The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-09
JOE'S ATONEMENT.
The Cause of the Great Boom at
higgins Bar.


The snow was twenty feet deep on
the spot, and his prospects for living
till morning were worth about three
cents, the night jim higgins struck the
valley. He stumbled and slid down
the natural trail, and finally fell ex-
hausted on the drift when his mo-
'mentum no longer carried him ahead
There he lay for a little while, trying
to gain strength enough to make one
-Aore effort for shelter; for night was at
hand, and TO be there until his limbs
Btiflened meant death.
Its no use" he muttered, as he
swayed to and fro and looked around in
Il dazel sort of way. 'Imay just as well
cock my toes up and pass in. I've done
Their best | could. If looks goes fur
anything, there amt a 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,
sshivering, 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 more protected spot where
he m ght pass the night.
Chance was good to him. Before he
had gone half dozen rods he stumbled
among the branches of an overturned
found hollow caused by the bulg.n~
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 sigh
upon a bed of leaves.
He heard the wind without bowling
As though ii his escape, but it droned
away into Il 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 a 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 it
emerged, '.zip!" came an arrow that
went through his cap and grazed his
skull so sharply as to draw blood.
'.Iniuns. by hOkeyi" exclaimed Jim.
in tone of dismay as he tumbled back
into his burrow and felt for his sole
weapon, a navy revolver, belted over
his hip. 1T won't take long to finish
this trip" he continued. If | go out
I'll get shot. and if l 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 or
-dismay he could not tell, but lmme-
-diately afterwards he heard few hasty
steps and then all was silent.
He kept silent. too. He was in a
trap from which there was no exit with
out presenting fair mark to an unseen
enemy.
What was his surprise to hear a
voice in good mining-camp English ex-
claiming:
Say, you! who's in thar?'
Jim higgins! Efyou're awhile man
what n thunder you mean pluggin' away
at me? Eff you amt white I'll give You
just the iveleSt shake up you ever heard
tell of about the time get my 'volver in
Tunnin' 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 war
a white man thin fifty mile
Prudently retaining his hold on his
revolver. higgins crawled out a good
deal more rapidly than when he went
in. and found himself in the presence of
a tail. gaunt-looking man, who held a
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 handshake that
was all the more cordial for the danger
that each had put the other in few mo-
ments before.
'.Any grub?' was the query of Big
gins, after this operation had been per-
formed
''Sich ez it is, was the answer. Il
amt much fur layout, but I'll let yer
in on Their ground floor. Yer see, I'm
lost hyer, an I've he'd awful tough times;