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

/
eohstfnpted chap. blamed if / was
ever 50 'shamed in all my days. Tell
yer whit, 1 felt like 1 wanted four
year=old mule 10 Kick fie fer hour az
hard as he could lay it on. Blast ray
J battons, but felt mean"
"Bet | did," said Jake. "Jest
naehully felt like I'd been KILN sheep
an got ketched at it 1 never felt SO
derned sneakin' in my life.''
Wal he needn't never know what
we came fer, and after all I'm glad we
did come" Dock said, "fer We kin git his
gal to i'm. You know that gal over to
Rieksen's, at the post? Wal, that's the
one. She's his sweetheart, an We must
fetch FER up yere tonight"
''Bet we'll fetch 'er, or bust haini-
string" Jim Buster cried. Jake, mem
you'll 60 after err"
nm eFgreed," said Jake. "f'm will
i'll TO do any thing to make up fer want
in to shoot that chap. Dock, I'm glad
you didn't let me drop i'm. Blamed if
| wouldn't as soon shoot ghost of a
corpse"
RECKON the claims his'n, anyhow,
Jim said, land we're purity nice lot O.
rascals from fust to last"
wal, thar amt no time for monkeyin'
now, fellers," cid Dock remarked, IAN
If yer goin' to git that gal up yere afore
| the chap goes over Their range, you'd
| better be gittin' on, fer swun if think
| he's got more'n six hours o. life in i'm.
| Better HUSTLE
Jake and jim departed at once for the
post while old Dock walked to and fro
in the darkness, listening to the clat-
tering of their horses feet on the stony
road that led off down the gulch.
Four hours passed, and Dock heard
them coming back.
"She's with 'em," he muttered. ~
hear three horses anyhow, If not four.
It's all right"
Then he went in and sat down, and
after waiting moment, said:
II ruther guess mebby We'll be able
to help We out bout findin' of yer friend,
mister"
''Have you found her?" was the eager
question that followed.
Wal, | dunno as I kin say nee hev
azactly, but 1 think we tcM purity soon.
She may be yere afore mornin'. In fact
she may be yere directly"
Then you have found herr"
"No, haint; but s'pect some O. ther
others hev She'll be yere In a minute"
They were already at the door, and
moment later the claim jumper and his
long-lost sweetheart were in each 9TH
er's arms. The miners very consider
ately withdrew and left the young
couple alone.
Say, Dock" Jake called, when they
were outside, Il fggered it out that
them two would want to get married,
mebby, an so l fetched gospel-feller
along from the post, SOS to be ready in
case of er emergency. You'd best goin
an see if tn ey want to be jined, an tell
'em the preacher is ready fer 'em, an
will splice 'em up qlicker'n a wink"
Dock went in, and after awhile came
back out.
Bring that preacher in yere, boys.
It's all right"
1t was a solemn, weird wedding, away
off in the Rocky Mountains at the dead
hour of midnight, with none but few
rough, rugged miners, and they stran-
gers, to witness the ceremony; but many
times there is bright future growing
out of the dark present, and such was
destined to be the case in this instance,
and with this couple.
Robert Erwin grew we'll and strong,
and for five years he and his wife were
down at Pickett's camp.
Dock and his party were considerably
disappointed that they did not return
home as they expected, but they gave
up all claim to the new mine cheerfully,
and never from that day did they once
mention their true purpose in going to
the cabin up the gulch.-T. Z. Mont
fort, in LeSlie's illustrated Newspaper.