The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-09

o~verhanging rock, in front of which,
and at each end a 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 I'm fixin' more. Link
in. Theirs a ch'fce ov bar, goat an
deer, eff yer ken take 'em 'thout salt.
Eff yer can't-good mornin', mister Big
II kin take EN- raw. Don't waste
yarnin'. I amt he'd er bite fur
hour, and then it war a
singed rabbit ez big ez my fist. 1 could
a eat six"
Sail in, then. Hyer's yer solid diet,
tough enuff ter stick to Their ribs, an
warranted not ter give dispepsy."
snow yer Shout mumbled higgins,
with his mouth full. But l say, pard,
what's yer name?"
81 amt sure I need one, but eff yer
very anxious We kin call me Early Joe.
That's what l sailed under at Ground
Hog City till they run me out"
higgins gave a 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 fur? Ov
course thar war a galoot dropped jest
afore they found them keards."
"Why yer a man an brother. That
war jest what war the trouble at Ground
Hog. Their way things look now 1 amt
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 eff we make a strike we'd be even"
That's the chance 1 am layin' fur.
I'm here now, an I've froze right on,
ter stay till it breaks up. It 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 u
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 a 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 a chance
to prospect.
Early Joe was an expert with the
bow, and they husbanded their ammu.
milton for an emergency. In n 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 a lifetime" said higgins, as they sat
together in the sunshine one afternoon.
'.In another week we kin git ter work,
an ef we don't find color the first try ]
can't read signs"
EFF we had ther TOOLS" %interposed
Joe, not half so enthusiastic. '.Ive
knowed men ter throw up after diggin'
a week; an ther next galloot lit right
on a pocket jest whar they'd left off.
What kin we do?"
1--WE kin be diggin' out a 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 ther mouth. Theirs big money
fur us hyer. sure"
Fur somebody, mebbe; but luck
never comes my way. Eff it can't dc
any wuss for me, it'll send Shade Miller
along ter throw me cold. 1 feel it III
my bones"
higgins had noticed that his partner
had been gloomy for a day or two, but
he asked no questions, and he asked
none now, only trying to make hin
take a more hopeful view of the out
look, which, indeed, looked brighr
enough to him.
Il hadn't orter blame him either,
continued Joe. speaking aloud, bur
more to himself than to his partner
'.Pugsey Miller -ar a good little man
a heap sight too good ter go outer the
wet in a squabble over the keards-an
he a family man. too"
"How war it, Joep Mebbe it would
do yer heart good ter tell ther story"
Eyer kin b'lieve me er not, Jim, bu
it war him ez started her racket. H,
knowed / war go;n' ter make ther pas.
on 'em, an he palmed three ices RICH
| on top when he made ther cut. l didn'
drop to it till l found what orter bin hi
keards in my hand, an I'd straddlet
his blind, an it war straight poker. an
| l | nowed he had aces full.
''Then | got bowling mad, and h
pulled an l pulled; an l war a littl
| ther quicker, an when ther boys say
Their cold meat they wanted ter jum]
me, an l got. l tell yer, Jim. eff we d
make a strike, I'm goin' ter send
| powerful big nest egg ter Pugsey'
| widder, fur her an ther kid. See eff
| don't"
That's right, Joe; an I'll 60 anoth
orphun now, an it orter bring us luck
Let's begin a bowl right away. We XII
fix n up outer bark ter make Their tr
with.
Early Joe seemed to feel somewha
relieved after his confession, and by tn
time the early twilight came was in be,
ter spirits than he had been for a week
in spite of the fact that their lardel
never too well furnished. was gettin,
suspiciously low. Game had grow
scarce and shy. Though they were nc
at all particular as to what came int
their deadfalls, or fell to their arrows,
was growing harder to keep the mill c
life grinding.
Tomorrow" said Joe, just befor
he closed his eyes for slumber. .'I'
take a tramp dowpSouth. Eff we don
look sharp we'll be starved outer hye
yet; an 1 don't want ter give Their spc
away till we see what Their show are"
"All right. I'll stay an watch the
claim"
In the morning with the Wincheste
slung over his back, and his bow in h
hand, Early Joe set out on his huntin
expedition; while Jim higgins loafe
about or in their rude retreat, within
away the time as best he could.
1t did not seem at all strange whe
evening came without his partner; bl
as one hour after another passed he b.
gan to grow uneasy.