The sun., 1883-12-23

swampy hollow. 1t was chokcd with debris;
thin yellow stream that once ran through 1t
seemed to have stopped work when they did.
and gone into greensh liquidation.
They had scarcely spoken during this brief
journey. and had received no other eSplana-
fion from tho Right Bower, who led thcm. than
that afforded by his mute example whom he
rcachcd the race. Leaping into 1t twithouta q
word. he ut once hogan to clear away the
broken timbcrs and drlftwood. Fired by tho
spectacle OF what appeared to be a now and
utterly frivolous game the men gayly leaned
after him. and were soon engaged In fasci-
mating struggle with tho impeded raco. The
Judge forgot his lamcness In springing over a
broken sluico box; Union Mills forgot his
whistle in n happy imitation OF Chinese COO
lies song. Nevertheless. after ton minutes Of
this mild dissipation. the pastims tagged:
Union Mills was beginning to rub his leg whom
n distant rumble shook tho earth. Tho mon
looked at each other: the diversion was COM
plete; languid discussion Of the probabilities
OF Its boing an earthquake or n blast followed.
In the midst OF which the Right Bower.
who was working little in advance OF
the others. uttered warning cry and
lchped from the race. His companions had
barely time to follow before a sudden
and ineXplicablo rise in the waters OF the creek
sent a swift irruption OF tho flood through the
race. In an instant its choked and impcdcd
channel was cleared. the race was FREQ. and tho
scattered debris OF logs and timber floated upon
its easy current Quick to take advantage OF
this labor saving phenomenon. the Lone Star
partners sprang into the water. and. by disen-
tangling and directing tho eddying fragments.
completed their work.
The Old Man oughter been here to sec this"
said tho Left Bower; its just one O. them
nli Of rcfi hn'u olxvny yo ~ M
up. It's easy to see what's happened. One o
them hight toned shrimps over in tho Excelsior
claim has put n blast in too near tho creek.
He's tumbled the bank into tho creek and sent
tho back water down here just to wash out our
race. That's what call poetical retribution."
And who was 1t advised us to dam tho creek
below the race and make it do the same thing?"
asked the Right Bower. moody.
THAT was ono Of the Old Mans ideas. /
reckon" said the Left Bower obviously.
And you remember" broke in the Judge
with animation. e i allus said. Go slow. 20 slow.
You just hold on and suthin will happen
And" he added triumpaantly. you see suthin
has happened. l don't want to take credit to
myself but reckoned on them Excelsior boys
ben' fools. and took the chances"
And what IL l happen to know that the
| Excelsior boys amt blastin' to-day?" said
| the Right Bower sarcastcally.
| As the Judge had evidently bnsed his hy-
| pothcss on the alleged fact of blast he deity
evaiod the point :" Amt sny ing the Old Man 8
hoad amt level on some things he wants II little
more sabe OF the world. He's improved good
| deal in euchrc lately. and in poker-wcn! he
got that sortor dreamy. listenin to- the angels
kind o way that you can't exactly tell whether
hos buIlin' or has got afull hand. Hasn't he ?"
he asked. appealing to Union Mills.
But that gentleman. who had been watching
| tho dark face OF the Right Bower. preferred ia
take what he believed to be his cue from him.
That amt the question" he said vir-
| tuously; we amt takin' this stop to
| make card sharp out OF him. We're
| not duin' Chinamen's work in this race to-
| day for that. No. sir! Were tcachin him tc
| paddle his own canoe" Not finding the SYM
pathetic response he looked FOR in the Right
Bowers face. he turned to the Loft.
Il reckon We were ;cachin' him our canoe
WAS too full" was the Left Bowers unexpected
reply. That's about the size of it."
The Right Bower shot q rapid glance under
his brows at his brother. Tho lntter. with hi.
hands in his pocke stared unconsciously at the
rushing water. and then quietly turned away
The Right BOwor followed him. Are you go
in back on us P" he asked.
| Are you 2" responded the other
MOP
No. then it is." returned the Loft Dowe
quietly The elder brother Lesitated In half
angry embarrassment.
Then what did you mean by saying W.
rockoned our canoe was too full 2"
Wasn't that our idea ?" returned the Lef
Bower. indifrercntly. Confounded by this prac
tical expression of his own unlormuIated gooc
intentions. the Right Bower was staggered.
Speaking of tho Old Man." broke in the
Judge. with characteristic infelicity Il reckon
he'll sort o. miss us. times like these. We wer,
alters runnin' him and bedevin' him. aitel
work. Just to got him excited and amusin'
and he'll kinder miss that sorter stimuatin'
reckon we'll miss 1T too-somewhat. Dom
you remember. boys. the night We put up tina
little sell on him and made him believe wee
struck it rich In the bank OF the creek. and 90
him 80 conceited he wanted to go of and settle
all our debts at oncei"
And how came Dustin into the cabin with
a pan full OF iron pyrites and black sand.
chuckled Union Mills. continuing the rnminis
cences. and how them big gray yes Of his nearl,
bulged out OF his head. Well. it's some salts
faction to know we did our duty by the young
fellow even in those little things" He turned
for confirmation OF their general disinterested
ness to the Right Bower, but he was alread,
striding away uneasily conscious OF the az,
following OF the Left Bower like a laggard con
science at his back This movement agaiI
threw Union Mills and the Judge into feeble
completely In the rear. as the procession SLOWLY
stragged homeward from tho creek.
Night had fallen. Their way lay through tn,
shadow OF the Lone Star Mountain deepenet
here and there by the slight bosky ridges that
starting from its base. crept across the plair
like vast roots Of swelling trunk. The shadows
were growing blacker rs the moon began to AZ
sert itself over tho rest Of the valley. wher
the Right Bower halted suddenly on ono o.
those ridges. The Left Bower loungec
up to him. and stopped also. while the
two others came UP and completed the group
There's no light in the shanty." said the
Right Bower in a low voice. half to himself and
half in answer to their inquiring attitude. The
men followed the direction OF his finger. In
the distance tho black outline OF the Lone Stni
cabin stood out distinctly In the illumined space
There was the blank. sightless. external glitter
OF moonlight on its two windows. that seemeI
to reflect its dim yacancy-empty alike OF light
and warmth. and motion.
That's singular" said the Judge. In an awet