the saloon
man. fhe lodging-house person. and in
fact all the pets who love to cluster about
the management OF a working mine. Not
withstanding his fairness, his civility, his
attention to these persons, they were not
happy theV did not like him. yet they
could find no stable ground on which 60
assault his position.
Before the next payday drew nigh he
wrote. in his regular monthly letter, to
Colonel Holten as follows
men are pleased with it. 1t you can make
1t all cash it win be sti'F better. am
aware of the expense and risk in sending
large sums of money. but | fully believe
that it is better to do so, even If we should
be robbed twice per year. As affnirs now
stand you virtually lose the money any,
way. But do not admit that we shall be
robbed. Ify you express the money latter
notifying me in the manner [ have here
tofore pointed out) as far as the express
box comes. / think I can see it safe the
remainder of the way"
This letter was also effectual. On pay
day the men were entirely satisfied. The
trade was distributed throughout the camp.
and that satisfied majority of the people
but the Blethers crowd were not content
ed.
On pleasant winter sunny Sunday, af-
ter pay day, Norman carfHllv locked MP
his office and betook himself to tile road
for little exercise afoot. In his rambles
he met many of the men. who now accost-
ed him with very kindly cheeriness as they
passed to and from their work-for there
day. on working mine. As lie walked
o:. outside the village. he heard heavy
steps at some distance behind him and
gaining on his gait. till at last he was over
taken by two workmen. both large but
one taller than the other. the shorter of
whom, as he overlook Norman. said:
''Gi' us shy hand. lad. That's getten
it done. an the feither is l. thy eap," and
he shook hands heartily with Norman.
''This is my pactlner, Charley Fitzkibbin.
e mum as it's with thy whites 10 know.
lad. tho'ff zay it to is faice.''
Norman shook hands with FitzgibbOn.
and they three went forward in the road
together.
'.Why don't you come down into the
mine and take look around ?" asked
Charley.
II have not yet been invited, said Nor
man.
''rhe damned hog -
II do:l't mean you.''
Z" 'Ee is a 'Og-is Biethers..'
1.-The boys down in the mine will be
glad to see you. You come down and see
MS some time. Well show you around and
let vnu see some things yOn ought to know
''You are very good" said Norman.
land | will be glad to be down in the mine
as soon as business is so arranged that |
can. In the meantime. if have any friends
down there. give them my best respects
You bet your ribs you've got friends
down there, - said Charley, with an en-
phatic twist of his head.
= 'Ee ave that an top o. t'ground
loikewoise."
''How is the mine looking ?' asked Nor
man.
1T looks we'll enough tor the way it is
treated You'll see how it is when you
come down.
II he'nt no wise shy o. tellin' wot
thinks o t noine to them as ave business
wi iL. Blethers be 'oggin' on 1t for
treeze-h0nt. That's wot t fact is.
knows a moin as well as zee do. This 'ere
be coed little moine-iu honest 'ands:'
"Wcll. gem lemen, want very much
to know all about the mine, and to thor
oughly understand it ; and shall feel un-
der ohligatio to YOU and to all who assist
me to UNDERSTANDINGS that 1 can hope to-
ho more than to express the obligation. ]
have only my wages as you all have.''
land we know that things is happenin'
round here ="
Ave !''added Jack. ''things do 'appen
-raand ere" And then both the men
turned away into branch road laughing
and shaking their broad shoulders as they
went leaving Norman 10 pursue his
walk and return to his starting point,
where the noise OF the mill furnished him
with music. while it reminded him con-
stantly of the unfinished task he had In
hand. He began to feel that he was not
alone in his struggle for "a fair deal.''
a $ he sat on that Sunday evening in the
office. reading one of the few choice books
he had brought with him, he could hear
tine men in he saloons across the way
singing and laughing over their beer, but
he could not hear the conversation at one
of the tables in the saloon. where he was
in part at least, the subject under discus
sion.
This hew clerk is making himself damn
ed fresh arouud here.''
Il dunnot see but zee keeps hissen to
hissen wells yo' do.''
''Oh, Well, Jack. we won't fight about
that; only old Bic ;hers's just bilin'.'
Let un bile. 'fwean't hurt TN to bile
1t slaan't spile bad eggs to cook un.''
''But when he biles over he'll just kick
the stuftin' all out o. that fancy young
duck from Frisco
.'Don'tyou tool yerselfabout fancy young
duck from Frisco. Ben BletherS JiSt better
let that job out by contract
This latter remark was made by a john
ny come lately to the camp.
''Dost tha' know t. lad ?''
mo. hain't no acquaintance with him,
but know who he isl
Zoo is zee ?''
Hes the rooster that killed .Cocho
Pizan. and cleaned out the stage robbers
''Ego~h - exclaimed ''Cussin' jack
striking the under side of his heavy fist
upon the table, II smells raat. Gil US
anootiler beer aw round. Egosh! thowt
Zee was no common chap ftist tonne / zeed
un. When woz it zee plugged t. staige-
robber ?''
Last spring. some time-May or June.
Think
..Egosh 1 read un in nooze paiper.
'Ee's G. by is zee .''
Here the beer being served all round the
table. Jack grasped his glass mug by the
handle. ripped on the board, then raising
the foam capped, brown liquor toward his
lips, said !:
:. 'Ere's to the lad as pays e cash to a
workin' man i'' then. having swallowed
his draught, ne set down his halt emptied
mug and said
.sSummmls getten sense at the 'ead o.
this noinin company