The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-01-12
FOR DAVID.

railroad tracks, converging mysteriously
until distance blended them into one.
Back of it fared the wide main street,
with stores and cottages Unfortunately
mingled, which marks the disconsolate
prairie town. Beyond, inclosed by
white picket fence, struggled the desc
late graveyard.
The only thing in plenty which nature
supplied was room. There was an
abundance of space. 1t was quite
walk to Cross the street. Neighbors'
houses stood aloof. Nobody was crowd
ed, even in the graveyard.
The telegraph operator, satiated with
landscape, leaned back, stretched him
self prodigiously, yawned audibly and
collapsed in his chair, which creaked In
vexed remonstrance. He tossed re-
mark over his shoulder, $50 this is what
you are yearnin for, Daver'
Dave took his cane, and limping to
the door viewed the inertness In silence.
Then he reused himself and said cheer
fully:
"a telegraph operator is all I'm good
fur since got hurt"
"Seems like the com'ny might have
done more for you when you got
smashed up in their own accident.
'Twouldn't have hurt 'em none to keep
you as conductor" grumbled his
friend.
Suddenly the afternoon stiffness was
broken by excited voices and the sharp
barking and yapping Of dogs. Joe
brought his feet to the floor in hurry.
II can't leave the machine, Dave. Go
and see what the rumpus is about. l
bet Brier Rose is up to somethin. It
takes that there girl to stir up the boys.
No, Foxy" he said to his terrier, who
was whirling around in an ecstasy of an
ticipation, "you stay here. II Brier
Rose is at the bottom of it, little Teller
like you might get lost in the shuttle"
Dave obediently limped up the street,
where, in the midst of crowd of rough
men, stood girl holding some little ami
NAL high above her head, while the dogs
leaped and snapped around her.
The girl, with scarlet cheeks, begged
and scolded and threatened them all to
their infinite amusement.
"Call off your dawg, Jim," she said
fiercely to the owner of the largest
whose leaps sometimes almost reached
the quivering little object in her hands
"Throw down the beast an will" he
answered
III that there dawg gives another
Jump I'll pizen him before sun tip," sht
said slowly.
Jim made a lunge for the dog ant
sat on him to keep him down, Will,
the crowd hooted in derision of his ODE
dience.
whats all this?' cried Dave, coming
up and pushing his way through thei
midst.
"Brier Rose is being held up" cried I
voice.
The crowd yelled with delight. TIL
girls whole face became white will
rage as she singled out the speaker.
you'll pay for that, Ben Miles, a
you've paid before" she said.
"Call off those brutes," cried Dave
rapping the nearest dog with his cane
"For shame, to tease q womanl"
"Look a-hyer, stranger" said younI
giant menacingly. He lowered abov
Dave, who stood his ground.
I'm lame and no account in a fight,
said Dave; "but half man amt goin t
see woman tormented."
, "Who in thunder" began his threa,
, ener; but Ben Miles laid hand ON hi
arm.
Hold on, Jim," he said; "that there
:, Dave Comstock, conductor OF tn
= smashed up No. T."
mot the Teller that got hurt savin tn
, babyF'
"The same"
d 'Sho, strangerp said the mollife
Jim. you're welcome to interfere. Civ
us yer hand. We wouldn't hurt her FL
nothin. Bless my stars! Brier Ros
can take care of herself better'n mo.
men,"
The dogs were all held now, and I'll
h girl put her tired arms down. 81
looked curiously at the man, who's
brave story she knew by heart, as 81
heard him defend her.
II To be sure, she had been defended b
u fore; there was hardly man who wou'
not have risked his life to save hers, b
they leased her numerically when tn,
got the chance. Dawes interferen
was ON new line. She did not qui
understand it, but it appealed to her
n once.
S' When Dave went back to the staff,
to tell Joe the latter roared with d
light.
"Just like her! Exactly like her"
. cried, slapping his leg so inhuman
:, that his lame friend WINGED for him.
"Who is Brier Rose?" he repeated
answer to Dawes question. "You dol
40 know much if you don't know old 81
We ans daughter. She's the best know
girl from Horseshoe Gap to Powd
erik. Old Bryan's been engineer ON I
m road ever since the track was laid. 4
I'd eyes she was then as she is now. WI
wasn't eyes was temper. Same no
savin that now she bosses the boys
to addition to old Bryan. She can run
ch engine with the best of 'em. Brya
on taught her all the tricks, and he thin
uts the sun rises and sets for just her."
Strange she would defend gopl
when she's so hard on the boys"
served Dave.
u "That's just 1t. That's Brier Ro
She's got more tame pets; she's friel