The Opelousas courier., 1900-01-06
THE LOGIC OF JOHN MILLS, MINER.
a Partnership Romance.
BY NJ J. AMES

about the fuse. It was then, stop
ping to wipe his forehead, leaving it
grime-streaked, that Mills delivered 6
speech which, so far as recorded, was
the longest he ever made.
"Rube, boy" he said, ''we're pard.
ners. Understand? Partners. This
shot tells whether we fad gold or goes
broke ag'in barren rock. In any case,
there's wages due you, an a-oomin'.
It wouldn't be no s1uar' deal fur me
to git rich and you only to draw Jay
fer days works; so. thar'fore, ], John
Mills, miner, as heretofore and ginsr-
ally known, do hereby make over to
you, Rube Jackson, a full half-interest
in the Millennium, to have au' to hold,
an yer heirs an assigns forever,
amen That's a kerrect form,I guess,
and no lawyers needed nor papers
neither"
Rube grasped the hand of Mills.
"Not a scrap of paper, john" he re-
piled. "Your words enough for IA
man, and [ thank you. You've been
a good friend to ms-me and Sue.
+"
"There, there" interrupted Mills,
cts nothin', it's al right" He
seemed happy. and a triae embarrassed,
~concealing the emotions by a sudden
display 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, as they went along, "we'll be a
couple Of them capitalist chaps"
"And Sue, too" amended Rube.
"Yes. Sue. too" assented the senior
member Of the firm. "you see, She.
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 grub"
couuseled Mills. ''The old hole WON'T
be fifteen to live in fur an hour"
Ru5e seemed to assent, but he did
not follow. AS Mills reached the
cabin there was o mufied sound, a
tremor of rock as the granite noun
tain quivered, and out from the slope
rolled a cloud Of smoke. Mills was
in the cabin getting supper.
In 20 minutes the coffee had been
made, the bacon fried, and biscuits
were crisping in the over. Still
Rube did not come. ST wonder where
he is" said Mills. Boys is so reck.
less" and with an uneasy feeling he
started back up the trail.
"Rube, come to superb he called.
His voice bounded from side to side
Of the canyon, but there was NO re-
The heart OF Mills sank with
the thought Of impending evil. Call
ing again and again, he weat to the
mouth Of the slope. ont of which an
acrid vapor foated, lowering in the
mir. I'm afeard Rube went in"
coniectured Mills, and hastily remov-
ing his coathe dropped it in . powder
keg OF water, swathed it about his face.
and started blindly down the slope.
At the foot of it, held down by q
cruel block, he found Rube, inert, ap-
parently lifeless. With q giant effort
he almost hurled the block aside. and
Rube In his arms staggered.
stumbled crept to the outer air. Obi
blessed balm Of that air as il
touchsd his face. He took one breath,
laid his burden down, and fell beside
i, prone, m~otionless. The sun was
the Hottest peak its farewell
,aress. Below q bird was singing a
good night song. The rosy glow
the bird was still; the shad-
,ws crept higher. But there lay the
lead and the stricken.
The inquest was short, resulting in
he finding that Reuben Jackson had
'ome to his death by o dispensation
II Providence, faded and abetted by
lis own carelessness, fc" the which,
10 being . boy. we do moi blame him."
There was o funeral, too, pictur-
Rque and pathetic, where the music
as the harping of the wind In the
he tops, and the finest tribute the
eass OF John Mills. Then the grave
sas rounded over. the participants
III but one--withdrew, and that night
he moon shone down on . solitary
igure, sitting by o mound, his head
bowed in his hands. "Too late. too
ate, the figure murmured. "We're
ich, my pardner and me, and it WON'T
him no good" Nor was Mills
;peaking idly, for, clntched in the
.igid fingers Of Rnbe, John had dis
Q fragment OF quartz threaded
md bound by wires Of virgin gold.
The next day Mills was in Denver.
Ills first visit was to a mining expert
familiar with tie district.
The Millennium"-said John. point-
ng over his shoulder in the general
Erection Of Rocky Canyon-"she's
ur fale. The price is two hundred
honsand. Take her or leave her..
Next he took his way to a LAWYER.
Draw me up n OF them papers lie
aid, maxim over to Snsan Campbell
4 Missouri, . half-interess in the Mil
ennium."
What eonsideratioa?n asked the
laa OF business.
Consideration? Why, for nv
iardner, OF course.
Necessary explanations followed.
nj the consideration was placed at
en- dollars, which Mills conscientious.
Y took ont ct one pocket and pnt into
mother. It's best to have every-
hing on the sauar,n he thought.
Wa this rec rded?n continued
he LAWYER, when the dips. apurs and
ngles had been described with tech.
deal nicely.
Not fur q spell, replied Milae.