Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-14
THE STORY OF SAM AND BILL.
Tragedy of Damon and Pythias frie"'
ship Among Miners.

Same came forward and looked uo"h
- tba ground whereon the speakers
eyes were bent. .;,.o,v
"Well?" said Sam interrogatlveiy'
chewing A straw as he spoke.
..See nothin'?" asked the first speaker
"Nothin' worth calklatin' on, re-
ioined the man with the straw IN MS
mouth.
Mop"
NO"
0"Wall, l do" said the other, on his
knee. examining the earth, that goa
yere." ,oh,l;tv
"Sure?" he said.
..Dog certain" replied his compan-
ion. ,,,.
1"Wall. if that be the case" comment.
cd Sam. "we'll Halter look into IL:
Ana he went down on his knees beside
the first. ,..
The two scrutinized, with unrestrict-
cd earnestness, a little spot OF ground
on which some yellow specks lay. Iney
dirged. in addition, carefully down be-
low the surface with their fingers. Ihey
grew absorbed and interested in the en-
plovment. Presently the doubtful
Samuel rose up from his kneeling pos
ture and exclaimed in something IKE
an excited manner for him.
..By thunder Bill, you're right. It's
a find 'Spect the vein goes right into
the hill" pointing, as he spoke, at ris-
ing activity not far from them.
"Look here" again cried bill.
Sam stopped down, at once, TINS
time. e..
inspection. ,, 49,, 49,,
"By the Lord Harry, Bill. It's rich,
If il don't stop here" Sam calculated.
And it didn't stop there. 1t went
right on. And it soon became apparent
that, as Sam put it, 1.-THE cussed thing
never would stop. There was no end TO
lin. Bill and Sam, rough miners though
they were. were rich men from that
ont. There was man down at Jump
ing Run, their camp headquarters, so
called from the annual overflow OF the
creek il was situated on, who wanted to
start newspaper. Bill and Sam start
ed one for him. There was wander
ing Draacher who was wont 20 lament
his i'll fortune in not finding gold In the
universal search for it among the miners
and TO preach the beauties of poverty
nj one and the same time. When more
enthusiastic than usual he entertained
an invariablc desire TO build and start
a church. Bill and Sam built church
for him, and went regularly TO pear
him preach. But there was, OF all OF
them, a broken-down, povcrty-Stricken
theatrical manager, who had stood at
the tavern corner, with seedy plug hat
cooked ON one side of his head and his
hands in his pockets for 10. many days,
endeavorng, with what eloquence he
could command, TO induce some pros
porous miner TO invest in the erection OF
an edifice for a theater. Bill and sam
started him in this field, and then left
for the States. The newspaper they
had endowed lamented their departure
rs that of the most enterpriSing of the
citizens" The minister prayed next
Sunday in open church for their safe
escape from the perils of their journey.
The theatrical manager, upon the open
ing night, at his theatre, introduced
into topical song very handsome
compliment TO the partners. In word,
Jumping Run Frustrated itself and wor-
SHIPPED at the shrine of William Blinks
and Samuel ShanStOne.
After some jealouSieS, arising out of
contending influence with the people of
Jumping Run, the minister and the edi-
tor and theatrical manager came to an
-amicable understanding, and, the amuse-
ment serving interests of the theater be-
coming now commonly recognized, all
the popuace joined in supporting that
hiStronic temple.
One day the management advertised
special feature, or rather set OF
special features. 1t was to be on the
occasion of the returning OF MeSSrS.
BinkS and ShanStone from their Eastern
trip. The management would take
pleasure in stating that, at great eX-
penSe, it had brought all the way from
San Francisco galaxy of talented
female attractions. They would rival
i'm beauty and dramatic excellence any
thing in the way of theatrical stars.
The management had been specially de-
SirouS of pleasing, in order to render
this fitting tribute to the return OF their
distinguished fellow citizens, MeSSrs.
Blinks and ShanStone, and, as the emil
nent gentlemen were en- route TO San
Francisco the entertainments provided
at such an enormous outlay would have
to be attended constantly during the
short time of the genmen's stay and
consequent limit of the engagement"
The manager of the little theater, an
artistic affair of unhewn logs, large and
inn m
the way of adornment of the occasion.
He had succeeded in procuring certain
potted plants, and had them placed In
an effort to ornament the house. Boxes,
covered with black cloth, had been
ranged at the sides and back behind the
seats, and on these roughly improvised
stands had been located the shrubs.
Cav bunting Haunted the interior all
about. A banner, inscribed with the
words, "Welcome to'Blinks and Shan
stone" hung conspiciously over the
rude proscenium arch. Everything be-
tokened the festive nature of the even
ing, when this eventful engagement be-
gan.
As the hour drew nigh for the crowd
ed and packed auditorium TO look for
the appearance of the two distinguished
guests, there was suppressed expecta-
ton and nervous excitement. From
miles around the patronage of the thea
trical entertainment had come.
The two violins and one fife had just
begun a tune TO quiet the impatient
throng, for it was really past ringing up
time or nearly so, when a group of men
standing at the door parted suddenly
right and left. Then came buzzing
among the crowd about, and presently
some one down in the body of the house
raised cheer.
Bnpks and Shanstone were coming.
Mr.. Blinks had brought certain Eats