The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15

obtainabie for The requirements OF gold
washing; il was rapidly becoming toe pre-
eiOus a commodity 10 be reCklessly en-
ployed as a Beverage result which glad
dened the heart OF Bert TOgue. the bar
keeEeT, who, with the keennesS OF Yulture
for seeming out carcaSSeS, had followed
promptly UpOn the heels OF the thirsty min
ers aud Adventures.
The scenery was impressive and awe-In-
spring. Bleak, barren, yet priceless quartz
Teafs rose in long undulating waves Of
stone, Ike a petrIn7d can, on very side.
B61Qnd these lay the brush and scrub, in
terspesSed here and there with clumps OF
pine, WflTAe farther away still long range
Of low nak-sd hills stretched along the sky
line until theyNEere lost in mist.
Those nils enjoyed an evil reputation as
resorts of bands of7Gedskins. who had cat
of more than one ptSspecting party, and
of prairie pirates and Road agents. who
were even more MeTciieSss.th than they. In
one fling both were coTG2llE agreed
their hands were against the fS4uers, aud
equally the miners scored 6galnSFs-lem on
every possible opportunity. These Teftsas
served one useful purpose, for the fear aud
dread OF them caused US 10 keep together;
as to have fallen into their hands would
have been certain death.
One evening, when the cradles were
busily rocking and the clippers flashing,
a stranger rode into the camp His faded
nag was nearly tFayel-speat; its tongue
lolled Imply out Of Its mouth, the great
ears t Dped loosely over the bleaTed, blood
shot eyes, and its WltbeTs were badly
wrung. Nor was the appearance Of the
rider more attractive. He was an under
sized. thin, Ted-haired-man; and, as be sat
there upou his sorry steed, almost spent
with fatigue and hunger, be looked the most
unpTepOssesSing OF moTtals
The arrival OF stranger was toe COM
mon an event 10 attract attention Ia Il camp
where the collection Of giittering wealth
was the one serious business of life. There
fore no one spoke 10 or even noticed the
newcomer, who, after looking slowly
around. as if to take IN all the bearings,
rode up TO IOgue'S bar. Having climbed
down and hitched mp his nag, the stranger
entered the large shanty in search OF that
provision for man aud beast which il was
the barkeeDer's proud privilege 10 dispense
and that Of BIS customers 10 pay for.
LGfe- n the evening, when digging was
ended and the everlasting damDer had been
disposed of, the boys assembled beneath
TOgue's hospitab.e r00ftree for the accus-
toned drink and fun. The Ted-haiTed ar
rival was present, keeping unObtrusiYely in
the background. de had no kit with him,
nor anything 10 indicate that he was pros
pectoG, although his tTaYel-stained ap-
pearance and the freedom with which be
spent bis cash showed that he was familiar
with tie customs OF mining life.
IL one D1 LiiE luis u EDuNEI6nLDU lie
spoke. His voice sounded soft and low Ike
a woman's, but its sweet and perfectly
modulated tones penetrated through the
long bar. II was long since any of US had
listened to such a silver strain. Words
pure as the notes Of English s0Bgbirds and
unsuiiied by'ribaldry OF blasphemy were
all too scarce and strange on the Bang
along. or anywhere else in California.
VINO dye 5 pose he is, mate ?"
Don't know. One o. them Frisco chaps,
may be. P'r'aps sneak a-spying out the
nakedness Of the land"
The speaker laughed at his own sally
IF wit.
Speculation was cut short almost at once.
The little Ted-haired man, turning to Us,
said ciyilly enough and with a slight tTemor
in his voice:
Boys, am q missionary. and have been
sent here that / may look after the interests
OF those who have left fathers and mothers
behind in the old Eastern States"
The speech was greeted with derisive
laughter.
"a paTsonp
Taking no notice Of the interruption.
except that his cheek Redeemed a little, he
continued:
40a will fad ne a friend By permis-
si0n of the keeper Of this saloon there will
be preaching here next Sunday afternoon
and mean to practice that which preach -