The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-06-15

ness, l hesltated what TO say, lest by
expressing a doubt, however slight,
my words might give offence. A gold
minel And owned by such an ordin-
airy looking individual 1t was too
stupendous to credit.
With the same perceptive keenness
that had previously displayed he
shrewdly surmised my thoughts. He
picked up his valise, and before
could understand his intentions took
therefrom q small bag, carefully tied
at the top with a strong thread
"You see," he said, opening the
pouch and dropping few small pieces
of bright yellow gold into my hand,
"here are some samples I carry with
me for inspection"
"Those tiny bits?"
stranger" half contemptuously,
"those tiny bits you have are worth
just dollar apiece, and this little bag
holds about three hundred dollars
worth more, including dust.
Goldl Gold! 1 rolled the shiny
metallic splints about my palm, loath
to return them. What new misery
would these puny chips bring to q
covetous, envious world 'Keep two
or three of them" he said, 81 have
plenty left"
"Thank you," I replied heartily,
selecting several pieces, "you are too
liberal. "
"Bah that's nothing. More where
those came from. That satchel holds
some two thousand dollars in dust and
nuggets"
"Whew I CALCULATED. ''My dear fell
low, are you not too careless? You are
an utter stranger, unacquainted and I'M
known, journeying to place like New
York, where murder and crime thrive
as we'll as riches. What could you do
or how defend yourself should some
desperate characters discover your
secret and assail you openly or by
bunco?"
'Bunco, hey? Think not. Stranger,
your dead wrong" He eyed me
squarely. 'I'm a Westerner, and q
man who has lived in Washington
State and fought road agents don't
fear your Eastern scamps or bunco
fellows. See this forty-four? The
man who fools with Dan Tiller-which
is me-would taste that, and I'll
promise it would be the last thing he'd
ever taste. We men of Washington
State are used to the smell of danger,
and we don't run when she comes up,
either. If I'm bothered, you bet I'd
let her fly just as quick in New Yorl,
City as in my own mountains. -
l subsidized. Moreover, l suffered,
and experienced no little relief when
he finally replaced the pistolin his hip
pocket. I am timid man, and the
sight of that revolver, handled SC
recklessly near my head, sent shivel
creeping down my back. l twisted
nervously in my seat, and from the
bottom of my heart wished the trip
was over. Presently he resumed his
eulogistic description of Washington
State, but though intensely interested,
except for q few feeble "ohs!" and
"ahs" 1 interposed no Interruptions.
"Great State, Washington, sir.
Coming country. No place like it any.
where, We're new yet, but Wen be
right on top in few years. Fruit
twice the size of yours climate superb.
Don't know what it is to have a cold,
as you call it. Swift justice, though
man must be honest or pay the penalty.
Our mustangs climb the hills almost
a easily as the mountain sheep. Sport
Why those sheep are the finest hunt
ing in the world. Man, sir, went tt
Washington sixteen years ago with
four dollars in my pocket. 1t cos
me two to rest my bones that night OF
the hard wooden floor of o cabin neal
| Tacohna, and now-well, prospecting
pays. sometimesH
He had grown very talkative, ani
ran over the various distinctions O.
his State with o volubility l little ex.
pected. Though much interested,
could not dislodge the idea-nor the
proximity-of that miniature cannon,
and made but poor listener.
OF sudden the train stopped. L
was a small station near Baltimore
In the distanc by the early dawn'l
light, the outlines of the city could
be readily distinguished
The conductor entered the coach
and explained that, owing to an acci
dent to the engine, we should be de-
layed o short while. Delighted tc
obtain an excuse to absent myself,
even temporarily, I fastened outside
with others to examine and comment
upon the damage. 1t proved to be
very slight, and in ten minutes the