Bloomington Progress, Volume 19, Number 42, Bloomington, Monroe County, 16 December 1885 — Page 8

Smdy's Christmas Gift;E

Stumpy Joe's. LoYe.;

A TALE OF "BAB CE1K.:

BY KEMODOE.

CHAPTER I. Tbere was a Urge, crowd at Old Saul's saloon the most popular resort among the many such which' dotted the base of the Pinalena mountains. It was a bright day in December. Not a suggestion of frost or snow chilled the joyous hearts of those denizen of Southern Arizona, and the calls for cold drinks largely outweighed the demands for hot ones.

It was evident that some generous man was "standing for the crowd, and

Old Saul an aged but dapper little Yankee beamed with satisfaction as he dealt out the liquids with a liberal

luuijL

"Hold up a minute, boys, while I jes' take a drop myself," be said at length,

feeling the need of some refreshment

after his arduous labors that morning. "And Oat drop will be at my expense, mind you," said a tall, handsome man, who was dressed in Mexican trousers, a naming flannel shirt, which was somewhat gaudily embroidered in yellow, and an extraordinarily large sombrero, which shaded the upper part of his lace completely. No one knew his antecedents or anything about him, for he had but recently arrived at Bar Crik; but his generosity at Old Saul's bar had already endeared him to men who had shaken his band that morning for the first time. He called himself Shavy Jim, the first - part of which name at once suggested to the observer the wide differ

ence between his smooth, whiskerless

countenance, and the heavily bearded faces which are the rule out West His response to the landlord's impatient declaration was greeted with much applause. Old Saul poured out 'with loving hands

the whisky for himself; the i of the others were filled again,

and the health of Shavy Jim was given

with tinea cheers and a tiger, old Saul draining two glasses in honor of the toast.

By this time the rough miners were

Ai-mVr conscious that they had had

enough, they had some faint idea that

thev could not drink at another man's

expense forever, however pleasant this

occupation, so they were hitching up

their trousers, fumbling their pistols,

tightening their belts, and reluctantly preparing to leave this pleesant resting place, when Shavy Jim arrested them by amotion of his hand toward a quiet,

motionless fiarare sitting at a table in

the farthest corner of the room.

"Well have another round, boys, so as that young gent over there can join us. Nobody in Bar Crik will go thirsty

thai mornin' if I can help it. Thirty

one years ago to-day I first began my drinkin'. It was only mSk then, yon know, but dust me if I haventmade up

for it since.'

were bad irreclaimable but they had

a strong sense of justice, and behind that a dim conception of the right.

If Stumpy Joe really loved the girl, and what was more to the point if sbs loved him, and he had promised for her sake to give up habits which often wreck an otherwise happy marriage, then thev would not be doing the "square thing,'' as one of them expressed it, if they were to put ever so slight a temptation in his way. "Yon see, it's this way," explained a tall, brawny fellow, whose own kin. I heart told him he would gladly do the same could he but stand in Joe's shoes as a reward for such self-denial; "jest this way. If he wasn't struck thar, and

wouldn't likker up like the rest of un,

why then we'd set him down for a damn fool of a milksop, who would show his heels to Bar Crik inside of twelve hoursjor else stay here tied up to a tree. But when titer's a, gal behind it,

an' such a pooty gal " Here the speaker was interrupted by low murmurs expressive of much ap-

provol of the subject of his discourse "An' she wants matters fixed her way an deserves to have 'em fixed so, why then I say good luck to the chs.p who's got the sand to stick to whatever his sweetheart wants him to do." "That's so," cried the crowd, in chorus, those nearest the stalwart speaker slapping him on the shoulders in hearty approbation of his lucid statement of their sentiments on this

delicate question.

The dark, beardless face under the

large sombrero clouded with rage for a moment, then the thin lips smiled, and the smooth, clear voice said, quietly :

"Well, we wont disturb him then.

Leave him to all the spring-water ho can hold, but well have one more glass

around, if you're going."

