The Columbus journal., 1883-07-18

good enough, and worth what they pal,
for it, which took all the parson ha'
and some of Smally's coin too. The
struck it pretty rich one day, and had
big offer to sell right away. That jus
suited the parson, for he was aching +
get aboard the steamer for the States
Smally worked the sale, and 10 do it 60
some kind of a paper from the parsOn
who knew no more about business thai
q Piute about whisky poker. Small,
got the money and sloped. The.
brought him back, You remember
Reddy, but when they come 10 law bin
about it, it turned out the psrson hat
signed a paper agen which he had n
show in court. They had to let him 60
and any man who was in HanStOw1
then knows he saved his neck gettin' on
of sight quicker'n he had before. Well
the parson was kinder broken-hearted
He didn't s9ueal; that want his kind
but he slipped quietly away. all the lif'
gone out of his voice, and hardly thu
courage to dig up STAKES and move, 'cep
for that little wife of hi>-goin'. Mr.
Howard?" Barnes suddenly asked, fol
the young miner suddenly left the GROUP
surrounding Zinc. Howard was already
at the door before answering, shortly
Yes: good night" When the door haC
closed behind him. Reddy, addressing
Barnes, said: Guess he didn't like YOU
picture of old Smally.'
.'WhO is he:?" Barnes asked. looking
at the door which had just closed OF
Howard.
s.He came here about a month ago
just after you left for the Bay. an strucl
up a great friendship for old Smally
He's calming with the old man now
and has charge of the tunnel the old maj
is runnin' to tap the ledge of his claim
He's no good"
s.Welr l amt sorry he knows wha'
kind of a pard he has, Barnes said
.'Old Smally's no good, and it goes if ht
hears it, which l guess he WILL" and thu
prospect of some pistol practice with ole
Smally which this reflection suggested
caused Mr.. Barnes to refill his pipe with
much care.
Friend of yours?" he suddenly asked
Of MIR. White, the young man who had
treated the crowd.
mo; l only met him a few days ago
I've been asking him about old Smslly's
claim. which l 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 a claim he was willing
either to bond or sell.
In q few minutes White left the sa-
loon. after treating once more. and
wishing every one a pleasant ''good
night"
When he walked out into the dark
street he stopped a moment, as if assur.
ING himself that none of his late com.
panions were watching his movements.
Then he walked quickly on for a short
distance, overtaking Howard, to whom
he said, with a quiet laugh: If any in.
c~entive was needed. l think Mr.. Zinc
Barnes story supplied it, Frank"
Rather" was Franks short, dry re.
ioinder. They walked on for a while
in silence, and then White said:
do you really think l ought to Offer
the old rascal one hundred dollars,
Frank? 1t happened to be just about
all 1 have left. It's been rather expen'
sive work. posing as q capitalist here
for a week with Reddy's vile whisky
two bits a glass. and every one drinking
every time. The whole hundred, Frank?'
Il tell you yes, Henry" Frank re
piled, with some Impotence. ''You dc
not know what an influence the sight o.
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,"
..AIl right. my dear boy; but if i,
don't we walk back to San Francisco,
or borrow from the rudy Reddy. Here
we are"
As he spoke they reached a cabin
Entering. they were met by old Smally,
whose small. closely set eyes and un.
commonly long. smooth upper lip gave
him a most unlOvely appearance. HI
greeted White with a cringing attempt
at cheerfulness and received from tha,
young man such a grip of the hand n
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 crsmped
fingers.
"Oh. the morning will do. MI. White
the morning will do quite as WE'LL" old
Smally said, his cunning suggesting
some show of reluctance.
Excuse me, but the morning will NO,
do. You must sign the papers to-nigh,
or the trade is off. and l will accept an.
other favorable offer l have from Mr..
Barnes"
well, if you insist upon it, I've nc
objection to signing tonight. But you
know that some little coin, Just AZ as
guarantee of good faith, you know,
generally passes at such a transaction
as this"
White threw five twenties on the table
with the remark: That's all the gold
happen to have in my pockets"
Old Smally's eyes cleaned as hi
clutched the gold, and droned over and
over, '.such a transaction as this, such
a transaction as this"
White and Howard glanced at eaei
other significantly. When White spoke
again, old Smally started like a discov.
cred thief, and hastily buried the colo
in a pocket.
'.Well, here are 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 a certain mining claim, duly
described. to White, for the sum Of
$50. 200.
Then, after taking a receipt for his
five twenties. and pocketing both pa.
pers, White left the cabin. These for.
malities complied with the strictly OBJ
served. though unwritten law. of tina,
class of m~ining-camp transactions.
An hour later the young men met .,
the mouth of a tunnel.
us the dear man asleep, FRANKIE
asked White.
''Yes, the sweet creature is in gentle
repose, his lovely head resting on YOU
five twenties, already sewn up in hi.
pillow"
TT e,