The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-06-07

WOrheu very llGUle, DuG IL Hdu bue dp-
pearance of having been abandoned
some months. A little log cabin had
| been erected by the former claimant,
and this was now occupied by the new
conner.
That's the dog-gondest checklist
piece err impudence l ever heerd tell
Of" old Dock remarked, as they clam
bered up the rocky gulch. Think of q
Teller comm an squattin' down on a
claim right under our noses. Blamed
fool might "a knowed what 'u'd happen
| to i'm
wal, sorter figger that he won't
jump no more claims. Reckon this'll
| about let i'm out on that racket"
A dim light was burning in the cabin,
and as the miners approached they
could see through the open window the
figure of man sitting at rough table
with his head buried in his hands. On
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 outen the mine, jedge,"
Jim Buster replied. ''Mouty og-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 cabin lifted his head
slightly and drew his coarse sleeve
across his eyes.
oh
you amt goin' to shoot yit."
"Why amt II" Jake demanded.
"Want to fool round yere till he dis
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" 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,
'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
| imp"
Dunno" Dock replied, thoughtfully.
| "Seems like he's been readin' that thar
| letter, don't it?'
eyes, it does" Jake assented
"Say, fellers," Dock continued, after
a short silence, wonder if that amt
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 We 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 l 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.
Not to shoot a 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, 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 | 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-jumpcr, they
opened their eyes in establishment 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 be 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 a 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
neighborly, yer know. Reckon thar
amt nothin' we kin do fer YEP"
| "No; thanks for your kindness"
Then followed an awkward silence,
broken by old Dock, who blurted out: