The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-11-04

harping OF the wind IN the pine-tops
and the finest tribute the tears OF John
Mills. Then the grave was rounded
over. the participants-all but one
withdrew. and that night the moon
shone down on solitary figure. sit
ting by mound. his head bowed In his
hands. TOO late. too late the figure
murmured. Were rich my pardner
and me. and 1t Won't do him no good -
Nor was Mills speaking idly, for,
clutched in the rigid fingers of Rube,
John had discovered a fragment Of
quartz threaded and bound by wires Of
virgin gold.
The next day Mills was in Denver.
Els first visit was to a mining expert
| somewhat familiar with the district.
THE Millennium" said John. pointing
over his shoulder in the general direc.
ton of Rocky Canon. she's fur sale.
The price is two hundred thousand.
Take her or leave her"
Next he took his way to a lawyer
''Draw me up one of them papers," he
said. maxim over to Susan Campbell,
of Missouri half-interest in the Mil.
lennium."
what consideration" asked the
man of business.
consideration? Why. for my pard.
ner, of course"
Necessary explanations followed, and
the consideration was placed at $40,
which Mills conscleEtiously took out
of one pocket and put into another.
''Its best to have every thing on the
squar'," he thought
"Want this recorded?" continued the
lawyer, when the dips. spurs, and
angles had been described with tech
nical nicely.
mot fur a SPELL replied Mills. "Jest
give it to me-" An hour later he was
on an east-bound train.
He reached little town In Missouri.
AS he walked the streets, he thought,
with strange thrill of affection, that
he was where RUDE had been "born
and raised" Every villager knew the
residence of Henry Campbell, and soon
Mills was ringing the bell. The door
was opened by a young woman-Suel
But surely not the Sue of Rube' 8
dreams and his own imaginlngs. She
was pretty, In a careless way, but her
wrapper was begrimed. her slippers,
one of which protruded, displayed a
hole, and her hair was in papers. Mills
was shocked and puzzled The girl
said "Good morning." and awaited de-
velopments.
"I'm from out West" said the visitor
Colorado" Then. after a pause,
conscious of an important omission,
he added: MY names John Mills"
Colorado" rejoined the young wo-
man; II knew a fellow that went out
there-Rube Jackson. Come In. l sup
pose you want to see paw. Ever meet
Rube?' She almost laughed. "Rube
used to think I'd marry him; but gra-
cious, l never thought of It, Come in.
Did you say you'd met Rube?"
Him and mes pardners," answered
Mills, quietly.
do tell! And how's RUDE getting
along"
"Rube? Oh, he's all right He's had
streak O. luck lately. Thought like
ly you'd want to hear about 1t. Well,
must be goin'. Good-by."
Once In the street, he took a paper
from his breast-a document of legal
aspect-tore it into minute pieces and
scattered them in the mud of the thor.
oughfare. God knows" he mutter-
ed, that I've tried to be squar' with
my pardner, but it appears RUDE didn't
leave no 'neirs an assigns forever"
Paw, remarked Susan, that even
ing, there was an awful funny man
called here to-day. Said he knew Rube
Jackson out West"
Didn't know no good of him." re-
turned l father. THAT Jackson
place'll never bring the amount of the
mortgage"
A few days later Mills was in the
office of the mining expert. 1.-THE Mil
lennium," he began; take her err leave
her"
''Ta-e her." exclaimed the expert,
trying to conceal his jubilation. Here's
the papers and your check, all ready
to sign. Where in thunder'd you go
to-"
lest took a little business trip fur
my pardner." answered John.-Argo-
naut.