Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-09-01
GRIZZLY JIM.

Grizzly Jim sat outside of his cabin . mok-
ing his after dinner pipe. The fogs hal tar
ried late that day, and were only just lift
ing from the mountains, uncovering slopes
and levels of velvety green. torn by ragged
fissnres and scanned with jutting lodges.
The smoke from his pipe curled upward
through the boughs OF the live oak beneath
which he sat- There was subtle bright
ness and lightness In the atmosphere that
gave promise Of a sunshiny Afternoon.
Grizzly Jim was large and gaunt. Un-
der his beetling eyebrows his eyes seemed
TO smolder with forbidding fire. Wheth-
er he had won the grim sobriquet by vir-
tue Of his prowess In some long forgotten
encounter with the four footed king bf the
Sierras, or whether IL had been bestowed
upon him because OF his uncouth appear
ance and churlish manner. no one In the
settlement below could say. The little
cabin on the mountain side and It's lonely
dweller antedated their earliest memory.
There was bliths snatch OF song I'm the
distance. echoed by the steep crags around;
clatter Of hoofs along the rocky trail, a
smart little mustang dashed aero oss the
clearing and his rider sprang to the ground
while Grizzly Jim dropped his pipe In sui
len anazement.
Good morning, sir" said his visitor
with friendly smile.
The old MINER stared at a slip OF girl
with q short riding skirt drawn over n
cambric dress. the blouse waist OF which
was revealed In bewiidering profusion OF
fresh tucks and trills, while plquhnt lit
tie face looked up at him unabashed under
tangle OF soft brown hair and bewitch-
ing sailor hat he unfolded his long legs
and rose awkwardiy, lifting his 70 Fn felt
hat with savage courtesy.
II excuse me el 1 amt uPto my
best society manners. M not used 20 re-
ceiysng calls from nobody, let alone young
ladies'"
MY call In not from choice, but from
necessity" returned the young lady with
dignity. II am here on business m the
census marshal Oh TINS district.
The dickens You aref retorted the
miner. but ne mentioned gentleman oi
less repute IN polite society, and whose
name Is better known 10 scripture than te
literature. And what DO you reckon
you'll get out OF met'
There was something In MS speech. cor
rupted as u was py tine vernacuia1 OF ths
mountains. that suggested the south. Ths
girls quick ear recognized the faniliai
note. She was 70 some extent tostinee
against ms grunness, tor she had beard o.
him as the terror OF census enum orators
the despair OF Tax assessors Tue one mat
In all the mountain district who desired M
local Improvements. no advance OF civiliza
tion. no contact with the world Of his Eel
low men, and VINO had Tor more than fort,
years remained mystery to all the com
munity.
You have already told me where yoz
are from, she re1oined Pleasantly. "fot
are southern man. but expect you ais.
| to tell me your name and occupation
where you were born and whethet you ar
married or single. and all the other trou
blesome little details that the nationa
| government insists upon learning from
each loyal citizen"
| She took book from pocket In he
saddle flap and advanced upon him. pencil
In hand, while she was speaking but he
heart quaked at her own boldncssN
Something In her blithe young face ar
rested the mans surly refusal. He trie,
different tactics.
"Take n scat. You must be very tired
It's rough ride up the trail"
He offered her bis only chair seatini
himself on stump. The girl accepted th
courtesy, put started rs her hand came u
contact with breech loading rifle tha
leaned against a chair.
With queer CLINT In his eye that wa
not unlike fantastic gleam OF humoI
Grizzly Jim took the winchester and o.
tentatiousiy Withdrew the Charges, the
pulled an ugly looking knife from bis bel
and iaid rine ana knife on the rnde tapi
That STOOD between them, rs the savag
eeremoniousiy lays aown MS arms beior
sn.efing upon pafiey with ms Toe. Bn
.nere was uni. 70 his hospitality, and
"as ~. ssow ~ sn..rnoe ~, =.
oe nanseu :. .n s,se a~1y my IT,
ra.e alas ~ s'e,y a.1u. "o.aAif VI cni0
'nas sskA naa ~ ~ you anyMayr
esace,y s"snsy ..,s. Nv s eeu.s . 1ssu,ne' l,,s
tue riri .sanns. = ~nas .hey ailo'
IA sne say se'seu aou'.e.n a,s'iie' as W
fou woulun - % wosn nupn ~
We're aowh IN ene saliey. Dssluef' as you -
! tehcn .ne scnooi ln she sIiaasf, anu ss
state asioManee- -pte'sy 'nuon ny "no'
saiarJ-aepenas upon .ne numott oi ehi
1 NTEn we Can HluMleF III TIC ukatFlEt.