The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-04-28
A Startling Patent.


!, seminary not many miles from Bostoi
' whose health became impaired during ih
Z past winter from an attack Of grippe, va
lately advised by bis physician to try lh
Z cper-alr cure for q few months IN som
!. genial climate, preferably California.
: Ashismeans were limited, he WAS oblia
: cd to cast about for an economical me.ho
Of taking this presc, ip,iop, and bethoogh
! h,mself Of boybood chum and school
y mate, Iamed Skillipas, who had migrste'
y 20 NJ ,ndocino County, California, sevel
y years before, and started = sheep-rancl
twenty-five miles out Of Eureka. To hin
he wrote, with the result that most cor
dial Invitation Was extended to visit tn
: ranch. aud II he liked the work, TO care To-
a "bunch" OF sheer, at shepard's wsges
: Shepsrdina lambs seemed TO be go propel
preliminary venture for one who dosing
I'd TO be shepard Of souls, that our inva
lid student closed with the ofi,r and JOUR
ntyed westward.
From San Francisco he took passage by
steamer for three hundred miles norlh.
ward to Humboldt Bay; and landing at the
port Of Eureka In the early morning, be
called at the house Of clergyman to whom
he had letter Of introduction.
This clerical friend made him cordially
welcome. The fornoon was passed viewing
the many sights Of this thriving young city
and after an early luncheon, the genial
Western minister set of to guide and drive
the stud mt to his friends ranch.
The distance proved greater, however,
than they supposed; or rather they took
the wrong route, and fpent part Of the
afternoon In retracing their way and In
picking up the righ, one. A rsnchmsn,
TO whose shack they came just at dusk, set
them right, but suggested that they should
take shorter route than the blackboard
trail, along foot-path by ravlne at the
base Of the mountain.
Following the ranchman's advice, they
stabbed their jlded horse In a ,rrsl here,
and then set of to do the remaining distance
on foot, by the path.
1t was very Wild region; and presently
they heard what they thought to be two
mountain lions yelling, but continued on
for four or five miles, ascending a long
gorge to the mountains. The evening was
not dark, but fog had settled, giving the
damp atmosphere strangely indistinct
appearance.
At last, after two hours or more, the two
men emerged from the rsvine upon species
Of table.land on the mountain, and saw the
dim outlines Of three or four shacks and
sheep-corrals few hundred yards ahead.
Borne on the damp. misty ,it, too, their
was faint odor Of birriig redwood fuel
q welcome assurance that the shepard
rancher was at home, cooking his evening
meal.
Now want to surprise him, the young
theologian remarked to the older minister
want to see II Jim will know me-. will
20 title ahead Of you, and he went on
accordingly, but had proceeded but few
steps when he was tremendously Startled
by bsz, Of finn, directly In front, ac-
companied by loud report which reverbe-
rated from the hillsides and crags beyond.
He jumped back greatly alarmed, and call
ed out, "Don't shoot"
The Eureka minister also shouted, We're
friends Don't fire on US Probably mis-
took US for sheep-thieves, he continued In
a lower voice.
The visiting student then called out again.
1t |, jim, l and friend from Eureka
Don't fire. Both then listened for some
response.
Are you there, JIM Was that you, Jim
Skillings, that fl ed the student again
shouted. But still no response came from
the dark group Of shacks.
! don't Ike this! muttered the SCI ior
Why don't he cay something?
Do you thilk this Is really your friends
ranch!
They stood there for some minutes In :
much perplt kitty, not quite liking to 20
forward until they could elicit some reply
from the b iden gunner, yet not knowing
what else to do.
At length the young man shouted for the
third time, Weare coming up to the house.
They hsd taken but few timid steps
IN that direction, however, when bang
roared another gun, right In front Of them, |.
the powder fame flashing redly in the fog.
This latter most inhospilabl, salute prov
100 much for the courage Of the two men.
rney turned and ran; they even fancitd |,
hat they heard bullet whistle past. ESi-
lently the suspicious ranchman believed :,
bem to be thieves or robbers. Not little
iIscomated ard very tired, wet and chilly,
hey groped their way back to the ranch
mans shack where they had left their ).
,orse, and waking the proprietor, with
.reat circumspection be 1t said, implored
lis hospitality and told what had befallen
b, IN We must have gone to the wrong
anch, the Eureka minister added.
Oh, that was jim skillings's place, all
1xul lUt tIhuSLiunu SomiucUltu. must |
zen hitn for thar amt another within ten
nile o. here. He would not undertake to
xplain why Skillings had fired on his visi-
orr, but smiled broadly all the while. az
e gave them supper and figged us two ex. y
ra hunks. et
III 90 up to Jim's place with yc 10 the CT
morning, he finally said. Wen see then
that I. the matter h
On approaching the place By daylight the rt
ext morning, they found the proprietor
}, ng over hia young lambs, sixty Of /
'hich had been added to the flock during 50
be night. He greeted bis old schoolmate
nth ubfelzned 10y and hIstened TO make N
nem very welcome.
Tbs young studsnt, however, di,plsyed
shade Of GOODNESS. J N, be said, am &C
lad TO zee you, but what did you mean by
lootiDg at us like lhs. last night and not tr