The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-11-09
in GOLD TIME.


the lawlcssness and passion of the
states early life into the decency and up
Brightness of successful contractor.
His name was Bill Bowen.
AS civil engineer, came more or
less in contact with him, and rejoiced
In the largeness Of his mental mold, as
well as in the business sense of security
NE let me enjoy.
One summers night we took drive
10 distant town on the San joaquin
river. We were to look at stone for a
bridge building, and the blistering heat
OF the day made us willing to lose our
sleep for the more comfortable travel
ing by starlight.
The horses logged lazily through the
coarse, thick dust on the rivers levee.
and the insects from the grain fields
and the frogs from the sloughs had
things wholly to themselves until Bill
suddenly interrupted:
Mrs. Cbuse is pretty enough yet to
understand why she sent two fellows 10
the devil, isn't shc?"
what are you talking about?" an
swered.
"Oh," said Bill, pulling himself up, II
forgot you didn't struggle with the rest
OF US through those groggy days"
knew Bill well enough 20 let him re-
lapse Just SO many minutes; then Isaid:
-Judge Chase's wife is lovelier at sixty
than most girls at sixteen, but hadn't
amy idea she figured so romantically in
the early days as TO send anybody over
hoard"
Him." replied Bill, rehectively.
The horses travelled on without at
tention, and l waited in patience.
"Iou know what IL was like" he be-
gan at last. "Men with guns from oil
over the union and gold the heaven we
eweated for. Prayers. and court, and
the gambling tables all running under
one roof. and nary awomansfnce show
ingupin the mass togiye as courage. 10
be sure, there were vixenish ribs O.
Satan who robbed, and killed, and
drank with the worst of us; bat until
Isl we'd never the woman for reverence.
Then, 10y degrees, the lawyers and a
stray merchant or two aired their
families, but things wasn't dizzy till
pretty Grace blanchard got out with
her father.
understand, she carried herself as
shed ought 20; but, understand, there
was men among us as was born and
bred TO live with blood. Tho mass OF
ais had TO take out our satisfaction in
docking at her; but for two the favor
in old Blanchard's eyes was easy read
ing, and it wasn't long seeing the
course the straw took.
"Ned Emory was a long, lean, blond
fellow, with blamed fine face and
q way that made friends of the
toughest. They said he looked
n swell when he called Mt the
Blanchard's, but / never saw him
but like the rest of us--red-shirted and
oyeralled, 'and an angle 10 his pistol
that made him JOY.
George Stokes shorty we called
him--was man with an answer that
ripped like a knife and head that
made success OF everything, because IL
could work crooked Us well as straight.
He'd been on the bench, but he'd located
a vein at Mariposa. and was overseeing
up there in '52. Naturally. he lost OPP
portunitics, not being right on the spot,
and the danger began.
"The Blanchard house was swellcd
larger than most of the cabins, and had
two long windows that opened onto n
porch. Things might never have been
so bad but for those two lidleas eyes
in front.
"One fatal night Shorty Stokes rode
Into the settlement--but am getting
ahead of affairs"
Bill tossed his cigar into the tulcs,
and hurried the horses into effort us
the interest of his "Reminiscences swept
him on.
'erhe girl carried herself after the
fashion OF high steppers, and neither
fellow could swear where he stood. il
was laughter and spirit for both of
them, they said, and nip and tuck for
the yielding. The pace was the sort
that cxhausts men. and Shorty's brain
for lawycring cooked up n scheme for
his rescue. lie was for their going to-
rethcr some night before her, and, after
n formal marriage proposal, each argue
his claim and fitness for ten minutes
by the clock, their honor at stake TO
stand by her decision.
at rot about afterwards that Emory
wouldn't consent until he saw the
devil 20 pay in Shorty's carncstncss,
and they swore with their fists in each
Others 70 carry the thing through 90
the finish. The date and hour were
arranged for the following Sunday
night az eight. and they drank TO II
with gull IN the cup.
when the evening cnmc tho clock
had already struck eight when Stokes
reached the blanchard house.