Omaha daily bee., 1883-05-05

claim was good enough, ana worth
what they paid for II, which took all
the parson had and aome of Smslly's
coin, too, They struck II pretty rich
ono day, and had a big offer to sell
right away. That j1st suited the par.
son, for ne was schirg to get aboard
the steamer for the States. Smally
worked the sale, and to do 1t got some
kind of q paper from the parson, who
knew no more about business than q
Piute sbout whlsky poker. Smslly
got tho money and eloped, They
brought him back, you remember,
R,ddy, but when they come to
law him about 1t II turned out
The parson had signed q paper agen
which he had no show in court
They had to let him go, and any man
who was in Hangtovn then knows he
saved his neck gettln' out of sight
qulcker'n he had b,fore. Well the
psrson was kinder broken hearted.
He didn't squesl; that want his kind;
but he slipped quietly away, all the
life gone out of hts voice, aud hardly
courage to dig up stakes and move,
'cept for that little wife of his-goin',
Mr.. Howard" Barnes suddenly asked,
for the young miner suddenly left the
group surrounding ZINC. Howard was
already at the door before answering,
"Yes; good night"
When the door had closed behind
him, Reddy, addressing Barnes, said,
"Guess he didn't like your picture of
old Smslly."
"Who Is he2" 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
Smslly. He's csbining with the old
man now, and has charge of the tun.
mel the old man Is runnin' to tap the
ledge of his claim. Hes no good
swell, l amt sorry he knows what
kind Of a pard he has," Barnes said.
"Old Smally's no good, and 1 guess IL
he hears 1t, which I guess no will, "
and the prospect of some pistol prao.
tice with old Smslly which this ref &c
ton suggested caused Mr.. Barnes to
refill his pipe with much care.
"Frlend of yours2" he suddenly
asked Mr., White, the young man who
had treated the crowd.
mo; I only met him a few days
ago. I've been asking him about old
Smally's claim, which I was thinking
of bonding or buying," the young
man answered; a remark which In.
jstantly caused him to be regarded
with intense interest by every man In
the room, nearly every one Of whom
had a claim he was willing to bond OF
sell.
In a few minutes White left the
saloon, after treating once more, anc
wishing every one a pleasant "goot
night"
When he walked out Into the darl
street he stopped a moment, as if az
suring himself that none of his lat,
companions we're watching his move
ments. Then he walked quickly OF
for q short distance, overtaking How
ard, to whom he said, with a qute
laugh: IF any incentive was needed
1 think Mr.. Zinc Barnes story sup
piled 1t, Frank"
"Rather," was Franks short, dr.,
rejoinder. They walked on for a Will,
In silence, and then White said:
"Do you really think I ought to of
fer the old rascal 800, Frank2 I
happened to be just about all I hav'
left. It's been rather expensive work
posing as a capitalist here for a week
with Reddy's vile whisky two bits
glass, and every II drinking ever,
time. The whole hundred, FRANKIE
Il tell you yes, Henry" Frank re
piled, with some impotence, "Yo,
, do not know what an influence tn
! sight of gold has on tho misery ole
reprobate. Those precious five So
gold pieces will turn his head nearly
L. Follow the programme I've laid on
: and the game will win."
san right, my dear boy; but If
don't, we walk back to San Francisco
: or borrow from the ruddy Reddy
Here we are."
As he spoke they reached a cabir
: Entering, they were met by old Small
ly, whose small, closely set eyes an
: uncommonly long, smooth upper II
give him q most u~ulovely appearance
He greeted White with q cringlng a
tempt at cheerfulness and receive
i, from that young man such a grip {
the hand as caused his eyes to wate
. and his long lip twitch with pain. 6
have concluded to close with the tern
:. you proposed through Howard, an
. brought the necessary papers," Viii
! said, briskly, after releasing the OIL
|" mans cramped fingers.
"Oh, the morning will do, MI
White; the morning will do quite
WE'LL" old Smally said, his cunnir
s suggesting some show of reluctance.
EXCUSE me, but the morning wi
not do. You must sigu the papeI
t tonight or the trade Is off, aud I wi
accept another favorable offer I ha,
from Mr.. Barnes"
"Well, If you insist upon 1t, I've r
. objections to signing tonight. b
q q you know that aome little coin, just
l a guarantee of good faith, you kno,
generally passes at such a ,ransaotic
q as this"
;. White threw five twenties on Il
= table with the remark: CHATS all Il
gold I happen to have In my pockets
y Old Smally's eyes cleaned as l
clutched the gold, and droned ov'
and over, ''suoh a transaction as thi
y such a transaction as this"
It White and Howard glanced at eac
"a o,her significantly. When White spoil
again, old Smally started like a disco,
d cred thief, and hastily buried the go
" In a pocket.
Swell, here are the papers," Will
said.