The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-14

nothing of this, for he was ''down on his luck"
sonal affront that the sun shines and the BIRDS
sing. He was bro1ding--had been erooding
as long as he could remember. He had pros
pected until his old bones ached, without max,
been well and happy; but luck was
against him, and at sixty-fve he was
lonely, poor and rheumatic, and living IN
mean Lighthouse in Hungry Gulch. To be sure
he had himself partly to blame for his present
discomforts. It has been the fashion OF late
years to idealize the Western miner, and he ID
far from an ideal being. He has many faults,
but he has one shining virtue; he is as KIND 10
his needy companions as heart could desire Inc
prosperous mountain dweller may care for HIM
SELF the busted" man will never lack helping
hand as long as there is blanket or piece OF
salt pork in the camp.
Uncle Eph shouldered his pick and limped
across the hills until he reached the point where
he had been working the day before. After resting
awhile he began plying the pick, and continued
his labor at intervals for some time AT last ne
sat down and leaned against the rock, tired and
discouraged AS he did so two men came quick
ly toward him and stopped little way of. they
watched him as he recined listlessly. pick in
hand Ere long he began chipping at a small
bowlder. A chance blow detached piece OF
shell from its surface. He picked it up and ex-
amined it, carefully but languidly. 1t was some
time before he rose, drove couple OF stakes IA
the ground, and walked slowly towards the
town.
The two men advanced; they were Cheyenne
Joe and his friend from Denver.
s'Poor old chap" said the former, II wonder
If he allows he's made strike. Thar amt
man in the camp ez would grudge it to him; but
the chances is agin him in this yere place.
heerd one Of them scientific sharps from New
York tibet come here year ago say thar ought
to be show for what Ne called 'chlorides' round
here But l don't take much stock In them
czl - ,o14
miner than the best of 'em, with their book
larnin'. Let's see whar he's goin'"
Around the hills and across the gulches, al
ways with faltering steps, the old man wended
his way to small, implanted building, wherein
dwelt an important character in the mining
camp, the assayer. He was there but few mo-
mepts; then the two men, who kept him In view,
saw him come out and YEARLY plod towards his
home. They entered the rude building, where
the expert was busy with his crucibles
"Say, Professor" calculated Joe, II want TO
introduce you to my friend, Mr.. Williams, OF
Denver" The men shook hands. "Him an mes
been lookn at Uncle Eph unbeknown to him
while he wuz chippin' away at them boulders.
Did he bring yer specimen"
eyes, said the assayer, che brought piece of
ore and said he'd leave it here until he could
raise the money to pay for the assay: He's so
queer; he wouldn't wait for me to tell him, Id
gladly make it and let him pay when he was
able. It's pretty hard work trying to help him.
laid q bank note on the table.
'You are very good, said he. "bnt have an
interest in the old man and shall gladly pay
your bill We will call for the assay this after
noon.
At about the time the old man came in the
morning to his door, as just narrated, wiz
liams and Joe were approaching the ranch
house in the valley They had driven down
the steep road through the pine trees crossed
a creek on rude bridge and followed the wheel
trac ka ON ha rionO
them ayouth and the pretty little blue eyed Great
ure." Pretty, indeed, was she, and would have
been in far more critical eyes than those OF the
old prospector. With true native politeness he
dotted his rusty hat and took her little white
hand in the friendly and respectful clasp of his
brown and rough one. To this day old Joe talks
OF her.
I'm sixty.three years DID," he once told a
friend. IAN I've tramped from the Wind River
mountains to the Rio Grande an I've been IN
Frisco, an st. louis and Denver; an allow |
never see such pretty sight in all my life. II
jest broke me all up. and don't yer forgit it:
Why, / allow eft was young feller an shed
look at me with them eyes o hern, ez blue as the
sky over the range in October. an ez clear
eZ the mountain streams up to timber lne-an
beckon with the little white hand, I'd foller her
to the end of the airth. SEE | to myself, yer
know, Little Daisy, yerve got young Teller
tibet loves we an ez good ez gold an ez true ez
steel, an perhaps yer amt got no need of the
sarvices Of OLD Joe Cannon but eff yer hev, why
count him in every time. He's old an stiff, an
what with hard work and bad grub and mount
ain fever he amt what he once wuz but thars
life in the old man yit, an he couldn't make no
better use Of it than in doin' his level best to
help yer"
The blue eyes grew brighter as MISS Susie
talked to the old man. There could be no doubt;
the description Tailed perfectly; Uncle Eph was
her father 1t was arranged that tie party
should go to the camp at once and the girl and
her brother remain at the hotel while Williams
and Joe decided on favorable opportunity of
breaking the good news to the hermit They
had resolved on sudden impulse to await the
result of the assay before speaking to him.
AS they left the Office they met an Unlocking
fellow, who passed them without recognition.
Joe looked sharply at him.
'Thet thar feller looks sort O familiar to me"
said he. Hes stranger in the camp, DutI allow
I've seen him before"
The sun had nearly run his daily course. and
WAS descending on the submits of the Western
mountains. when the old man again crossed the
threshold of his cabin, and again shaded his
eyes with his hand and looked down the
rude path. This time he saw man approach
ing but too far away to distinguish his face. he
returned to his cabin at the door of which he soon
heard knock. A stranger entered--a person of
forbidding appearance
''You are the man they call Uncle Eph, amt
you9" said he. The old man nodded. 'Just so.
They call you Uncle Eph. but you really are E.
P. Wilson, late banker at ---, New Hampshire
case of failure and defalcation-suspiciou cir
cumstances. I've Swallowed you and worked up
the points against YOU"
The old man turned pale He did not see that
the door, which the stranger had closed, had
been opened very slightly. The man went on.
Il ought to take you mp now, but don't want
to be too hard on you. Give me the claim you've
just staked out and I'll let you off"
The old man never had chance to reply. The
door was suddenly pushed open, Joe Cannon
entered, shutit again, and set his back aganstit.
ssBeg yer pardin' for comm in without knock
in, Uncle Eph," said he, ''but I've been on the
trail Of this yer man that's talkin' to yer I
heered what he said, an | allowed he'd come to a
good place to stop-to the end of sentence.
as yer might say" There was delightful
irony in his tone. 'Ez / understand
the matter" he went on, ''ths yer party
sez he knows yer, an kin do yer harm an wants
yer to buy him off. Now thet's what call play
in it down pretty low SEEM tibet this yer mans