The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-10-28

as you and your partnerE'
asked passenger, nodding
toward third miner, lit
tie. sallow man who seemed anxious
TO conceal himself behind mis- bag
gage.
"Him?" enviously. "S'pose you ask
him an see. All l know is that we
met him on the steamer comm down
an after considerable persuadin' Poke
Gill opened his mouth an said he was
from Nome an that he was on his way
home to Breshtown, Ca, an that he'd
made his pile an had enough an
want returning no more. All of which
goes to indicate that he's done cOnsid-
cradle betterin' me an my partner,
who'ye got only forty or fifty thousand
in the express car, an who are goin'
back after more soon's we've had our
little rest Poke Gill don't trust his
pile to weak express car"
The little, sallow man looked about
with pleased deprecatory grin.
II low l have" he acknowledged
graciously, "dOne made it N three
months. Now I'm goin' home to have
plumb good time an live like a
lord"
Good for you" approved drum
mer. "But how'd you do it,"
Poke's grin was still broad. He
shook his head. g.
Done it by straight hard work."
he declared proudly. ..Down-hOme
folks say none O. my name ever work.
They low ives too shiftless Now
reckon when. we all buy the Hunter
place where my pap worked all his
life an set up to be a gentleman,
they'll be s'prised. Yis-sir." He threw
his head back, his eyes dropped, as he
added apologetically. "Then I'll get
married" H .. ...
"What?" "Really?" from various
parts of the car. Two ladies turned
and looked at him with friendly in
terest. Poke blushed with embarraSs-
ment at such marked attention, but
his eyes flashed straight into those
of his audience. "Yissir, I'm a-goin'
TO get married." he repeated" "Mari-
gold an me have been set on it for
ten years, but l always lowed that
when we married Marigold should live
Ikea lady an me like lord. That's
what reused me to go a gold-huntin'.
Now we'll buy the Hunter place an
build a new house with four rooms
four rooms" lowering his voice lit
tie and looking about the car.
"Our folks never had but two, an
my brother Pekey married an went
into a shack that had but one. The
Hunter house itself amt but three, an
it's fallin' down at one end with age.
Well have four" dwelling on the four
with contemplative ecstacy. "An' l
low on gettin' COW an some pigs an
hens-an' yes, kerridge, a mule an
kerridge.'
All this time two white-fngered
passengers were interested watchers
and listeners. They had also studied
the other two miners, who were strong,
keen-eyed, resOlute-looking men. The
little fellow from Breshtown, however,
seemed simple and unsophisticated-
and in possession of his baggage. Pres
emily one of them crossed to the seat
behind Poke
as this seat engagedT' he asked of
the other white fingered passenger.
mo, seh," removing a heavy valise
to the floor. "Going far?"
ITO GeOrgia-Breshtown."
"Really?' with an appearance of
surprise. "Why, I'm going there my
self"
The miner in front turned eagerly,
his mouth open and his eyes bullying.
"Doggone it, stranger, that's my
place." he blurted. "Who mout We
be-"
Smith and Robinson. My name
is Bill"
"Poke's face beamed with pleased
recognition.
"Why, l know heaps o. Smiths an
Robinsons," he cried, reaching over
and shaking hands with first one and
then the other II reckon you all are
some O. the families who went West
when boys. There was Tom an Seth
an Ike, an
"My friend here Is named Ike"
blandly.
aye don't say" deightedly. "Then
me an him was old friends when we
was boys He's changed, though"
looking the man over curiously "But
then, folks do when they grow up.
Well, well, I'm plumb glad"
There was no reserve. Poke talked
freely, and was met with cordiality
that delighted his simple heart. He
spoke of his long journey and made
frequent awestruck illusions to his
pile, and they listened and every mo-
ment grew more cordial and familiar.
At length they brought out cards
and asked him to take a band, and
when he drew back offered to teach
him the game. AT this he laughed
uproariously and declared he'd known