Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-20


OF spare room set apart for their pr1-
vate use, they proceeded to talk over the
affair. The less privileged public hung
about the bar or the open space in front
Of the grog shop, discussing the matter
too, growing more decided In their opin.
ions in proportion TO the consumption Of
spirits.
"Hullo, mister. what's your opinionT
asked one, q tawny haired miner, with
picturesque, but extremely dirty red
shirt, with trousers patched with pieces
of cloth OF various colors.
He addressed gentleman who repre-
sented the higher civilization Of town
life by n shabby, greasy frock coat, mi
mus most Of the buttons, fraycd and
crumpled pair of cuffs attached to the
shirt that was yet scrupulously clean,
having only just left the wash tub His
trousers were baggy at tho knees, but
they were as yet OF one color and
piece, and had quite fashionable cut
among the varied and curious garments
that prevailed among the male popula.
tion of Dcadman' Flat. This gentleman
had been very tipsy when he started for
tho funeral; 10 very tpsy indeed that,
when no had insisted upon going close to
the grave TO have one more hook, no had
only been saved from tumbling in by
stalwart miner who caught him by the
ample tails OF the frock coat, remarking
that he had never known before what
was tho use Of all that stuff in coat
Tho gentleman was drunk then, but he
was considerably worse now. When
thus suddenly appealed to, as he stood
lropped up against the fence, he could
only recall that one little incident.
"You shouldn't have done IT," he said
mournfully, shaking his head, and try
ing TO point an impressive finger at the
friendly miner, but nearly losing his
balance In tho attempt. at wash all
peashful down there. Il looked sho cool
and pcaceful--wantsch to be at peace
with him tool"
A roar of irrcverent laughter greeted
this desire for peace.
He lookcdlat them rcproachfully; but
his hat, which had fallen over one eye.
rather spoilt tho effect by giving him a
decidedly rakish appearance, and as he
lurched from side to side his attempt at
solemn dignity was failure.
you'll be shorty some day! Perhaps
you'll die, too, an be laid in the peash-
full grave. Where's pump? Oh, take mo
to the pump, young man-taksho me to
the pump! Ishn't far---not no far as the
grave"
With n lurch forward, he seized tho
arm of n young man standing near him,
who, with look Of disgust, tried to
.b,l, - .,n tlnuob ,,s,rho ,,o "a usnfknv
time no too might have joined In the
chorus Of rough laughter and jcers. He
had. however, been at that funeral. and
Il had awakened old feelings and influ-
cnccs. Mr.. James Snaresbrook was not
to be shaken off so easily.
Don't deshert fellow being, young
mani Pump isn't dflicultfind. Let me
shleep in peash under itsh shade! Fine
thing--pump"
Thinks he's under four poster when
| he's there" said one Of the men; hes
seldom long away from IT, Quaker Joe
ought TO charge for his lodging"
"Iio wouldn't do any ything 40 ungentle-
manlyi Never toush water--pumpshf free
to all. Expecting my daugater-she'll
knowsh where 10 fin me. Come 'Iong!"
The young man yielded, seeing that u
was the only way to get rid OF tho sway
ing beinuddled specimen OF humanity
clinging to his arm. Ho took him to the
back of tho RED Unicorn" whero q
clearing had been made and planted with
vegetables. Here stood the pump, by o
low stone trough, and tho young man,
reaching II, shook him of. Mr.. James
Snarcsbrook dropped heavily on the edge
Of tho trough, by n lucky lurch recover
ing his balance before no tumbled into II.
"Qnscrsh--vcry!' no said. looking up
in wondering solemn way at the pump
handle over his head. "Pumpsh always
found when two looksh for it--alwnys
runsh away from one! Young mansh,
there's n moral N HAT! IL I could find
--prapsh he knowsh who's sleeping In
peashful way over tberef' ---
lIc tried TO point solemnly over his
shoulder in the direction of the grave ON
the outskirt Of the forest, but the effort
cost him his balance, and he tumbled
backwards with a splash into the water,
OF which the stone trough was full.
Mr.. John Smith dragged him out, and
shaking him violently to get rid Of q
little of the superiluous moisture, drop.
ped him on To less damp resting place.
Then he fshed out the floating hat, and
giving II shake, too, hung it ON to the
pump handle to dry; and then, feeling
that ho had done all that could be rea-
sonably expected by ono fellow creature
from another In tho circumstances, re-
turned To tho front of the shanty, where
ho found new excitement agitating the
crowd. The murdered man was forgot
ten, for the coach was coming In.
The long low building, dignified by
the name Of grog shop, hotel or bottle
works, according TO tho humor or pre-
tensions Of the speakers, stood on the
high road; the stores, gambling saloons
and other shanties struggled behind it In
ono irregular street, which had few
lesser ones branching of from it. The
Red Unicorn" owned by Quaker Joe,
formed the advance guard Of the town.
Tho coach always pulled up before its
hospitable doors, and the open space in
front of them, ambitiously called 'The
Square," was generally full Of tho miners
and townspeople who assembled to get
good view or the arriving coach, which
drove through Deadman's Flat onco q
week. II could now bo seen in the dis
tance. There was good piece Of straight
road between Deadman's Flat and the
forest, and directly the coach left the
pines behind il could be seen and watched
till it dashed up into the square itself.
This was the one link between that
lonely far off spot and the outer world,
TO which at one time most of the inhabi-
tants of Deadman's Flat had once be-
longed, but to which, owing to strong