The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-20

rival in the camp. So long as he is "sluare"
and behaves himself, he is one OF "the boys"
| and as such is bound TO them by sort OF free
| masonry. Hence, when Parson Jim came to
| the Gulch and announced himself as a preach
| er, the miners asked no questions. They did
/ not take much stock" in preaching, but they
were disposed to give the newcomer a"show .
! and when time passed and Parson Jim proved
! to their satisfaction that he was made of the
right stuff they not only tolerated him, but
made him heartily welcome.
There was no church in the Gulch: there
| was no schooihouse: there was not even hall
OF any kind. There was, however, n large
| frame shanty used for a whisky saloon named
by its proprietor, "The Rocky Mountain Sam
pie Rooms" In the west, be it remembered,
| all the drinks are samples, no matter if the
same consumer gets away with fifty glasses
from thessame barrel.
Parson jim made his apnearance in the
! Gulch during the winter Immediately follow
ing the summer when the Hon. Samuel Green
made his important discovery of the existence
OF silver in the valley. He arrived on a hand
made his quarters at the rude
+ hotel connected with the Rocky
Mountain sample rooms. During the
evening there was a scuffie in the large bar
room and the newcomer looked in through one
of the doors to see what was the trouble. A
! young and slender lad of perhaps nineteen or
twenty years was struggling with brutal
looking, muscular giant Of twice his age. 1t
rough fellow would "down' his Young oppo-
nent, and yet the dozen or so of onlookers
made no attempt at Interference. just as the
new arrival appeared on the scene, the younger
combatant got in nasty blow, which evident
ly hurt and irritated his opponent Quick as
lightning the big fellow drew his bowieknife
AND raised it preparatory to pluning it into the
lad.
Hands off you bullv!" shouted the stran
ger i'll the doorway. The burly fighter glanced
rapidly in the direction from whence these
words came. but did not drop the hand which
gripped the ugly knife
'I)rop that knife," Numbered the STRANGER
at the same time laying his hand upon his pis-
tol pocket.
The bully noticed the last named action, and
letting go the boy, yelled, with added oaths:
Curse Won shut up Who are Won anvhoyv 90
The large man was evidently verv angry. He
held the knife in his left hand and with his
right drew heayy revolver which he nro-
ceedcd to level at the stranger.
''Throw up your hands, quicl1.' shouted the
latter. But the fellow did not hear T. is warn
ing. Click! went the hammers OF the istols
1t was question of Quarter seconds now
Bangi went one revolver-the strancer's-and
the big man fcll--dead.
Then there was a momentarv silence. fol-
lowed by some queer calculations. .'Dead rs n
min !"-"Sarved him right STRANGERS a
plucky un 20 Be-ewtiful shot l''-"Nbo air
you, stranger, anyhow"
''Boys" said the new arrival. when at last he
had chance to speak. "this is a sort of bust
ness that am not fond cf Sometimes it is
necessary though, as it was tonight. I am
sorry; let's say no more about it. III paw the
funeral expenses and answer all Questions
You want to know who I am? We'll. Pm a
preacher; and there'H be preaching in this
io,,ls., ts.s t.l4 .saRd Ia ,ss,y.,. 1lszsf
Sunday morning at ten O'clock"
1t was strange introduction for a preacher.
but it was perhaps the best one he could have
had in that wild place. Any way, the respect
of those rough miners was lastingly secured
and from that time on he grew in favor as a
man and preacher.
In those old coach DAYS there was one seri-
Gus drawback to travelling between Denver
! and George Washington Gulch-the road was
infested by small but hitherto invincible
band of desperadoes, under the leadership of a
regular daredevil known as KANSAS" This
man Kansas had attacked and robbed the
coaches fifteen or ieighteen times within six
months; and though he had never been known
to be accompanied by more than three confed-
crates, his band was the terror of the stage
drivers and their passengers Once the pYo-
pretors of the stage line had organized a posse
of armed men who secured the country in
search OF Kansas and his crew. but the ont
law remained at large, and within a week
lightened coach of seven thousand dollars
worth of silver ingots.
Late in the evening of summer day when
with the exception of party of gamblers at the
Sample ROOMS all the citizens of the Gulch
were soundly sleeping, solitary horselnan rode
up to the unpretentious shanty which did duty
for parsonage. 1t was nothing but a two
roomed hut rudely constructed and roughly
furnished On this occasion the parsonage
was in sole charge of All wing, "heathen
Chinee," who acted as Parson Jim's cook and
chambermaid. All Wing was himself. per
chance, in some Chinaman's paradise for his
sleepy features usually utterly devoid of express
sion, were llumined hy yellow smile. The
parson was off as he frequently was. on ;
trip down the valley, and tie parsonage, be-
ing well removed from the main norton of
the settlement, was seldom visited during his
absence. The dreaming Celestial was there
fore much surprised, and indeed frightened
when he was awakened from his slumber Inv n
violent hammering at the barred door. He
cautiously drew back the wooden bolt, and
peered out into the warm, starlit night. Close
to the door he beheld q stalwart man with
long black hair and a heavy mustacLe. hold
ing in one hand the bride of a large horse
while on his left arm he carried girl-evi-
IDENTIFY dead or in a faintlng condition,
"Where is the parson 2" asked the stranger
in a firm but quiet voice.
"Parson jim he 20 way muchee he no come
home till Sunday" replied the surprised Chi
naman.
"Well, hold nv horse, and hold him tight.
This youno woman is verv sick and Pm Going
TO Law her ON the parsons bed, y eO'''e