The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-08-09

worked a very llttle, Dut IL nao INC aP-
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 / ever heerd tell |
Of" old Dock remarked, as they clam |
bered up the rocky gulch. Think OF q
Teller comm an squattin' down on |
claim right under our noses Blamed
fool might "a knowed what 'u'd happen
to i'm"
ssWal, 1 sorter figger that he won't
Jump no more claims. Reckon this'u
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 a man sitting at a 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 dog -goned
nice show to drop i'm from yere."
'.Bet it u.s." said Jake, IAN l 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.
ssHold on. thar, jake" Dock cried.
"You amt goin' to shoot yit-"
s.Why amt ~" Jake demanded.
"Want to fool round yere till he dis
kivers us an up an blows the daylights
out o. somebody"
Reckon thar amt no danger"
ssReckon you'll think different If he
drops one of Us directly" Jake grum-
bled, as he lowered his gum
sswhut's he dom. anyhow?"Jim asked,
trying to peer into the room.
"That's what I've been tryin' to make
out, /" said Dock; shut it pears like the
blame candle makes SIGH pore light
that can't tell nothin,"
"Why, you darned fool" Jerry said,
"he's 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.
ssSeems like he's been readin' that thar
letter. don't it?"
sYes, it does" Jake assented.
III offap
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?'
II dunno,v Jake replied; IAN fer that
matter don't keer. Hadn't 1 best dror
i'm right now?" -
Guess We mout as WE'LL" said Jim.
Eyer won't do no SIGH thing" ole
Dock exclaimed, with warmth. "Yel
amt goin' ter shoot that Teller II XIII
help it, an If yer do shoot, I'll put ;
hole through the TELLER that does it."
"Wal, begosh. what did we come NJ
we're fer, I'd like to know" old JAKE
asked.
"Not to shoot Teller like that, b.
jux. Hain't yer got no feelin's?"
ssNot fer them blamed claim-jump
ers."
'sClaim jumper or not" exclaimed OLD
Dock, II low he's er human in trouble
and dom me il I'll see him shot down
hain't got no love for claim-jumpers
but when see them tears, dog-goned i
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 HOY
Independently they talked, when tn
whole matter was simmered down, oil
Dock proved to be the leader of tn
crowd and every man obeyed him
They might grumble and find fault, Blu
after all they quietly submitted to oil
Docks opinions.
| The light tap at the door, after bein
repeated once or twice, elected weak
respondent Come in" from the inmat
of the cabin, and when the door swun
back, leaving the miners standing fac
to face with the, claim-iumper, the
opened their eyes In establishment an
stood rooted to the spot. They behel
before them pale, emaciated, sad-face
man, whose great hollow eyes shon
with unwonted brightness. A ma
whose very looks proclaimed his ino
fensiveness.
"Gentlemen," he said, in feebl
voice, 81 hope you'll be SO good as t
come in" -
"Thankee," two or three said in
chorus, and at the same time all six O
them fled into the little cabin and range
themselves around the wall with hat
removed, and . more quiet, demur
crowd are seldom met
For little while nobody spoke Q
moved; then the stranger, drawing hi
|. hand across his eyes, asked:
ITO what am l indebted for this visi
gentlemen"
The miners glanced at one anotht
rather sheepishly, then all fixed thei
eyes on old Dock, who. understandin
their meaning, said:
"Wal, we herd you wuz up here. d