The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-06-05

y
kivers US an up an blows the daylight IS
out O. somebody%'
Reckon thar amt no danger"
Reckon you'll think different If he
drops one of US directly" Jake grum-
bled, as he lowered his gun.
"Whut's he doin', anyhow?"J 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'."
'ANhy, you darned fool" Jerry said,
hes 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
mp"
Dunno" Dock replied, thoughtfullv.
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?''
81 dunno" Jake replied; IAN fer that
matter don't keer. Hadn't best drop
i'm right now?'
Guess ye mout as WE'LL" said Jim.
Eyer won't do no SIGH thing" old
Dock exclaimed, with warmth. Eyer
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 jumper or not" exclaimed old
Dock, II low he's er human in trouble,
and dem me if I'll see him shot down.
haint got no love for claim-jumpers,
but when I 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
after all they quietly submitted to old
Docks opinions.
The light tap at the door, after being
repeated once or twice, elected 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-jumper, they
opened their eyes in astonishment and
stood rooted to the spot They beheld
before them pale, emaciated, sad-faced
man, whose great hollow eyes shone
with unwonted brightness. A man
whose very looks proclaimed his inof-
fensiveness.
"Gentlemen," he said, in a feeble
voice, II hope you'll he so good as to
come in"
"Thankee,' two or three said in a
chorus, and at the same time all six of
them filed into the little cabin and ranged
themselves around the wall with hats
removed, and 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 indebted for this visit,
gentlemen?'
The miners glanced at one another
rather sheepishly, then all fixed their
eyes on old Dock, who, understanding
their meaning, said:
oval, we heer'd you wuz up here. an
so we sorter lowed we'd come up an see
how you wuz fixed. Kinder like ter be
neigh borly, yer know. Reckon thar
amt nothin' we kin do fer yep
mo; thanks for your kindness"
Then followed an awkward silence,
broken by old Dock, who blurted out:
See here, young Teller. I'm blamed if
We don't need somethin'. Dog-goned if
yer don't look awful bad. Yer do, shore.
Air We sick?"
Yes. I've been sick 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.
SuuSh. olu DOSh CIlCus yOu 10 IL I
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. 1 have friend
who wrote me four months ago that
she'd meet me at Quimby, and l 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 rela-
tive, jedge old Dock said, softly.
mo, not exactly that" was the reply,
and the blush that crept to the mans
face betrayed who the friend was.
Never mind" Dock said; 81 under
stand"
AS he spoke, Dock drew near to the
table where the open letter lay. He
cast his eye down the page, and after
considerable study made out the sig
nature at the bottom.
That's from her, s'pose?" he asked.
Yes, her last letter." was the reply.
"Humph, that's quare-blamed funny,
shore. Dog-goned fort'ni we come"
What do you mean?" the stranger
demanded. in an eager, excited tone, as
he turned his big, bright eyes on Dock.
"Nothin'," the latter replied; ''nothin
much"
"Do you know any thing of her?'
wal, l s'pcct we may help you tc
find FER. Leastwise, Well try. Dave
you an Jerry stay yere while we &c
down to camp an look around bit
Well hev to give this fellow lift
toward fin lin that friend O. his'n."
Old Dock went out and the others fol
lowed, and no one spoke until they had
passed safe distance from the cabin,
and then stopping, Dock said:
"Fellers, we're a pack O. derned ijots
ever dog-goned one of us. The idea O
comm up yere to shoot that thar pool
consumpted chap. Blamed if 1 was
ever so 'shamed in all my days. Tel
yer whut, I felt like I wan ted four
gear-old mule to kick me fer hour az
hard as he could lay it on. Blast my
buttons, but felt mean"
"Bet I did," said Jake. s'Jes