The record-union., 1898-03-04
Tim MONEYS WIFE.
written for the Record-Union, by Elwyn
Irving Hoffman,

written for the Record-Union, by EiWyh
Irving Hoffman,
was tramping homeward, after
forenoon spent along the North fupa
River where l had been watching the
Chinese miners working in the gravel
when, just as l reached the top OF the
long grade came upon covered PED
ding wagon. 1t was Clark and ms out
fit and as / came up abreast OF the
front wheels recognized him ana halieo
him. He put on the brake and stopped,
and invited me to get in and rue. 1
drew the shell out Of my gun ana
climbed in, as it was still some miles 10
French Corral and ] was tired.
''Got over your scare, yet? he asked
as with jerk of the lines and sting
with the whip. he started the horses on
trot along the now almost level road.
''Yes-almost. How's your piper
.Got a bully good stem in it now
and he took it out of his mouth and held
it up for my inspection, twinkle of
amusement playing in his gray eyes and
a smile showing under his thin, sandy
mustache.
cor Admiral Potts was some good to
me. after ALL" he continued, as he put
the pipe back in his mouth and took a
long draw at it. THAT other stem never
was much account, and this is fine
one"
That Potts story was all right,
Clark" I said. Cant you tell me an
other?''
"Oh, don't know. I amt much of a
OF fal1in' lint Of
know most of these OF fellers around
here and he stopped suddenly
"Darned if here amt a story comm
nowl" I looked ahead.
Around a bend of the road a squaw
was coming, plodding stolidly along in
the middle of the dusty road and bend
ing under heavy pack. Just behind
her, riding little, shabbylooking pony,
was a man. AS we neared them, L
looked sharply at the mahala, but she
turned aside for Clark's wagon without
raising her head, and passed by with
out speaking, though Clark hailed her
with a friendly Hello, Annie!" But the
man drew up his cayuse at the side of
the road, and exchanged greetings with
Clark as we went by. He was a man
Of small stature, though stockily built,
the lower portion of his rather good
looking, kindly and yet shrewd face, was
covered with a growth of bristly red
whiskers. A Slight brogue as he said
good morning proclaimed his descent
from the land Of the shamrock, and after
we had passed him l said to Clark Hes
an Irishman."
Yes; and another squaw man. His
hoo -aII
known all through these hills, for he's
been here a long time. That was his
wife ahead Of him-Wild Annie, we
called her before she married Tim
What kind of a man is Mooney? Is
he educated? He has a good-looking
face
"Oh, yes he's pretty well read up. He
wouldn't make a college professor,
though" and Clark smiled. You see,
Tim and a teller we called Big Bill,
great big COW of a man, near seven foot
tall and built round in proportion, had
claim on the North Yuba at a bar" sew
eral miles up the river from the cross
ing down there. Tim was always
sober man, drinkin' very little, but this
here Bill was like Scar-Faced Dick-he
got drunk whenever he could get the
WHISKY, anu he got the WHISKY WHcH-
ever he could git the money to buy it
with In fact. Big Bill an OF Dick came
pretty near bein' cronies, goin' cahoots
on jambories several times over to
French Corral here, and sometimes to
North San Juan, an even TO Grass Val
ley an Nevada City. Tim didn't think
much of the Injuns in them days an
he used to tell Bill that OF Dick would
shoot him in the back some day to git
a bottle of whisky away from him, but
Bill knew his strength an knew that
Dick was afraid of him. That OF scar
faced aboriginee was mostly an OF
buffer, in spite of his villianous heart
an his bad reputation. When he knew
q man could whip him an wasn't afraid
to do it. he generally respected him. /
guess Bill walloped him at the begin
ming of their acquaintance for he never
tried any funny business when Bill was
around.
Natchully, this runnin' with Dick
crossed Bills trail with tn Injuns. an
finally he falls in love with one of the
young mahala's an marries her.
guess BIZ was pretty drunk when the
marriage took place or he wouldn't have
gone that fer but anyway him and the
girl were tied up accordin' to Injun fash
ion. A Injun weddin' don't cut no great
ngger-a little permiscus chasin' around,
some tall palaver, an the things all
hunky. No long rig a-marole with tom