The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-10-15

Still, that was her credential The
fact that Smith was welded to lady
who could induce him to remain alone
in the wilds and Businesses of Seven
Devils, with nothing but a broken leg
and q Bible for company, was sufh-
cient in itself to convince me that she
must be all right.
Yes, ma'am," I said. We'll be
packed up and under way the first
thing in the morning
"An right; and If you'll build fire
In that stove III bake You that pie"
she said, to Bag.
well, I'll be slammed" he an
swered, or words to that effect, and /
wasn't blaming him much either.
Sir" said she, with her nose on a
bias, Il took you for gentleman"
We'll, what do you take me for
now?" he asked. "A piece OF
cheese?"
''That'n go better with pie than your
conversation will with lady" she re-
torted.
You shut up and get busy with that
fire. You're going to get what you've
been hankering for now" said l to
Bag, and went out to look at the pack
team.
There they were, six husky mules;
but none too many to tote out the load
of gold we had accumulated during the
winter
Bag and i slept under the stars
that night, giving Mrs. Smith the
privacy of the shack. We were up
bright and early, and while Bag and /
packed the gold and the rest of our
belongings On the mules, Mrs. Smith
got breakfast.
While we were eating it she went
over to her pack and dug out quart
bottle of whisky
''Mr. Smith bought this so you could
drink parting toast to the camp"
said she. He wanted to bring more,
but wouldn't let him"
Didn't he keep any for HIMSELF"
/ asked.
MY husband can't drink whisky and
be my husband"
t'BiIl is a good old soul, amt he?"
I remarked, thinking of that Bible.
Bag emptied his coffee cup and
reached for the bottle.
"The moment has arrived" said he.
that / have looked forward to for
many long and ard Gus months. /
came to these parts lone and unpe-
cunious stranger; l am leaving them
rich beyond the dreams of old Creo-
sote. Fill up" said he, passing the
bottle to Mrs. Smith.
Thank you" she answered, Il
never indulge; I'll drink mine in cof-
fee"
So Bag and 1 filed our cups and he
continued:
-'Old shack" said he, with his eyes
on the rafters, "as / gaze on your
rough and smoke -blackened walls, that
have so long sheltered me and mine
comrades, and which / am now 1eav-
ing, alas, forever, feeling akin to
to"
Here's how" said I.
Same to you," he answered, and
we drank the toast.
I'm about as decently familiar with
inebriate liquor as the next man. but
I never had anything get into the up
per story quite SO quick as that dose
did Inside of ten minutes things be
gan to swim, and in about two more
I saw that it was time to move. /
was just able to get on my feet and
that was all; everything in the shack
was romping around like merry-go-
round
/ remember making a grab for the
table when it went past, but missed it,
and went down all in heap. Next
thing i knew i had walked over a
precipice and began to hll; fell and
fell, until / began to wonder when /
was going to hit bottom. Then I
struck a hill and started rolling;
humping and banging along 80 hard
that ] commenced to wake up and re-
alize that some one was shaking me.
.S'mattere" / asked, with both eyes
shut -
Wake up" said voice that / sup
posed had a broken leg; and i opened
my eyes to find Smith standing over
me-
"'S'matter?" / asked again.
You've been doped," he answered.
He has to fuss around for quite a
spell before he could get Bag and me
in a condition SO that We could un-
derstand what had happened.
Its all my fault" he explained Il
met that woman in a concert hall,
down in Weiser, one night; and during
an earnest conversation, both liquid
and vocal, impaired to her valuable
information appertaining to our
whereabouts and the frenzied state OF
our finances.
81 didn't think any more about it un-
til yesterday, when ] met her and q
man about two miles down the trail.
The first intimation / had of their
presence in that vicinity was request
from the man to hold up my hands,
and, as he was backing it up with an
iron argument, / had to comply. He
tied me to tree and kept me COM
pany until the lady returned this morn
ing with the pack train. Then they
took my boots and gun and turned me
loose, while they went over the hills
and far away"