Year: 1871




where are your friends ]?


] came through the valley and shadow
of death, | should think, for am nearly
dead with hunger, and for friends have
the gloomiest old teamster you ever saw,
though l thought it was rare good luck
when | found him, and he engaged to take
me up here to Will. | paid him every
cent of money ! had, and L haven't had a
mouthful for days but bad bacon. Is there
any hotel within a short distance If not,
perhaps there is some good woman who
would let me stay with her until | can get
word to Will


guess every man hugged to himself
the thought that she would be obliged to
stop with US, even for a short time and
the judge didn't look very sorry, though
he professed to feel dreadfully for her di-
! lemma


He said, and | am sure his full rich
voice must have seemed a tower Of 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 great
obligations to you. We must look very
odd to you but we claim to be gent emen,
and | assure you we can and will make you
comfortable.


She had perplexed look on her face
when the Judge told her there was no wo-
man living near but she was mistress of
the situation in moment, and said very
demurely though with a rather sly sparkle,
On, shall be quite comfortable, but m
afraid | 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 awfuIly
smitten at first sight, or he would not be
guilty of introducing US by our camp IL
ties. As it was, he said, Miss Browning.
allow me to introduce you to Wills friend,
Mr.. South Carolina lie advanced a. he
was called, and in the most chivalric man
ner bowed over the lady's hand


This is Mr. Nutmeg, another friend Of
your brother He bowed stitfiy. and
everywhere but at her Aunt Betty, did
you know viii? believe you didn't, but
he will be a friend all the same to you.
Miss Browning


You can bet your life on that every
time, said Aunt Betty and we were all
ready to split by that time, the Judge
looked so dignifed doing the honors Of the
occasion in such a manner a. 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
droilery of the thing and when Dandy
bowed 50 profoundly, swept him courtesy
that liked to have flushed him on the
spot.


Senor ami 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 20 say. but |
stammered out, Either, ma'am. There
was something like a snicker from our
company. but the Judge had no eyes or
ears for any one but her; so he kept on.
and with a wave Of the hand presented
. Our Baby. The great SIX foOter looked
for all the world as though he would put
up lip and cry, until Miss Browning said,
. How 10 you DO, dear? Can he talk |
and then he blurted out, Ny name Is |
Otis Allen


Jack got the start Of them, and step
ping in front Of them, said in tragic tones, |
Jack the Wicked known all over the |
Pacific coast for my diaboical acts-and |
let me assist our lriend--this Is the Judge |
who is a terror to all evil doers, and the |
protector Of distressed innocence, whenever |
they have the good fortune to fall into his
hands


Yes, said the Judge, with the most
gravity, and now you know
US all, and must consider u your obedient |
servants.


She laughed low, ripping .augh, aud |
said, Yes, 1 am sure know you all now,
and | should like 20 shake hands all !
around, it would give me sort Of home
feeling, and you would feel better acqulint-
ed with me, guess


She began with the Judge, and he
looked, while he held her hand, as though !
he had been translated


She's got an awful lot OF magnetism
about her, 1 tell you my arm and hand |
thrill now when l think of that first hand
clasp We hadn't a chair in the cabin,
but we gave her our best three-legged
stool. She took off her jaunty hat and
sack, and each one sprang to take them.
She didn't -eem to notice us, but left them
lying ia her lap. She told US that she had
some baggage little way from our house
she had left it there so as to walk in upon
VIII unannounced, and instead OF finding
her dear old viii, she had stumbled upon
such lot of friends.


Can you give me something real good
to eat ? and she glanced at the table with
its dirty dishes and the scanty remains Of
our supper.


That table was cleared off in jiffy
a plate was washed and can of chicken
opened. Aunt Betty made cup Of tea,
and another stirred up some fap-jacks,
and another of US thought to scour knife
and fork by running them into the ground
several times. Oh, they were lively times
for a few minutes, you'd better believe.
Only the judge-he never moved, but
looked at her. She did not seem to notice
him, but watched our operations with great
interest.


While she ate-and the quaintness Of
,ur surroundings did not affect her appe
,ite-we all stood around and waited upon
Ter. L guess never day while she lived
With US, but what she laughed about her
irst meal there.


We partitioned her off d bedroom in
,nc corner, by putting up some blankets,
md all but the Judge and Aunt Betty
vent into the store-house to sleep.


You'd think that when we got there we
should be likely to talk over the wonderful
went, but we didn't; not Il word was
spoken concerning it. But [ reckon there
vas considerable thinking done that night.


r., E.rht VIZ were al In and nacing in