Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-26
CaAFr6n XIX.

CaAi-rrsxs XIX.
xHS PnosPxcToR AxD PRDDLsR
"Wall. may I be accused O. seilin'
6ve-cent calico fur bingham ef amt
almost pegged ont. This ere is the
longest tramp and fewest sales I've
ever made in my life. Here I am
among the breaks O. Big Sandy, with a
pretty smart chance O. stayin' all night
in the woods."
The speaker was our old friend Pete,
the psddler. Pete is tired and stops to
wipe the sweat off his brow. It is hot
day, and the sun beams down on the
dry, hard road with fearful fury. Pete
has heavy pack on his back, and as
he goes along Ia . half STOPPING posi-
ton. produced by long travel. he
smokes his pipe, sings snatches Of
songs or communes with himself.
Il might knowed there war
nobody in these wild lands o. Big
Sandy to buy. aforc came. Pete Ped.
der. ye'r fool for once, yer bartered
Atwood goods for fimsey stuff that
fades we'd better STAYED on YER owr
heat doggoned sight than come away
out here"
Then he began humming his favorits
air:
Come all re darilng ladies
Remember what my trade Il,
TO please you will try
''But there amt no ladies here to
please" said Pete to himself. There
amt nobody to please in the woods but
ground-hogs and minka. Jehosiphat,
amt l tired o. climin' hills and crossin'
hollers. The day seems awful long,
but they amt long enough to get over
the places. wish l were up on Sandy
BY jinks, l must rest"
He stopped sat his pack down by the
roadside and took a seat on the green
turf by the side Of it.
"Lemme see, Eve ct the Big Sandy
70 GROSS and then I'm on the old
Plumber place. That's owned by the
shoddiest man In the whole pack. Judge
Arnold. This lies West. This must
b the land o Helen and Amos Lake
man. By lingo. Whist . swindle that
was. wuss nor scllin' pewter jewelry
Tor gold. Them poor children cheated
out o their home worth five thousand
dollars at least, an given these hills an
|. hollers not worth fifteon cents-the
whole tfact. When / think O. 1t am
int doggoned''-and h. brought his
efout stick down upoil ~ ground with
Z force which made 4 crack.
There was rnstling among the
leaves at his side, and he saw = snake
known as copper-head. ON account Of
the bright crest it wore. The peddleR
eyed it . moment, as its brilliant little
bead-like eyes twinklcd. and it, forked
tongue darted out Of it, mouth. and
said:
"New. yer Jest like tAaE whole ct.
.,.'rs deceivia' every bod jest Ike .
bolt q shodAv maslin. Y|re twin to
smile. ye doggoned sarpint; 70 does
sudge Arnold. He smiles, an his in
fernal eyes twinkle Jest Ike yours.
Ye're only waitin' fur . chance to bite.
an % il he. Wei. I -can fix 70. Il
can't him."
With one quick. sure blow fron h.
stick be crushed the snakes head, and
shouldering his pack went ON. leaving
II rigging among the leaves. Aboul
one-tourth ct = mile further, q Pete
was descending hill, he paused struck
with amusement. Had he been sud-
denly confronted with = view Of the
Atlantic Ocean he could - thave been
more surprised. There right before
him wore half dozen oriaore tents OF
shanties. There were wagons and
miners teols, and he coald easily SEQ
that they had been there for several
days. Ponderous machinery haad been
erected and deep shaft sunk, while
al around the ground was black with
lead and silver ore. Floating rumors
had been abroad Of lead and silver
mines in these hills Of the Big Sandy.
but no ono had ever given them Gre
dence. Pete stopped and rubbed his
eyes a. X he feared it was an optical
delusiOn.
'Well. say. now-what in the name
o common sense does it means''
He closed his eyes again, and again
opened them-it was all there yet, tho
teams. tents, shanties and machinery.
pete, l guess ye amt asleep! ye've
fist come onto . bolt O. calico which 70
didn't think was in the pack 'spose we
60 down and inspect it?"
Az Pete walked down toward the
camp Of miners, q man, who seemed
about forty-five years Of age, below
medium height and rather heavy set,
came to meet him. He had an hon.
ct oountenance and mild though shrew
blue eyes. One had only to glance 1t him
to ses that he was thorough business
man.
''Wall say now - said Pete, stop
ping within a few feet Of the smiling
stranger. and staring 1t him - il he
were = ghost. ''ain't you . stranger in
these partss"
Eyes sir" the miner answered, Il
have been here but . short time"
"What ye doin'f"
Prospecting"
"Prospectin'. what kind Of goods 10
that 2" asked Pete. removing his pipe
| from his mouth.
II an prospecting for lead and silver
ora"
''Oh. yes, ye are one o. them fellows
what digs in the ground, like . rabbit
Yes. except we 60 deeper. Where
ale you going!"
Ia Il want to git across Big Sandy."
''You ean'tnake & before DIRK"
Il know IT," said Pete, ''but then
there's no house this side o there"