The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-25

to suit today! Can't yer give Teller time
to think ?"
Take your own gait and crack ahead, -
said old Bill Sioker.
''To the story, Ben Kent-the story ~
cry all hands.
Yes, yes, You lnbbers; I'm right onto
that nowp' cried Ben. GIVE a Teller time
to get his bearin's."
"Well, them" said Ben ruefully, looking
from one face to another, ''if | am to be
crowded into it. let US saw that | finally
settled down to mimi bout half mile
young TELLER named Fred Wallace mimi
not far from my claim. Fred struck the
camp withou: splitter end takin' a
l;kin' to the chap, j showed him patch o.
ground whar l knowed ne could make
good wages. / also pinted out TO Fred an
old cabin that he could take possession or
This was long in 1885, and the cabin had
been vacant for years, so be had nothin'
to do but move in and make it his own.
FIRED and me got TO be like two broth
ers almost. He was a college edicated
young man, Fred Wallace was, and he
give me some good pints on the heavenly
bodies and other astronomical matters,
all of which | hain't yit forgot. Cuss me
If | don't think he could 'er come nigh to
kalksrlatin' ell se o the moon!
Fred had been my neighbor for ayear or
two. when what d 0es he do but up and fall
dead" Here Ben Kent took I'D his beer
glass, and, as he eulped down it's contents.
ms little twiDklng eyes glanced round
upon his companions to note the. surprise
expressed by each face. ~ s," said he
as he lowered tie glass from his lips. "feiI
dead in love with gal up in town named
FANNIE Taylor.
"Fannie Taylor was the prettiest gal in
the camp. She had style as well as good
looks. You might have sarched ValIecito.
Campo Seco, Lancha PlaDa, San Andreas
all the towns in the two c0untleS-and
YOU coulu not have found gal kneehigh
to Fannie Taylor for both beauty and
style. Cuss me If | don't thiuk she was n
regular world beater!
'Old man Taylor, Fannie's father, was
rich, and as willin' man TO be still richer
as ever see. He and his wife didn't by
any manner o. means long to have Fred
Wallace for a son-in-law. Still, they
couldn't find any fault with him. only that
he was poor and had fine prospect of
remaining so for time, unless he struck
a better streak in mis- claim.
1.-THE old folks got it into their heads
that it would be fine thing for Fannie to
marry a rich old pagan that had big
store down at San Andraas, but the gal
was all for Fred, and didn't so much as
treat the old duck from San Andreas half
way decent. So you see things wus at
regular deadlock IN the matermonal line.
Fan, she wanted Fred, and wouldn't look
at the old sinner from San Andreas. while
the old folks bad set their hearts on the
old storekeeper's money-bags and couldn't
be got to look at Fred In their eyes Fred
was merely cheap and decent.
MATTERS bein' at this provukin' pass, l
sot to work to put up little job to help
Fred out He wouldn't hear 10 my proper
siton at first. AT last asked him to tell
Fannie about it, an if she'd go in for the
little game he needn't hang back and play
balky. Fan said what | perposed was jist
tho thing and that settled it with Fred.
Fact was they war so crowdin' the old
San Andreas pagan onto the gal that
somethin' had got to be done to knock him
out.
MY plan was easy enough-only little
lively lynn to be done in my leisure mo
ments. SO L took an airy opportunity of
tellin' old man Taylor that Fred had struck
it mighty rich in his claim-just how big
he had got it 1 couldn't say, but was sure
he was maxim bushels of money. This |
gave the old Teller as starter.
"A few days later l met old Taylor
again and he says to me: Ben Kent, if