Year: 1871

riosity among bucks here among the hills


and there were men in our camp VIII,


hadn't set eyes on one for better than tw,


years. She stood still and just looked at
| don't know what the rest thought, bu


Aunt Betty said afterward "that it seemed


like warnin' to some of us, J" and he wa


wondering whose time had come. Th,


Judge sat on the edge of the bench, ant


he arose and took off his hat. One afte
Ianother followed his example, slowly
| each one getting up in turn and taking of
his hat


T We must have looked comical, for We
all had on wooden shirts, our sleeves rolled
up and our collars turned back Oul
pants were tiede about our waists and
tucked in no very careful manner into our
rubber boot-legs Add to our costume
eight faces unshaven and unshorn fol
weeks, and you catch some idea of our
general appearance.


The pale light of our sputtering candle
added to the weirdness Of the scene, and
when Jack the Wicked murmured TO
your knees boys, all at once, Il guess we
were all more than half inclined to obey.
The Judge recovered himself the quick
/, est, and advanced toward the door.
1 wish to see my brother, Will Brown
ing; l heard he was here, said the most
! musical voice ever heard
He was here few months ago. replied
the Judge, but we do not know where he
is now, How did you come, and where
are your friends.


4 came through the valley and shadow
of death, | should think for am nearly
dead with hunger, and, for friends, have
the gloomiest old teanister you ever saw,
though | thought it rare good luck when
found him, and he engaged to take me
up here TO VIII, [ paid him every cent of
money l had, and l haven't had mouth
full for days but had bacon. Is there any
hotel within a short distance9 If not,
perhaps there is some good woman who
will let me stay with her until can get
word to WHIP


| guess every man hugged to himself
the thought that She would be obliged to
stop with us, even for a short time; ard
the Judge didn't look very sorry, though
he prnfessed to feel dreadfully for her
dilemma.


He said, and am sure his full, rich
voice must have seemed a tower a strength
to her: will is a dear friend Of ours, and
if you will kindly allow us the honor of
protecting his sister until he can be com
municated with, We should be under OBJ
legations to you. We must look odd to
you, but we claim to be gentlemen, and 1
assure you we can and will make YOU
comfortable.


She had a perplexed look on her face
when the Judge told her there was no
woman living near; but she was mistress
of the situation in moment, and said
very demurely, though with rather dry
sparkle. Oh | shall be quite comforta-
bic, bat | am afraid l shall be troubling
you terribly


Every one spoke at once, NO trouble
not the least And then Dandy said,
Judge, if you were TO introduce us to the
lady, perhaps She would feel more at ease
with us


The Judge must have been awfully
smitten at first sight, or he would not be
guilty Of Introducing us by our camp I'll
ties. AS it was, be said, Miss Browning,
allow me 10 introduce you to Wills
friend Mr. South Carolina He advanced
as he was called, and in the most chival-
ric manner he bowed over the lady's ex-
tended hand. This is Mr. Nutmeg, an
other friend Of your brother


He bowed stilly, and everywh here but at
her. Aunt Betty. did you know Wills
believe you didn't; but he will be a
friend all the same to you, Miss Brown
ing


You can bet yonr life on that every
time said Aunt Betty, and we were all
ready to split by ti.at time, the Judge
looked so dignifed doing the honors of
the occasion, in such a fine manner, as he
no doubt thought.


He continued: This is Mr.. Dandy
wish you could see the bowing and scrap
ing. By that time she had taken in the
drollery of the thing, and when Dandy
bowed so profoundly, swept him on the
spot


'Senor and VIII were sworn allies; we
used to call them David and Jonathan
She smiled and asked: Which are you .
And for the first and only time in my life
| did not know what to say, but stammer-
ed out, Either, ma'am' There was some
thing like snicker from our company,
but the Judge had no eyes or ears forany
enc but her; so he kept on, and with a
wave of his hand, presented Our Baby
The great six footer looked for all the
world as though he would put up his lip
and cry, until Miss Browning said How
do you do, dear? Can he ia TX 2 and then
he blurted out, My nameis Otis Allen &
Jack got the start of them, and stepping
in front of them, said in tragic tones,
Jack Wicked, known all over the Pacific
coast for my diabolical acts-and let me
assist our friend-this is the Judge, who
is terror to all evil doers, and the pro-
tector of distressed innocence, whenever
they have the good fortune to fall into his
hands,


Yes said the Judge with the most i'm
perturable gravity, and now you know us
all, and must consider us your obedient
servants a


She laughed low, ripping laugh, and
said; Yes, | am sure know you all now
and should like to shake hands all round
it would give me a sort of home feeling
and you would feel better acquainted with
me, guess


Shes got an awful lot of magnetism
about her, tell you; my arm and han6