The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-08

however, III Quc COuIbc VI law VIC
case was concluded and the jury
charged They lost no time in return
ing verdict of justifable homicide.
Pecos Bill celebrated his release from
custody by leading the crowd, judge,
bar and jury over to the licensed liquor
house presided over by one Honest Or
gan, noted as being the greatest single
handed liar in the territory-and there
we irrigated. After many assurances
that my mistakes had been misinter-
preted, and that there was no i'll will, l
was permitted to mount and set out for
camp. Even my mule trotted out brisk
ly with the joy of getting away.
AsI logged along, watching the red
dening sun drop lower in the heavens,
the silence and loneliness became OPP
pressive. Every bush rabbit that
crossed the trail gave me start. The
possibilities of the desert multiplied in
my mind. Any wayfarlng desperate
met could lay me low and drag my body
out among the bushes, where the coy
otes would prepare my bones for later
discovery, and the label, in some
dime museum: Traveller overcome
with thirst in the desert Geronimo's
entire band might be sojourning on
that very trail between me and the
camp An elegant evenings entertain
ment | would furnish thenl
Toward sunset ! approached deep
coulee that crossed the trail. Looking
ahead into the gathering dusk | saw
two ponies laria ted among the mes
quite bushes. The saddles appeared to
be of the Indian pattern, but there
were no riders anywhere in sight. My
first thong hit was to put about and re-
treat, but that was useless, for either
pony was far better mount than my
mule 1t would be wiser to keep
straight ahead on the trail and trust to
finding ''friendlies" Mountains
or Pimas.
As | approached the ponies a tall
white man sauntered out of the bushes
and planted himself squarely in my
path. He wore the wide-rimmed hat,
dirty blue oyeralls and greasy buckskin
shirt of a miner, and most prominently
a scraggy, san dy beard, which, after
radiating in all directions from his
head. fell half way to his waist. He
concluded the movement by thrusting
tween his toes and holding up his left
hand.
Pause, strangerl' he said, quietly
Pausing was right in my line.
wouldn't have refused his request for
half the territory in fee-simple.
paused and said Good evening"
Light" he said. lit.
Without altering his position he
looked me over from head to foot
Then turning his beady eyes full into
mine and wrinkling his shaggy eye
brows, he inquired:
''You air that medico from the sol
der camp? Thought likely you might
pass this way" He turned and beck
oned me to follow him into the chap
arral.
answered Eyes" and walked after
him, feeling like doomed convict on
his way to the cart Surely the hour
had come.
We entered an open space, in the cen.
ter of which was the figure of a man re-
clining upon blanket.
''Pard,'' said my captor, addressing
the figure, Il hev brought you the
medico." Then turning to me he added:
''Pard an me he'd dispute about who
owned the mine, an l winged pard."
Joy of the thought My professional
skill was required. The other fellow
was to be the victim, not me. / might
leave my revolver behind, but my pocket
surgical case, never.
what can / do for you, my friend?'
asked, bending over him. The right
arm was bound up with a red bandana
handkerchief and blood was oozing out.
"You might patch up that hole Tonic
bored in me-" he answered, feebly.
He got to rar.n' aroun' here all out of
my claimin' the mine. When he swore
he would never let me own that mine
alive it riled me, an | war goin' to
make medicine weth him, but Tonic air
double geared = easy doc, it air very
techy = double-geared hghtenin' on
pullin trigger, an he winged me fore
/ could git my gun levil. reckin the
mine's his.
(Which will teach ye hereafter to re
bpCCb JlC WtoAACS VI GIL AOACSS POI
observed the master of the situation,
sententiously
s'It air ticklish thing to shoot
mans old pardner," continued the
afflicted, as went on with my surgery
''Me an Tonto's been prospectin' to-
gether for nigh five year wethout onct
fallin' out / finds mine and digs till
I think it amt no use diggin' no more.
an gives up, advisin Tonic to do
the same an pull stakes an move
further up the creek. Tonic won't
leave it, digs deeper an deeper an
strikes ore. Thet's why he thinks he
orter hav that mine o mine, jest as if
he finds it himself 1t pears to me it
makes no difference who works in
mine-the man ez finds it owns it. How
do it pear to you, doc?N
In a country where weapons only
carry weight | preferred to defer my
opinion. THAT depends" answered
you see, doc" he went on, holding
out his arm while bound it up, i
finds that mine twict When we first
struck her there war a tall pine tree
standin' up on the edge of the gulch
right over the lead, an it want no
trouble to find the mine by tibet pine
tree. But while we war gone down to
Tombstone to git grub the wind blew
tibet tree clean out by the roots, an it
war the devils own game to find the
place again. Thet's how we come to
call it the Lost Pine mine clumb
up out of the gulch an walked along
till / struck the tree lynn fat on the
mesa, an thet's how found it ag'in."
The bullet from Tontos revolver had
passed through the fieshy part of the
forearm without striking any bones.
washed the wound with the water re-
naming in my canteen and bound it
up in my own handkerchief, tying the
old one around it. Without bandages
and antiseptics that was the best that
could be done.
You will have to go to the camp
with me-" said. 81 can do no more
for you here.
The stately and silent Tonic inter
posed. 'sWait till we hev done weth
the mine, medico," he observed, in
measured torres. II am no pard to
man ez doesn't respect my rights. Thet
mine wouldn't never hev bin found eft
it hedn't bin fur me, an eff pard SEE
tibet mines his he lays here till he rots
fur all the good Tonic Bill Il be to
him ag'in l don't shoot no man an
make up weth him onless there's pros
pect of his comm to reason. Eff pard
SEE the mines mine I'm willin' to stick
weth him till the crack o doom, an
we'll work it together. There amt no
use in a mans bein' unreasonable.
What say, pard?"
Il think We hold an ace full, Tonic.
/ amt no man to dispute the rights of
my ole pardner."
'Why don't you sell out your inter
est?n / suggested. That will be more
like business
"Sell my INTEREST," be durnedl How
much'll you give, Tonto?"
Dollar an a drink of whisky"
chnclxled Tonic. ont of his beard