Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-06-25

night or two AFTER thar Joe SAT suu-
denly upright In his bunk, wondering
what had wakened him,
"Andyr' he called, with his heart
humping strangely.
No answer. Andy was not In his
bunk, but his place there was warm.
Fearing something, he scarcely knew
what, Joe hurried out Just ~ he was
half-dressed but bootless-and making
no sound, came close upon . group that
moved from one of the cabins.
IL was awake and saw him at the
job!' q mans low voice declared ex-
citedly. "I'd left a light burning, as 1
didn't feel well and / swar it was Andy.
l was too Thunderstorm to say q word.
Slippery little rascal But when he lit
out, follered- He took up the hill
towards Beagle's cGcAe, and I routed
you'uns out so you could see for your
selves. Well be in time to catch him If
we hurry up"
But the unseen listener was quicker
than they. Running lightly, he came
first upon the boy and caught him by
the arm, dragging him along.
They're onto you, Andy; you'll have
to skipl What did you do it for? But
thar, make tracks; for they'd be hard on
you, they've been fooled so often.
They're COMMIT Run now, run, and I'll
cover your trailr'
Painting all this as they ran side by
side, Joe gave the boy q push at the
last, and himself turned in the direc-
ton of his cabin, showing himself to
the pursuers just enough to draw them
upon his trail.
But he halted at his own door and
faced them, saying:
Now, then, what is it you want2''
You. Joe-t'wan't you back thar?
Course not. It's Andy we want, and
don't you stop u.s."
1T was me you run down from
Beagle's cGchs, If that's what you mean,"
declared Joe, coolly. you've poor eyes
If you don't know me from Andy, oven
in the dark"
His tactics did not work, however, for
Joe's honesty was too well known to be
doubted.
''Pshaw, boys, he's givin' you q bluff
1t was Andy seen. Out Of the way, Joe,
or this herel speak,"
LET itw-from Joe.
Then there was a scuff1e, cut short by
a revolver shot, for the miner who had
seen himself robbed, as he believed, was
now thoroughly reused and careless as
to consequences.
There came cry from the near dark
ness:
Don't shootl I'm here. Obi Joe, are
you hurt2"
Joe had started and staggered back,
leaning against the wall, but now he
groaned, less from pain than at finding
Andy beside him.
You'd orter a got I'm afeard
can't save you now"
Save me from what, Joe? I've done
nothing wrong. You men, what is it
you think?-that I've been robbing youp
Go home ard look at your dust You'll
find more there than you had Of your
own, for I've been paying back as can
what was taken from you by Joe's last
partner. did it in this way because 1
didn't want to tell you that he was my
my"
81 reckon we know" broke in one of
the men, quicker witted than the rest.
'Mebby your names Annie, instead OF
Andy. Sec here, boys, believe this is
all right, but one of you go look to
make sure, and I'll tend TO Joe while
you are gone"
1t was all right, and Joe's wound was
not serious, and some time afterward
this news was passed through the camp:
''Joe's took a life pardner this time.
One he tried before, 30 he knows what
he's about. She's brick, that Annie.
Paid back every silver of the dust, in
spite of us.
''Soon for a weddin'? Not, considerin'
that she scarcely knew number one ct
all. He wasn't 30 bad Teller, either,
to up an marry her out of pity when her
daddy died and left her alone; then sot
out to look for work and went off with
quick consumption, like we know.
Can't say blame him for cribbin' the
means to git home to her first.
''She's made better choice this time,
for Joe amt lazy any more; has some
thing to work for now, he says. Tell
you what, boys, come to the last, Joe's
made ten-strike in his pardner!'-
Bert L. Thompson, in Philadelphia Sat
urdaV Night