The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-31
BOB DAYTON'S NINE.


which "Col" Brown proceeded to narrate to
the bystanders.
Since coming to Colorado three years be-
fore. the colonel had succeeded, wfthoutany
visible means of support, in maintaining an
existence as free from toll as that of the Ill
lies. aud by his abundant leisure, his skillful
disposal of tobacco juice and his success at
the faro table had fairly won his title The
talker and his audience leaned against the
rough logs of the one-storied Grand Hotel
Aiming a brownish fluid at a dusty stone
some feet away, the colonel began:
"Queer pards, those There's Bob Dayton
he amt much more than tenderfOot but
he's white man right through. But as for
Sandy Joe, I wouldn't trust him as fur as I
could see. If he didn't Jump that claim off
Cap. Perry's last winter I'm a coyote How
Dayton ever happened to strike in with joe
] can't see, except that BOb's rather fresh in
/ this country. You ought to have heard him
last night tell me in confidence all about his
girl out in Ohio, Lizzie I think he called her.
He was poor, and she was poor: and he
didn't see much hope of getting married un-
less they wanted to live on a little less than
nothing. So he came out here to find his for
tune. Hope he'll get it. He deserves to,
anyway, going out prospecting on the noun
taiDs ia Colorado in October Like as not
there nav be three feet of snow on the noun
tains tomorrow. Joe ought to know better
at any rate but he's reckless enough 20 do
anything. Bv the way, Bill, what about that
roam horse that Powers lost upon Mount
Shavano7 Hasn't fonnd it vet. eh? He
( better be looking around lively, if he expects
1 to get it down before the snow comes %
/ And then the conversation of the group in
front of the hotel at Cedar Gulch drifted off
| on to other topics while the two men ot
/ whom the colonel had spoken proceeded on
/ up the gulch. and turning to the right struck
! the trail leading up the sides of Mount Sha-
/ vano.
a great contrast was apparent in the looks
and manners Of the two men working TO-
/ gether in the close companionship which is
/ implied in mining regions by the term 'spart
ners."
/ Robert Dayton was atalI. fair haired Young
man with frank, open countenance that
made him friends even among the rouob
\ class Of men among whom his lot was cast in
a Colorado mining camp. He had been well
educated bv a father who had left him only
his education as an inheritance He had be-
/ come engaged to pretty and rich girl. but
her father lost in a grain speculation most Of
the wealth that he had acquired, and Robert
was unwilling TO urge her to a speedv mar
riage. unless he could provide for her a home
with at least some of the comforts to which
she had been accustomed. Accordingly he
had sought the silver land of the West. in tbe
hope OF there obtaining more speedily sum
cient means to Justify him in making her
whom he loved his own. But his sanrujne
expectations had been disappointed. and for
several months he had wandered from one
mining camp to another, till at last he arrived
at Cedar Gulch, weary and disheartened
He was just in the mood to listen to a recly-
less proposal which he heard made in the
MOTEL one day by Sandy Joe, to 90 on a nros-
pecting tour in spite of the near approach of
snow. Robert did not know, and did not
care much, who his partner was if he could
nave another chance to labor for the treasure
winch he was seeking. No one knew the
real name of Sandy Joe. as he was called
with the frequent inappropriateness of Yves.
tern nicknames. He was short. dark com
pleXioned, and dark-hafred man. with an
unenviable notOriety for quarreIsomeness.
Ih;s ill-assorted couple proceeded on their
expedition without much incident the fret
day, driving their 'Jacks" up the stony trail
toward the summit of Mount Shavano, that
lowers hlgh above the surrounding noun
tains
On the second dav of their Journey. when
they had not yet reached the nIace whore
they had to leave their "Jaclys'' and nrocua5- =
on foot, there came down over the travellers
heavy mist, not uncommon on the noup.
taIns, and soon after the snow BEGAN tn fan
verv lightly at first and then more heavily
The trail, which bad not been very distinct
before, began to he almost hidden from view
But the sagaciOus animals seemed bv some
instinct to pick out the true path. and tbe
/ Journey was still slowly continued. One of
the animals, however wandered a little from,
/ the path ir the afternoon, and steppinp on a
loose rock near the edge of steep ravina
slipped and rolled over and over down tho
! bank, and was seen no more. A beartv o,,,oo
/ from the lips of Sandy Joe greeted this mis-.
/ nap out the journey was continued. The
/ PAIN oegan to grow sleeper, and as the snow
! began to be piled up before the travellers IL
/ became almost impossible to 60 on. Joe
who was good tempered enough when evarx,.
thing went we'll began now to show sions of
increasing flltemper. He cursed and svvora
at the storm and snow, and then vvould srL
side into moody silence. He beat with ,,a-
ciless blows the heavily-laden "Jack." that
struggled along on IFS hard Journey. II ba
came evident at length that the men cou15
not reach the camp to which they were bo,,r7
by walking and the animal was unioadad
and it was decided that the men should take
turns in riding till their destination was
reached But five or six miles now Law no.
tween the men and he cluster Of cabins
where they hoped to find aid. but the dark.
ness was already coming on. and the wav
was getting almost impossible.
Joe insisted upon taking the first turn in
riding, and Dayton allowed him TO mount
In this way abOut a mile was passed over
when Dayton, almost overcome with fatirue
called upon his companion to dismount and
exchange places. The way at that point
was narrow, and led along a steep incline on
the mountain side. joe Who was riding
ahead, stopped when lie heard his companion
CALL and allowed DAYTON to come up with
him, as if to allow him to take the animal
Ihen suddenly bending over, Joe drew from
fhs belt a long knife and plunged it into his
partners breast.
There" said he Gas we can't both cet
through to the camp, I won't be the one
thats left Behind" and then giving poor Bob
a nush over the adra 20 a. - - -