So Old Saul's shaky hands passed

the bottles, the glasses were filled and drained in a twinkle, and one by one

the miners, after giving Shavy Jim a warm hand-shake, passed out in groups

and pairs. At last the room was empty with the exception of tile landlord, the new comer, and Stumpy Joe. "What's that young chap a doing in that corner, d'ye spose?" asked Jim of Old Saul in an .undertone. "Thinkin'," replied Old Saul, af :er carefully considering the question. Jim uttered an inward curse upon the old barkeeper's stupidity. "No I mean what business has he Jayin' round a saloon when he don't make that saloon the better by it?" "Wa'al, ye see, he's welcome any

where, an' he jes' dropped in here to

wait fur his pardner who's a comm long " "Oh, he's got apard has he?" in

terrupted the other. "Have they struck

Rose Harbnsh, who lived suoh a quiet secluded life, with her old father, in a little log cabin up the xnountaiu. "You see I know all about it," continued Jim, sitting astride the narrow table and still gazing earnestly at the boyish face opposite. ' I've picked up o good bit in the fow hours that I've been iu this tavern, and the word all around is that you've captured the girl." Joe sat perfectly speechless with Baton ishment and indignation, and Shavy Jim went on:

"Now, supposin' this is true and you don't deny it whv, I say it's a shame

if her sweetheart don't take every in nI t&tion to drink hor health that's offered

him, for what would a girl think of such milksop business if she know

rr . . ... i t ,i tj l.,, "Wa'al. he needn't liKKer up umess

word of the minors' conversation, and terest, and by ami i.y sue was grateim ; was mes . , u

i i . a ' 4.K- iAl-an n Wait i in u'hioh ClinilA nlifeliVfl tll'Allll Iffl aCaillfiL VIM, nuc "

I toll ve theme

of t.hn axistenoe of nretty

she was near. . Ret her, wuien quain.

For hor life there was very lonely, notion seemed to please his fancy hilt crfitttlv. His visits had commenced

A load laugh greeted tins rough i anything good lately, do you know?'

joke, and ell eyes were turned on the hitherto unnoticed figure in that

shadowy corner. "Oh, it's Stumpy Joe, is it!" ejaculated an old miner, with something of a sneer on bis dried and tobacco-stained

lips. "You'll never ketch him wettin' his -whistle thout ifa with springwater, or coffee, or suthin' o that ' kind," he added, contemptuously. "And why not?" asked the stranger, leaning up against the bar in an iodohmt way, but eagerly scanning the faces around him. "Wa'al. ye see," explained the old miner, whose name was Pete, "when

a feller's soft on a rather- pooty gal

there ain't nnthin' hell stop at givin

up if she only tips him the wink, ye

know."

"A pretty girl!" exclaimed Shavy Jim. in apparent surprise. "1 didn't

think yon kept that article arbnnd here. Where is she, and what's her name?"

"Oh yes, we kin sight one o' them

once in a while, replied Fete, with a chuckle that wks echoed by the rest; "but 'taint every man wholl get a look

at this one. Kind o' precious she is,

en' though we joke Stumpy Joe a little

fur honour round her, 1m shot if we

wouldn't do the same if we was only

twenty-one an' had his looks to boot eh, boys? appealing in aa under tone

to his attentive audience.

"Yon bet" was the emphatic answer which came eagerly from all those

bearded lips.

"And does she reciprocate, and and

that sort of thing, you know?" asked

Jim, lightly.

"Wa'al, ye can't tell fur certain, the

ways o' wimrain is queer, replied Pete,

doubtfully, "but from signs in the air when he's by like her droopin' her

met, an' holdin' down her head, an

dodgin' away from him when he goes

thar, an' a runnin' to the wmder an'

watchin' him when he rides away by

these signs I jedge she is is kinder on

that lay herself; eh, boys?" appealing,

as was his wont, whether in doubt or

certainty, to the companions who hap

pened to be near,

There was no emphatic confirmation

of this assertion, as there bad been of

the preceding one.

While the majority were of Pete's opinion, yet there lurked in nearly

every breast a hope that his surmise was wrong, for other hearts besides Btnmpy Joe's had been touched by the nW TMinff nrl who lived in their

j j - j " midst.

