The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-12-24
TON BROOKS'S CHRISTMAS EVE.
A True Story Told by the Light of a
Miners Campfire.
By ROB ROY.

At the head of a gulch the boys had con-
structed dolby" by hewing down the sides
and the head, with a chimney-seat niched
in the latter, so that the south end was the
only part built up. Timbers across the top,
from side to side, matched with turf formed
the roof, while the one door in the south
end was made by drawing hides over rough
frame. No broWn-stone front was ever more
admired by its owner than was our DOLBY
house by its builders. We had run it up
after getting the shaft down at the new lode,
against the return OF Brooks who had started
for Denver on the 18th. to be back with part
Of the iron work for the plant, by the 24th.
also our mail and lot of Christmas extras.
Brooks was the boss, and deserved to be.
1be BOYS, TO man, giorifed the big luck
sold Tom" had struck, which made him first
owner of this and two other rich placer lodes.
de was not rough in speech or manner,
though be had been mining since Glover
twenty yeaIs-snd had several scars from
having been too near the red skins, and one
mace by Mexican's knife, lie was six feet
two, sQuare-shouldered, heavy handed and
strong; bat be had blue eyes and tender
heart. There was something from long
way back in his life over which he still kept
up 8 silent funeral. AT times. when the
camp was in high cheer, and when he seemed
IS iOllY as the rest, e shadow would drift
across his face, as a hazy cloud sometimes
floats over 3 radiant moon. But the shadow
only sOftened his cheerfuluess, rendering
him. somehow, more attractive. he never
preached nor lectured, but neither did be
swear nor drink though he sometimes heard
enCngh of the one and saw enough OF the
other-that was Tom Brooks.
IE was q winterish evening up there on the
side of the mountain, and being Christmas
eve the boys gathered early about the fire
in the doby-eleven of Us in all. 1t had been
voted to wait supper till Brooks should
rive. lie said be would be with Us that
night, and there wasn't sinner of US who
wouldn't have Wagered weeks digging that
he would keep his word. Five Of the boys
sat around barrel at a poker game, one
was writing letter and another mending
coat, Lille and MacAIpine, who, from hsV-
ing been on opposite sides In the war OF '6l-5,
were now the truest of partners, were pre-
pairing for smoke. "Let me fill you up from
my pouch, Mac" said Lille, taking Mac
Alpine's pipe from him and walking TO a
chest in a remote corner. A minute or two
later MacAIpine's heavy beard was clouded
with smoke, as with legs comfortably crossed
he settled himself TO ms one real enjoyment
in life OF sudden a dash aud whizzlng
sound broke on Us, and ne saw MaoAlpine's
pipe ten feet awsy, IN q corner, the stem still
between his teeth. There was q shout of
laughter when the boys caught on to Lies
joke; BE had put in a small charge Of gun
powder in the bowl of the pipe. well,
thought you had gotten - kind all at
once All right l owe you one against next
Christmas eve" said MacAlpine.
And hope, old fellow, you'll rUa into
enough pay gravel, before that time, to play
such hand as John Lindsay did last Christ
mas eye-theI you can forget this debt "
answered Lille, striking MacAlpine he svily
or the shoulder.
''What was Lindsay's game?' asked Joe
Hutchinson, throwing his cards to the centre,
having failed to catch pair.
well. don't know particulars, nor does
any, out here, but Brooks; bat il was
Hghtning-a straight flush against four aces,
at the lesst-I could tell that from cid Toms
eyes when he came back, after seeing 1t
played Lindsay's wife and blind baby
were stakes"
"Ah! q sort Of gush game then-won't he
give it awayw asked Luke Barr as be raked
In pot
"No more than ne will why he left off
being q lawyer, in a city, to break rock ana
become target for Indian bullets, 1000
miles from home" answered Dan Roe. au-
other of the players, snd the oldest Of our
camp Of trIbuters.
"a Frisco man told, out at the Emma,
when l was digging there, said Jerry Bowles
locking up from his writing, that
Brooks had home he would have bet on as
being solid. But returning TO il once from q
little trip he found it all tumbled into ruin.
He had Il out with the man on the spot and
left him badly hurt. The home could DE
heme TO him no longer so he just packed mis-
gripssck and bolted and has never been back
there since"
"Helloa" came call from toward the
lode. 200 yards down the gulch; 'helloa"
was answered back by eleven voices. Its
BIooksl" ITS old Tomb Its the boss!"
was seyerslly exclaimed, as. dropping what
ever was in hand, every man made for the
door, from which all struck out in run over
the SNOW.