The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-03-31
SOLOMON HOLT, TWIN.
BY WILL LIsENBEE.

ing MS SneepSkln gloves ana warming
his brawny hands over the fire.
"Jes So" replied Solomon Holt, care
fully brushing the dust from a cheap
crayon portrait which hung on the
cabin wall. "'Tain't goin ter be- fer
long, though. When l git ter be
guard"
1--WE heard tell as how you're goin'
to git an office. I'm glad of it, Sol; you
desarve it,"
Thank ye-thank We. 'Tain't much
nv er office-jes' guard up at ther pen'-
Tertiary. I've already writ ter the gov
nor"
'Perty sure of gettin' the office, you
think?'
"Ain't no doubt about it. This pic
ter, now"
"Who is it," asked Doc, surveying the
crayon portrait, critically.
That's Lige. Mebby We didn't know
Lige?"
mo"
NEARLY everybody knowed Lige. He
knowed the gov'nor an the gov'nor
knowed him. faint every nan that
can nave that sed Nv him."
THAT'S So"
"Lige war in the legislator; he war
one NV a pair Nv twins"
He WARP"
That's a fact. I'm the other twin"
"You don't say!"
"They did say we looked a power
alike. Would you take that to be me
say, five years ago?"
We'll, there's a family resemblance,
only the clothes"
That's a fact; l i never thought Nv the
clothes. Lige always would spruce up
had ter do it, we know, bein' a legislator.
Vas, as l war sayin', Lige he knowed
most everybody, everybody knowed
him, an that's goin ter help me in git
tin ter be guard"
mo doubt of it. What's your brother
Lige now?"
HE amt nowhar-he's dead-bin
dead these five years. People come fer
miles ter go to his funer'l. 1t wal a
powerful blow ter the state when Lige
died-he'd "a been gov'nor fore this,
like as not"
Like as not" repeated Doc Pitkin.
There was no doubt in the mind of
Solomon Holt that he would receive the
appointment which he had asked, and
he set to work making preparations to
go to his post as soon as he should be
called.
Squire Spludford, who was something
OF a local politician, was going to the
capital to attend the inaugural cere-
monies of the newly-elected governor,
and he had promised to present the
claims of Solomon Holt for appoint
ment, and if possible to see the governor
in person.
III see that your claims are pre-
sented to the governor" said the
squire, 'and there isn't any doubt that
you will get the appointment, that is,
if some one don't get in ahead of u.s."
"Tve been in the state fer 35 years.,
an that ort ter count for somethin','
said Solomon.
"Yes, I've no doubt it will"
you'll be shore an tell the guv'nor
about it?"
"Yes.'
San about Lige?"
"Of course"
Hell know Lige-least the other
gov'nors did"
"Yes."
AN about the twip-tell him I'm the
twin brother of Lige."
"Ill do that, and as O as L learn
about the appointment I'll let you
know"
In due time the squire went to the
capital, where he expected TO remain for
WI weeks. After a few days Solomon
began to pay daily visits to Benton's
store at the crossroads, where the post
office was kept.
I'm lookin' fer a letter from the
squire" he explained. Hes goin' ter
let me know when l git the 'pointment.'
, Solomon Holt was almost IS, and age
and the hardships of life were already
telling upon him. His frame was very
spare, and his thin hair was thickly
streaked with white. He wore a suit of
faded blue material that was thread
bare in many places, and he made a
grotesque appearance as he hobbled
across the wind-swept prairie.
II must git me some new clothes when
/ git ter be guard" he said, casting a
glance at the pile of cheap, ready-made
clothing at the store.
His frequent visits to the store soon
became the source of comment among
h idlers that f%requented the store,
aud more than once Sol and his expected
appointment were made the butt ofrude
jests. But of these he took no notice.
The time would come, he felt sure, when
he would be in position to put the
joke back on 'em," as he expressed it.
But the days went by without bring
ing any tidings from the squire. The
uncertainty of the issue kept Sol in a
state of restless anxiety, and every dav