The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-18
THE MINES.

was your humble servant Joseph Lay
lor.
| did not 90 alone on my gold-seok-
inc expedition. Harry Cleavo went
with me rs partner.
1t was . journey of twenty-three
DAYS from Victoria, often wading waist
deep in the mud and slush, and cross
inc mountains of immense height.
At last we arrived at the mines in n
deplorable condition. Here we found
the suffering fearful, provisions scarce,
and, although we had read such glitter
ing accounts of the mines, the gold
was slow in coming
Day by day we tOiled, and al the end
of the first week we were not much
richer than when we had arrived.
The second week, however, we struck
vein" and our anticipations SEEM
ed about TO be realized.
1t was the last day of the second
week, and Harry and l were seated in
our tent smoking and discussing our
unexpected luck.
had just put down my pipe, when
II man tultlNu wv VIM ~ W 60 DOD
Riley, the bully of the mines.
He was man of about six feet in
height, splendidly formed, with an
arm that looked MS though it might fell
an OK.
He took seat without even saying
as much as: "By your leave"
"Hey, old boy, guy US that pipe" he
said at length, pointing TO my pipe
/ had just put down, "And harkee,
old foller, ill it to the brim; dye
hear?"
"Bob Riley" l replied, Il know
you're a bully, and I'm not afraid of
you. If you call me rightly and speak
respectfully I'll lend you the pipe"
Guy me that pipeN' he cried, his
face growing red with rage "Guv me
the pipe and mind who you're talking
to; dye hearP'
81 will not give you the pipe, Boil
Riley, till you do what l told you,
was the answer, interposing my body
between him and the object of his in
quiry.
With an oath he arose and came to
ward me. Harry jumped up to TAX
my part, but l told him to keep quie
and I'd make it right
1t certainly looked as though Bo
would demolsh mel was SO slight i
comparison TO him.
'Get out of the wayr he cried, wit
an oath, his face white with rage.
| did not move,
He then raised his brawny fist t.
strike me down.
parted the blow and the next min
ute he had measured his length on thu
ground, his head touching the canvas
from well-measured blow on thu
mouth from my fist.
In minute he was up again, for
would take no mean advantage OF hi
position.
With volley of oaths he cried;
Joe Taylor, my time will come.
shall never forget this!' and with tina
he disappeared from the tent.
That night lay awake, the words o
the bully ringing in my ears. triet
to forget them, but it was useless.
BY the morning it had leaked GU
that had clicked" the bully, and
was the talk and hero of the day.
pass over period Of four months
Unusual luck had attended the effort
of Harry and myself during this time
and we were worth nice $4,000 i
gold apiece, and thinking Of leayin
the mines.
For the better safety OF our none
we had dug hole in the ground unde
our tent, deposited it there, placed
piece Of wood over the hole, and the
covered it with mud, and five miners
Harry, and myself had formed ban
for mutual protection.
Every night at y o'clock Harry an
used TO look to see if our gold W!
safe.
-Four months had gone by and W
were growing rapidly rich.
Midnight had arrived and we wei
again about to look after our gold.
God! Am blind?
The gold was not there!
With ten-fold force the words of Il
bully came TO my mind. But he hi
not been seen since that memorial
night four months ago.
The air in the tent was sitting,
could not stand it.
Ipassed out in the cool night u
and oh, how refreshing it felt!
Harry remained in tho tent, as mu
affected as was.
AS walked on | observed fai
glimmer of light in one of the tents.
1t was that of worthless vagabon
by name Jem Langley.
All the other tents were pitch dar
With nervous tread approached a
peered in through n hole in the canv;
Could | believe my senses!
! saw Bob Riley and Jem Langl
bending over small table and coul
Ing money from some bags which
recognized as mine.
In less than five minutes had ;
reused our committee, and the &C
was again in my hands, while t
thieves were safely locked up to aw
the arrival of Justice.
A week went by, and our fortune "
increased by $4,000, At the end
the week we had determined to 20.
1t was dangerous TO 90 in the day,
every one who left was watched 10
II he took gold with him.
II