The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-06-07


with his head buried in his hands. Or
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 is, said Jake, IAN low we'd
as we'll plug i'm"
In an instant Jake brought his gun tc
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.
"Hold on, thar, Jake" Dock cried.
"You amt goin' to shoot yit."
"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"
Reckon you'll think different II he
drops one of us directly" Jake grum-
bled, as he lowered his gun.
"Whut's he doin', anyhow 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 sich pore light
that can't tell nothin'."
"Why, you darned fool" Jerry ssid,
''he's a-cryin'. Don't you see him
a-wipin' the tears out of his eycs?"
That's what he's doin', 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 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?''
Il dunno" Jake replied: IAN fer that
matter don't keer. Hadn't best drop
i'm right now?"
"Guess ye mout as WE'LL" said Jim.
'Yer won't do no sich thing" old
Dock exclaimed, with warmth eyer
amt goin' ter shoot that feller if kin
help it, an if yer do shoot, I'll put
oval, begosh, what did we come up
yere fer, I'd like to know" old Jake
asked.
mot to shoot feller like that, by
iux. Hain't yer got no feelins?'
mot fer them blamed claim-i Jump
ers."
Claim Jumper or not" exclaimed old
Dock, II 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-iumper, they
opened their eyes in astonishment and
stood rooted to the spot. They beheld
before them a pale, emaciat ted, 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
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 more quiet, demure
crowd are seldom met.
For 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:
wal, we heerd 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 ye?"
mo; thanks for your kindness"
Then followed an awkward silence
broken by old Dock, who blurted out:
"Sec here, young feller. I'm blamed if
we don't need somethin'. Dog-goned if
yer don't look awful bad Yer do, shore.
Air ye sick?"
"Yes. I've been sick long time
the stranger replied; but it won't last
much longer"
Think you'll soon be well, eh?"
The stranger shook his head.
"Shuckm old Dock cried; you mustn't
think O. givin' in. Jist brace up an
work up courage, and mebby you'll pull
outen it. Wizard you come from?"
81 came from North. I have friend
who wrote me four months ago that
she'd meet me at Quimby, and / went
over there to receive her, but either she
didn't come or else l missed her, and
after four months of waiting / returned
here, having given her up, and now
only wait for death"
''The friend you speak of was a rela-
tive, jedge old Dock said, softly.
mo- not exactly that" was the reply,
and the blush that crept to the mans
face betrayed who the friend was.
"Never mind" Dock said; II under
stand"
AS he spoke Dock drew near to the