Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-10-26
MY PARDNER, BILL.
The Story of Lonely Grave on
the Mouutain-Side.

The train on the Santa Fe road, due
an hour later at Pueblo, storaed ut a
way station long enough for a solitary
passenger TO get on.
The person in question was man
past middle age. OF medium stature.
firmly and compactly built, who would
not have attracted second look. how
ever, but for the fact that his face was
badly distigured by spurious scar on
his right cheek, in shape exactly re-
sembing Greek cross.
The new conner found a seat beside
me. threw up the sash and became abb
sorbed in the scenery along the road.
his interest increasing Is the train
presently swept along pretty valley.
Suddenly he turned half way round.
touched my arm. and, pointing
through the open window, said, very
abruptly; Say. stranger. do you see
that pile o. rocks yonder on the slope7
} Well. that's Bills grave"
The mans action and speech startled
me trifie. but looked out and saw.
as he had said. pile Of rocks on the
green slope OF the hill
s.Yes," continued the man. "thats
Bills grave. Twenty-Five years ago
: put them stuns thar myself Poor
Bill pure gold cla'r through. an
rec.s'n orter know. for know'd Bill
from the ground up"
Having delivered this short speech
the man lapsed into silence. with "a
far-away. dreamy look. AS II recalling
events long past. But his words had
aroused my curiosity, and at tho risk
OF interrupting the strangers revcrie
! finally ventured TO ask: ''Who was
Bill. sir. whose grave Is yondcre"
My companion gave a sudden start
then. recovering himself he answered.
Didn't know Bill. ehp OF course not.
seein' he was dead before ye was born
, dead twenty-five years come June
,, ,, Bill was my pard. sir. Bill was A man
TO tie 70 every time Say. don't ye
think ye'd love chap what 'ud be-
wilIin' tor die for YEP Be wiIlin'. an
I would. an did. too? | reck'n."
''Do you mean TO say your chum
died for you?" asked, now thorough
ly Interested. for there was tremen-
dous feeling and earnestness In the
strangers manner.
! The man turned round. looked me
:, squarely in the face and in a solemn
voice said:
''Straugcr. he did"
: Would you mind telling me some
thing about your friend2' asked.
IL never git tired. sir. OF taking
" about Bill" was the prompt reply
. stopped hyar yesterday iest to se'
!, that grave. Put up one or two o th'
stuns as he'd rolled down. It's al
:. right now.
when fust met Bill he was guild
for chaps 'crossin' the plains. SAINT
Fe way, Tor thar want no railroad
them days. good guide n trusty
:" Curious though bout some things
He'd never use c1ss words, nor drink
:" but Lord! how he d smoke. all day lon
- n half the night, too; good-natured
but the solemnest chap | ever struck
- Stranger. | never know'd Bill To
!, laugh, never. not oncest Told N
his heart was brcke. n he couidn'
laugh. What did he meanp Lor. man
= I dunno for he never said much abon
hisselE asked him his name n h
: said II was Bill. | ask'd him wha
= he was from. n he said from Nc
whar.' / spec thar was woman II
the case--thar mostly Is, notice. Blu
Bill was built like a clam n kept hi
mouth shut.
!, wall, Bill an me got ter be grea
chnms an | was mighty sorry when h
quit pilotin' trains. an iined som
= hunters. an pulled out into the hear
o the lnjun country.
"A "Bimoby, year later. havin' got
I bit crazy on the subject o silver mir
7 ing. struck this same region we nj
Iv now passin' through. but we he'd u
~ luck at all In findin' silver. though
4, felt | he'd struck IL rich one line da
y when two hunters walked into ou
camp. one of EN- being my old frlen
10 Bill.
!. GLAD 10 see him, ehP Young mar
ef ye'd seen old Bill an me huggin
cr ye'd thought we was couple o b'al
: for sure
I
m erai months an said thar was no 81
20 yer signs about, an so our pari
pulled up an went farther south. b.
"a | stayed with Bill an rother chap
"a take hand at trappin' beaver
a ..The old fellow had nice bit o.
o. hut nigh a quiet valley. where TIN
We was heaps o beaver. an as thar vi
no redskins around we enjoyed ou
n. selves immensely.
he ..But ] didn't fancy Bill's compa
~ ion. an he didn't waste any love c
. me either. Bill had picked him l
,it on the border jest fer company, a
took 10 him bit because he seemed
neryy. brave fellow He was hal
breed Mexican. named Yumez. u smal
wiry fellow. with sallow checks. Goa
black eyes and hatchet face. al
crafty ways like fox. At first |
III showed his dislike OF me plain enougl
but by aud by he became sudden
u very friendly. which made 1t mue
he pleasanter all round.
no "One day went up the creek TO q
he anime the traps. leaving Bill and Y
mez mending some OF the old ones
home. Having teen gone about q
hour was gittin' ready TO retur
a. when heard the crack o rifle an