The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-06-21

much indications nOhow." And Joe
laughed and started to find the major
and beg cigar.
The major gave Joe an excellent
cigar, promised larger monthly divi-
dend than the claim had ever declared
before and told Joe first rate story.
Then when he had got Joe into an ex-
cellent humor he commenced moving
skillfully on Joe's outworks.
SCOT much money laid up, Joe?" in
quired the major, with bland hypocrisy.
"Nary," replied Joe, with emphasis,
and then loud laugh at the utter alb
surdity of such an idea.
"Time you commenced, old fellow" F."
said the major. "You can be well off
in few months if the claim keeps do
ing as we'll as it does now"
"No good of me savin money" re-
piled Joe, with an oath as generous as
it was unnecessary. "Somebody'd steal
it,
Nonsense, exclaimed the major.
"Youll want wife and house to
live in one of these days, and then you'll
find money very handy, no matter how
uuCu yOu uaNo.
"House an wifeP' calculated Joe.
Thunder an pickaxes, major-no
woman 'ud hev sech galoot ez me-"
''Plenty of them would quick
enough, replied the major. YOU'RE
young and good looking and good ma
tured and have plenty of good sense.
All you need to do ia to stop drinking,
gambling, fighting, swearing"-
''Major," interrupted Joe, blowing
smoke from both corners of his mouth
until his face was effectually clouded,
"that's the identical game that two
other chaps hes ben aplayin on me this
mornin.''
''Not the deacon and the professor?'
queried the major quickly and hiding
his lips entirely away under his mus
tache.
Jus So" replied Joe. lone of 'em
piled on the birthstone, an t'other tried
sugar. But faint no go, major. Fact
is, I've thought heap about it, an I've
made up my mind thet what theirs SO
much fightin about is too much, by a
long shot, fur me to git through my
head. Take somethin. Oh, yer don't
drink on duty, do yer9 Well, do. yer
know" saying which Joe sauntered off
| to Slipson' s saloon and waited patient
| ly about until he could fall in with
some one whose conversation should
run in different strain from that he
had heard during the morning.
At the dinner table that day the part
ners did not exhibit their usual cordial
ity. Joe, to be sure, ate with good ap-
petite and told good thing or two he
had heard at the saloon, but his three
partners regarded each other somewhat
after the manner of three we'll bred
dogs having designs pl tho sams bone.
The deacon and the professor felt ag
grieved, and the major seemed consid-
erably annoyed, but all were too good
hammered to show any rudeness Joe
finished his meal and departed in search
of more cheerful company. As he de-
parted the deacon uttered long sigh
and exclaimed:
"oh, the deprayity Qf the human
heart"
"Ah, I think" said the professor,
emptying his coffee cup. THAT it is per-
maps Well TO r6m6mD6r GndI lu6 human
mind is more amenaDle TO persuasion
than to force. Our friend is better tenn
pered than most men, but he despises the
sentiment of fear and is likely to be in
dignant when any one attempts to
awaken it in him."
''The law was mada fnr sinpers, 50:
piled the deacon, with savage kick at
the cooks dog. That's what the apos-
tie says, and it's terrors ought to be
talked to 'em till they're awakened to a
sense of their danger and fee from the
wrath TO come,
Suppose we approach the matter ~
O common sense manner" suggested
the major. "If we are all three going
to attack Joe at once, ordinary prudence
dictates that we act unitedly. Remem-
Der those two Mexicans we had, who
fought ABOUT q mule that same scamp
stole while they squabbleds''
The deacon was as reasonable as men
generally, but when he heard the hp-
man soul compared, eTen distantiy,
with Mexican's mule he INDUCED in
what would have been called decided