Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-07-11

fashion of gladiators in some old Roman
arena. Then Strange said, 81 want
to tell you little story 1 heard not long
ago. Nugent merely inclined his head t.,
and the other went on:
About twenty-five years ago young
man was sitting on q pile of lumber and
swinging mis- legs over the water of San
Francisco harbor. He was mighty
wretched young fellow as he sat there,
and perhaps he was thinking that no
harm would be done to himself or any
one else if he were to tumble in and let
the waters close over his head for good
and all. You see the young man was
hungry, he was thirsty he had no money
and no work, besides which he was just
getting over the effects of the prolonged
spree which had emptied his pockets so
effectualiy.
''While he sat there, the picture of
dependency and misery, he was ap-
preached by man of about his own age,
but of very different appearance; for he
was well, if not richly, dressed, and
seemed on good terms with himself and
the world. He noticed the woe-begone
figure with blood-shot eyes and shabbilY
dirty clothing sitting on the lumber pile
anu SpOhS u AlIu1 GlAANA c5OAA@Ar
They were the first kind words the poor
wretch had heard for many day, and
his nerves being in poor condition any
how, he broke down completely and
cried like a child. Then, encouraged by
his new friend, John Jones-as we may
call him-he told his story bit by Bit
There was nothing original about 1t, and
it was such as might have been told by
fnO1ish q with
out strength of mind enough to free him
self from bad habits and worse compan-
ions. Such as it was the stranger heard
it in grave silence and then offered the
young scamp another chance.
''He was himself, he said, a stranger
IN Frisco, but had made up his mind to
spend a rowing life for the next few
years. IF Jones cared to make fresh
start in life he might come with him and
share his adventures and fortunes. l
need not say that Jones hesitated not
moment, and two weeks later the young
men set out from the city equipped with
all that was necessary for the life they
were going to lead.
''You will notice, - continued Strange
who told his story with an evident en-
joyment of the manner in which he made
his points, but somehow with the sugges-
ton of a schoolboy repeating lesson
learned by rote, ''you will notice
that the rich young man, whom
for the sake of argument L will
christen Smith, found the other in
condition of absolute destitu-
ton, characterless and starving. He
took him at first, intending to make
servant of him; even that was charity of
a high order, but he went further-he
made Of him friend and companion, to
sit at the same board, and on more than
one occasion literally to sleep IN the same
bed He got, it is true, the value OF
Jones Ibid 1 not call the young pauper
Jones?) experience of the country and of
life, but practically he gave with both
hands and with no thought of exacting
any recompense. What was his return?
l will tell you -
''Shortly after setting out the pros
pectors heardzfhe first mutterings of the
war-burst witch was soon to overwhelm
the land, ahd naturally the adventure
seeking SE1ith-who had told his COM
panion he.had left the East only because
his domestic relations were so unhappy
that life had becoaae insupportable-de-
sired nothfEs betteR than active service.
Jones was 1ies so men in love with mar
tial glory, Bi8tashS followed where the
other leda FOUR years they marched,
fought and underwent the ordinary vicis-
STUDIES of a soldiers life side by side,
Smith Nose than once stepping in be-
tween his Gbmrade and death, and then
they returAed to the wild, free life of
EARN California days.
IS sTlhley Had hard time of it for some
montRss these two young men, young in
years. BUT prematurely aged, as were all
their generation by that strife Of brother
again4E brother, but at last their turn in
life's lottery came. Worn out with many
days fruitless prospecting they were lying
down on the banks of stream almost
broad and rapid enough to be dignified
by the name of river. Their fare had
fbeen somewhat stinted of late, for Jones :,
ao carried the one gun they owned be-
tween them, an old army musket, had
shad4sngor luck for days past and had
missedafaore than he had hit. AS they
Law theTe supinely stretched out, Jones,
who was the grumbler of the twain ours
ing their stars that they had been fools
enough to think that a speck of gold
could be found within hundred miles of
where they now were. Suddenly Smith,
who was lying on his back listening to
the others diatribe with gently cynical
smile, sprang to his feet, seized the old
musket, turned quickly around and fired
at the cliff directly behind him. As the
echoes of the shot went hurtliug down the
narrow ravine through which the steream
ran q frightened bird fed with them and
a mass of shattered rock fell Gathering
down instead of the dinner the sports
man had hoped to gain.
s'There was an oath from his oompan-
ion, a pettlsh exclamation of disgust.
from himself, followed by a cry of aston@
ishment as he bent over lump of fraG
-tured quartz at his feet. 'Our fortufe
has come at last, he quietly said as he
finished his examination, and so it had.
Smith s lucky shot had lost them a din
ner, but gained them a gold mine. Run
ming through the cliff was rich ledge of
auriferous quartz, and there was enough
in sight to render the working of the rest
no prOblematioa1- venture. Though by
right of discovery the mine belonged to-
Smith, he hesitated not moment, but
made his comrade an equal sharer and.
partner.
''Thus from first to last Jones owed
everything, even life itself, to Smith,
and now III tell you now he discharged
the debt. It will not take many words.s
He murdered his benefactor while h9s