The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-08-10
CHAPTER Ix.-tcontinued. J

"Ouiu IOlloW, and then another. The
pigeon was generally persuaded to
take his saddle on Then he would
decide to stop the night. and no far
Their on the road would he go; while
the news spread quickly that Long
Jim was ION the spree at Sullivans."
On the afternoon IN question the
coach was expected up. and Sullivan
had been several times to the door
looking out anxiously for its coming.
There was never any telling what
profitable guests it might contain, so
on mail-nights there was always de-
cent supper laid in a room away from
the common herd in readiness for
more distinguished company.
There's the dust of the coach at
last" cried a man, who had also been
engaged in watching the distant track.
TITS two hours late; l expect they've
had smash"
1t was nearly dusk when the coach
pulled up at the door of the inn and
discharged its cargo. Horses had to
be changed, the fresh ones being al
ready in waiting in the yard. and ten
minutes were allowed for the dusty
passengers to refresh themselves on
lightning rum.
Only one person among the twenty
passengers got out with the evident in
tention of remaining at this stage.
While the coach remained and the
bar was thronged with customers there
was perfect babel of voices and gen.
eral hubbub and confusion all round.
The stranger sat on bench near the
wooden counter. Presently the land
lord came in. He had been taking
farewell glance at the departing mail,
his trousers-pocket as If he were well
satisfied with the profits of the last
ten minutes.
The dirty kerosene lamp threw a
dim light upon the interior of the
den, and Sullivan suddenly remem-
bered his guest.
Pulling down his shirt-sleeves,
which he usually rolled up above the
elbow, he put on his most insinuating
manner, as he preeeived at glance
that he had no bushman to deal with.
Unluckily, however, for the dignity
of his department, Mr.. Sullivan was so
busily intent upon scrutinizing his pos
sible new prey, that he stumbled
across a PROSTATE body in the door
way and fell fiat upon his face.
What are you doing, lying about
like that, SAM" he cried Indignantly,
as he struggled to his feet. why, you
are drunk! You ought to be ashamed
of yourself, tripping people up in that
disgraceful way. Out you go! Take
your cooler outside If you don't know
how to behave yourself" and Selling
the unresisting sot by the shirt and
trousers, he pitched him into the road
way.
Then turning to the new arrival in
the most affable way. as if nothing un-
usual had occurred, he inquired if he
would like some supper after his jour
ney.
THANK you," replied the stranger
Eyes, 1 should like something to eat,
and l don't mind If I had a drop of
your best, just for the good of the
house." AS the man spoke, he showed
signs Of having had several drops of
the "best" already.
Certainly, sir" replied Sullivan
seeming a good customer as terrier
| would rat.
Then, rinsing tumbler in a wooden
! tub beneath the counter, he proceeded
to polish 1t on piece of old towel with
| a very professional air.
Turning to the shelves, he paused
and seemed to be celebrating as to
what really was his best" He then
took down bottle with a capsule on
it, and, winking confidentially to his
guest, remarked that he thought he
would find that prime. The difference
between the mixture contained in the
! bottle and that in the kegs on the
shelf was that the former was nearly
proof rum, and the latter a concoction
of spirits of wine, tobacco, brown SUI
gar, water, and flavoring only of the
| real article.
Mr.. Sullivan kept few strong sam
! pie bottles of the genuine liquid on pur-
pose for great occasions, and if two
nobblers of that failed to start them
he did not know what would
Supper seemed to take a long time
to prepare and the stranger INDUCED
in another taste or two of the "best y
After his second dose conversations
flowed more easily; the silence which
his highly-respectable attire had east
upon the company began to wear off
and the landlord relapsed into his usl,.
al jovial style.
do you know station called Red
mont about here?" inquired the stran-
4 ger presently.
"Redmount? should think l did,
"Mr, Hail. isn't it,"
Eyes. Mr.. Charles Hall; and a very
nice gentleman he is" remarked Sulli.
van, inwardly thinking that he was
nothing of the sort.
is it far from here?"
only six miles. Follow the creek
and you can't miss it, | thought as
how you might be for Redmount. Per.
haps Mr.. Hall expects your"
Il don't know whether he does or he
DOESN'T" answered the stranger short.
ly, and with the air of one who fancies
he is being pumped
Just then supper was announced, and
Sullivan showed his guest the way into
the best parlor.
Now l wonder what lay he's on, y
ne remarked, upon returning to the
bar New chum. l should say; don't
look as If he had ever done any hard
work tn iudye nv hiS hands Co., -