The Colfax chronicle., 1897-06-19
rooms and tied the han'le to the walls
'thOut ever bein' bothered.o


'thout ever bein' bothered"
Az Thanksgiving approached, the e,
citement in the society circles of III
gulch increased. Hair that before hs
found no barber in the wilderness. no,
sSade the acquaintance of the shears
clothes which had never before give
their owner any anxiety, now becam
the objects of critical inspection, an
boots and bandana handkerchiefs re
ceived equally careful attention. An
what thrills of delight were expert
enced by the owners of "sto" clothe
OF the Sunday-go-meetin' style, relic
OF San Francisco civilization! The par:
ners were among this lucky numbe,
but neither rested on his laurels.
The express agent had closed hi
books for the day, and was balancins
them in his usual easy manner, casl
book In one hand and report book in tn,
other, when he was interrupted. jim
Bowloe leaned upon the counter, hold
ing in his hand soiled copy of Sar
Francisco newspaper. II want yeh te
help me out" he said, in answer to tn,
agents look of inquiry. A low-voiceS
conference followed. Together they ex
amined the advertising columns of tine
Alta.
"Fo'ty-fve dollars, did yeh say ?" said
Jim.
"Forty-fve dollars"
Pears to me that's steep-purty
steep, but amt the man ter kick about
trifies. Here's yer money. Git it start
ed as soon as yeh can." The agent
smiled softly, while Boloe trudged away
in the darkness.
Strange happenings, like calamities,
often come not singly. 1t was the very
next evening, and the express agent
was engaged in hopeless effort to
make every dollar in the cash drawer
balance two in his accounts, when he
glanced up and found Bobby Henderson
attentively regarding him over the
counter. He, too, was confidential.
and he. too, had copy of San Fran
cisco paper. There was a whispered
conference.
"Forty-five dollars" said Henderson.
AIN tnaC r0ther hlghY
"Oh, no." answered the agent, smiI-
inbly; "such things don't grow on every
bush."
''Well," said Henderson, "this amt a
question of 'dobes, so here's your dust"
The next stage brought two packages
to the camp that were exactly alike.
outwardly. One was addressed to
Bowloe and the other to Henderson.
1t was the evening of a day not long
before Thanksgiving. and Jim Bowloe
was preparing to take his departure
from the higgins parlor. He hesitated
or moment as he arose, and Miss |
higgins smiled encouragingly.
"Of course, Miss higgins, you'll be
iown at the big time Thursday night.
An I'll feel most oncommonly obleeged
I you'll let me have the pleasure of
eein' You down thar an back. I'll fix
lp SO l won't be any disgrace ter you."
Ind Bowloe threw back his shoulders
md looked down at himself admiring-
Y.
To this Miss higgins. smiling sweet
Y, and holding open the door, replied:
I'll be ready to go down not later than
ight o'clock"
The next evening Henderson stood
n the doorstep, twirling his hat. Miss
higgins regarded him with pleasant
'ok of inquiry.
Miss higgins" said he, 81 know I
int equal to the occasion, but neither's
ary other man in the gulch. But /
sckon you'll want to see the dance.
a If you need feller TO kind o. pint I
1T the way, it'll be great Joy ter me to
the favored man. An I'll fix up as
uch for the occasion as Californy will
low"
Miss higgins was kind-hearted. She
oked at the face of the young man
fore her, and then said simply and
seetly: I'm be ready at eight
clock"
1t was supper time in the gulch. The J
press agent leaned idly against the y
ump OF the big pine that used to mark
e bend in the canyon and, with an ex-
ession OF amusement curling his lips, '
garded 'Cencion, who stood before !.
m with her black eyes flashing. II
1t will be good joke" he said, ''and
at is the reason spoke of it to you,
am of your opinion that Jim needs y
king down little. But you'd better ?
<e both outfits, for neither of them .
ows what the other has done, and a
either lost his layout and then saw =
other arrayed in purple and fine .
en--well, there would be trouble and =
uneral, to say the least" -
1T is WELL" said the girl, and dis = -
peared among the growing shadows. )" y,
The candles sputtered bravely that
INT in front of the tin refiectors. the
le fiddler played with all the fervor -
occSsion demanded, and the floor Z.
aked' and groaned under the grand - -
rch, but neither Bowloe nor Heuder- %
saw the opening of the grand ball. ~ :.
he partners did not arrive at the :"