Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-13
Il DEAD WOOD INCIDENT.

In Deadwood, in the heart Of winter, when
the snow buries the miners in the cabins, OF
the wind and ice slay them on the road, all
that is best and all that is worst in these iso.
lated men come to the surface.
Bill Ragsdale, desperate, gambler, crack
shot, the most interruptions claim jumper in
the diggings, found himself, much to his own
surprise, converted by force of circumstances
into nurse. He had shot several men and
been fired at at odd times himself, and through
it all maintained feeling of comparative in.
difference. Therefore to watch, and work.
and hope for the life Of a man to whom be
he had not spoken more than dozen times,
was enough to surprise Bill Ragsdale, or any.
body who knew him. The event had come
about in this way:
One night, when the darkness bad nearly
worn itself threadbare, and the gray of the
morning was peeping through, Bill. and a
dozen of his companions, were seized with a
desire to wind up their noisy carousAl with q
dance.
In the corner, sleeping, with her head on a
bench, was woman whose occupation it was
to assist the barkeeper in mnistering to the
bibulous desires OF the miners, and TO play
the hurdy-gurdy when these ferocious bac-
chanals wished TO timber their Joints with
their clumsy dance.
One Of the men went up to the woman and
kicked her roughly with his boot.
'See here, Col. Molly, give as q tune out
Of that old music.b box Of yours, he cried
Liquor and fatigue made the wretched
creature insensible, even to this rudeness
Seeing that she did not move, the man gave
her an impatient shake, then twisted his hand
in her hair, and by it lifted her to her feet
The men laughed very uproariously as she
screamed and struck out wildly at her perse-
cutor, but Bill, in whom some latent spark
OF chivalry seemed suddenly awakened, sprang
to her assistance with an oath and menace
Every man in the crowd naturally considered
this interference an infringement upon his
established liberties and the indomitable Bill
was surrounded by his late companions, who
had suddenly converted themselves into exc
cutioners, each determined to defend his code
of lawlessness.
dozen revolvers in the hands of as many
blear-eyed, british men, were aimed more or
less unsteadily at Ragsdale, who caught his
breath, made movement towards his belt,
found his revolver missing, and threw up his
hands with an instructive gesture--a protest
Of his elplessness-when the door burst
suddenly open, and man bounded in. As
he did 80 bullet carried of his high felt hat,
two others buried themselves In the wood.
work of the door, and the rest whistled past
him into the outer air.
A second later, the man who had struck
the woman dropped dead on the floor. Then
the smoke rose and showed Bill in possession
OF the dead mans revolver.
'Tve got the drop on ye, said Bill, cover
ing the nearest two with his revolver. 'Put
up yer guns, an take big Jim out o. here"
Then he grasped the strangers hand, which
still held the smoking revolver.
Say, stranger, put it thar" he said. II
don't know who you be, but theirs nothin'
ye can't have If ye want it. Let go, Moll,
an git up" he said roughly to the woman,
who still crouched on the sawdust floor.
clutching his leg.
Several of the men had carried big jim in
to a back room, which the bar-keeper Rrum-
blngly prepared for them. The newcomer
picked up his perforated hat.
~ don't knew who was in the right" he
said. II only saw an unarmed man defend
ing woman against dozen armed men.
was directly in the line of their fire, and
don't know that helped you any more than
helped myself"
The young stranger settled down to the
diggings, and from that day out he and Bill
were friends. They saw but little of each
other, for Boston" as Bill had christened
the new conner, seldom entered RaRsdales
haunts, but now and then the burly gambler
took occasion to give his protege a warning
word, when he saw the young man was likely
to be bitten by prospectors more experienced
than he. Gradually there sprang up between
them sort Of rough comradery which exist
ed without much demonstration, and which,
perhaps, they both would have been q little
ashamed to confess.
The rigors of the winter proved more
than Boston's nature could stand. Bill Rags
dale, on his way through the gulch, had
heard, as he passed the little cabin which
Boston had built near his claim, a man cry
ing out and groaning and, on entering,
found the young stranger delirious, no fire TO
keep out the freezing cold, and no food on
the shelf.
This exigency resolved itself into prime
amusement for Bill. He kept house, cooked
for the sick man, (for, like all pioneers, he
had some skill in border ouisine), and, though
rather skeptical as to the efficacy of medicine,
got one of the several doctors that fourished
in the town. The sixth day of his illness
Boston recovered his right mind, and reoog-
nized Bill, who was filed with precipitate re-
joioings.
81 guess you amt feeling very smart"
Boston smiled feebly and shook his head.
you've been sick long spell, " volunteer
ed the nurse, cheerfully. ''You about like
to died"
The sick man nodded his head feebly, and
then asked
"Am going to get well ?"
"Well, oalc'late thar's a chance II ye don't
git no set back-an' ye amt a goin' to. ye
know" continued Bin, brightly.
Boston said nothing, but lay Watching the
other, with that ghRstly stare the sick have.
81 s'pose ye amt got no folks around here,
hev ye 2" Bill asked In a solicitous tone.
Boston shook his head impatiently. He
thought for long time, with his eyes fixed
on the ceiling then he aroused himself sud
denly, and motioned Bill to his side When
his companion had seated himself on the bed,
Boston laid one thin hand on his, and said
while the tears of gratitude and feeblenesB
gathered in his eyes,
81 know would have died here alone, il
it hadn't been for you"
''Git outl" cried Bill, very Indignantly.
"Ain't we evenl guess I'd be out thar
with my boots on II it hadn't been for you ?"
'I don't know that care particularly about
getting well, but il l do, we are partners in
all good luck" a n.
Bill flushed and said; ll-
81 guess you'd better dry up, now"
Boston lay perfectly still after this, and
Bill thought he was sleeping but after q
time he saw his lips move, and bent down TO
hear what he was trying to say.
"Bill, he whispered, ''if the worst comes
I'd like my father TO know. His name Is Ed.
ward Payson, Of No. 1928 Beacon street.
My name is George. haven't made the
most of my life, and the poor old man is put
out with me, now. And then there were
others" t
But Boston's voice sank, and he fell again
into lethargio slumber
Bill lit his pipe and amused himself by fire.
quent STRINGS aud pokings at the FIRE, which
the wind tried to suck up and out The sick