Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-28
UTE BILLS PARTNER


Many years ago. when reports of the find.
ing Of gold drew men from every state in the
Union, there appeared in this grand but DIES.
olate canyon man by the name of Rivers
Stanley Rivers, he said-who at once pro-
ceeded to erect cabin for himself. This
completed, he kept well within its walls when
not actually engaged in prospecting. He
located his claim and went about it as readily
as an old miner.
The little town of Colorado Springs. four
miles distant, was often visited by the miners
when they had accumulated & little dust, but
rivers had never accompanied them on these
occasional sprees. although they had often
urged him to do SO.
A man in a mining camp Who does not
drink is considered, as a general thing. be-
meath the notice of the averare miner. but it
was not so in this case. Here re had the con-
hdence and respect Of the rough men gath
cred around him, and by his gentle ways,
boyish face and pleading blue eyes had won
every man over to his side
Tney no longer urged him to go with them:
they went, and respected him There was
not man in all the camps around who would
not have taken the part of the ''tenderfoot. ~
as they jocularly called him. And not only
that, he knew it.
His past was blank, and be mildly re-
sented all efforts to reveal it, On one occa-
sion Ute Bill had pressed him too closely on
the subject and he reproved him by saying:
Bill, think you are friend Of mine, but
would rather have you throw me down that
shaft ot yours than ask Inc to tell YOU nv
past life. 1t is too painful
Ii the boys could have seen Bill then: II
they could have looked upon him as he stood
abashed before this slender, pale looking
young man; he, who had killed his man. this
Indian chewer," who had come out ahead in
hand to hand fight with a bear: this same
Ute Bill, who figured as Desperate in the
country round for 100 miles, they would have
wondered if he had suddenly taken leave of
his senses
But they were alone, and in an humble
voice he said
beg yer pardon, Mister Rivers, didn't
mean to hurt yer feelin's. hov kinder taken
iiken to We, a sort of fatherly interest and
Ii sc say tier word, Wen be pards'
Tho word was said, and great was the sur
prise in camp when the new partnership was
announced the next day What had come
over Biz was be going to reform. 1t was a
seven days' wonder, but gradually died away
until it was no longer an attraction to sec
EIis ak feet of muscle and Drawn towering
head and shoulders above his delicate looking
'pard" as they prospected the country round.
One day in their wanderings they found
they had nearly reached the summit of the
grand old peak at whose base flowed the
waters of the San Juan creek, when Bill sud-
denly uttered an exclamation of amazement
Look here, pard, we've struck it this time;
chunks of it.'
Rivers, who had been patiently clipping
specimens off the lodges which jutted out here
and there, FASTENED to his side and looked
Bill had piece of dark looking rock in his
hand, and was turning it excitedly over and
over, his eyes glowing like stars in his intense
excitement.
The news spread like wildfire through the
camp All the miners were half crazy over
the find, and deserted their old claims to
search for new ones. There was no doubt of
the vast wealth that lay in the mine which
Bill and Rivers had opened. It was settled
fact that the men had more mouey than they
could ever realize beaming down on them as
the mining ore should be turned out.
AS The two men were lying on their rough
beds ii the little cottage they talked of the
future and its grand prospects. Bill was full
OF enthusiasm, and pictured in glowing terms
his highest ambitions to be realized when he
should count his thousands.
He would be congressman What thrill
ing speeches he would make He would have
every word of them printed in the news
papers. He would own fast horse, and the
"boys" should have all the drinks they
wanted; they should none go dry while he
was on top of sod. And he stopped suddenly
and looked at his companion.
What's yer lead, Ole pard? VIII yer
hang onto yer dust or spend it like yer got itYn
For a moment Rivers was silent
Il dare not think what disposition I shall
make Of it 1 will probably go back east.
Ny plans are not definitely settled he finally
answered. So the subject was dropped.
Bill knew the quiet, retiring man at his
side well enough to know all inquiries to be
fruitless> So he turned over, and, after a
few more words about the work of the NOR
row, he fell asleep
When the morning dawned Bill was up and
stirring. Rivers slept late, and at last Bill
thought he had better awaken him. As he
shook him in his rough way he noticed the
bright spots Oh Rivers cheeks aud his short,
irregular breathing.
Its all right now, Lillian" nurmured the
SICK man, tossing uneaSily; ''it's all right
now. I've got the money to keep you where
You should be- SO tenderly, patheticaIly
came the words that the rough miner
brushed away tho tears as be listened to the
hidden story Of his ''pard's' past life He
told it all in his doliriuEl, and seemed to live
the long years over; how he had loved thia
delicate girl, reared in luxury and ease, and
when ne lost the fortune he had so slowly ac-
cumulated be dared not tell her of his love.
lie would not ask her to share his poverty
and hardShipS. He had come away and
staked his life and love in the search for gold,
and found it. Yes. now lie could clasp her
slender hand in his and give her all the riches
lie possessed in return. Over and over again
he called her name
Bill softly stroked the brown hair from his
forehead, and as be did so Rivers said: 1T is
so soft-her little hand-it rests me TO feel it +
On my head" And he lapsed again into a
restless sleep.
'Durn thet big pawn said Bill, looking at 1
his rough, brawny hand and then at the white /
forehead on the pillow. "And Their amt q /
hand in the camp to fix things easy I
'or him I'd give the hull bizneSs If he was
only out Of this NUS"
But before two hours had elapsed there was
/ doctor from Colorado Springs bending over
he sick man, end by the bedside sat pale,
lender girl watching with intense interest
VERY motion and word Of the patient, and
soothing him with her little hands holding his
She came with the doctor. Bill stood inside
he door and looked like bashful school boy
4 the presence of this stranger, who seemed
o he taking bis place and caring for Rivers
y ben be ought to be doing 50. But he asked
10 questions, and waited for the doctors an