The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-08-20

lonesome hit my funny bone such q
whack that wanted to just double
up.
Still. that was her credential. The
tact that Smith was welded to lady
who could induce him to remain alone
In the wilds and Businesses of Seven
Devils, with nothing but broken leg
and a Bible for company, was sufh.
Gent in itself to convince me that she
must be all right.
Yes. ma'am." said. well be
packed up and under way the first
thing in the morning.
"All right; and If you'll build fire
In that stove I'll bake you that pie"
she said, to Bag.
We'll, I'll be slammed" he an.
swered. or words to that effect, and l
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?"
"Thatll go better with pie than your
conversation will with a lady," she re.
torted.
"Ycu shut up and get busy with that
nre. You're going to get what you've
been hankering for now," said 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 1 slept under the stars
that night, giving Mrs. Smith the
privacy of the shack We were up
bright and early, and while Bag and 1
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 aud dug out a quart
bottle of whisky.
Mr.. Smith bought this so you could
drink a parting toast to the camp"
said She He wanted to bring more,
but wouldn't let him."
Didn't he keep any for himself?"
l asked.
my husband can't drink whisky and
be my husband"
Bill 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 l have looked forward to for
many long and a.d'ous months. I
came to these parts lone and unpe-
cunfous 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, 81
never indulge; I'll drink mine in cof-
fee"
So Bag and 1 filled our cups and he
continued:
"Old shack" said he, with his eyes
on the rafters, las l gaze on your
rough and smoke blackened walls, that
have so long sheltered me and mine
comrades, and which l am now leav-
ing, alas, forever a feeling akin to
to"
Here's how" said l.
Same to you" he answered, and
we drank the toast.
''Pm 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 10
was just able to get on my feet and
that was all; ever! ;.iing in the shack
was romping around like a merry-go-
round.
l remember making a grab for the
table when it went past, but missed it,
and went down all in heap. Next
thing l knew I had walked over
precipice and began to fail; fell and
fell, until began to wonder when l
was going to hit bottom. Then I
struck hill and started rolling;
humping and banging along so hard
that l commenced to wake up and re.
alize that some one was shaking me.
"'S'matter?" l asked, with both eyes
shut.
Wake up," said voice that sup.
posed had broken leg; and l opened
my eyes to find Smith standing over
me.
"'S'matter?" asked again.
you've been doped." he answered.
He had 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. II
met that woman in 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.
Il didn't think any more about it un.
til Yesterday, wien I met her and a
man about two miles down the trail.
The first intimation I had of their
presence in that vicinity was q request
from the man to hold up my hands,