The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-04-01

anceship, sthat there men used to be
Governor of the State of California, an
he hasn't got no more eye to business
than-than you have. Fact! I've
knowed him since '53; nice friendly lad,
too-but he don't know big strike
when he sees it; queer, amt it?''
"He has . rather comfortable look."
suggested-''like man who Is not &C.
customed to want"
"Oh. NO; I reckon the old Governors
collected good deal O. stuff round him,
in q small way. you know, stranger
but he's never done anything big, an
he's had chances-he's had as good
chances as I've had, Strangely
"You seem to be we'll acquainted
here-did you ever know a man named
Cavendish-John Bunyan CavendishP'
asked the question with one Of
those sudden impulses which we are al.
ways ready to call inspiration if sue.
cessful, and forget if otherwise.
My new-found acquaintance shut one
eye and directed the other, heaven.
ward, as if the names of all old resi-.
dents were written above.
That's very peculiar question,
SQUIRE" he said, slowly; "a very pc.
culiar question; an I'll tell you why;
my names Cavendish- Uncle Jack Cav
endish; but the rest of it," he added
shaking his head refectively, "John
Bunyan Cavendish, did you sayP"-
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
PANIED 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?'
l had taken his arm and stepped out
upon the pavement. There was not a
doubt in my mind concerning his
identity. Where we went was matter
of small importance. He pushed open
pair of swinging green shutters, and
l followed his unsteady steps across the
saw-dust-door. The saloon was empty.
When my companion had drained his
glass, l motioned him to one of the
tables little aside.
"Now, my FRIEND" I said, "I want
to have little conversation with you
about that mine of yours; you see,
couldn't help overhearing what you
said to the Governor out there. thrust
you'll pardon that. to begin with"
"There's no further apologies neces-
sary between you and me, Judge; l
know gentleman when / see i'm, an
l know a Judge of liquor, an, Judge,
don't know 'em apart"
He drew bit of ore from his pocket
and laid it on the marble surface be-
tween us.
"Do you see that?'' he said, leaning
toward me contidentially, and gazing at
his treasure with melting fondness; 7.if
you had the grip. Judge, you could
squeeze that into a fifty dollar slug with
your fist. Well, sir, that mine is just
full O. that. All it wants is workin',
an l tell, you, Judge, there's men in
this here towh'd give everything but
their wives and children for the chance
l give Governor Digby this morning
factr'
l brought my limited knowledge of
metallurgy to bear upon the specimen
before me with the air of an expert.
1T is simply immense" said; ga
man doesn't walk into thing of that
kind without skill; you must have been
in the business long time, Mr.. Caven-
dish.
"Uncle Jack, if you please Judge.
Well, sir, I've been at it nigh thirty odd
years-not steady, of course-off an on,
you know. It's just this way, Judge, il
you can take broad view O. things,
and want to get rich, minin's the thing;
but for small mind, an daily expenses,
there's nothing like trade-that's what
| said when went into the bookbindin'
business"
Where did you come from, may
ask?''
was lingering the bit of ore indiffer-
emily, as if more interested in it than his
reply.
'sFrom York State, Judge, yes, sir; !
come from York State; let me see, in
fifty-one, an l amt seen no pulitzer piece
o dirt than that since struck the slope.
tell you, sir"
cit is prodigous," 1 interrupted,
gravely; II don't wonder at your en-
thusiasm. Did you leave any brothers
in New York?''
His face altered strangely.
"There was two of u.s." he said,
quickly" jamie an me-"
All at once it occurred to me that the
letter in nv pocket. addressed in James
Cavendish's angular hand, might be
something more than a mere legal doc
ument. had seen the writer often
an austere, reticent man, bent upon
gain; at least so they said who knew
him best. If his life had ever known a
breath of romance, it must have lain
cold and still for years, like a bit Of
moss in the heart of an agate.
"Just Jamie an me-" repeated nv
companion, musingly; "we was or
phans. an was the oldest. I'd look
after him good bit, and sent him to
school. l haven't spoke of him for
thirty years, Judge, but somehow the
lads been runnin' in my mind ever since
you said that name, while ago. John
Bunyan Cavendish. DO YOU know,
Judge, believe to God that's my
name? Yes, sir. Itell you it's queer
thing for mans own name to come up
and slap him in the face, like a ghost,
isn't it? Yes, sir; it's a queer thing!
John Bunyan Cavendish," he repeated,
slowly, looking past me with strange
ly tender, absent gaze, "Do you think
Jamie'd know me, Judge? A man
roughens a good deal in thirty years,
don't hep"
81 think 1 have met your brother"
said thoughtfully. ''James Caven-
dish, of Albany"
The man leaned toward me with a
startled, eager face.
"Met Jamie? Do you mean that
you've seen the lad, Judge?-a straight,
slim young fellow, with cheeks like a
girl, an eyes-my God, Judge, they
don't make 'em handsomer than that
boy 81 remember just how he looked
the night l came away; it was down
back O. the house, an was putin up
the bars in the south pasture. jamie
come up to me in the moonlight, an
leaned against the fence"
Jack says he, ARE you goin' to
California with the boys?'
Two mr. fhrpo fo11Owe hod hoon Of