The record-union., 1894-07-07
A STORY OF OLD "MULEqOVN. .

Alleghanies, there stood a little brown
house whose tidy appearance and the
well.tilled farm attached gave evidence
of thrift. but not wealth. However.
neither house nor farm is specially per-
tinent to the story. Suffice it to say, that
from one of the windows of this little
domicill d comely maiden was impa-
tiently looking out on the road as if ex-
pecting the momentary arrival of some
important parsonage. Soon a young
horseman rode III sight, and, halting at
the gate, quickly threw the reins TO a
negro boy and hurriedly entered the
dwelling. Dot1ing his great coat and
gloves and accepting the proffered chair
he promptly seated himself before the
blazing fire, for it was January, 1s49. and
cold wind was blowing down from the
snowy peaks of the Alleghenies.
well, Mark. they tell me you are GO
ing 10 California;
es, Ellen, it is even so, or. at least,
that is my intention at present"
so you, loo, like the other half-doZen
young men of the county, have been
captured by the sensational stories that
come from the Pacific"
II have read the newspaper accounts
of the discovery of gold i'll the mountains
of California, and | have some confidence
| in their truth, lnaSmuch as the Govern
inent officers OF the mint in Philadelphia
have received tangible proof of its exist
ence.o
But" continued the young lady, "sup-
pose gold does exist in those far-off
mountains, and you have laudable de-
sire to obtain a reasonable share of it,
how are you going TO get to the mines?
a. a Frll Or nj INF of cn
many young men OF the county to seek
their fortunes in that distant land, l have
examined the maps and find but two
practicable routes. The first is by small
sailing crafts around Cape Horn with its
thousand possible dangers and difficult
les; and the second is by pack-mules, or
ox-teams, across the continent attended,
ii anything, by still more dangers. With
no well-detned road, no bridges across
the streams. and no knowledge of dis
tances between wood and water, to say
nothing of the waterless stretches of des-
ert and mountains of snow, the trip
seems perilous indeed"
wherever there is will there will be
found way,'' replied Mark Grayham.
The greatly reduced fortune of my
mother, you know, impels me to make
the effort; besides, il successful, | desire,
on my return, to build beautiful cage
tor little bird | have in view"
A slight tinge of crimson suffused the
fair face of ellen hampton when she
heard this remark, and observed the
earnest, tender look of the young man.
These two young people had grown up
on adjoining farms, and though no word
of love had been spoken, many a tell-tale
glance had revealed the secret OF their
hearts.
u X
For four long days and nights the
storm-king had ragged throughout the
Sierras, much to the discomfort OF the
miners at a little camp in the foothills of
Amador, known by the unique sobriquet
of 'Muletown." A cold and cheeriless
wind was sweeping down the old emil
grant trail, past Silver Lake, Tragedy
Springs and Volcano, driving before it
small flocks OF deer and antelope which
sought protection from the cold in the
lower hills. The streets of the little
camp were deserted by all save two sus-
picious looking Mexicans. who, with
closely-drawn serapas about their shoul-
ders, were quietly pushing two stolen
of miners delight" and inquiring for
the Lancha Plana trail. which, it is need
less 70 say, they did not intend to fol-
low.
1t was dull and gloomy day at the
camp. The usually busy clerks at Cum
niugham's store were Willing away the
time at 'old sledge," only leaving their
cosy seats at the red hot stove, TO till
some imperative order for needed sup
plies. The village smithy had cast aside
his apron, and had stepped across the
way with a friend to take nip" The
three private dwellings OH the south side
of the street gave but little evidence of
the life and activity which usually per-
vaded the homes of those pioneer moth
ers.
Over at the Elk Horn saloon dozen
or more miners, gam blers and loafers
had gathered around the plne-log lire and
were relating with great gusto their ex-
periences in crossing the plains or round
ing the Horn. Joe Patterson was regal
ing the crowd with one of his character
istic songs, and Poker Bill,u in quiet
corner, was doctoring the cards prepara-
tory to swindling some tender-foot i'm
migrant. The waters of Dry Creek were
tumbling and breaking over the rocks
on the other side of the ridge, while Mule
and Sutter Greeks were impossible by
reason of the rains. The trail to Poker
vile and Fiddletown was invisible in
the binding storm, and it was for this
reason that the aforesaid miners, gam
blers and loafers were content with their
comfortable quarters at the Elk Horn.
The crowd at the Elk Horn increased
as night approached, and the revelry of
song and story continued, to which the
barkeeper's whisky toddies added neither
melody nor credulity. 1t was in the midst
of one of Joe Patterson'S sweetest efforts,
"Old Folks at HoIne," that Mark Gray
ham, with dripping garments and glow
ing face, appeared on the scene. A seat
at the fire and a glass of old Bourbon
were both offered at once by half dozen
of the idlers and both kindly accepted
by the young man, for he had walked
tho two and a half miles from Irish Hill
over a slippery trail in most disagreea-
BILE storm.
Mark cabined alone in little nook, on |
the north SIDE of the hill, having no neigh |
bors but a few chattering Mongolians |
who busted themselves by cleaning up
the abandoned claims washed over by |
the careless, shiftless whites. With these |
chattering Mongols Mark was belize |
good man." For two years young Gray |
ham had toiled faithfully and alone in |
his dismal claim, thinking OF the dear old /
mother in the tar-away Alleghanies, ana |
bestowing tender thought |
on the little brown house on the bluff.
Week after week, another, and still an
other oyster can, filled with shining dust, !
was carefully hidden away beneath his |
cabin floor. 1t was whispered about |
Muletown that Mark had sold his bank /
claimn to Dewey Clark and Billy Cox,
WIZ Hdd UOon Watching lis ClCdu-up lOl
some time, and he had agreed to give
them possession on the morrow. reserv-
ing the right to clean up his ground
sluiceS and leave a clean set of rifles and
boxes. 1t was for the purpose OF giving
notice OF his departure for home next
day and 10 settle up his little account at
the store that Mark came to Muletown
on so stormy night.
"Going home! Glorious thought! Hap
nv bOVi'' 1t WAS rumOrnd aDOut the
camp that Mark had dug out about
Sl5, 900 above the purchase price of his
bank claim" Mart Robbins, the pack
mula man. WAS engagad to bring down |