Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-01-19
Shake Rag Under the Hill.
A sTOEY Of tARlY DAYS IN THE LEAD MINES.
CHAPTER VI SAM rAuBEa RELATES Az AID
XESrIf.tu


vESrutg,
The clatter of horses hoofs was
heard one rainy night coming dova
the steep rocky Hill that led Mp TO
the ridge road away up in the tim
ber--came round the corner of the
three-story, new frame tavern which
was the glory of the mining village
designated as the "Polnt,n aud
whose bar-room was fayorite place
of resort for the miners after their
days work was done in the "dig-
glugs," and especially SO ON a dark
RAINY night when the comfortable
hearth-6re aud the bright light con
trasted tavorably with the outside
gloom.
job Vecker, the gambler, the old
reprobate and topper, who never did
a silver of honest work week 10 aud
week out, was just concluding a
bet for the drinks with a grave old
gentleman in fadea btoadcloth, mln-
lsterial collar and silk hat from
which the silk had nearly vanished
from being brushed by red hand.
kerchlef every time It's owner had
occasion 10 take 1t off. ] was saw.
ing that Job had nearly conotuded
a bet with this ancient person, CON
cernlng the identity OF the person
who rode so recNlessly down the
steep hill which terminated exactly
AT the southeast corner of the tavern,
when the door opeued aud 10 stalked
Sam Tauber, teamster, wet,
spIa>hed, aud with An appearances Of
lndescrlbable dirtiness
Stalking up To The bar, he itrked
his thumb towards the stable by 10
take care of his horse, turned slow
y To the obseryant company, and
said, "She's come! Gimme a drunk
OF whiskyw this last To the corpu.
lent landlord behind the bar. Hav-
lug made this sage remark, winch
bespoke an Intimate acqu tIntance by
every body IN general OF the "she"
IN question, he swallowed the LIQUID
at gul =, turned his back To the bar,
rested his elbows on It's edge, aud
cleared his throat AS If 10 proceed.
"Who's Gomez" ventured one of
his auditors.
"Wny joe Tonkyn-' sister," ia a
tone OF disgust at the qeestioner's
ignorance on topic OF such vital
Importance.
NV here be shep" asked another
animated fixture, peering around as
II he bali expected To see her start
from some obscure corner and in-
troduce herself.
"Why, there she be,n cried the
exasperated teamster pointing up
the chimney. "Cau't zee see 'er?
Blast zee! 'oId thy tongue I'LL get
started. Gimme another drnNW
turning To the landlord with IN air
OF provoking caImness, knowing he
had something TO tell that his listen
ers were lying to hear.
Dear me, IT'S u rough ride from
the lnn," referring To a small set
tlenent nine miles south. "Never
see worse roads IN all my born d4ys.
Broke down tother side; made one
'orse lame; 'ad To COON ere TO oet
tCther one; 'ad a dreadful time oat
'ere AZ the four mile; water all over
the bottom; swan 'orre quarter mile:
'orse gol caugntin snag; dived down
an loosened un; under water three
minutes by the watch. 1t was a
great, roarln' river; never ace such
thing Ia all my born days. Aa,
dear! such time | We had-eimne
'nolher driukp
" hat about Joe Tonkyus' sis
teri" said the landlord as he poured
out the liquor.
"lsr, | 'esn about forgot. wasa
murin' Of my 'urrible ride, an the
great rOnrln' waters, the liuaor
evidently beginning to tell on 6ln.
"Never mlnd about the waters,
'rauber; what about the maid? Did
zee meet Joe an Pllchard d,gn that
way? They left ERE this mornin'.
Is the mad with Joe2"
"Neyer set eyes on 'em. Specs
they be drewnded in the great roar
IN waters? Aw, the poor little dear!
she be out at the lnn. Srz to 'er,
Just as | left this h evenin', if 'ee
wants to 90 To the Point 'ee's well
come to 90 with me, an III bring
zee through dead or alive. Iss, that's
what | said, dead or alive. But the
giants wife wouldn't ear of it, no
way"
"rhe giants wife?"
''lss, the giants wifel 0, 'ee'd a
died | do believe to see the maid in
that great wumman's dress .nd
the teamster laughed till he cried at
the memory Of some ridiculous oc-
curInce.
"Coom Sam,n broke in another,
"begin at the end an tell us all
about it,
ksAN.lf I iii. ..II