Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-03-07
At Squatter's
Gulch
soopy..sh. ,so4. By DAILY story Pub. o.,
BY THOMAS B. MONTT0RT


ZOE COUSINS was seated in front
ri of his cabin up in SeQuatchie
gulch. He was weary and discouraged.
for he had just added another to =
long series of days Of hard and futile
effort in his search for gold.
Presently another man came down
the road, logged out in his Sunday at
tire. He was humming light air, his
head we'll up and a satisfied express
sion on his face. Joe Cousins watched
this man for moment. a scowl on his
eountenance, then to himself he said:
Cd him"
When the man came even with Joe
he stopped and, for an instant, stood
silent, cycling him closely. There was
something OF an air of triumph in his
manner that was exasperating.
WELL" he said. presently. "how's
things?"
'Oh, about so,'' Cousins replied.
with forced calmness.
Struck nothing yeti"
'No."
TOO bad, isn't it,"
"Oh. I don't know. It takes time
to strike fortune. Things will come
around all right, I guess"
Maybe so. I,hops they will. any
how; but you can't always tell. You
missed your chance up there at Rug
gle's Point If you had done as did
you would be on Easy street now"
That's true, guess; but I prefer
to get money in some other way.
I'd rather remain poor all my life
than rob helpless old man.
"Oh, 1t wasn't robbery, Joe. Moth
ing like 1t. It was just merely a sharp
stroke of business. It's done every
day"
Perhaps It is; but that doesn't
make it right" Joe replied. '1t may
be business in the eyes of some peo-
pie, but to me it looks like dishon-
esty."
The other laughed.
well, look at it as you please" he
said. You have that right I'm
afraid, though. you'll never get on In
| this world If you're always going to
be SO particular. It don't pay. Such
| high notions of honor are commenda-
Bile no doubt, but they don't buy any
thing. Well, I'm of for town. Any
thing / can do for you down there?'
mo"
'I may see Miss Harmon. JUS
barely possible. you know. II there Il
any word you want to send her I'll be
| glad to take it."
| Joe's face darkened aaain.
Every much obliged" he said
There is nothing you can do tol
/ me-"
| The other hesitated for moment
then, with an exasperating air O
self assurance, said:
/ 81 want to be square with you, Joe
SO I'll tell you something. I'm goin,
to ask Miss Harmon to marry me-"
i Joe stood up, flash Of anger in hi
eyes. With an effort he eontroHe,
his feelings and calmly replied:
$50 far as can see tha1 Is none O
my business. II you want her, an,
she is willing to have you, MARI,
her"
"Of course. But knowing that yo1
are in love with her, thought
ought to tell YOU don't want to appea
20 take any advantage OF you you know.
you are very considerate Jim
very. But it is not necessary for 20
to bother about me. You have pc:
feet right to marry Miss Harmon
you can get her"
Thanks! l am glad you feel $
, | about it. OF course, know you ca
not expect to win her-not In you
financial condition you know. Ths
is one Of the great disadvantages {
being poor, isn't IT."
The half-sneering. wholly patroni,
ing tone in which these words wer
uttered was highly trying to Jo
Drawing himself up to his full heigt
he said, warmly:
Poor as I am. Jim Lewis, / woul
not exchange places with you for Ii
world. Money is a good thing
have, but a clear conscience is bette
Evea for the sake OF winning Mis
Harmon I would not want to get
{ dollar dishonesty"
"No! Well, hope you may IN
s much happiness in your high idea
joe For my part, I'll risk finding N
5 happiness in plenty Of money and Il
woman love. So long"
Jim Lewis resumed his walk dow
the road. His manner was that Of
8 man thoroughly satisfied with hin
4 self and the world in general. H
bearing was that Of victor.
. Joe Cousins returned to his sea
and, placing his elbows on his knee
dropped his face into his hands T
was very unhappy. He loved Jal
Harmon, and he believed he could w
her II he dared to try. But he W,
poor, and he was too proud to a,
any woman to marry him and sha
!. his poverty. He had toiled faithful
for years and fortune had not smil,
on him. So far as he could see, the
was not the slightest indication
8 any Improvement in his f1nanci
prospects, For this reason he I
manned away from Miss Harmon, 81
ing Jim Lewis the field.