The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-21
Thrilling Story of the SIerras.

Obviously he couldn't. For nearly nh
hour he had strapped his razors and
moved diligently, but barber though he
was of thousand, barber extraordinary
to Leaping Antelope Run, he seemed to
make no Roadway against Abe's bristling
badge of manhood.
''Ef yer razors won't cut, shoot 'em
off. Year me? Shoot 'em of, ;" and the
handsome sun-barned miner composed
himself for the novel operation.
'Is the barber at homer" asked low,
sweet musical voice, entering the door
Mt that moment.
He started. No yellow water running
from his pan had ever looked as sweet to
him as that voice. 1t percolated him,
and he arose from the chair new man.
The rough life passed away from him.
The crust formed by his habits and har-
dened by his surroundings was broken.
Permit me, madam, to assure you
that this individual before you is the
barber" said Abe, and his new dignity
sat easily upon him and seemed part OF
him.
Il am on my way from Boston to the
Sandwich Islands," said the young girl,
quietly, "and our carriage broke down.
1 thought l would improve the opportu-
nifty aud have my hair banged. Oh no,
no, she exclaimed, as Abe gallantly drew
forth thousand dollar draft on New
York. "Not for the world. I've six
millions of dollars, not only i'll my own
right, but in my pocket. 1 will pay for
any service.
AS the barber proceeded with his task,
Abe walked the shop nervously. A pre-
sage of danger oppressed him. The
chestnut curis on hisforehead grew damp
with anxiety. He knew life in his rough
way, and he knew BARRIERS. The fair
young girl would be no match for the
frontier hair dresser, if the worst should
come. And why should it not come?
Had she not millions in her pocket? He
glanced at the tiny feet planted squarely
and firmly on the stool before her. and
recognized character. He knew nothing
of Boston, but he understood feet.
''And do you live III this funny place,
tie hep asked the girl smiling at Abes
reflection in the glass.
II do" said Abe. "Misfortunes have
cast my bark of life upon this barren
shore and left me with only the shelter
the sea weeds afford
'"Te he ! how odd? Ouch !"
But Abe grasped him and laid him up
on the floor. The barber had made a
dive for the dainty pocket and had
failed.
Leaping Antelope Run was aroused.
Such an attack found no apologists
among the wild, rough miners. What
ever they might be inherently, they
would tolerate nothing of the kind III the
barber.
away to the dull thud?" demanded
one more intelligent than the rest. And
they echoed the cry till the moonlit air
was shivering and the beams crept away
convulsively. They may have expected
him to beg, but ne eyed them sternly.
ooh my! what will they do with
him?' asked the beauty with one eve.
She had no need to speak. The thrill of
that eye struck chord in Abe Wallace.
They'll sprain his neck, darling"
murmured Wallace, in tender accents.
The feeling was new to him, but he I'M
derstood it.
Gracious and may 1 see him?"
whispered she with the other eye.
Abe's answer was lost in the sullen
roar OF the crowd.
Out under the grand old trees that
fringed the mines. Ont under the whis-
per of the leaves. Out through the shad-
ows The wind swept down from the
Sierras, velvet winds. but pitiless. They
shook sweet voices out of their satin
garments, but not a pleading tone from
that human barber, soon to be neither
barber nor human.
The rope was around his neck. Will
ling hands were ready. A cloud floated
across the face of the moon, but she
struggled from behind it, held by the
horror of the scene.
"Hold !" commanded Abe. And adj
dressing the barber, he asked: "You
are Justice of the Peace, are you not?"
81 am, responded the condemned, in
low, steady tones.
'Then marry us, said Wallace, draw
ing the Boston girls arm within his own
"You do take this woman for your
welded wife ?" asked the barber with O
strange glitter i'll his eye.
81 do, responded Abe.
"You do take this man for your we'd
ded husband?" inquired the barber with
/" peculiar smile.
lie he ! suppose so, 10 he Wnlm-
pered the musical voice.
"Then pronounce you man and wife.
Go to the devil"
The rope frightened, but as he went up
the barber uttered wild demoniac
laugh
Then with the shadow of the Sierras
gathering around him, he hung dead
Try as he might, Abe could not shake
off the influence of that laugh. 1t was a
ghost in his life.
"My God" he screamed. as he sprang
tom his seat day or two afterward. Il
understand it now"
Understand what, love?" asked LIS
beautiful bride, looking up from the
bite of an apple.
Il know why he laughed. 1 know
why the barber laughed with his dying
breath" he moaned.
Gracious goodness Wat was it for ?"
she demanded with dimpling smile.
Because he died without giving us q
marriage certificate"
With wild shrek the Boston girl fell
dead at his feet.
l.