The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-21

They got a town here quicker n dose or
strychnine jes' hung 10 my own den an
bothered no un, an no un bothered me. III
have yer somethin' 10 eat in q smart minute
stranger Wal, yer never seed town bust up
like Observation Point, arter awhile. Holy
Moses didn't she galavant down grade like q
han'-car without any brake.
"They got cholery here ALFRED bad, and
talk about them morgue things in the city -
they couldn't tech a candle 10 the stills they
he'd 10 chuck in the groun' ev'ry day. Spades
was trumps, now. I'm tellin' ye. Things KEEP
gittin' tarnally worse, till there want no one
left in the camp but me. An the dRngdest
thing bout IT, thar was gal what teeched
the odercashun school, she was a prutty gal,
too, goin' r0un' givin' castor lilo an sech stuff
20 thum as was sickest till they turned up
thar toes an when they all got planted she
comes up from Allegan, with marble stuns an
puts one on each grave. How's that for a
gal2"
Thar was some good fodder them cholery
folks couldn't take to Heaven with um. an IL
was too good 10 Spite, so ! cleaned out some OF
the stores an housins er thar valuabes, an
brought um here. I've got IL packed overhead
with dry-gOods an truck 'nough 10 las me all
my material born life. don't mind lowin' i
struck it rich by stickin' TO Observation Point"
Then Joe gave other details in answer 10 in
quiries of MOntressor, who evidently was
amused by the rough host. He had fallen TO
eating the meal prepared by Already Joe " be-
fore the story of Observation Points demoli-
ton was concluded.
i suppose you collared few cigars?" said
Montressor, pushing his chair away from the
table.
Five thousand boxes er more Of um," was
the reply.
Already Joe" produced choice brand OF
HavRnas and handed the box to his visitor.
The afternoon was waning. but Montressor
felt very comfortable. The brandy and soda
water were really better than he bad tasted in
Boulder. Without an over-cordial invitation
to do 50, he had resolved to spend the night
with Already joe" They both became volu-
bly, interested in game Of poker.
by the way" broke out Montressor sud
denly in a tone slightly Rccentuated by CLEAN
Of righteousness in his eyes, don't you sup
pose the people will turn ny some time aud
claim their property?"
Thar bRint much danger, onless they git
tired er the graveyard. Thum as got away alive
10 mighty glad TO stay away, reckon. Ef they
do come back fur thar chattsls they can have
all got; otherwise I'll see they don't spile."
About what do you estimate the property
they left WORTH" asked Montressor with .
business-like assumption OF manner.
wal, now stranger, 'twOn't do to be too
quersitive. / don't keep other folks counts,
rs it's none or my business"
Montressor took alarm at this blunt reply
and changed the subject.
els there piano in the house 2 f" he inquired
awhile afterward.
mo, have no use for sech foolishness. But
thar is several Of um in the town." he added.
They were too heavy 20 haul in jiffy,
presume. Let's go and find one. j used TO be
what Boulder critic would term fine exc
cutioner' on the piano"
ALREADY Joe" had no objection TO offer 10
this. He lighted a lantern, for IL was now
dark, and they started out in quest Of an in
strument. After short walk they entered a
house whose interior bespoke the refined taste
Of its former occupants; but the damp, mHsty
atmosphere, the rotting Brussels carpet aud dis
cOlored lace curtains, exposed 10 the weather
through shattered windows, told Of the merci-
less work Of Father Time. MOntressOr smote
the furnished keys Of the piano that stood in
the parlor. They were like ice, and the re-
sponses, where they sounded, were sadly out o.
1 tune.
A little provoked, he literally pounded tho
keyboard. breaking three or four keys After
/ this he carefully sought the best set Of chords
and though the key was pitched altogether 10,
high for his voice he sang NIL the songs b,
| could think OF, adding some instrumental i'm
proyisations, until his fingers became 50 colo
/ that be was obliged 20 give il up.
Upon their return, Already Joe" breweC
some hot punch, after partaking generously o
which Montressor observing that his host wa
preoccupied, begged leave 10 retire for tht
sake Of needed rest