Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-09-30

and at each end rude wall had been
erected.
"Hyer yer are," he said, as he led
the way In. .Ther fire amt out yit,
and I've got enough grub left over from
ter start yer while L m fixin' more. Link
in. Theirs a ch'i'ce ov bar. goat an
deer, ef yer ken take 'em 'thout salt.
Ef yer can't-good mornin', mister Big
gins"
II kin take 'em raw. Don't waste
time yarnin'. / amt he'd er bite fur
forty-eight hour, and then it war a
singed rabbit ez big ez my inst. 1 could
q eat six"
"Sail in. then. Hyer's yer solid diet,
tough enuff ter stick to Their ribs, an
warranted not ter give dispepsy."
"Now yer shout" mumbled higgins,
with his mouth full. But say, pard,
what's yer namep"
~ amt sure I need one, but eff yer
very anxious We kin call me Early joe
That's what sailed under at Ground
Hog City till they run me out"
higgins gave nod to Indicate that he
understood. As soon as he got his
mouth half empty he growled:
my case prezactly, fur hevin' five
kings an a par ov aces held out under
my knee. What was yourn furp Ov
course thar war galoot dropped jest
afore they found them keards.
"Why, yer . man an brother. That
war jest what war the trouble at Ground
Hog. Their way things look now ain t
sure but what we'd done ez well eff we d
stood Their storm. Mighty cold time
I've had on it, an things don't look
elegant, no way"
'Any show fur color hyer when snow
breaks up? We're fust on Their ground.
an Of we make a strike we'd be even"
That's the chance am layin' fur.
I'm here now, an I've froze right on,
ter stay till it breaks up. 1t looks
mighty encouragin', and since I've got a
pard it won't be so lonesum. We kin
worry through eff you don't mind run.
min the chance ter lose a wheel"
Jim higgins had run a good many
such chances in his time, and he didn't
mind taking few more. The two
struck hands on it, and settled them
selves resolutely to their waiting game;
and so, waiting. the days went by.
1t took a good deal of exertion and
much stolid endurance to keep alive;
but the "signs" were good and they
held to their location, partly because
they had no place in view for which
they dare strike, but more because they
had hopes of finding rich diggings when
the snow melted and they had chance
to prospect.
Early Joe was an expert with the
bow, and they husbanded their ammu-
milton for an emergency. In one way
or another they made shift to get along.
Some weeks passed; the SHOWS began to
melt, and still they were alone in the
little valley which they had both reached
by the veriest chance.
II tell yer it's goin' ter be the strike
ov lifetime" said higgins, as they sat
together in the sunshine one afternoon.
'In another week we kin git ter work.
an of we don't find color the first try 1
can't read signs"
''Ef We had Their TOOLS" intcrposed
Joe, not half so enthusiastic. 1--WE
knowed men tor throw up after diggin'
q week; an Their next galloot lit right
on pocket jest whar they'd left off.
What kin we doP"
1--WE kin be diggn' out bowl with
our knives, an eff it looked ez though
there were pay dirt round I'd throw
sand with my fingers. o, don't you git
down in Their mouth. Theirs big money
fur us hyer. sure"
EUR somebody, mebbe; but luck
never comes my way. Eff it can't do
any wuss for me. it'll send Shade Miller
along ter throw me cold. 1 feel it in
my bones"
higgins had noticed that his partner
had been gloomy for day or two, but
he asked no questions, and he asked
none now, only trying TO make him
take more hopeful view of the out
look, which, indeed, looked bright
enough to him.
Il hadn't orter blame him either"
continued Joe. speaking aloud, but
more to himself than TO his partner.
''Pugsey Miller war good little man;
heap sight too good ter go outer Their
wet in squabble over the keards--an'
no a family man, too"
"How war it, Joe? Mebbe it would
do yer heart good ter tell Their story
Eyer kin b'lieve me er not, Jim, but
it war him ez started Their racket. He
knowed war goin' ter make Their pass
on 'em, an he palmed three aces right
on top when he made Their cut. didn't
drop to it till found what orter bin his
keards in my hand, an I'd straddled
his blind, an it war straight poker. an
knowed he had aces full
Then l got bowling mad, and he
pulled an pulled; an 1 war a little
Their quicker, an when Their boys saw
Their cold meat they wanted ter Jump
me. an got. l tell yer, Jim. Of we do
make a strike, I'm goin' ter send
powerful big nest egg ter Pugsey's
wilder. fur her an Their kid. See ef l
don't"
That's right, Joe; an I'll 60 anoth-
er. We're working fur the wilder an
orphun now, an it orter bring us luck.
Let's begin bowl right away. We kin
fix one up outer bark ter make Their try
with.
Early Joe seemed to feel somewhat
relieved after his confession, and by the
time the early twilight came was in bet
ter spirits than he had been for week.
in spite of the fact that their larder,
never too well furnished. was getting
suspiciously low. Game had grown
scarce and shy. Though they were not
at all particular as to what came into
their deadfalls, or fell to their arrows, it
was growing harder to keep the mill of
life grinding.
Tomorrow, said Joe, just before
he closed his eyes for slumber. I'll
take tramp down South. Ef we don't
look sharp we'll be starved outer hyer
yet; an don't want ter give Their spot
away till we see what Their show are. "
"All right. I'll stay an watch Their
claim"
In the morning with the Winchester
slung over his back, and his bow in his
hand. Early Joe set out on his hunting
expedition; while Jim higgins loafcd
about or in their rude retreat, willing
away the time as best he could.
1t did not seem at all strange when
Al