The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-01-20
The Professors Gun
.@.@..@.@...@
By Franklin WelleS CalkinS.
q g q e e e * & {; Is e Z: ;s :; {; e e

IT is something over 20 years since
| | accompanied a small military
expedition. under Lieut.. Isaac Murphy,
which went from the Rio Grande west
ward to establish 4 new post in Ari-
IONA. Several "tenderfoots,' bent up
on prospect and discovery, were al
lowed TO travel with the command over
a route beset with danger from attack
by hostile Comanches and Apaches,
and. although the lieutenant did not
admit it, l think he was not altogether
displeased by the addition to his fight.
~ tower Of the i.c'f-doZe WELL
armed wslI-nou4sed and pell-pro-
yisionaa civilians.
But At Sccorr0 we were joined by an
individual. = resi- arrival from the
.prth. VINO ata1heG himself 10 the
exp diti4D Hitaaut so much as by
your les 80, seBGemeu.' A tall, I'M
5oav -ro'ts and solemn person
cs was his age guessable at anywhere
between % and Ce he was cross
eyco and 50 rear-sighted that he wore
cumbrous, 3rge-bowed spec tacies to
correc- his vision He had the thin
cheeks aad hacking cough of a con-
umptiye -%oreuye:. ny Il no rid
ing animal, and the two burros he had
been able to buy in Socorro, to which
point his goods had been sent, were
50 heavily laden with his trappings
thar they looked detected.
See here. Mr.. Man." said Lieut..
Nprphy. as we broke camp, you can't
iravel with this outfit. You're phys
icaliy unfit for the trip and my two
wagons are loaded to the limit
NO trouble TO you, | trust, sir
h-m-m," said the stranger, who had
already been dubbed the Professor.
No real disability, sir-h-m-m; just
touch Of bronchorrhoea-h-m- m;
find this dry atmosphere a great help,
Sir" He spoke in a calm, decisive
tone. but coughed at every other SEN
tence. I'll come on in your rear, sir;
can't ride in saddle on account of gas
tritis-h-m-m-just touch, sir,"
Good gracious!" muttered Murphy
Bronchitis, gastritis, cross-eyes, false
teeth. and afoot! Well, sir" he added,
in a louder tone, for the man was ap-
Darently somewhat deaf, Il suppose
we must leave trail behind u.s.
The tall stranger bowed gravely and
went on with packing his burros,
task which he accomplished with sur
prising neatness and speed. When we
moved away from Socorro he fell in
respectfully behind our six-mule
frelght-wagons, came on at an I'M
wearied swing for the 24-mile stretch
which brought us to our first water
hole and coolly camped within our
picket lines.
Wen lose him tomorrow" said
Murphy to his mess. "Cacti!" and he
chuckled contentedly.
Our trail the next day led over a high
mesa carpeted with prickly-pear,
mating of thorns so dense that the
passing of holf-dozen ''freighters"
could have offered no protection to
feet less well-shod than those of
mule. Yet the professor plodded I'M
dauntediy across this stretch and,
much to our establishment, came into
camp at night without limping.
Our surprise gave place to a degree
OF respect when We noted that the
professor wore wooden shoes lined
with chamois-sllin. He certainly had
proved himself an experienced trav-
eler-and now his cheeks We're showing
sunburn and his cough seemed less
incasSant.
TO the ruder jokers of the command
the professor afforded unlimited
amusement. His ungainly figure and
lantern jaws, his ''butter-milk eye"
and "double-back-ac eye-gear,"
his air of intent gravity when pack
ing, unpacling, or when cooking his
meals, his big gun case, which meas
ured the length of burro and
whacked its patient bearer, now and
then, upon the jaw, his carefully
guarded and never-opened packs, his
general owlishness-all furnished nc
end of fun to the cavalrymen.