The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1894-10-02

'iuSS Wuuly gay, sometimes Tens
and stern. He drank more deepl,
than had been his wont, and it wa
observed by Put that he seldom
brought hides and furs, but paid il
gold dust.
Them dust an nuggets may be tn,
savin's of long life of frugal in
dustry," said Put one day, but i
du seem ez eff our friend up the cricl
he'd struck placer. Wha's your
idee, Shortly"
"Tain't no business of ourn, Put
Let's not give Tuckerson away il
he's working a claim on the quiet"
Nevertheless the rumor got abroad
and the only persons who did not
hear it were Tuckerson himself and
the lonely little girl in his remote
inhospitable cabin.
One day Tuckerson came gallopine
up, his face wild with excitement,
his speech breathless and not very
coherent, his manner full of a tri.
umphant insolence, as if he had just
acquired an advantage over the rest
of mankind.
He ordered liquor, drank far too
much, took more with him to cheer
his lonely way to Bowling and left
the bar laughing at Puts remon-
strances.
''See tibet galoot2" the host re-
marked as Tuckerson went out.
'Know what's the matter of him,
Shortly"
Hes struck it rich, said the little
man.
"Rich2 You bet I know what
them eyes O hish an all tibet impor-
lance means. Eff he gifts down t.
Dowlin in thet state, he'll give away
his secret, sure, an first thing he
knows that claim o. hisn'll git
jumped" -
Shorty went out. 'tOh, Tucker
son I" he shouted.
why, hello, Shorty" said Tucker
son, who was already in the saddle.
II seed tibet jack rabbit on the trail.
He's powerful sore whar We kicked
him last time We fit Hawl haww
''An right" said the little man,
cheerily. But say-going to Dow
ling, Tuckerson"
"Tha's what 1 be-goin ter Dow
lin ter hev little Christmas time all
ter myself. Christmas hain't come
yit, Shorty-not fer most-but mine
showed up yestidy en- are come t.
stay too"
"It's true, then" thought Shorty.
HE has struck pay dirt, and no
mistake" Then he said, Are you
leaving your little girl all by herself
up the creekG"
"Now, look here, kid, " said the 9TH
er, laughin. Il he'd itplumb in mind
all Their way down to arsk we if yed
be so kind en- condescendin ez ter go
up ter my shanty en- perfect things.
Only the gophers en- jacks en- cotton
tails en- mice en- small birds up there
is terrible fierce en- sassy. But you
en- go eff you amt scared of 'em. So
long, Shorty Be keerfe en- not fall
inter no dog holes en- git lostr'
Shorty watched him till all that
could be seen of him was cloud of
red dust far away toward Bowling
and then went into the tavern.
''Pard," said Put, who had over
heard the conversation, "ef / was
you, I'd be tempted to PUNK a hole
in tibet tongue fourishin galoot."
IF you was me, Put, you'd be
tempted to do no such thing. You'd
take out your banjo and do your
plunkin' on that, just as I'm doing
now. You wouldn't care any more
for his words than if they were so
many homeopathic pills."
Nevertheless Shorty had been hurt,
and when he turned in that night he
said to himself sadly, II wish could
10 that man good turn someway,
70 that he could understand that I'm
| human being and quit picking at
me-"
On the next day but one two stran-
sers came over the ford very early
IL the morning. Put attended to
heir wants and left them, while he
vent to aid a cowboy who had shot
IN elk and wanted help to bring it in.
The landlord could depend on Shorty
o run" the hotel in his absence.
At this hour the ex-king of Lilliput
vas asleep in snuggery under the
ounter in the large room that served
s bar and store. He was awakened |
~ the voices of the two strangers,
nd looking through knothole saw (
hem for the first time.
He scanned them closely, for they
we're ruffianly looking pair, not of l
he frontier type, but with city
Ough" and escaped jailbird" mark I
d all over them.
"Snoozers from Dowling," said 6
horty to himself as he listened.
1--WE run up agin good ting wen 6
ye hit dat chump Tuckerson, hey,
im2" said one.
Yer right we did. Mind how de J
ully talked wen he got full You
ct l pumped him good an dry fore a
IO,a 1yi1 him, - L.