The daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1906-1907, 1907-03-23
ON TWA|KS TRAIL
Mr.. Paine Hits 4 Lively Spring Of
information on the comstock

Mr.. Paine Hits 4 Lively Spring Of
information on the comstock
James Bigelow Paine, the personal
friend of Mark Twain who has been
commissioned by the Harper publish
ers to go over the trail of Mark
Twain's life and gather up all the in
teresting local color regarding him.
is now at the task and few days ago
he went to the Comstock to gather
data He was sent to this man and
that man and finally was informed
that an old character Of the Com
stock named Pidler Brown knew more
of Twain's early life there than any
one.
He found his man at the Sawdust
Corner drunk, as usual, for it is a
matter of history that Brown began
drinking after Twain left Virginia
City and still continues to indulge in
sorrowful libations over Twain's de-
parture.
Did l know Mark? Sure l knew
Mark. We roomed together in the
old days"
What do you know about him in
the way of person reminiscence
Sir" said Paine.
Personal remiinnzzens you say?"
Yes sir
Brown paused and fondled his
glass. His mind was wandering
back to the past and Paine waited for
him to begin.
Ways back in the early days
Exactly
| When we was both here livenin
the town up
| Exactly"
| Great days those me and Mark"
Brown paused again. He was buri-
ed in thought, gathering up the raw.
e!l.d sleeve SO to speak of those OLD
days.
Paine waited and waited, pencil in
hand to jot down something.
Il guess l knew more of Mark 'en
anybody, in those old days. The old
ledge was boomin then. Senator Bill
Sharon and Rollin Dagget was here
and Dan De Quill and Joe Goodman
was runnin the Enterprise. Stocks
was boomin and Ophir three hun"
But my dear man have you moth.
ing regarding Mr.. Clemons?"
If you'll wait til. l get to it..
Here waiter sett EN- up agin."
| The waiter brought Brown some
whiskey and Paine some Bartlett
water.
las l was saying when you broke
in on me. Those was great times, for
here and everything in the camp as
hummin lively. In electin times
Sharon used to vote the whole grave
yard at the primaries and live men
got q hundred dollars to vote the
. fright ticket which waz Republican" /"
| Was Mr. Twain here them
| He was here with both feet"
But those "reminiscences. What did
: he do then. Can you recall something
characteristic
Il can't recall nothing until have
a drink. Here Jack settum up agin.
The drinks were served again as
previously apportioned and Browr
started in again.
We'll what did you want to know.
What can you tell about him In the
4 way of personal recollection of in
} terest?"
What couldn't l tell?"
+ well tell what you know every
J. tning and everything"
Say old boy wazzer matter wi
yous. Are you expectin me person
al friend er Mark to be giving hin
away. Are youse some detective her
rakin up his past life to get SOM
5 cinch on him. Are youse some d.
!, lawyer trying to pump me gittin u
: IsOme will contest Or something an,
lrakin some scandal up agin MARI
. ISay waiter give us some more booze
iWazzer matter wild you! Say oil
hoss did you ever work pmp and 81
|anything IL there wasn't sucker q
:the end. No sucker at this end, ma
Ibe in your end. Here's looking q
Iyou and good luck to Mark"
Brown lurched in his chair and fel
= asleep and Mr.. Paine rose wearil
e land after settling with the hous
lpassed out into the night.
r III you could only sober Brown u
II Ihe could tell ye morn anybody abou
e Twain" said the barkeeper AZ b
handed back the change.