Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-09-30
JOE'S ATONEMENT.
The Cause Of the Great Boom at
higgins Bar.

SS~~e &'
The snow was twenty feet docp OF
the spot, and his prospects for living
till morning were worth about thre,
cents, the night Jim higgins struck til,
valley. He stumbled and slid dowr
the natural trail, and finally fell ex
hausted on the drift when his mo
mentum no longer carried him ahead
There he lay for little while, trying
to gain strength enough to make one
more effort for shelter; for night was a,
hand, and to be there until his limbs
stiffened meant death.
"It's no use," he muttered, as he
swayed to and fro and looked around in
a dazed sort of way. "Imay just as well
cock my toes up and pass in. I've done
Their best | could. IL looks goes fun
anything, there amt white man
within hundred miles of hyer; and I'm
clean done out, 'thout an idea thin
a hundred miles o. whar be-"
He stared around him as he spoke,
shivering, feeble, scarcely able to see a
rod in any direction. Nevertheless, the
pure grit that had pulled Jim higgins
through so many tight places did not
desert him now, and once satisfied that
there was no likelihood of any settle
ment being near, he Numbered on in
search OF a more protected spot where
he might pass the night.
Chance was good to him. Before he
had ha1f 1nznp raIa he -, hl,l
among the branches of an overturned
tree, and following the trunk up he
found a hollow caused by the bullying
roots that had been torn from the
ground. On one side was a wall OF
snow, on the other the wall of matted
roots and dirt, with just little opening
at the top, through which he wormed
himself and sank down with a sigh
upon bed of leaves.
He heard the wind without bowling
as though at his escape, but it droned
away into a gentle, lulling hum. and
before long he ceased to hear it at all.
He was sleeping the sleep of exhaustion.
When he awoke the sun was shining
brightly, well up in the heavens and he
was feeling very much better than he
had imagined would be possible. He
had burrowed down among the leaves,
and the close quarters kept the heat in
fairly well, and though he was stiff
enough from his tramp the day before,
the principal trouble was the gnawing
in his stomach, which demanded to be
satisfied.
He lay quiet for few moments to
gather his wits fully about him, and
then stuck his head out of the opening.
1t is uncertain what the fur cap that
surrounded his Uranium most looked
like, but at any rate the moment II
emerged, "zip!" came an arrow tina,
went through his cap and grazed his
skull so sharply as to draw blood.
''Injuns, by hokey!" exclaimed Jim,
in tone of dismay as he tumbled back
into his burrow and felt for his sole
weapon, navy revolver, belted over
his hip. ut won't take long to finish
this trip" he continued. IF 90 out
I'll get shot. and if stay in I'll starve.
Hit or miss, they've got me sure"
1t never struck him that he might
have been mistaken for an animal OF
some kind, until he heard light foot.
steps in the snow outside, and then a
long pole was run in with the evident
intention of stirring him out.
He fired promptly, and the shot was
answered by yell, whether of pain OIL
dismay he could not tell, but imme-
diately afterwards he heard few hasty
steps and then all was silent.
He kept silent. too. He was in q
trap from which there was no exit with.
out presenting fair mark to an unseen
enemy.
What was his surprise to hear q
voice in good mining-camp English ex.
claiming;
"Say, you! who's in tharp"
Jim higgins! Efyou're awhile mar
what n thunder you mean pluggin' away
ut meP Eff you amt white III give YOU
just the liveliest shake upyou ever heard
tell of about the time l get my 'volvcr in
runnin' ORDER.
"Shake on that, pard. I'm white from
the ground up. Come out an let's size
each other up. didn't s'pose there wa,
white man thin fifty mile"
Prudently retaining his hold on hi.
revolver, higgins crawled out good
deal more rapidly than when he wen,
In, and found himself in the presence o.
tall, gaunt-looking man, who held .
knife between his teeth. and bow and
arrow in his hands.
AT sight of each other all suspicion
seemed to be dispelled. They put away
their weapons and had a handshake thai
was all the more cordial for the DANCE,
that each had put the other in few mo.
ments before.
Amy grubP' was the query of Big.
gins, after this operation had been per.
formed.
''Sich ez 1t is" was the answer. 81
amt much fur a layout, but I'll let vel
in on Their ground floor. Yer see, I'm
lost hyer, an I've he'd awful tough times
but eff you've got any forty-five cart.
ridges things III begin ter bloom agin
I've a Winchester, but it amt bin nc
good since / run outer ammunition, an
Of i hcdn't fixed up Ingin fashion I'd q
gone nigh ter starvin'."
"An' I'm clean starved Already, but
kin load yer up with blue pills an per.
pulsive power. You bet hung ontcl
'em when 1 found wher war comm
out. Now whar's yer beefsteak an
inyunsp"
This way pard. You warn't look
in round very close err you'd smoked
me. sure"
Without hesitation higgins followed
his pcNly-madc friend and was reioiced
4. a.. I that it.ns- kal s<l a.. A.