Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-10-10

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suited the parson. for he was aching to
get aboard the steamer for the States.
Smally worked the sale, and to do Il got
some kind of a paper from the psrson,
who knew no more about business than
a Pluto about whisky poker Smally
got the money and Sloped. They
brought him back, you remember,
Reddy, but when they come to law him
about IL, II turned out the parson had
signed paper agen which he had no
show in court. They had to let him 90,
and any man who was in Hangtown
then knows he saved his neck gettn' out
of sight quicker'n he had before. Well,
the parson was kinder broken-hearted
He didn't squeal; that want his kind;
but he slipped quietly away, all the life
gone out of his voice, and hardly the
courage TO dig up stakes and move, 'cept
for that little wife of his-goin', Mr..
HowardP' Barnes suddenly asked, for
the young miner suddenly left the group
surrounding Zinc. Howard was already
at the door before answering, shortly,
Eyes; good night" When the door had
closed behind him, Reddy, addressing
Barnes, said: "Guess he didn't like your
picture of old Smally."
"Who is hep" Barnes asked, looking
at the door which had just closed on
Howard.
HE came here about a month ago,
just after you left for the Bay an struck
up a great friendship for old Smally.
He's cabining with the old man now,
and has charge of the tunnel the old man
is runnin' to tap the ledge of his claim.
He's no good.
well / amt sorry he knows what
kind of pard he has" Barnes said
''Old Smally's no good, and it goes if he
hears it, which guess he will, -" and the
prospect of some pistol practice with old
Smally which this reflection suggested
caused Mr.. Barnes TO refill his pipe with
much care.
Friend of yoursp" he suddenly asked
of Mr.. White, the young man who had
treated the crowd.
"No; only met him few days ago.
I've been asking him about old Smallys
claim, which was thinking of bonding
or buying the young man answered;
a remark which instantly caused him
to be regarded with intense interest by
every man in the room, nearly every
one of whom had claim he was willing
either TO bond or sell. "a
In few minutes White left the sa-
loon, after treating once more, and
wishing every one pleasant good
night"
When he walked out into the dark
street he stopped moment, as If assur-
ing himself that none of his late COM
panions were watching his movements.
Then he walked quickly on for short
distance, overtaking Howard, to whom
he said. with quiet laugh; IF any in
centive was needed, | think Mr.. Zinc
Barnes story supplied it, Frank. y
Rather was Frank 5 short, dry re-
joinder. They walked on for while
in silence, and then White said:
''Do you really think I ought TO offer
the old rascal one hundred dollars,
Frank? IL happened to be just about
all have left. It's been rather expen-
sive work, posing ms capitalist here
for week with Reddy's vile whisky
two bits glass, and every one drinking
every time. The whole hundred, FrankPh
Il tell you yes, Henry" Frank re-
piled, with some impotence. You do
not know what an influence the sight of
gold has on the misery old reprobate.
Those precious five twenty-dollar gold
pieces will turn his head nearly. Follow
the programme I've laid out and the
game will win,
IAN right, my dear boy; but if il
don't we walk back to San Francisco,
or borrow from the ruddy Reddy. Here
we are"
As he spoke they reached cabin.
Entering, they were met by old Smally,
whose small, closely set eyes and UNI
commonly long. smooth upper lip gave
him most unlovely appearance. He
greeted White with a bringing attempt
at cheerfulness and received from that
young man such grip of the hand as
caused his eyes to water and his long
lip twitch with pain. IL have concluded
to close with the terms you proposed
through Howard, and have brought the
necessary papers," White said, briskly,
after releasing the old mans cramped
fingers.
"Oh, the morning will do, Mr.. White;
the morning will do quite as well, y" old
Smally said, his cunning suggesting
some show of reluctance.
Excuse me, but the morning will not
do. You must sign the papers tonight
or the trade is off, and will accept an
other favorable offer l have from Mr..
Barnes"
"Well, il you insist upon IL, I've no
objection to signing tonight. But you
know that some little coin, just as as a
guarantee of good faith, you know,
generally passes at such transaction
as this"
White threw five twcnties on the table
with the remark: That's all the gold !
happen to have in my pockets"
Old Smally's eyes cleaned as he
clutched the gold, and droned over and
over, "such transaction as this, such
q transaction as this"
White and Howard glanced at each
other significantly. When White spoke
again, old Smally started like a discov-
cred thief, and hastily buried the gold
in a q RSSh1 here ore the papers, White
said
He laid on the table a carefully drawn
form of memorandum of sale, by the
terms of which old Smally bound him
self to deed certain mining claim, duly
described, to White, for the sum Of
$4,000.
Then, after taking receipt for his
five twenties. and pockcting both pa
pers, White left the cabin. These for
malities complied with the strictly OBJ
served, though unwrittcn law. of that
class of mning-camp transactions.
An hour later the young men met at
the mouth of tunnel.
"Is the dear man asleep, FrankP"
asked White.
yes, the sweet creature is in gentle
rcposc, his lovely head resting on your
five twentics, already sewn up in his
pillow"
The two men then threw Off their
coats, and by the light of two lanterns,
reversed the usual order of mining, for
five or sin hours carrying ore into the
tunnel instead of cut of it. The ore
they carried in they took from nu-
mcrous small piles scattered about, but
uharo II hal carafully hoon b;J,lo, In