Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-05

, - W VI " H4dh SiIbinS dL d RUG II IdDIe
with his head buried in his hands. Or
the table before him lay an open letter
"Humph, old Dock muttered; won
der what he's a-doin?"
''Figgerin' up the profits he caker.
lates TO make pGten the mine, jedge,
Jim Buster replied. ''Mouty dog -goned
nice show to drop i'm from yere"
''Bet it is, said Jake, IAN low we'd
as well plug i'm"
In an instant Jake brought his gun to
his shoulder, and the click of the ham
mer was heard, In that same instant
the man in the rabin lifted his head
slightly and drew his coarse sleeve
across his eyes.
Hold on, thar, jake Deck cried.
''You amt goin' TO shoot yit.''
why amt -" Jake demanded.
'Want to fool round yere till he dis
kivers us an uRan' blows the dayligbt IS
out o somebody
Reckon thar amt no danger"
"Reckeri you'll think different if he
drops one of Us directly" Jake grum-
bled, as he lowered his gun.
''Whut's he doin', anyhow" Jim asked,
trying to peer into the room.
That's what I've been tryin' to make
out, said Dock; but it pears like the
blame candle makes SIGH pore light
that can't tell nothin'"
why, You darned fool" Jerry said,
"he's a-cryin'. Don't you see him
a-wipin' the tears out of his eyes?"
That's what he's dom, boys" said
Dave. Wonder what's the matter of
imp"
Dunno" Dock replied, thoughtfully.
Seems like he's been readin' that thar
letter, don't it?"
''Yes, it does, Jake assented.
Say, fellers," Dock continued, after
a short silence, wonder if that amt a
letter he's jist got from home? Mebby
his wife, or some of his children, or
somethin is dead, an he's just heerd it.
Don't you guess it mout be?''
Il dunno" Jake replied; IAN fer that
matter don't keer. Hadn't best drop
i'm right now?'
Guess We mout as WE'LL" said Jim.
Yer won't do no SIGH thing" old
Dock exclaimed, with warmth. "Yer
amt goin' ter shoot that Teller if kin
help it, an if yer do shoot I'll put a
hole through the Teller that does it"
oval, begosh, what did we come up
yere fer, I'd like to know?" old Jake
asked.
mot to shoot Teller like that, by
jux. Hain't yer got no feelin's?"
Not fer them blamed claim-jump-
ers."
Claim jun per or not" exclaimed old
Dock, Il low he's er human in trouble,
and dem me if I'll see him shot down.
hain't got no love for claim jumpers,
but when l see them tears, dOg-goned if
they don't tech my heart. I'm goin' in
an find out what's up with i'm"
No matter what the others said or how
independently they talked, when the
whole matter was simmered down, old
Dock proved to be the leader of the
crowd and every man Obeyed him.
They might grumble and find fault, but
Docks opinions.
The light tap at the door, after being
repeated once or twice, elected a weak,
Respondent Come in" from the inmate
of the cabin. and when the door swung
back, leaving the miners standing face
to face with the claim-iumper, they
opened their eyes in establishment and
stood rooted to the spot. They behold
before them pale, emaciated, sad-faced
man, whose great hollow eyes shone
with unwonted brightness. A man
whose very looks proclaimed his inof-
fensiveneSs.
"Gentlemcn,2 he said, in a feeble
voice, Il hope you'll be so good as to
come in"
"Thankee," two or three said in a
chorus. AMI at the same time all six of
them filed into the little cabin and ranged
themselves around the wall with hats
removed, AMI a more quiet, demure
crowd are seldom met
For little while nobody spoke or
moved; then the stranger, drawing his
hand across his eyes, asked:
ITO what am l indebted for this visit,
gentlemcn?"
The miners glanced at one another
rather sheepiShly, then all fixed their
eyes on old Dock, who, understanding
their meaning, said:
"Wal. we heer'd you wuz up here an
so we sorter lowed we'd come up an see
howyOu wuz fixed. Kinder like ter be
neighbOrly, yer know. Reckon thar
amt nothin' we kin do fer YEP"
$40; thanks for your kindness"
Then followed an awkward silence,
broken by old Dock, who blurted out:
See here, young Teller, I'm blamed if
ye don't need somethin'. Dog-goned if
yer don't look awful bad. Yer do, shore.
Air We Sick?7
Yes. I've been sick a long time"
the stranger replied; but it won't last |
much longer"
Think you'll soon be we'll, eh?''
The stranger shook his head.
''Shuck.' old Dock cried; you mustn't |
think o givin' in. Jist brace up an |
work up courage, and mebby you'll pull !
outen it. Wizard you come from?'
81 came from North. have friend |
who wrote me four months ago that |
she'd meet me at Quimby, and | went /
over there to receive her, but either she |
didn't come or else l missed her, and
after four months of waiting l returned
here, having given her up, and now
only wait for death"
THE friend you speak OF was a rela-
tive, jedge old Dock said, softly.
No, not exactly that" was the reply.
and the blush that crept to the mans
face betrayed who the friend was.
''Never mind" Dock said; Il under
stand"
As he spoke, Dock drew near to the
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