Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-16


that l couldn't help looking him over
to see if he didn't Lave an express tag
on, which, in some measure, would
account for his being able to get so
far away from home, but the boys
were feeling pretty blue about then,
and he made kind of pleasant con-
trast of colors. He hadn't more than
passed one meal time till Pizen B.
johnson, who was q smooth smiler
when he tried to be, had him in tow
and knew all about him and all his
folks. And pretty soon after / OBJ
served he was showing the youngster
some OF the finest specimens of free
milling ore from his Twilight bonanza
that man ever stole. rather pitied
the fellow, but then l knew that If l
had any money, somebody would get
it mighty quick, and besides B. John
son had enough to answer for without
my tombstone casting any reflections
on his character. So the announce
ment next day that he had sold o two
thirds interest in the Twilight for
$500 to the young chap from Boston
was not altogether a surprise.
The next two days it reined, but the
green young cuss from tho East
seemed TO thrive out in the damp, for
he worked away developing his salted
Twilight mine, while tho patrons of
the Golden Oriole speculated on what
kind of row he would raise when he
discovered the iob-if he ever did.
When the wind got around in 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
it's bed. The clouds went to work in
dead earnest, and when you got out
from under shelter, it wasn't u dilIi-
cult job TO imagine that some fire de.
partment was taking you for con-
migration, and you were shortly much
put out.
And SO when Eddie Freeman, drip
ping wet, slid in with n gust of wind
through the door of tho Oriole that
night, tho racket inside didn't begin
to compare with that which the creek,
now taking on the airs OF river, was
making outside. 1 felt uneasy about
that creek, and wondered if the fell
lows who had tackled their cabins up
against the hillside hadn't shown con-
siderable horse sense after ALL But
there was sparkle in Eddie's eye and
such Joy in his voice that l forgot all
about the creek for the time being,
when he slammed the door and hove
up to the bar. Then he skipped over
to where PiZen Bill was absorbed in
reflection and gin, and held out to him
a sack of ore. Bill smiled after the
fashion of the evil one; but when h Q
went TO diving into the rock as big
change came over his face as land
slide makes in the side of mountain.
In another minute we were all exam
lining some of tho 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 q mighty fine pud-
ding.
Then the venom in William j. ma
ture showed itself in his face, but his
words were uncommonly pleasant.
"That's mighty fine mine yer
have" he said, "and l en- mighty
proud that l am the man that's put
yer in the way of sich exfraordira ary
luck. I knowed l wuz givin' yer O
great thing, but bizness in other places
wouldn't allow me to put in my time
on TINT, and besides 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 a 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, for lie 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 outsids
seemed to be putting up some kind Of
n bad job on us all, and pretty soon
the crowd commenced to thin out, and
| could hear tho mingled sound of pro.
family and spashing of water as the
miners stepped out, by token of which
l judged that the backwater of tho
creek was visiting US, and so l saun-
tered over to my bar window and un-
fastened the catch.
About the time the fun over in the
card rarty's corner began to get hilari-
Gus, tho water began to creep across
the floor in black rivulets, looking like
moccasins seeking holes and the last
OF the uneasy guests sidled out, except
ing my interested company in the cor
ner. 1t struck me that it was q good
time of year for them to leave, but q
glance ut Pizen Bills countenance
gave mo to understand that it wouldn't
be altogether to my interest to make
such o suggestion, and besides, tho
proprietor, who was peacefully snooz-