The Iola register., 1889-08-16
QUEER OLD DOBBLES.
Events Proved That He Was Not
So Queer as He Seemed.

1t was OacR In % and % that Dob
bles made his first appearance in Red
Star gulch. Rich seams had been
struck, and the boys were making
money pretty rapidly. As a natural
consequence the influx of settlers was
great. but the newcomers were all
young or middle-aged men-all except
Dobbles
How he came by such a name. or
whether he had any real right to it,
We're questions that did not bother the
miners much. for inherited names and
generally good antecedents were not
often required in the mushroom cities
and camps Of the Wild West in those
wild days. Even how he reached the
gulch, from where or just when he
came, were points upon which nobody
appeared to be positive.
But what his business was there was
a subject that more generally interested
the men of the Red Star. for he did not
seem TO have any regular occupation;
neither did he seem to want for any of
the necessaries OF life, and he was
never known to beg. The chief of
regulators especially tried to satisfy
himself as to the old mans means of
subsistence. but the store-kceper only
knew that Dobbles bought sparingly,
and always paid for his purchases either
in coin or dust"
To be sure the old man might have
hoo, ,n11A1 lnfn,a ln
authorities of the Red Star and made
to account for himself: but the mode of
questioning was seldom resorted to in
mining communities in those days.
When such an impromptu trial was
held it almost invariable resulted in
the expulsion from the camp of the
man suspected or under suryeillance;
and such proceedings were taken only
IN desperate eXigencies.
But Queer Old Dobbles," as he
came to be called almost from the day
OF his appearance in the gulch. excited
only curiosity at first He seemed hard
of comprehension, in fact. very simple
minded, and never spoke except when
directly addressed. He appeared about
camp ut all hours of the day and night,
until it became a mooted question if he
ever slept at all. Though he was con-
tinually wandering or ''prowliug," as
the boys termed it, nothing of value
was ever missed in connection with his
visits to different portions of the camp.
and he soon came to be regarded as a
harmless and mild type of lunatic.
The winter came. and one of the
coolest winters for many years it was
too. but for a wonder, old Dobbles sur
vived it all right, when not less than
half score of men gave up the ghost
through freezing during those long
cold months. The old man lived. when
at home-which he rarely was-in a
cosy little affair that was half cabin and
half tent The most of the time he
shared the somewhat superior accom-
modations of the miners, and by the
unwritten law of such communities he
was always tolerated, though perhaps
he was seldom really welcome.
When the spring had come again the
gulch was once more most delightful
spot to dwell in. The climate was dry
and healthy. and there seemed to be
vigor and new life in the very as.
Every one appeared TO feel the revivI-
flying effect OF springs advent except
old Dobbles. ...
How did We come through the win
ter, old MANI" the miners would ask
him. and the queer old fellow, almost as
much OF a stranger as when he first
came to the Red Star, wot Id shake his
head mournlIfily and say: - b.
Poorly, sir, poorly! my cough is get
ting worse and worse every day.
And, as if in verifcation. his words
were followed Invariably by a tremend-
Gus fit of coughing.
Consumption the boys would say
. as they turned away from old Dobbles;
''poor old fellow. he won't see another
whole winter here. He'll pack his
dus' and go beyond the Eternal when
cold weather comes again.
Tie old man seemed in a fair way to
reaiizethese predictions concerning him.
self. Indeed he appeared to be gradu-
ally melting away into another world