Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-06-20
The next two days il raiped. but the


north the mountains began to shed
water lively, and the little creek that
tumbled through the camp grew into
a torrent and began to spread itself
promiscuously over the claims along
its bed. The clouds went to work in
dead earnest, and when you got out
from under shelter, it wasn't diff
cult Job to imagine that some fire de-
partment was taking you Tor con
hagratlon, and you were shortly much
put out.
And so when Eddie Freeman, drip.
ping wet, slid in with a gust of wind
through the door OF the Oriole that
night, the racket inside didn't begin
to compare with that which the creek,
now taking on the airs of river, was
making outside. I felt uneasy about
that creek, and wondered if the fell
lows who had tackled their cabins up
apainst the hillside hadn't shown con-
siderable horse sense after all But
there was sparkle in Eddie's eye and
such 10y in his voice that l forgot all
about the creek for the time being,
when he slammed the door and hove
I'D to the bar. Then he skipped over
to where Pizen Bill was absorbed in
reflection and gin, aud held out to him
n sack of ore. Bill smiled after the
fashion of the evil one; but when he
went to diving into the rock as big a
change came over his face as land.
slide makes in the side of mountain.
In another minute we were all exam
lining some of the finest specimens of
gold-bearing ore that was ever found
IN California. There wasn't any doubt
about it. Bill Johnson's salt was
merely spice for a mighty fine pud-
ding.
Then the venom in William J.'s na-
ture showed itself in his face. but his
words were uncommonly pleasant.
"That's mighty fine mine yer
have" he said, "and 1 am mighty
proud that l am the man that's put
yer in the way of SIGH extraordinary
luck. I knowed I wuz givin' yer a
great thing, but bizness in other places
wouldn't allow me to put in my time
on that, and besides I took big fancy
to yer, ez allus did to smart young
men, and wanted yer to come out on
top ov the heap. Bein' ez Pm partner
in this yere great luck, supposin' we
do little celebratin'? Let's likker
up and then hev little SOS hui game
to commemorate this great event. +"
Freeman agreed, and pretty soon
there was lively four-handed game
in progress, punctuated with orders
for various kinds of refreshments.
But about that time my attention was
divided, not to say scattered. knew
that William of the tribe of Johnson
was up to some evil job, Tor he was
getting the youngster, whose beverage
before he crossed the mountains had
evidently been coffee, to do most Of
the drinking, ably assisted by two
other players; but the storm outside
seemed to be putting up some kind of
bad job on us all, and pretty soon
the crowd commenced to thin out, and
| could hear the mingled sound of pro.
family and splashing of water as the
miners stepped out, by token of which
l judged that the backwster of the
creek was visiting us, and so I saun.
tered over to my bar window and un.
fastened the catch.
About the time the fun over in the
card party's corner began to get hilari-
Gus, the water began to creep across
the floor in black rivulets, looking like
moccasins seeking holes and the last
of the uneasy guests sided out, except
ing my interested company in the cor
ner. 1t struck me that it was good
time of year for them to leave, but
glance at Pizen Bills counte nance
gave me to understand that it wouldn't
be altogether to my interest to make
such a suggestion, and besides, the
proprietor, who was peacefully snooz.
ing up in his cabin on the hill side,
would give me an everlasting farewell
if l turned out paying patrons. So 1
stayed. with one eye on the window,
one one on the party, and both ears
out for the storm. The rivulets on
the floor had spread out, and pretty
soon we had good foundation for q
natatorium.
Talk was getting pretty loud around
the card table and young Freeman's
face held better flush than his hand
could raise. But even he noticed that
it seemed to be rising tide time, and
he remarked:
Don't want (hic) to get my feet
wet. Lesh 60 up in the balc'ny." And
Bills mouth curled up at the corners
while they tossed the small table on
the larger one, and followed alter with
the chairs Booze had made them all
reckless, and Bill had an object worth
taking risk for.
The candles fickered along the walls
and the black water eddied beneath
them. They had the table decorated
with some large bottles to save order
ing; and, while I sat on the edge OF
the bar and longed for home, sweet
home, the game went on. Bills yell
low face looked more demon.like than
ever, and the shadows OF the players
made fantastic figures in the dim light
on the water. But 1t was triumphant
devil that was looking out of his eyes,
and I knew that the Twilight mine was
mighty near within his clutches again.
Two OF the players had dropped out
on hand of Williams deal, and were
trying to look intelligent and inter.
ested in spite of the loads they were
carrying. Freeman's brow looked
troubled, and his face had kind of
whitened.
"Well," said Bill, deliberately,
stacking his pile of chips, which had
absorbed all the others. 81 thought
you wuz a man Nv nerve. Supposin'
yer are busted? Wot's the matter
with the Twilight? I'm a gentleman,
an I got san'-an' s'posed thar was
others wot wuz present. Eff yer hev a
good han, thar's mighty fine chance
fer Yer IN show n 7 hav hara a laafl'