St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-04-13
THE UNKNOWN
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It was long ago when there was a
string Of mining camps on Clear creek.
There was no law there except what
each man made for himself. The pop
ulation was inside up of, first, the gam
blers, who stood highest in the scale;
second, the miners, and, third, women
who had drifted in like refuse on a
food. There was one more element,
but SO small that it is scarcely worth
eounting-a few irreproachable repre-
sentatives Of the softer sex.
One day a stranger came tramping
up all the way from Denver and stop
pen in the easternmost camp, now re-
spectacle town. He hunted through the
place as il looking for some one till he
had seen every one in town, then went
ON up the creek. Having made a tour
Of every camp, he returned to the first,
and there he remained.
The quickest way to attract attention
is to arouse curiosity. Every one felt
sure that the unknown was waiting
and watching for some one who had
done him a great wrong and that when
that some one appeared there would be
a quick exchange of shots and one or
both would bite the dust. Then there
would be a burial, and the denizens Of
that region would go ON washing for
gold as before, waiting for the next
episode to break their monotonous
lives. But WHO was this some one, and
how had he injured the stranger? He
could not have taken his money at
cards, for the stranger seemed to have
all the funds he wanted. There was
but one man in the camp who dared
question the unknown. That was Bill
Tut He did not ask. direct questions.
He went at the stranger on the flank.
"Ever been much of card playerW
he asked.
'sNo."
"Had a rich hole in the ground
jumped or anything like that?''
"No."
"Married?'
mo"
"Ever been married?"
eyes"
The unknown gave hitch to his re-
vo1ver, and the Questioner got up and
went away to give the group of lockers
on, who had pretended to work, but
were really watching the pumping
process, the result.
at got it out O. him. said Tut.
"What is it," askedsal1 at once.
"Did you see him hitch his revolver?
can always tell when touch the ten
der spot in a man, cause his fingers
invariably go to his weapon. 1 asked
him if he was married, and he said no.
r hn IA m
ried, and he said yes. That brought
his hand to his gun. Some Teller TUX
his wife away from him.
After this revelation attention turned
to the man who had taken the stran-
gers wife. The stranger himself was
no longer the object of curiosity. That
object was now the man he was look
ing for. Curiosity and imagination go
together, and fancy made many pic
ture of the unknown. The men usual
ly painted him as a driveling, coward
ly little man with crafty look in his
eye, the women as splendid Specl-
men of manly vigor, though there was
no rule for this. All hoped that if he
ever came the stranger would not get
the drop on him to preclude the posi-
bility of a fair fight.
But would the unknown ever come?
For time the stranger seemed to be
troubled lest he should not, going
about with a lowering brow and giving
rasping replies to any one who ven
tured to speak to him. Then all OF
sudden there was a change. Whether
he had received some important infor-
nation, some clew or other means Of
knowing Of his enemy's movements
was not apparent, but it was noticed
that as soon as the creaking Of the
stage that semiweekly numbered up
the incline was heard in the distance
he would go out to the road, fix his eye
on it till it arrived, then scrutiniZe the
| passengers.
One afternoon the stranger, catching
the creak far below-for it was blown
westward on an east wind-went out
| to the road and stood waiting, with
| arms folded. It had been noticed all
| day that his manner was changed. He
was seen several times to give short
| laugh and rub his hands. Many be-
| lieved he had secured information that
| his enemy was on the approaching
| coach. Word was passed through the
Cduup tudt Lie lOuS CApCItCu dAAdJ
was likely to take place. The gamblers
laid down their cards, the washers de-
| serted their pans, and the women took
| position at the windows, all eager to
| enjoy the spectacle.
| The stranger stood peering down the
| road, but, turning, saw the people
| watching him. There was movement
in the crowd, some fearing that he
| might be irritated at the interest dis
| played and put a few shots among
| them. The stranger surveyed them for
moment with contemptuous wonder,
| then turned again to the coach, which
| in a few moments more halted beside
| him. Those Of the crowd still exposed
| ran to cover.
Then the coach door opened from
| within, and In the opening stood fair
| and rosy, golden haired boy of three or
| four years. He opened his arms, the
| CIR hollow onaDQd his arms the