The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-07-16
JOE'S PARTNERS.

q OL - L AN L N LhC.
From the time he settled in the camp
he was forever picking up the strag-
glers who came along, 10 matter how
ill-favored or unsavory they appeared,
and now and then taking one into
partnership generally with the result
of finding himself cheated and desert
ed within 4 few weeks time-but Just
as cheerfully trying the experiment
over when the next tramp came along,
Notwithstanding the remOnstrances of
his friends.
Some of them toughs'll cut your
throat one of these nights for the sake
of the dust you've got" they predicted
mo need of that, when they're well
come to it without" answered Joe.
He was an easy-going Individual,
whose work only sufficed to keep his
wants well supplied, though there were
men who declared that if they had
Joe's claim they would grow rich from
it.
The wonder was that no one of his
partners had stuck long enough to
test the fact.
''Joe's too confounded lazy himself
to get down to business with his pick
and shovel, and them vagrants- -thar's
no good in the whole kith and kin of
them, the camp pronounced. They
never calkilated to do nothin' but i'm
pose on his good nature; and tell you
what boys, it's no credit to the camp
to have them hangin' round, and l pro-
pose, if he don't let up on his promis-
cuous charity, to be one of the COM
mittee that'll warn him to get out. He
may be Willin' to run the risk of bein'
robbed and murdered hisself, but 'taint
fair to ask all the rest of us to do the
same"
Thine enough to talk when some
body's been robbed and murdered, u
said Joe, when the speech was report
ed to him.
And it was not more than a week
later that news went around that Joe
had taken another partner.
''Nigher to bein' a cadaver than a
live man, to judge by his looks,n de-
clared the Informant. Il reckon that
Joe, at last, has got holt of the angel
he's been lookin' out to entertain una
wares. He'll be goin' to jine 'em afore
long, anyway. Do to start graveyard
with. seem as Tipsy Bill disappointed
us by jumpin' into Deep river when he
got the jams, and Big Saul was run
out of camp afore he killed his man.
Be to our credit if we get material
death to start with"
This favoring view of the case was
helped along when they found Joe
laboring alone on his claim, a day OF
two afterward.
'Pard's laid up to-day" he impaired
Got the consumption, boys, and. is
most gone with it. Coughs dreadful
of nights, an has bit of a girl wife
waitin' for him to 90 back to her. I'm
a-goin' to work double turns to make
up his pile for him, and if any of YOU
uns wants to help, here's the chance
for you. / amt akin it out OF your
pocket, understand, but in work on
the claim"
And Joe got the promise from every
man present to do his share.
Was it any wonder, then, that theiI
indignation rose, on their return tC
camp, to find their cabins rihed of theil
ready dust and the consumptive gone
leaving no trace behind him?
Joe was the most crestfallen man o1
the lot.
I wouldn't have believed it." he de
clared. IF YOU can make up YOU
losses out of my claim, boys, I'll bt
glad to have you do it. I've got to give
t up now; YOU was right and I wa.
wrong bout pickin' up strangers tha
way"
Then let it be a lesson to you. Joe
Well forgive and say no more about it
if you won't take up with any mor'
pardners."
And Joe promised readily.
A month went by and then one da.
he appeared before them.
i want you to let me of on my word
boys. 'Tain't in natur' to run him OF
Just bit of a boy; no harm in him
You'll say SO, know.
And in spite of their preiudices the
did say so for the pale lad, who scarce
| ly looked more that sixteen, touche
their warm hearts with a feeling of pity
and he speedily became a favorit
among the men, so willing was he t
render any service, so eager to be c
use about the camp.
Let me cook for the lot of your h
begged I'm a famous hand at it; m
mother taught me how. And L
tidy up your cabins better'n you kee
them. You can try me first, and the
pay me what you like in dust. I'll hav
time enough aside from workin' pare
ners with joe"
Which turned the laugh against JoC
whose time was given more to his pir
than his claim.
The boy Andy was soon quite ;
home all over the camp. He was {
good as woman around, the men d.
clared, which remark Andy rather r
sented.
"T'd ruther have you say Pm an in
proyement over Joe's other pardner
but mebbe you'll be runnin' me OF
some day like you wanted to do wit
. them"
''It all depends on how you behaN
yourself, you know. If we catch yc
foolin' around our dust like the la
chap did, we'll do wus'n run you out
A night or two after that Joe S
suddenly upright in his bunk, wonde
= inc what had wakened him.
"Andym he called, with his hea
humping strangely.
No answer. Andy was not in b
bunk, but his place there was warm.
Fearing something, he scarcely kne
what, Joe hurried out just as he was
q half-dressed but bootless-and makil
no sound, came close upon group tn
moved from one of the cabins.
81 was awake and saw him at t
iobr' mans low voice declared e
! citedlv. I'D left light burning, as
J didn't feel well and swarit was And
|. was too thunderstruck to say wof
Slippery little rascal! But when he
|. out, 1 follered. He took up the h
towards Beagle's cache, and l rout
; youuns out SO you could see for yol