The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-09-03


We'll. what do you take me fos
now" he asked. "A piece o.
cheese?"
"That'll go better with pie than your
conversation will with lady" she re-
torted.
You shut up and get busy with that
Are. 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 we're, six husky mules;
but none too many to tote out the load
Of gold we had accumulated during the
winter.
Bag and 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 we're eating II she went
over to her pack and 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"
asked.
MY husband can't drink whisky and
be my husband"
''Bill is a good old soul. amt he?"
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'ous months.
came to these parts lone and unpe-
cunious stranger; ! 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 I filled our cups and he
continued:
"Old shack" said he, with his eyes
on the rafters, "as l gaze on your
rough and smoke-blackened walls. that
have so long sheltered me and mine
comrades, and which I am now leav-
ing, alas. forever, a 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
hn hpf
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
saw that II was time to move. I
was Just able to get on my feet and
that was all; everything in the shack
was romping around like a merry-go-
round.
I remember making a grab for the
table when It went past, but missed II,
and went down all In a heap. Next
thing knew | had walked over
precipice and began to fall; fell and
fell. until l 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?" asked, with both eyes
shut.
Wake up" said voice that I sup
posed had a broken leg; and 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
spell before he could get Bag and me
In a condition so that we could I'M
derstand what had happened.
ITS all my fault" he explained. II
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.
II didn't think any more about II un.
III yesterday, when I met her and
man about two miles down the trail.
The first intimation had OF their
presence in that vicinity was a request
from the man to hold up my hands,
and, as he was backing It up with an
iron argument, l had to comply. He
tied me 20 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"
where's my bootsT yelled Bag.
I'm going after them"
"She has taken all our boots" an.
swered Smith. I'VE can't travel"
Then you mint married after all?"
I asked.
Married? Certainly I'm married"
answered Smith.
"And what's become of your wifeY"
asked.
my wife?" said he. She's in
Homestead, Pa, or at least she was
the last time | heard of her. But
what's she got to do with this AFFAIR.""
Nothing" answered. thinking OF
that Bible.
SURE.