The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-08-19

little while they all stood about gazing
blankly at the empty pocket.
oval, ding my buttons" Baldy Per
lsins exclaimed, ''if that don't naterl,
, teetotally stump my taters."
Its ernuff to stump anybody's ta
ters," said Sandy. But whar in the
name O Sam Hill kin the stuff a gone
. to?"
oval, fellers," old Mart began, '.it
didn't walk away, did it?"
"Reckon not
''An' it didn't fly away, nuther?'.
Guess it didn't
"Then it stan's to reason that some.
body took it away. don't it?'
Course somebody took it away. But
who? Thet's what l want to know"
Wal, figger the thing out in yer own
minds, boys" Mart went on, IAN then
say who'd be likely to a took it,
II have figgered it," said Sandy. "but
blamed if l can settle on anybody.
Don't see who could a done it."
Don't none of you ketch idy?"
Mart asked.
They all shook their heads.
wal, I've fggered it, fellers," Mart
continued, "an' takin' it up one way
and down t'other, I don't make out that
it can be anybody but old Alb Jones.
Thar amt nobody else up yere to a.
took it, and so low, putin it all to-
gether, thar amt much room left for
doubtin' of him.
There was a momentary silence, then
Sandy said:
Boys, putin this an that together,
an it does look purity blamed much
like old Alb might a got that thar stuff.
You know he was in a great stew fer
money last night, an arter we give i'm
notice to leave he jest about robbed
thet pocket an skipped. AS Mart says,
thar warn't no one else to take it, an
he's most doggoned tritiin', shore.''
"Old Abis tritlin' an no count" Jack
Bone said, ''an' don't deny it; but 1
don't hardly b'lieve he robbed the mine
He's been about yere fer six months,
an he never stole nothin' afore''
Wal. who else could it be?" Mart
asked.
Il dunno, I'm Shore" Jack replied.
but can't git it into my head that it
was old ABB
Another short silence ensued, broken
by Sandy, who suddenly looked up to
remark:
Wonder if Abs gone yit?"
Dunno" said Mart. "S'pose we go
an seeo''
The miners at once repaired to old
Abs cabin. They found the door shut,
the one little window blinded, while
deathlike stiffness reigned all about.
Hes skipped, boys" Sandy said.
''Yas, he's gone" Mart replied, "but
| low we'd better look through the
cabin an see what's to be seen.'
Come on, then," cried Sandy, as
he led the way to the door. "It's
blamed fortnit for the old cuss that he
did leave, sartin, err he'd a-been hung
in mouty short order, shore"
Sandy gave the door rude push and
it turned back on its rough wooden
hinges. A streak of sunlight fell into
the room, dispelling the darkness, and
after moment the miners were able
to distinguish objects.
by jix! boys" old Sandy exclaimed,
"he amt gone, after all"
"He ain't?" the others cried, crowd.
ing up to peer in. "Where is he?''
''Thar, on the bed"
''He is, as shore as shoutin'." Jacl,
said.
~ low we'll git to stretch the old
chap yit. Better git rope, some
body"
The figure on the bed made a per-
ceptible movement, and moment later
brought his hand before his eyes, hold
ing some small object at which he gazed
intently.
That's the same thing he had last
night" said Sandy. "Wonder what
it is?"
at looks kinder like pic tur, don't
it?"
"Blamed If it don't, fellers," Sandy
said, as he advanced toward the bed
with cautious STEP
whats up nth YEP" Sandy OK.
claimed, giving old Alb rude shake.
I'm a-comin', Liza" Alb muttered.
Its long way. You know, an it's
powerful trim climbin' the range. A
feller has to rest leetle, but I'll be |
thar d'reckly."
''Humph," old Sandy murmured,
that's queer sort O. talk. Reckon
your otiten yer head, amt yer"
''Im comm as fast as 1 kin, Liza"
old Alb went on, but watkins slow,
an I'm not feelin' we'll. The bows
wouldn't give me no money, er I'd a.
come on the stage. amt much count
TO 'em, an ! only do the cookin' at the
camp, an they think my grub is pay
'nuff fer that" fft
What's he gittin' through i'm,
Sandy?" some one asked.
BLAMED II know. Here's a letter
from somebody. Rile, you got bout
all the larnin' thar is in camp. s'pose
you see what it's about"
Rile took the letter and glanced down
the page
.Fellers," he said, "Ab wuz right.
This is letter from home. an his wife
Is sick. II urges him to come home at
once, as she is likely to die, an begs fer
sight of him once more afore she
goes"