The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-02-17
WHISKY BOB'S CLAIM.

whisky Bob was dead broke. verv
tired, and wanted to sit down and study
his situation and what was best to be
done.
''Here be again, the same derned
iool as ever, ruined by whisky after MAX
In piles OF money; just deserve it.
What doggoned jackass human can
make his self with whisky"
Taking up his pack, Bob toiled slowly
up the ridge under the trees until
out In the level places and slight depres-
sions. Birds were singing and flowers
blooming around him; and, as he sat
down to rest, he heard to his astonish-
ment, not very far off, the clear sweet
voice of O. female, singing.
Peeplng cautiously under the young
pine tree, there, III little open fiat, sit
ting on rock, was the singer. 1t was q
pleasant picture to look at for O lonely
man-a tall, shapely, buxom young girl,
with light, golden hair, blue eyes, and
very regular, pretty features, She was
dressed In short calico dress, with moe
assins on her feet, and sun-bonnet
thrown back on her head. Her hand
rested on a long Kentucky rifle. She
was representative of the better class
of Western girls, who were continually
in those earlier days arriving in the
mountains of California from the long
trip overland, emigrating in families
from Kentucky and other States.
Whisky Bob listened to the song with
dehght, and gaZed at the singer in adj
mlratlon; and then, with his pack on
his shoulder, coolly walked out into her
presence, and, putting his pack down
not lar from her, sat down himself. Then
she spoke to him:
that walks into O young lady's drawing,
room without knocking, even on the
bark of q tree?"
'Please, Miss, I'm called Whisky Bob
out prospecting"
"No miss about it, Mr.. Bobb, please.
My name, for short, is Nell Green to all
friends, and to others-well, I've shoot
ing-iron," said the girl, and continued:
''Your name of Whisky is O bad one.
young man, and reckon shows you are
being ruined by corn juice. Is that SOP"
"Well, Nell, that's fact-but rather
rough" said Bob, who saw the girl had
half smile on her face.
''Now, Mr.. Bob-without the Whisky
it seems TO me-" said Nell, "ye're
throwing yerself away, and there might
be something better for yer, if ye'd seek
it, " and she looked at him with an ex-
preston of some interest.
'I know it, Nell, if I could only do
it,"
"Got no folks, no family, to keer for
you?" said Nell.
'Narry one" replied Bob; "never had.
1 toted myself and pack up this ridge to
Jest seek my luck once more, and quit
the corn juice and reform. said to my
self, Bob, if ye could only meet wo-
man anywhere in these diggins, and
stake out claim where she stood, it
would bring ye fresh luck and ye mi ght
turn over O new leaf, and be somebody
once more And here, sure enough, I've
met YOU"
eye mean right, I'm sure" eaid Nell,
softly. "But down the trail away yonder
I see my folks are coming along, with
their fixings and plunder, pau, mau and
the rest OVEN. [ must put out, stranger,
but Mr.. Bob, let me say kind word to
You say woman brings we luck every
time. Now just hope I'll bring good
fortune to yer, and you may take your
pile out of this ERE spot, though I can't
see where it is. Mr.. Bob," said the girl,
hesitating, "ef ye do not find it, and aot
up to yer good intentions about the corn
juice-well, then, Mr.. Bob, my folks are
raising log houses and shed fxings down
on the opening at the foot of the creek,
away there you can see o break In the
trees. We mean to locate" And walk
| ing up to Bob, she put her hand on his
shoulder, "and Mr.. Bob, if ye raise yer
pile yer can bring jest little piece OF
cold down for Nell to remember she
brought better life to ye."
He took his rocker and put it in run
ming order down the ridge by little
| pool of water, fed by small stream,
where he could bring his dirt and wash
out for half an hour, and then pack down
more, while the pool was filing with
water again.
Next he went and rolled away the
rock where Nell had been sitting and
singing by the dry pebbles of the rivuiet,
and, taking his pick, began digging out
O ditch In the grass, about two feet deep
and two feet wide, down stream, and
took the dirt to his rocker He worked
until sunset, only finding about six bits
OF coarse gold, but in his last bucket,
when washed out, he found good solid
piece of gold weighing three ounces.
| In the morning he arose by daylight,
and after his breakfast of fried pork and
coffee; ending with the usual smoke of
his pipe, he went to work again, deter