The Somerset reporter., 1896-12-15
BILLS CHRISTMAS.

dozen IN all, grouped around a some
what larger shanty, called by courtesy
"hotcl.o In truth, it was the ever
present whisky dive, carrying as a mat
ter of accommodation a side line of such
absolutely nee, ssary articles as the
primitive character Of living in those
solitudes called for, and rejoicing in a
spare room for the ugo of chance pros
pector. Business III any Of its branches
was not brisk in the winter time. All
but three or four Of the cabins were
empty then, and tie population was
shifting and uncertain at any time Of
year, But Black Pete and his half breed
wife TRANQUILITY held on their way,
while prCspcctors came and went, find
ing their "hotel' surer source of in
come than running frantic races after
fortune The ground under their feet
and around them was supposed to be
rich in ore Of various kinds, but Of all
the desperate feveriSh meIf who climb
ed those lonely heights in search ct The
secrets locked in nature S calm bosom
few had any luck. Once in awhile u
shallow vein Of silver had been struck,
but Let enough to justify sinking II
shaft They bad kept coming however.
refusing to teiieSe that the abundant
signs Of mineral wealth which Dame
Nature cunningly spread on every size
could mean nothing.
And luck had turned at last. Two
men, partners, had in the late fall To-
Gated rich VEIN and stahed cut a CON
siderable claim. They had begun work
on it, bat finally decided to Wait till
spring before going farther. The camp
all agreed shat the find was sure thing
this time, and the Stream of mcu hop
ing to find similar luck bad given Black
Petc Il grla; ran e custom TIL winter
set i'll
In ono Ct tho outmost cabins man
stood in his open door gazing forth in.
to the thick yellow gloom Of the Deeem-
Der twilight. lie WAS rather slight IN
build, thia and discontinued looking
His light brown beard was cropped rath-
er short, and his blue eyes held a world
of sadness. lie ga2ed modify down the
white, s,ill side of the mountain and
shuddercd as the soughIug Of the pines
walled in his ears. Then he banged the
door and stormed angrily to himself,
kicking over the few articles of furni-
ture III the room. The quiet was exas-
perating
l shall - stark mad in this hateful
bolc. Christmas! Heavens! And man
can t escape frc1a il. If | could make
myself believe IL was any other day. Ii
! could die just now, which | can It
I'd is soon be IN purgatory as here. !
won't stay Ecrc. Better That drunken,
gambling mob doWE at the station. Ii
den matter lnucE; ] am got anything
left To le dcrcnt for. lie bowed has
head, with sharp groau, ms he said this,
but moment later he was pulling ON
his far coat and Iregings, ana his face
carried its usual half sad. half defiant
expression.
Silent Bill his limited cirelo of ac-
quantanceS called him. He was not
really popular among the rough set that
assembled at Black Petc's But, on the
other hand, he was not dislikrd. lie
didn't put on airs, and it Was his
own business what lie Was or Whefe he
came from, according to the unWntten
etiquette Of tho west, where Il man has
lIeIlt 10 tel MS name OF net, us suits
him. 1t WAS even possible that he might
DE an escaped convict but that, too,
was ms oWA business, Eat little as 81
leL' BIZ 1'4'ea ms eohipanleAS III Soll-
tuae III II t4fh' IL was doadlF Gun when
most OF tht'h Ielt IL the winter Tor more
lively llacrs' EF'h ms para was
gone. l9 ~ fu5e' he haa urged Sll'hi
Bill 10 "t, i.pah3 i'llh When 10 set Gal
Tor DtAfo', nut me th9iV was q he
avail.
e il ~ hdWK luay by spins,
BIZ, ne lfeltS'ea'
L hole 30, vas the GRIM reply. ba'
lhIsht q 4olit Illness Hstd mace MN
desperate. II EaVo nm too m"ch tilhe
10 'hihA' ana &c 1eIt ih!t any company
was lfelcr"ole 10 TINS maudehlhg ST.
fence.
W mar " = lhtlhB 1ur! called
BLACK fete AS ne halted homeht al
the hotel.
smile. lyon re too still here. Pm off
for the station. 3, pete's face fell. One
more customer gone
'I'll be- back in few DAYS Hello.
Mrs. Pote!" as the woman stuck her
head ont of the door disappoiptment in
her little. beedv. black ewes. "Take a