Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-09-04
innocence; and II was further a ppar-

''Wal, it seems to be settled that old
Ike got the DUST" some one remarked,
Van now the question is. what's goin'
to de done about it?".
''Nothin', reckon" Brandy replied,
Ter they hain't nothin' We kin do
The dust's gone, an ole Ike's gone, an
that's the eend NV It, onless he comes
back, an in that case low we know
what'ud be to do"
Reckon we know what'ud be our
business in sech err case," one of them
answered; ''but it hain't hardly likely
es ole Ike'll ever strike Rattail gulch
agin. Guess he thinks too much NV
is hide fer that"
The miners resumed their work and
nothing more was said of old IKE and
the robbery, since every one felt cer-
tain that he was gone for good, and
that Rattail gulch and Rockrift camp
would never again be graced by his
appearance.
| 1t was late in the evening, and the
men had eaten their suppers and were
enjoying a smoke outside the cabins,
when from away down the gulch there
hoated up on the soft breezes the notes
OF rude song. ''Listen, felleH," old
Sam said.
For a minute they remained per-
tectly silent, and softly. almost sadly,
the breeze waited up these words:
"Oh, the old, old home left behind,
An the purity little gal that's waitin' fer me-"
'Doggone my hide boys" Brandy
exclaimed, IF I don't b'leeve that's
old Ike"
1T do sound like his voice." Sam
replied; but I never heerd him sing
none afore as long as he's been in this
ere camp"
| Reckon he as we'll sing while he
kin, Sam, fer if he co mes on up here.
which I take he's a-doin', he won't
never sing no more-leastwise, not ia
this yere world. Whut ye say, fel.
lers?I
! Reckon yer talkin' bout right, 81
some one replied. and the others nod
ded their approval.
In about half an hour Ike came in
sight They knew he had been
drinking when they heard his voice in
song away down. TIE gulch, and now,
as he came staggering up the path
scarcely able to keep on his feet, they
pronounced him pretty ''full."
''How'r'y. fellersh,' he said, ''5een
| 10yun 1h ;~s
timesh. Doggone fine plash down
there. Want me ter shing some.hin'
Doggone fine singer am. Lishen:
'1Oh, the old, old homesh left behind.
An tner purity little gal chats waitin' fer me-
''Reckon she'll keep on err waitin' {
good while, old chap" Brandy said.
''7esh, I reckon; but I'm goin' home
purity shoon, eff nothin' don't happen. =
'They's monty strong prospect o
somethin' happenin', though"
That SO? Coin ter strike er pay
streak and git my FORUM. yer reckon o.
Il low there won't be much pay il
it, but yer goins to strike a streak az
git whut ye desarve."
''Thanky. Git what desarye. Shay
that's what want. Thanky. I guess
I'll retire-I feel sorter tired"
Old Ike turned and staggered away
to his cabin, humming tune as he
went
Got to let i'm sober up afore VT
stretch i'm" Brandy remarked
In course Jerry Rogers replied
, 1T wouldn' t nigh do to hang er felle!
in that fix. Guess he wouldn't KhJe
what he was stretched fer nor nothin
bout it. Have to let i'm sober up.''
''Yas; an we'll tend to him the fus
thing in the mornin'."
While they we're yet talking the,
heard the rumble of vehicle dow
the road as it rolled and bounce,
along the rocky course
Stage is comin'.' Sam remarked.
"Wonder if Wen git any letters fron
, home, boys?' one said.
Dunno. I'm shore,'' Brandy re
piled. Il hain't heerd from my folk
fer morn a year now"
"Me nother," said Jerry; "but fe
that matter ] hain't got no folk
, worth mentionin'. Jest some uncle!
and aunts and cousins and SIGH. an
they ain't much to a feller, nohow."
mo, not like wife ar children,
Brandy assented. ave got a wifi
and a leetle gal back thar, an Tn
sorter beginnin' to want to see 'em
The gals the purtiest little thing yo,
ever laid your eyes On. an was abou
$ SO high measuring with his hand
E when left That's been six years
8 an | lowed she's growed up nigh to
s woman now"
t These remarks touching the pas
and the old home recalled to each Q
I the men train of fond memories
and for some time they smoked thei
> pipes in silence, each busy witt
thoughts OF the dear ones in the ia
s East.
Pretty soon the stage came in sight
q and hating before the saloon, th
| 4 a