The news & observer., 1896-12-27

ny did not dream OF it had forced his
mother into an attitude OF completely
with him; il had raised up for him
single friend. Jake Stielitzer, quartz
miner, had declared that Burnt Spring
was playing it low down" on Johnny,
That if they really believed that the boy
took gold from their sluice boxes, it WIS
their duty to watch their claims and not
the boy. That it was only their excuse
for 'snooping" after him, and they only
wanted to find his ''trike.' which was IS
much his as their own claims were their
own! All this with great proficiency OF
epithet, but also still more recognized
proficiency with the revolver which made
the former respected.
That's the real niger in the fence,
Johnny" said Jake, twirling his huge
mustache, 'and they only want to know
where your lead is--and don't you tell
'emi Let 'ea bile over with waitin' first,
and thatll put the fire out. Does yer
Pop know"
NO." said Johnny.
Nor yer Mar?"
NO"
Jake whistled Then its only you,
yourselfT
Johnny nodded violently and his brown
eyes glistened.
Its heap Of information to be packed
away in a chap OF your size, Johnny
Makes you feel kinder crowded inside
eh? Must keep it to yourself, eh?'
Have to-" said Johnny, with a gasp
that was q little like sigh.
1t caused Jake to lock at him attentive
T. III l. s.,.I s
ye wanted to tell somebody about it
somebody as was a friend Of yours-mc,
f'r instance"
Johnny slowly withdrew the freckied
warty little hand that had been resting
confidingly in Jake's and gently sidled
away from him. Jake burst into loud
laugh.
'"All right, Johnny boy" he said with
hearty slap upon the boys back, keep
yer head shut eff yer wanter! Only eff
anybody else comes bummin' round ye,
like this, jest turn him over to me, and
I'll lift him outer his boots"
Jake kept his word and his distance
thereafter. Indeed, it was after his first
and last conversation with him that the
influence of his powerful protection was
so strong that all active criticisms of
Johnny ceased, and only respectful sur
yeillance of his movements fingered in
the settlement. / do not know that this
was altogether distasteful to the child; it
would have been strange, indeed, il he
had not felt at times exalted over this
mysterious influence that he seemed to
have acquired over his fellow creatures.
Ii he were merely hunting blackberries
in the brush, he was always sure, sooner
or later, to find ready hand offered to
help and accompany him; if he trapped
squirrel or tracked down a wild bees
hoard, he generally found a smiling face
watching him. Prospectors sometimes
stopped with him: well, Johnny, as a
clipper and fair-minded boy, now whar
would you advise us to dig?" ! grieve to
say that Johnny was not above giving his
adyce-and that it was invariably Of not
the smallest use to the recipient.
And so the days passed. Mr.. Med
Iiker's absence was protracted, and the
hour Of retribution and and punishment
still seemed far away. The blackberries
ripened and dried upon the hillside; and
the squirrels had gathered theft boards;
the bees no longer came and went
through the thicket, but Johnny was still
in daily, mysterious possession Of his
grains of gold Aud then one day after
the fate Of all heroic humanity bis Sc
cret was imperiled by the Establishments
and Vaccinations Of the ali-pQwerfal sex.
Florry Fraser was q Ittle playmate
OF Johnny's. Why, with his doubts of his
elder sisters intelligence and integrity,
he should have selected q child two years
younger and Of singular simplicity was
like his other secret, his own. What she
saw in him to attract her was equally
strange; possibly it may have been his
brown gooseherry eyes or his warts, but
she was quite content to trot after him