The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-28


ingly. For he seemed man whom it was
well to conciliate when ne came to their
lighted fire. Now the most ragged of the
miners, who had neither pipe nor tobacco
looked at their strong guest half plantively,
and with dog-like look of humble pleading
For the smell of the rank nicotine made him
unhappy.
al amt had smoke this two days" he
said at last sadly as if he were addressing
space in general; but the others took no notice
and smoked on in silence for fully five min
utes. Then the Texan, who was the youngest
of them all, took his pipe from his mouth, and,
giving its bitten mouthpiece a rough wipe on
his sleeve. handed it to the man who had
spoken. The miner seized it eagerly, grunted
an inarticuIate THANK you, pard," and fell
TO work on it. He sucked in the strong smoke,
held it. and exhaled ii slowly.
II like to let it get its work in" he muir.
INJURED softly, as he watched the last vague puff
rise into the still air. The man who had
handed it TO him looked as if he expected the
black clay to be returned. Hold on a mo-
ment, pard," said the other; "even if it amt
full, it's good and strong, and / can get the
taste of it still. Bein' without terbacker is
wuss nor bein' without grub. And grub's COM
paratively easy TO get"
mot just about here, I reckon" said the
Oldest of the party, the color of whose tanned
and weather beaten face WAS accumulated by a
lock of ragged silver hair that hung over his
forehead. The Tehachapi s a mighty barren
kind of spotn
That's so. Jack" said the sucker of the
empty pipe after pause. "Td ha' bin in So.
mona or Lake County right now if it hadn't
bin for that bloody minded Red Jim of this
cussed S. p"
"Ay," answered Jack, "hes shorter, he is.
The swine has killed as many men as was killed
down yonder when the east-bouDd mail broke
In two on this pass"
But men in hard luck like us amt no &C.
count" snarled his partner spitefully; land
what remedy has dead man against conduc-
tor that sings him to the track for just
stealing ride? And if he lives-as / did
what is he to do-eh?"
The Texan, to whom he owed the smoke
which did not seem 70 keep his nerves calm
when Red Jim was spoken of, turned to Jack.
who's this you're talking Off" he asked.
"fou amt bin long in southern California
II you don't know, Texas-if / may call you
So" said the other, apologetically. No, you
haven't, and that's a fact He's a conductor on
this division, and he's down on chaps that beat
their way on his train. He's down on them
That's what he is"
Texas stared out in the gathering darkness
for moment and then turned to the other.
$50 he slung you off his train, did he, part
nerf" he asked in deep, low voice. As he
spoke he stirred up the fire with his foot. 1t
sprsng into flame again and lighted up strong
grave face whose eyes were full of self-reliance
BE was no more than % but he was lined by
experience.
The miner did not answer at first but he
rolled up his sleeve and showed his left elbow.
The joint had evidently been broken sur
geOn's eye would have detected that part of it
had been excised.
Two years ago or more he chucked me off,
- y l. T.
Of this pass, and lit on a stump with this ell
bow aud clean busted it to bits"
Aud he's alive. is hep" asked Texas.
Alivel why, certainly" said the MINER en-
tirely missing the point of the remark. "lf
there hadn't bin some kind of good in some
folks I'd "a died there. But the next train
that came by picked me up and took me into
Bakersfield. But this int was one too many
for the doc OF that one-horse town, went up
TO San Francisco, and they fairly cut my arm
TO bits; and now ] can't do no work. If it
hadn't bin for that I'd q made strike some'r's
long ago."
Did you ever run against this Red Jim ?"
asked Texas of Jack.
I've seen him" growled the other "He's
got big red beard, and he's a big man and a
stout one. too; hard case TO tackle"
Texas did not speak again for few minutes.
but stirred up the embers of the dying fire
with burnt stick
Say, Hub" said Jack, "get some more
wood"
And Hub rose obediently. He came back
with an armful of light sticks
There's mighty good log down there" he
said, but can't stir it,"
Nberel" asked the Texan "Show uen
1t was only 20 yards from the fire that Hubs
immoyable log lay, half under fallen pine
trunk. Texas laid bold with both hands and
freed IT easily. while Hub stood by admirinp
has strength. he threw il over his shoulder
and took it 10 the camp. The fire began to
blaze again.
What do you men reckon Pm doing IN here
Oh the Iehachapi2' asked Texas suddenly.
Hard TO say pard," answered Jack AZ
thought you was prospector or something
and why You should he tramping here is more
than can tell.
It's my brother that's done it.n said Texas
slowly. He was up in Eldorado ore and
was down at Tombstone Ariz and he wrote e
me to meet him in California, and he said RICH,
here. And got busted fiat at Mojave gam.
bilne-faro it wss-or would have been here
yesterday"
Its an out-of-the- way spot to rendyvoo in
pard!"
Well. the boy said il. It's Just like him
and done it, It's half way between us, and
We've another brother at San Luis Obispo
We're bound there"
Texas rose and walked little way ND the
pass on the ballasted track. He seemed hall
inclined to 90 on to the summit
But what's the good" he murmured "tht
boy IS sure TO find me-"
he turned and went back. When he reached
s1e ure huo was lying down by it, half asleep