The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-09-13
Spooner's Bogus VIII.

I 0PooAOf . ooS 10 w lAAs
1t was in an Idaho mining camp and
we will call his name Spooner. Spooner
was good miner when sober, an unmit-
igated nuisance when drunk. He had
been on many sprees in camp-we will
call ''Spooners Run'-and his credit
was exhausted. 1t was grievous to
state the fact, but Spooner was not con-
scientious about settling his whisky
bifs, so the gentleman who dealt in. the
tangle-leg had learned to give him the
| cold shoulder. One morning he said to
his employer: "Joe," said he, 81 think
there must be aletter for me at the post
office; and l would like to LAY off to-
day and go down to camp for it.'' ''All
right" was Joe's response, ''only can
see by your eye you mean to get drunk.
| If you do and come back bere [ will
have you thrown down the Midas shaft. !"
The Midas shaft was 200 feet deep in
solid porphyry. Spooner went away
| and made the round of the saloons. He
had no collateral, and he knew his cred
| it was under cloud too dense to be
lifted by any legitimate lever. At last
be strolled into the store of the princi-
pal trader--we will call his name Ketch-
um-and mildly said: .'Ketchum,
when you can spare me few minutes
time, want to see you" 'All right,
what is it?'' said Ketchum shortly. II
want to tell you," said Spooner, sol
emnly, ''that though look rugged, the
doctors tell me that have an illcurable
heart disease; that while may live for
three or four months, may at anv time
be seized with spasm, if become excit-
ed, and I want you to write my will. -
| Wonderingly Ketchum asked: "What
in the world have you to dispose OFF"
Il have few things" said Spooner,
sadly; won't you do little thing like
that for an old friendp'' Certainly, "
said Ketchum, and going to his desk, he
Grew out sheet of foolscap and COM
menced to write as follows: Il, Moses
Spooner, so-and-so, being of infirm body
but of sound mind, etc. ~ 'Now about
the property" said Ketchum. Spooner
waited a moment, until he could prop
erly control himself, then said: 1 de-
sire that my one-half interest in the Big
Fissure be sold and the proceeds, after
all the debts and charges are paid, be
sent OF my old mother Patience Spoon.
er, in Pike County, Mo-" Ketchum put
| it down. Spooner continued: '.My
undivided one-third interest in the Lame
Duck wish to have sold, and, after
paying $1,000 to your head clerk, Jones
| Che is friend of mine), send the rest
to my mother, with instructions that il
be paid to Missouri Price, also of Pike. -
Then, with increasing emotion, he ad-
ded: "Lou would before this have been
my wife, but could not think of max
ing the dear girl my nurse Spooner
continued to dispose of his property
and finally said: ''That's all except
$4,000 which l have in the - bank at
Salt Lake City. Put down $1,000 to
your little daughter, Nellie, Mr.. Ketch-
um, and the other $4,000 to yourself.
Also add that l appoint you and your
clerk, Jones, my executors, to serve
without bonds. "Then he went off by him.
self, took seat on barrel, and for
some moments buried his face in his
hands. Ketchum called Jones to the
desk, had him copy on legal cap the
will in a neat, clerky hand, called up
Spooner and two witnesses, had the will
signed, sealed and witnessed, folded
the paper, placed it in a large envelope,
had the envelope properly superscribed
and laid away in the safe. Then said
Ketchum: ''Spooner, let US take lit
tie drink for old friendship sake" ]
cannot" said Spooner You know my
weakness. The doctors say that one
drink might kill me, and a protracted
spree would be sure to- A light shone
in Ketchum's eyes. 1.-The doctors be
blowed," said he. 'One drink would
not hurt any man. You are low spirit.
ed this morning. Spooner; come brace
| no CT
Spooner yielded and got outside of g
rouser. How is thatp'' asked Ketch-
um. Spooner admitted that he felt nc
bad effects, that, indeed, he felt better.
He took another. He kept taking them
He drank all day and night at intervals.
Ketchum and Jones alternated in sup
plying him. He kept on for two weeks,
but no symptoms of the fatal spasn
manifested itself. At last, one after.
noon he lay prone asleep on some boo'
boxes when physician came in. Ketch
um asked the man of science to examine
him and see if he had any symptoms ol
heart trouble. The doctor complied
He felt of his wrist; put his ear to hi;
breast; felt his wrist again, and said
He has heart like an OK; it is beating
| like trip-hammer, and as regular as
the stroke of a steam-engine." Spoonel
was kicked out, and Ketchum anC
Jones figured up his account L
amounted to 1868. Next morning
Spooner came in with his nerves OF
edge, and wanted drink. He wa:
kicked out again. The next day he wa:
ravinp with delirium tremens, and the
men about town compelled Ketchum to
send him with a nurse and a physician
down to the springs twenty miles away
That day Joe -, the owner of the
mine came down town, and Ketchun
tremblinSly inquired how much was due
to Spooner on the books of the mining
company. ''It's the other way" sait
Joe; II bought him suit of clothes
i paid back board bill in Salt Lake, ant
paid his way up here, and ne still owes
me something like S40." Spooner re-
covered, but he gets no more accom-.
modations of Ketchum, and wnen any
man asks Ketchum now to write up hi:
will he drops all other business, picks
up pick handle. and his eyes take q
dangerous glare. 1t may be a little OBJ
scure. but there is a moral in the above
story.-SaA Lake Tribune.