, 1889-10-10
BILL BUSHNELL'S LASS

ueau IN love with Bill BuSnncll Pretty
luss, Mol.
there was anything peculiar about
this circumstance, IL was not in the fact
of their iniatuation, however but in the
fact that Josh and Tom were partners
joint owners OF II mining claim--and to
zee couple of boon companions develop
into rival lovers struck some of us old
miners about the camp as mighty queer
business.
They were such brothcrly chaps that,
If 1t had been anything but love affair,
/ reckon either the one or the other
would have given up to his churn; but
they didn't In this case. Neither seemed
inclined to bulge an inch, and, in this
manner, saverel months went by, with
each one doing his best to make an
everlasting impression upon his inamo-
rata
At last, however, Josh made up his
mind that the matter had dragged long
enough, and, not wishing to hurt his
pards feelings by rushing ahead i'm
petuously, he decided to take him into
his confidence.
The time chosen was just before they
quit work for the day, ana while the
scattered tools were being gathered up
and put away,
Tom, said he, "you an me ev bin
pnrds since wo was boys, an not only
purds, but the closest sort q friends.
There's never bin hitch b'twcen Us on
emmy pint, an hope there never will
he. Fur them reasons, I'm goin' to
speak right out in mectin', SOS to make
myself understood. The fac Is, Tom, you
an me hey bin so unfortunate as to fall
dead in love with the same gal-old Bill
Btishnelps luSs--nn' as its ag IN nature
fur us both to marry her we've got to
tigger out some way out o. the muddle.
How can we do it, Tom, SOS to keep
ler's love an TO MollP"
Toms face kind of clouded as though
he wasn't ovcrglad that the subject had
been brought up, and fell to thinking
and pulling at his pipe, without making
any Immediate reply.
"lts hard nut to crack, JOSH" said
he, at length; what would you suggcst?'
"Woll answered Josh, ''sirCe some
things got to be done, an don on the
squar', suppose we draw lots The fellow
as gets the long cut has the first chance
to ash; fur tine gal; if he fails the loser
can try his luck, What dye sayy'
Again Tom meditated and pulled Wig
orously at his pipe.
ITS about the only thing to he done,
/ reckon" he snid, after a long silence.
YOU'RE satisfied with the plan, amt
you?'
= "Oh. yes"
Well then, you fix the cuts; q short
one an a long one, an I'll try my luck
ON the draw"
Tom set to work. slowly and thought.
fully and, after considerable delay, held
up the two twigs for Josh to choose be-
We'll" said Josh, as he put forth
rather shuky hand, "here goesl don't
wish you emmy harm, pard, but hope
| II get the long one
You don't, though" cried Ten, tri-
casting tie remaining stick
To the ground. you've got the short
one and lose !"
Hold onl What are you throwing
that cut away for afore | see it2 Bet
yer life I'm Goin' to compare them
"Oh, we'll, said Tom, impatiently,
''hery tho stick throwcd down, an
you see it's half an inch the longest
"No YOU don't Tom Willis" cried
Josh. "lhat amt the one you flung
away, Here it is, an it's shorter'n mine
10y big odds"
'"Bahl you can't come it over me like
that, Josh Fieldsl' returned the other,
hOtlv. I'D he a man II | war you, an
not Try to sneak out o the thing in that
';See here, Tom" said Josh, ''may be
YOU didn't mean to trick me; but you're
wrong. lest the same. I'll tell you now
/ know it. When was iingern' the two
cuts u!orc | drawed one out, | creased
the other one with my. thumb nail, SOS
III know it ngin. Well, here's the mark
ON the short stick, which proves my SIDE
of the case"
"Nou lie, cu,s you" retorted Tom,
boiling over with anger. You hain't
the sand to acknowledge you re beat, an
yc' re tryin' Il sucakin' game on me!'
"Nou talk like 'tarnal fool!' blurted
Josh, also luosing his temper You
tried a robbin game y'sclf an now,
when you ~ caught at 1t, you squeal!
"GiGr," hisscd Tom, seizing a hand
drill lying at his feet, and raising H.
over his partners head.
Say that again an, pard or no pard,
I'll brain yc!'
'Wcll, you did an you knew III You
hadn't the nerve to"
The sentence was never finished; for,
ut that instant the drill descended, with
a crash, upOu ,Tosh's head and he fell
like a log 10 the ground.
For moment, Tom, frenzied with
rag, stood over the PROSTATE form, an
almost deYilish glitter lighting up his
coal black eyes hut presently Il sudden
change took possession of him.
MY God .A'mighty!" gasped he, his
eyes rvctod In horror upon the white
upturued face and CORY locks of his vic
my pard! Oh, how could
do it-how could 1 forget m self an do
such an ortul deed!'
a new thought seemed to force its way
into his pcrturbed mind Mt this juncturc
IA consciousness of his pcril-and lie
cast a furtive glance around him.
ii must not be caught here" NUT
tered he "or my life won't be wuth Il
burnt match! | must get away-but
wherc?'
lie thought "A moment and then re.
sumed his distracted soliloquy:
mo; 'twon't do to leave, for that
would only convince 'em o my guilt, an
Il posse ii be after me in no time. I'm
in Al dcsp'rit bad fix, that's sure, an I'll
have to cover up all the traces O. the
crime, an say Josh has skipped"
After another searching glance about,
to make sure that his movements were
not being watched, he stopped down.
lifted the limp form into his arms, and
then SUNK away with his burden toward
an unused part of the mine.
He paused, "a moment later, at the
brink ofan old, abandoned shaft, and,
after once more looking and listening,
dropped the body into the murky pit.
a splash, as the burden struck the
stagnant water at the bottom of the
shaft, was heard Immediately after and
then, with blanched face and haunted
look in his eyes, Tom stole back to
where the decd had been committed,