The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-05-11
4 GRAVE MATTER.


IN the place, Pete Budd's "s'loon, " to con-
slider the desirability Of establishing rec
ognized cemetery for the use Of the local
community.
"Whar shell we hev this graveyardr'
asked Pete. and Doc Moseley suggested
that, as most of the killing was done "rite
thar In The s'loon," the cemetery had best
be located "somewhhr clus handy"
The proposition found no favor, and the
conference proceeded. Various situations
were proposed and discussed, but abandon
ed for some reason or other, and it seemed
as though the subject would have to be
dropped, at least for the present.
Job Syllable had been sitting quietly in
the corner, apparently taking no great in
terest in the proceedings, but at this june
ture, however, he rose to the occasion and
his feet.
"Pards," quoth he, little thickly, II
reck'n I've got burned sight better idea
N any of yer. What subjests is this, as
ye don't seem ter be able to settle upon u
suitable spot jest now, postpone this hyur
meetin and leave the graveyard ter Provi-
dence.".f
"Wotinthunderdye mean2"
LOOK ye hyur, pard Billee! Take keer
ye amt the first galoot thet gets planted
in Low Down City's new graveyard! 1
warn ye"
Billeo subsidized, and old Job went on.
"I'm sweet tempered by NATURE" he con-
fessed. II don't mind bein interrupted
once, mar twice, but I'm royal terror
from Terrorville when get run up against
three times. Now, as was remarkin, l
perpose we leave this hyur subject ter the
decidin O. Providence. I'll explain my
meanin," he added, helping himself to
another bottle labeled Lightning Con-
ductor."
"Some one'll be bound ter get plugged
fore long, pards and l say let the spot
whar the first man dies from this moment
mark the new CEN terry"
A roar broke out as Job finished, and
Pete was kept busy for the next five min
utes The meeting, with scant regard for
orthodoxy, broke up without vote of
thanks being passed for the chairman, but
this may have been from the fact that no
chairman had been appointed. The oiti-
zens Of Low Down were rare socialists.
Old Job was voted a genius. His fertile
brain had solved the difficulty in thorough
bred fashion. The adoption of his idea
meant not only tho location of the site for
the graveyard, but 1t would provide the
first candidate for burial honors as well.
Each one felt that great honor would be
attached to the first stiff" but the love
Of life was just as strong at Low Down as
1t is anywhere else, and, if anything, the
men avoided quarreling as much as posi-
bic, and none seemed eager to run the risk
of being "No. l."
Three days passed, and still tho great
trouble remained upon Low Down City.
The men walked about like shadows. It
was depressing. Who would have dreamed
for moment that the matter would have
been so long prolonged Why didn't some
one get killed.
Does Injuns count, pard Job?" boo
asked on the night of the fourth uneyent-
full day.
"Our Gem terry" old Job thundered in
reply, sis goin ter be one fer men, not In
juns. Unnerstan' thet." And Doc did
On the evening Of the fifth pacific day an
CRY words suddenly arose in the "s'loon,"
and men jumped to their feet white with
excitement, Nat Warner and Arizona
Tom were playing poker, and Nat was
losing his money and his temper.
If death occurred in the "s'loon," 1t
meant the removal of the building to
make room for the cemetery, as the men,
once they had passed resolution, were
determined never to go back on it, and
the meeting had unanimously resolved
that wherever the dead man was there
should the cemetery be-
Pete came forward and with tears in
his eyes begged the disputants to convey
themselves and their quarrel outside. Now
here Pete did foolish thing His words
sobered the angry pair at once. If he had
only held his peace and let the men get
their dander right up, then there is no
doubt that tho event would have taken
place for which all Low Down was wait
Ing.
But, then, Pete was thinking of conven.
fence, not the cemetery.
Tho chance had come and gone, and q.
whole week sped by without incident
1t all happened on q Friday, Of counsel
1t was near old Jobs cabin, just where the
river divided. Pete sent Billee to old Jobs
diggings to ask him to step over to the
's'loon" and look at the new mare he had
just bought, and because Billee, in his
hurry. collided with the old digger at the
corner of the shanty, Job got riled and
'wore at Billee, and then no lost his tenn
per.
go and tell ole Pete he kin 90 ter |
Dlazes, shouted Job, "and tibet his mare'll |
come in handy for the journey. Then 70
slide rite back hyur and Wen settle our |
little matter clear away"
Billee went and returned with Pete and |
The whole Of the township behind him.
DID Job got more riled when he discovered |
hat their private quarrel had been turned |
nto public question.
"If 70 como q step nearer, Pete Budd, |
I'll jest about blow the top off'n yer |
lead, he sang out from the interior of the |
nut.
Pete laughed and was uncomplimentary
o old Job. Job said he wasn't fighting
the hull town." he only wanted ter set
le wi that little cuss Billee" Pete said
10 wasn't going to GLOW no harm ter come
or Billee," and offered himself as substi-
ute. Job accepted gleefully, and issued
orth.
Then some of tho others Clipped in and
ook Sides their spoken object being to
revent the fight, but the matter ended
therwise Arizona Tom "sassea' Pete
nd Budd drew trigger on him. The ice
nee broken, bullets flew round like Geno-
SO arrows, and in q few minutes one-half
( Low Down was awaiting decent inter-
nent and the other half was busy gather
ng itself together to resist the horde
Iclri inc 1uhi ,b 1N, |
ortunely appeared on the scene.
There is no sign of Low Down now! The
eds had been omitted from all oalcula-
ions in the question of the cemetery. They
attled the matter by settling the settlers,
Tho, under the circumstances, might be
REUSED from feeling any further interest