Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-03-20
BILL BUSHNELL's LASS.
Two Mining Partners Who Be-
came Rival Lovers.

dead in love with Bill Bushnelrs pretty lass,
Moll
If there was any thing peculiar about this
circumstance, it was not in the fact of their
infatuation, however, butkln the fact that
Josh and Tom were partners-joint owners
of a mining claim-and to see couple OF
boon companions develop into rival lovers
struck some of US old miners about the
camp as mighty queer business.
They were srch brotherly chaps that, II 1t
had been any thing but love affair, Ireckon
either the one or the other would have
given up to his chum; but they didn't in
this case. Neither seemed inclined to
bulge an inch, and, in this manner, several
months went by, with each one doing his
best to make an everlasting impression
upon his inamorata.
At last, however, Josh made up his mind
that the matter had dragged long enough,
and, not wishing to hurt his pard's feelings
by rushing ahead impetuously, he decided
to take him into his confidence
The time chosen was just before they
were going to quit work for the day, and
while the scattered tools were being gath
cred up and put away.
tom, said he, ''you an me hev bin
pards since we was boys, an, not only
pards, but the closest sort o. friends. There's
never been hitch b'tween US on emmy
pint, an hope there never will be- Fur
them reasons, I'm goin' to speak right out
in meetin', SOS to make myself understood
The fac Is, Tom, you an me hev bin so on
fortunate as to fall dead in love with the
same gal-old Bill Bushnelfs lass-an, as
it's ag'in nature fur us both to marry her.
we've got to tgger out some way out o. the
muddle. How can we do it, Tom, SOS to
keep squar' friends an do justice to each
fellers love an to Moll!'
Toms face kind of clouded, as though he
wasn't overglad that the subject had been
brought up, and fell to thinking and pulling g
at his pipe, without making any immediate
reply.
"It's hard nut to crack, JOSH" said he,
at length; 'what would you suggest2"
"Weu," answered Josh, "since some
things got to be done, an done on the
squar', suppose we draw lots. The feller
as gets the long cut has the first chance to
ask fur the gal; If he fails then the loser
can try his luck What dye says'
Again Tom meditated, and puffed vigor-
ously at his pipe.
Its about the only thing to be done,
reckon" he said, after long silence.
you're satisfied with the plan, amt
youa'
"Oh, yes"
"Well, then, you fix the cuts; ashort one
an long one, an I'll try my luck on the
| draw"
Tom set to work, slowly aud thoughtfully,
and, after considerable delay, held up the
TWO twigs for Josh to choose between.
"Well," SAID Josh, as he put forth rather
nervous hand, "here goesl l don't wish
you emmy harm, pard, but hope I'll get the
ong one."
You don't, thought" cried Tom, tri-
umphantly, casting the remaining stick to
the ground. you've got the short one and
oser'
Hold on! What are you throwing that
.ut away for, afore see it? Bet yer life,
I'm goin to compare them sticks afore
| give in - exclaimed Josh.
"Oh, wen,'' said Tom, impatiently,
'here's the stick throwed down, an you
see it's half an inch the longest"
mo you don't, Tom Willis" cried Josh.
THAT amt the one you flung away. Here
it is, an it's shorter'n mine by big oddsp'
"Bahl you can't come it over me like that,
Josh Fields 20 returned the other, hotly. "Fd
1e man if war you, an not try to sneak
out o the thing IN that wayl"
"See here, Tom" said Josh, "may be you
lidn't mean to trick me; but you're wrong,
est the same. III tell you how l know it;
When was fingerin' the two cuts afore
irawed one out, / creased the other one
with my thumb nail, SOS I'd know it agin
Well, here's the mark on the short stick
which proves my side of the case"
"You lie, cuss you"' retorted Tom, boil
| ng over with anger. "You hain't the sand
o acknowledge you're beat, an ye're tryln
l sneakln' game on mew
You talk like a 'tarnal fool!'' blurted
Josh, also losing his temper. You tried a
'obbin' game y'self, an now, when you're
taught at it, you squealp'
"Liari'' hissed Tom, selling hand drll
wing at his feet, and raising it, menacingly
over his partners head. ''Say that agair
an, pard or no pard, I'll brain vel"
"Well, you did, an you know It'll Yor
| hadn't the nerve to"
The sentence was never finished; for, a
hat instant, the drill descended, with &
rash. upon Josh's head and he fell like
og TO the ground.
For moment Tom, frenzied with rage
stood over the PROSTATE form, an almos
ievilish glitter lighting up his coal-blacl
eyes, but presently sudden change tool
possession of him.
:" My God AmightyI' gasped he, his eye!
riveted in horror upon the white upturneC
face and CORY locks of his victim. 81 have
killed him have murdered my pard! Oh
now could do it-how could forget m'sel
an do such an orfdl deed!'
A new thought seemed to force its wa,
INTO his perturbed mind at this juncture-i
consciousness of his perii-and he cast
furtive glance around him
81 must not be caught here" muttereS
he, Sor my life won't be wuth a burn
matchi Unjust get away-but where?"
He thought moment and then resumet
his distracted soliloquy;
mo; 'twon't do TO leave, for that wouli
only convince 'em o. my guilt, an a posse
be after me in no time. I'm in desp'r1
bad fix, that's sure, an FL have to cover u
all the traces o. tho CRIME, an say Josh ha
skipped"
After another searching glance about, t
make sure that his movements were no
being watched, he stopped down, lifted tn
limp form into his arms, and then SUM
away with his burden toward an unuses
part of the mine.
He paused, moment later, at the brink O
an old. abandoned shaft. and, after ono
more cooking and listening, dropped ii
body into the murSy pit
A splash, rs the burden struck the stal
nant water at the bottom of the shaft, Wa
heard Immediately after, and then, with
blanchcd face and a haunted look in h
eyes, Tom stole back to where the deed hs
been committed
"rn go back to the place after dark
muttered he TO himself, ssand ill the o
shaft up with talins and rock. No one W
then ever run across his body an pounce {
. me for hls murderer
An traces of the bloody deed were car
fully obliterated in the mine and then To
went home.
A fire was kindled and supper prepare
but he could not eat. There was q gnawir