Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-10-17

IN the second Gay aIter CneS 1T
rival Bud had come through
with the mail and before leav
ing drew Jim aside out Of the
boys hearing.
1.-THE little feller's yours agin all
comers now. Jim." he said
"What's that7" asked Jim. surprised
by the meaning In the tone.
Hes yours" repeated Bud. That
sweet scented blossom that called MIN
self the boys dad filed his skin with
red eye farther up the line and settled
the fuss be had with his dame"
"Hurt herr"
man." said Bud slowly. "he used
knife a foot long; gave 1t to her a
dozen times as hard as he could drive
What's your opinion%
"Great Caesar! Did he get away:
But no; of course he couldn't. being OH
the train"
HE didn't get away. The con.
wired the news to Kimballs. What
was he to do when a small army Of
punchers boarded the train and took
the prisonerl He couldn't do nothing.
and he never loved that black muz-
zled whelp from the time be sassed
him in the depot. The punchers took
our friend out and tried him."
'Tried him2"
with a rope. In three minutes BY
the watch he was found wanting.
Your boy now. Jim, as l was telling
you. Going to say anything to him
about ity
"Why," said Jim. bewildered-''why.
don't know. Bud. Guess not just yet
on general principles
"Great little papoose. amt her. said
Bud, turning In his saddle before his
starting rush. Markings OF u man
there. all right. The boys In town are
dead stuck on him. III have to give
complete history when | get back. l
must get a gait on. or III have Uncle
Sammy on my neck again. Inspector
started out with me this morning"
"The devil he did," cried Jim indig
nantly, well knowing the hardships
and dangers of the big riders route.
"Oh, it's all right" replied Bud. With
wave Of his hand. "Come out fine
When the lad first told me he'd been
sent out to see why the mails was so
late on this line told him I'd show
him right on the spot. but be said
there was no use getting hot about 1t,
as he was only doing his duty. 80 J
quieted down.
"Two miles out Of town we ran Int"
wild eyed gang from somewhere
who was going to make US dance w"
didn't dance. and I'll say for that IN
spector that he stood by me like
man, but he was awful sick at his
stomach later on from the excitement
Next thing the bridge was down at
Squaw creek. and we swum her. He'd
hive gone down the Aume If hadn't
rot hold of his bride. Nice mail
route, this says he as be got ashore
oh. you'd like It. says |. II you got
used to It. I'd begun to wonder what
was next myself. Amt many people
swimming Squaw creek. as you per
haps know.
"Well, next was about ten mile
along. Just before you come to the OLD
Tin Cup camp. We was passing the
bluff there. and all Of sudden--np.
thump, biff!--down comes what looked
like the whole side atop OF us. IL
weren't. though. II was only CHINA
mon had lost his balance. leaning over
too far to see what we was. That
bear landed right agin brother III
spector's horse. and brother insper
tors horse tried to climb tree. In
,pector himself fell atop OF the bear
II dassent shoot. for the devil himself
couldn't have told which was inspector
and which hear Finally hear shakes
himself loose and telescopes himself
up the canyon the worst scared ami
mile in the country. If you'll ketch
my horse I'll amble back again. says
the inspector. I've investigated this
route pretty thorough and find it's just
as you say. Lampposts II DO me all
right for awhile Come out hne
didn't It?
"whish thereI Unite yourself, you
yaller bone heapr' And the mail was
q quarter Of mile up the trail.
Jim pondered the information con.
cerning Ches carefully. only to adhere
to his original determination. He could
not see any way In which the boy
would be benefited by hearing the
news. Still. the miner hated anything
that savored Of concealment or decep'
ton.
II wish Anne was here to help me-
he thought shed know what to DO"
he sat long. looking down. bis bands
elasped about bis knees. drinking with
old Tantalus. But the reverie ended
as 1t always did, In action There was
nothing for It but the claim. Success
there meant success everywhere.
1t was the knowledge that Anne. the
boy and all be wished to do for both
depended on the pay streak which had
urged him to such a fury Of effort
His carelessness Of his own life that
led him to slap bis timbering up any
way was born of that same fury. And
the consequences came, like most con,
sequences. without moments warn
log. $3.50
1t was a still and beautiful noon
Ches had pulled out the last car be
fore dinner and started for the cabin.
A curious groaning and swapping
from the tunnel halted him. 1t was
the giving Of the tortured timbers. On
the heels Of that came dull, crush
ing roar. A blast Of dust shot from
the tunnel mouth. like smoke from
cannon. preceded BY Z shock that
dearly threw the boy OF his feet
Then ally was still again. The sun
shone as brilliantly as before. blazing
down upon the ghastly face Of little