Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-11-21
L XI.
LIFE.

I had now n dead man Oh my hands and
diln't know what to do with him. Pratt
bore on me mentally with as great n weight,
dead, aS h. had while living. He would be soon
missed and sought for. by his partner.
Hillycnr would find his prospect holes. This
would bring the search in the neighborhooi of
the claim. If | told my story Of the manner
in which he met his death, l should he hard
" credited. Then it would lead indirectly
to the discovery Of the bank In whatever
way | looked | saw perpleSity.
But something must he done. The day
was waning. / covered the body with brush
and returned home.
Nearing it, ] saw Hillyear standing ut his
cabin door, cooking supper. They built their
fire outside for sake of comfort. A frying
pan was propped up 81 rs TO receive the heat
from u bed of glowing Goals, and in it was
their evenings baking of bread. He was
looking from time To time up the river with
that air of expectancy which accompanies
the act Of waiting for some one who has over
STAYED the usual time. As drew near he
hailed me.
Seen anything of Pratt
What was | to say. | had seen the last Of
him. | felt already like a murderer, because,
circumStantially, | was in the position of one,
People talk as if a clear conscience was
equal to any situation. ! did not find it 50.
81 saw him about three hours ago going up
the river" was my reply.
Where was hes" asked Hillyear.
Great heavens, | thought, how much Of
this game of evasion am | to play from this
out. said: He passed the cabin about
nine this morning, and went into the chap
paral about Wonder" and ! pointed TO the
spot where | had seen Pratt disappear at the
hour | named. Hillyear reSumed his cook
iug. vent into my cabin and took a big
draught of whisky. Broener always had on
hand a demijuhn of the best. There are times
when ones system is not equal To the making
of strength from ordinary food. | hold
alcohol aS a fo0d-an artificial one, ana an
unhealthy one for steady Use.
After supper | trudgei down to the store,
for | wanted other than my own thoughts
that evening for company. The Bull Bar
nucleus for goods and gossip was full as
usual of miners, raising a dense fog OF
tobacco smoke, whose flavor was more than
dashed with examinations from Goldfish, onion
AMI whisky. Mr.. Rankin had received that
day a new supply Of provisions from Stock
ton. and was scolding his partner, Who acted
As BUYER and teamSter combined, FOR the
poor quality Of some cigars be had brought
up.
If you buy any more cigars like them,
said he. Il want you to hire snd bring up
some men to smoke them. These poor crea-
lures about here haven't lungs strong enough
to draw on 'em. They want all their strength
10 draw rocks out Of the bed Of the river,
and it's for my interest to see that it's saved
for that purpose, at the rate I'm chalking up
-four, boots and whisky against them"
Got any better cigars than the last lotr
asked a miner, who, just coming in, had not
heard Rankin's last remark.
Yes" replied Rankin. Splendid lot
Havanas-only it wants a bull team to draw
one. Try one. You'll find it'll last you a
month. Just the quality to suit your case.
You smoke too much. These cigars are got
up express TO cure people OF smoking. Onell
last an ordinary man a whole year. Ask Nike,
nv partner. He had 'em made TO order"
Rankin's gable was g relief. Big Dick
came in, and forgetting past ~admonitions,
hoisted his huge proportions IN the limited
area Of counter uncovered by goods, and
Immediately got of again with a quickness
that suggested some uncomfortable sen
sation
Glad it works" said Rankin "Nothin'
but a needle stuck through the wood Some
folEses heads are too thick TO take a hint
Then We try some other part. II at first
you don't succeed, try, try again. chimed
Rankin, and then added: Needles and
pins, Needles and pins, When you get mar
ried Your trouble begins
Presently Hillyear entered A cloud
seemed to come with him. To me il was As
if tbs vindictive spirit Of the dead man
kept him company.
He looked about anxiously, as if with the
hope that Pratt might be present / knew the
meaning Of that look.
Hilyear was a slow-moving man, appa-
rently a follower of Pratt and led by him.
Without his partner he seemed lost
Has anybody seen Pratt today He
hasn't come back" after a time be asked. in
his heavy, drawing way IA sentence with
him seemed always a matter Of previous deep