Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1899-10-20
THE LOGIC or
JOHN MILLS, MINER.


uuly appIaudeQ Inc usual theme of
conversation was Sue. Gradually the
two built up an ideal woman, and a
home that she was to adorn after the
M1l!ennium-for such they had named
the mine--had begun to produce. Rube
would not listen to any plan that did
not Involve the membership of Mills
In the family.
"Praps an old feller like me 'ud be
In the way" Mills would say, and,
regularly. Rube would rebuke this
view.
Yet Sue never wrote. mighty long
trial an slow verdick." Mills opined
once. Rube convinced him that this
Dordered on treason.
Weeks went by, and the crucial test
or the Millennium was at hand. The
hole for the "shot' which was to de-
termine the character of the vein to-
ward which they had been laboring
had been drilled, the powder tamped
about the fuse. 1t was then, stopping
to wipe his forehead, leaving it CRIME
streaked. that Mills delivered a speech
which. so far as recorded. was the
longest he ever made.
"Rube, boy" ne said, "we're pard-
ners. Understand? Pardners. This
shot tells whether we find somethin'
lously with gold or goes broke ag'in
barren rock. In any case, thar's wages
due you, an a-comin.' 1t wouldn't he
no squar' deal fur me to git rich and
you only to draw pay fer days works;
so, thar'fore, l, John Mills, miner, as
heretofore and ginerally known, do
hereby make over to you, Rube Jack
son, full half-interest In the Millen-
MUM, to have an to hold, an yer heirs
an assigns forever, amen. That's q
kerrect form, l guess, and no lawyers
needed nor papers, neither
Rube grasped the hand of Mills.
mot a scrap of paper, John" he re-
piled. "Your words enough for any
man, and l thank you. You've been a
good friend to meme and Sue. l."
There, there" interrupted Mills,
"it's nothin', it's all right" He seemed
happy, and trifle embarrassed, con-
cealing the emotions by sudden dis
play of energy.
Not another word was spoken. Soon
all was ready, an open lamp applied to
the waiting fuse, and the men re-
treated to the open.
"In five minutes, pardner," Mills
said, well be a couple Of them cap
italist chaps"
And Sue, too," amended Rube.
"Yes, Sue, too" assented the senior
member of the firm. "You see, she's
nachelly one of them heirs an assigns
forever which the document would
mention, so be we had one.
He started for the cabin, but Rube
fingered. Better come to grum," coun-
seled Mills. "The old hole won't be
titten to live in fur an hour"
Rube seemed to assent, but he did
not follow. AS Mills reached the cabin
there was muflled sound, tremor of
rock as the granite mountain quivered,
and out from the slope rolled cloud of
smoke. Mills was soon in the cabin
getting supper.
In twenty minutes the coffee had
been made, the bacon fried, and biscuit
were crisping In the oven. Still Rube
did not come. IL wonder where he is"
said Mills. Boys is 50 reckless. aud
with an uneasy feeling he started back
up the trail.
"Rube, come to support he called.
His voice bounded from side to side
of the canon, but there was no response.
The heart of Mills sank with the
thought of impending evil Calling
again and again, he went to the mouth
of the slope, out of which an acrid
vapor floated, lowering in the air. "I'm
afeard Rube went in," conJectured
Mills, and hastily removing his coat
he dropped 1t In powder keg of water,
swatched it about his face, and started
blindly down the slope.
At the foot of 1t, held down by n cruel
block, he found Rube, inert, apparent
ly lifeless. With giant effort he al
most hurled the block aside, and TAX
Ing Rube in his arms staggered, stun
bled, crept to the outer air. Oh! the
blessed balm of that air as 1t touched
his face. He took one breath, laid his
burden down, and fell beside 1t, prone,
motionless. The sun was giving the
loftiest peak its farewell caress. Be
low bird was singing goodnight
song. The rosy glow passed. the bird
was still; the shadows crept higher.
But there lay the dead and the stricken.
The inquest was short, resulting in
the finding that Reuben Jackson had
come to his death by a dlspensation of
Providence, "aided and abetted by his
own carelessness, for the which, he be.
ing n boy, we do not blame him"
There was n funeral, too. picturesque