Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-20

sense OF horror lowering about MIN wuTcn
awed and desolated his very soul. Peace
was out of the question, and in his great
anguish of spirit he sought solace in fire.
quent and copious potations of fiery liquor.
This brought partial relief and nerved him
to put into execution a number of supple
mental plans winch he regarded as neces-
sary TO his safety.
All of his partners personal effects were
carefully gathered up, tied into bundle
and carried to the old shaft, in which they
were thrown and buried beneath mass of
brushwood, stones and earth.
Tom had brought flask Of liquor with
him so as to keep up his waning courage
during his labors, and by the time the task
was completed he was IN that reckless
mood which is begotten of continued indul-
gence in strong drink.
"Pll go over au' see Moll,'' quoth he, as he
made his way back to the cabin. "TI tell
her Josh has gone an when she finds there's
no hope of geItin' hun an that I'm the sole
owner of the claim, she'll say yes quick
enough, reckon
With these and a host of other less pleas
ant thoughts rushing through his chaotic
mind, he turned his steps toward the settle
ment and shortly afterward was at Bill
Bushnelis cabin.
Mol was at home and readily accorded the
wooer an interview.
'Moll, my Iass," said he, after a few pre-
liminary words had been exchanged be-
tween them, there's somethin' a-preyln'
on my mind, an want to tell you all about
IT. L reckon you've got an idea what I'm
drIv!n' at, but I'm goin to come right out
PLAIN, an not be misunderstood. Josh an
me hev both bin purity sweet on you for a
long time, Moll, an I'd a-spoken erbout it
afore this if it hadn't bin for kind o. treadin'
on his toes; but now that Josh has pulled up
stakes an struck out for other diggin's-"
What is that you say! Josh Fields has
gone away!' cried the girl. ''Surely, Tom,
you do not mean it.'
course he's gone; thought you knowed
! it. He come to me this mornin' an, says
he: Tom, I'm sick o. these parts an am
1 goin' to light out for other diggin's. Buy out
my share of the mine an We'll call it quits
he wouldn't say no more, an, as he put a
/ low fgger on his half, l bought him out an
he went away. So you see, lassie, bein' sole
owner o. the mine now, l can offer you a
purity scrumptious sort O. a home. Will you
hitch with me, Molll"
but Josh might come back -"
"Durn Joshn' cried Tom, impatiently.
''He was no great shucks, anyhow, an ]
don't see what you want o. himl Hove you a
hundred times more'n he did, an I'd make
you deuced sight happier than that onery
chap"
f" ButI always thought great deal of him,
Tom
Eyes, / reckon so; durn sight MORN he
did o. you or he wouldn't hev skinned out
so suddent, without even sayin' good-bye to
you. 'Twixt me an you, Moll, reckon
Josh's conscience wasn't altogether easy,
for chap as has wife an babies livin'
back in the States is apt to be a little skeer-
| iSh Nf Gnph little love q ho
TIM mixed up in, an ="
just at that juncture there was a step
heard in the inner room of the cabin, and a
moment later a familiar voice rang out
through the open door:
Hold on, Tom Willis! 1 can stand about
as much as emmy bein', but by the Eternal,
that's a lie Til take from no manr'
Tom started violently, and turned a
terrified face toward the door.
Before him, with his head swathed in
bandages, and supporting his trembling
form against the door-facing, stood nc
other than Josh Fields.
''You see, amt quite as dead as ye took
me to be, Tom Willis, continued he, casting
contemptuous look upon the covering
wretch. 1T happened that, when you
doused me IN the old shaft, the water
brought me to my senses, an after a little
l was strong enough to crawl out an drag
myself here. Moll has already promised to
be my wife, an as l don't care fur more'u
one partner, you can take the trail fur other
parts, afore your crime is found out. Here's
a few ounces o. dust" added he, finging
him buck-skin bag of gold, IAN l advise
ye not to be found in camp tomorrow
mornin', or We may be treated to dose o.
hemp"
Tom sneaked off, only too glad to escape
thus lightly, and, though Josh and Bill
Bushnells lass have been partners for
many long, happy years, neither have ever
heard of the would-be murderer.-A. s.
Burroughs, in Yankee Blade.