Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
PART /.

was bestowed them by Cedar Camp,
possibly recognition of certain ma
tured good-humor. quite distinct from the
spasmodic exuberant spirits of it's other
members. and possibly from what. to its
youthful sense. seemed their advanced ages
which must have been at least forty.
They had also set habits even In their i'm
providence. lost incalculable and unpayable
sums to each other over euchre regularly
every evening. and inspected their sluice
boxes punctually every Saturday for re-
pairs-which they never made They even
got to resemble each other. after the fash
ion Of old married couples. or, rather. as
in matrimonial partnerships, were subject
to the domination of the stronger charac-
ter: although in their case it is to be feared
that ii was the feminine uncle BiHy-en-
thusiastic. ina gtnative ard loquacous-who
swayed the masculine. steady-going and
practical Uncle Jim They had lived in the
camp since its foundai ton in lS49; there
seemed TO he TO reason why they shouldn't
remain there until its inevitable evolution
into u mining town. The younger members
might Leave through restless ambition
desire for change or novelty; they We're
subject 10 no such triing mutation. Yet
Cedar Camp was surprised day to hear
that Uncle Billy was going away.
The rain was softly falling the bark
tnatch Of the cabin with a mutfied muir
muir. like a sound heard through sleep.
The southwest trades were warm even at
that altitude. as the open door testified, al
though fire of pine bark was Pickering
On the adobe earth and striking out answer
Ing frs from the freshly secured culinary
utensils ON the rush sideboard. which uncle
Jim hai cleaned that morning with his
usual serious persiStency. Their best
Clothes, which We're interchangeable and
worn alternately by each other on festaI
occasions. hung on the walls, which were
covered with a coarse saIcloth canvas in
stead of lath and plaster, and We're diver
Sihed with pictures from illustrated papers
ana stains from the exterior weather. Two
oGnks. Ike ships beTths, an upper and
lower one. occupied the gable of this single
apartment, and on beds of coarse sacking
nilec with dry moss, were carefully rolled
their respective blankets and pillows They
were the only articles not used in COM
mon, and whose individuality was respect
ed
Uncle Jim, who had been sitting before
the IRE. rose as the square bulk of his part
rer appeared at the doorway with an arm
fui of wood for the evening stove BY that
sign he knew it was o'clock; for the last
SIX years Uncle Billy had regularly brought
IT. the wood at that hour, and Uncle jim
lad as regularly closed the door after him.
and set out their single table. containing a
greasy pack OF cards taken from its draw
er. a bottle Of whisky ana two tin drinking
cups To this was added a ragged mer 10
rchdurn beck and a stick of pencil. The
two men drew their stools to the table.
Hol On mint" said Uncle Billy.
His partner laid down the cards as Uncle
Billy extracted from his pocket pill box.
and. opening 1t. gravely took a pill This
vas clearly an innovation their regular
proceedings. for Uncle Billy was always in
perfect health.
What's this fcr?" asked Uncle Jim, half
scornfully.
-Agin ager."
You amt got no ager." said Uncle Jim,
with the assurance of intimate cognizance
OF his partners physical condition.
But it's a pow'ful preventive, Quinine,
Saw this box at Riley's store, and laid out
quarter on it We kin keep it here. COM
Portable, for evenings. It's mighty soothin'
arter mans done a hard days work on
the river bar. Take one
Uncle Jim gravely took pill and swal-
l"wed it. and handed the box back to his
partner
Wen leave it on the table sociable like
IN case any of the boys &C me in said Tn
Gle Billy. taking up the cards We'll, how
do We stand?'
Uncle Jim cor suited the memorandum
book. You were Cwin me sixty-two thou
send dollars on the last game. and the linn
it's sevsnty-five thousand"'
''Je whillikins,' calculated Uncle Billy.
let NE see
He examined the book feebly attempting
to challenge the additions, but with no eff
feet on the total We oushter hev made
the limit hundred thoI sand he said, Sc
riously; 'sevantyfive thousand is only tri-
fin in a game like ours. And you've set
down my claim at Angers?" ne continued
Il allowed You ten thousand dollars for
that" said Uncle Jim. with equal gravity.
The claim in question being an unpros-
pectei hillside ten miles distant, which Tn
Gle Jim had never seen, and Uncle Billy
had not visited for years. the statement
was probably true; nevertheless, Uncle Bill
1y retorted.
''Ye kin never tell how these things will
pan out Why. only this mornin' 1 was
tskin' a turn round Shot Up hill. that ye
know Is just rotten with quartz and gold,
and I couldn't help thinkin' how much it
was like my ole claim at Angels. 1 must
H. .txA~e It'll
pick in it, II only for luck
Suddenly he paused and said: Strange,
amt 1t you should speak Of 1t tonight?
Now. ] call that queer
He laid down his cards and gazed mys-
teriously at his companion Uncle Jim
knew perfectly that Uncle Billy had regu-
larry once week. for many years. de-
clared his final determination to go over to
Angels and prospect his claim, yet never
theless he half responded to his partners
suggestion of mystery, and look OF fatu-
wonder crept into his eyes. But he
cOntented himself by saying. cautiously.
you spoke Of II first"
That's the more singular" said Uncle
Billy confidently. And I've been thinking
about II and kinder seeing myself thar all
day. It's mighty queer. He got up and
began to rummage among some torn and
covarless books in the corner
where's that dream book gone to-
THE Carson boys borrowed it," replied
Uncle Jim. Anyhow yours wasn't no
dream-only kind o vision. and the book
less. he watched his partner with some
sympathy. and added. That reminds me
that had a dream the other night Of be-
ing in Frisco at "a small hotel. with heaps o
money. and all the time being sort o
scared nd bewildered over it
NO" said' his partner, eagerly. yet re-
proachfully. You never let on anything
about it TO me- It's mighty queer YOU
havin' these strange feein's-for I've had
'em myself And only tonight comm up
from the spring. j saw two crows hopping
In the trail. and says if see another it's
luck. sure: And you'll think I'm lynn but
when i went to the wood pile just now
there was the third one sittin' up on a log
as plain as see you Tell ye what, folks
Kin iaugh-but that's just what Jim Filgee
saw the night afore he made the big
strike
They were both smiling yet with an I'M
DERIVING credulity and seriousness as sin
gularly pathetic as IL seemed incongrous
TO their years and Intelligence. Small WON
der. however, that in their occupation and
environment-iiving daily in an atmosphere
of hope. expectation. and chance, looking
forward each morning to the blind stroke