The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-03-09
The Breeding of Sammy.


by the colonel
I'm ready" said Sammy. shouldering his
sack. Lets return to that beastly hotel"
Physical weakness emphasized the adjec-
tive. Sammy had driven 80 miles over one
of the worst roads in the world. The
colonel's seasoned frame had withstood
the jolting. but Sammy was very SORE
"Of course" said the colonel, as they
picked their way down rocky gulch, "of
course. Tourmaline. pending the report Of
the assayer you will observe discreet
silence as to the nature of our visit, and
If were you'd fight shy Of the
aborigines. They're rough set. these
miners, and 1 fancy they don't uke-Bri-
TONS"
Jealous said Sammy. "Well-Im ready
for em. I put my pistol into my pocket
this morning. 1t may be necessary to
teach these chaps lesson
The colonel lit q cigar.
II always bow to necessity" he said
quietly. but 1 avoid the jade whenever I
can. I've been in more than one shoot
ing scrape as a principal in many as wit
ness. A horizontal position on the floor Is
to be commended
"Pooh!" said Sammy valiently; I'm not
afraid
AS they approached the village a tall,
thin man, in seedy frock coat and faded
overalls. greeted the colonel. Sammy, albeit
of a nonobservant nature, decided instant
specimen Of humanity.
This" said the colonel blandy 'is my
present partner in the Shotgun mine
Judge Fang. justice Of the peace and pro-
pretor of the Bon Ton restaurant"
His honor extended dirty hand
The Bong Tong" he observed lis up to
date Call and see me. gen'rmen. Colonel
I've he'd an offer fer my half interest. Air
you goin' ter buy me out? Yes-or no?"
Eve have here replied the colonel, in
dicating the sack, Some ere. If it proves
what i have represented it to be MY friend
Mr. Tourmaline will buy you out Within
"a hours you shall have you answer. Good
morning."
Half an hour later Samuel Tourmalinc, Of
Cranberry Orcas, England became, accord
ing TO the laws Of the United States the
proprietor Of a one-half interest in ;he
Shotgun mine and the sum of $1,000, In the
portable form of certified check changed
hands. Three hours later our hero was
undreSsed by the colonel and tenGerly
tucked up in bed.
Poor fellow!" said the old soldier. can
empty head holds plenty Of champagl.v'
Sammy woke to the co seriousness Of a
splitting headache about the next morn
ing. He sat up in bed and gazed wildly
around the room. Presently furious
knocking at the door brought His heart in
to his mouth. Sammy turned the key III
the lock and Judge Fang entered.
Say, lie began DTedtnieSSly, you
buy last night my half interest in the
Shotgun mine?"
Il did;
you did! And what did We pay fer it,
Nine thousand dollars Hasn't the col
onel given you the money!
"Nha-a-t! screamed the justice Of the
peace. Nine thousand dollars! Nine
thousand dollars! Great caesar! Am 1
sptakin to a man as has paid $1,000 for
half interest in the Shotgun"
1T was little enough" said Sammy,
shamefully. for his conscience had quick
ened at the sight of the judges distress.
but the colonel did the business. At Rome,
suppose. you must do as the Romans do
'Lemme see the deed" suffered the man
who administered the law.
While you look at it," said Sammy, I'll
dress"
The judge seized the instrument and ad-
justed the ancient pair Of spectacles. But
he read little more than the first clause.
Then he hurled the deed at Sammy's head
and began to curse. The oaths poured
forth with such awful virulence that our
hero. bethinking himself of The coloners
advice, creDt under the bed. Still the
judge cursed on and on. Sammy,
trembling in every limb, reflected that
man who has sold a millions worth of
gold for mess of potage, so to speak,
is entitled to swear. he further reflected
that he was at the mercy of the desperate,
of eternity. Assal'ei by the terrors of
the future he began TO pattec his prayers.
Whar the lge stopped curstng Sammy
lifted the bed valance and stuck out his
head.
I'm an only son." he stammered Don't
kill me-"
IF your only son. replied the Judge,
with a queer grin, I'm kinder sorry for
the Oldfolks: fer Their amt yer equal, ter
my notion. in the hull wide world
The judge took a large "chew' Of plug
tobacco before he answered Sammy drew
on his knickerbocker breaches. .tThe ore"
he whispered timidly. "assayed more than
5000 to the ton"
1T was sot there" replied the justice of
the peace. The mine was salted-an old
old game. How the colonel done it beats
me. but [ suspicioned somethn' o the sort
Now, look We here. He's fooled you the worst
kind-an easy job. and he's fooled me too
which may turn out unhealthy fer him.
That there interest O yours is with, say
two hundred dollars-not a cent more"
Poor Sammy! With a hideous moan he
slid from the edge Of the bed and lay a
tousled heap upon the floor. The Judge
whipped large glass flask from his pocket
and poured some fiery bourbon whisky
down the stricken youths throat. Then
he picked him up like a baby and set him
back in bed.
Listen ter me-" he said not unkindly
we've got this wheer the swan got the
diphtheery-in the neck; but sizin We up
m kind o sorry fer ye / hate ter 'buse
a feller's folks, but it does seem ter me
that we've been dodgasted onucky in the
matter of ancestors. But that's neither
here nor there The question before the
court is-what ter do"
Sammys eyes frightened Blood tells,
ana our heros grandfather had held COM
clssion in the yoemanry. Sammy stalked
TO the corner melodra matically and from
MS coat pocket extracted-his pistol.
IL follow the colonel" he said hoarsely.
and shoot him.
BY golly" exclaimed the judge. there's
soheth1n In ye after all. WAL we've no
time to lose. The colonel lit out with his
buggy at this mornin, but he can't travel
more n eight miles an hour: and he must
stick to the road. We can get a couple o
plugs an cut him off. Kin We ride,
mister?" e.
Yes" replied Sammy; I've taken les
sons" -
"Accordin' to this we're deed mister, the
colonel has sold you his half interest. He
held an option on mine for one hundred an
nrty. He's mighty sharp. but he's over
reached hisself this trip. If he'd ha' hand
ed me my money ther'd ha' bin no ques-
lions asked. Now, then, this purlOnin' O.
the colonel amt gOn' ter be no box at the
opery. If take hand in it afr you willn
ter give me one thousand dollars? You air
willn. Good Finish dressin and come
around ter the Bong. Tong. I'll have the
plugs saddled an sandwich ready fer yer.
An Englishman fights best on a full STUN
mick. So long"
Half an hour later they were on the road.
And that awful ride-a five hours gallop
across a rough country-shook hobblede-
hoy into some semblance Of a man. What