The stranger smiled as he noted the

indecision on the faces aronod him.

"But if be thinks so much of the girl he ought to drink her health in some-

thnir stronger than sprmg-wvter,

aid, with a hesitation which was unus

ual with hiio. The miners shook their heads. N thev did not agree with him there.

TImw ware rouffh fellows. Some

Old Saul shook his head.

"I reckon they ain't on the kind 'o strike yon mean. They're not miners neither of them; they've gone inter cattle raisin', more 'specially chicken raisin', as they're mighty few in these parts

bat what er miners, so thar's a mighty

good chance fur 'em in the raisin' line, ye see."

Old Saul washed the numerous

asses and arranged them in their

places on the rough board shelf with a lemon on each and bottles interspersed

between them.

"I guess I'll go over and talk to him,"

said Jim, after a long pause, during which he hod been stealthily regarding

the tall, manly figure and fresh yonng

face, which was as deep in contemplation as his own.

He lit a cigar and sauntered over to

the corner.

Joe ftianoed up with a hurried

So you've got here at last" then

stopped abruptly as he saw the strange faee before him. Very deep in some

sort of a scheme, thought Shavy Jim,

must this young fellow have been.

No, I'm not the pard you're waiting

for," he said, with a bland smile, as he

leaned on the table with both hinds

and gazed steadily across it at Joe.

Then who are yon?" said the other,

smiling also.

"Jnst a friend, my lad, and having

heard some news of you and you.- doings and prospects, have come over in a friendly way to ask yon if yon won't

step up to the bar and take a couple oi drinks with me, or whatever way you're

a mind to put it, for I'm not lor g in

these parts, and don't know the style

of invitation and all that sort of Ram

mon, yon know; but I'll pay fr as much as vou can hold, which is a good

enough invitation for any man."

He had dropped into an easy, confi

dential tone when he spoke of his short residence there, but if he imagined Joe

would even meet his half-way advances

he was greatly mistaken.

The young man drew himself up a

little stiffly as he replied :

"No, I don't care about drinking, but

many thanks, all the same."

Don't care about drinking? echoed

Jim, laughingly. "Why, where were vou brought up, young man?"

For an instant tears came into the

other's eyes, as a distant vision rose before them, and his thoughts wandered back to a little farm-house and old or

chard among the green hills of an east

ern State, "It doesn't matter where where was brought up," he said, a little husk

ily, 1 wont touch a drop of liquor

now, and that's enough."

"Not even to drink the health of the only pretty girl in these parts lr" said Jim, .insinuatingly.' . Joe flushed. He had been so completely wrapped in his own reflections

that morning that he bad not heart &

"Stop 1" exclaimed Joe, arising as if in a stupor, and gazing as steadily and fixedly at the stranger as if the latter had the serpent's power of charming. "I don't know who you are, nor how yon knew -how you dare to say st.ch things. But I'm my own master, and when 1 say, 'no,' I mean it" "Do you indeed?" said the stranger,

with a smile that irritated Joe beyond measure. "Yes, I do, and, what's more, I'll not hear another word from you about her. She's too good " He paused suddenly, afraid of proceeding too fast with his contemplated accusations. "Too-good for a rascal myeelf, of course, you mean to talk about it? Well, what would you like to bet that she doesn't throw you over for me ?

May be I could make her if she wasn't willing only be a little soft on a woman, and you can turn her round any

finger you please." For answer the angry lad aimed a blow across the table, which the stranger easily parried. The latter drew bis pistol and was about to return the blow with a bullet, when the sight of a well-known face appearing in the doorway caused him to sink down" upon a chair from f Jntness and surprise.

CHAPTER IL Cosily upon the western aide of the Pinalena Mountains seemed grafted a little cabin which, covered as it was

with gracefully trailing vines of hardy j

growth, with here and there a spunkling of wild roses among their brownish leaves, appeared like some mountain fairy's bower to those who viewed it from the peak above, or l!rom the wide deep valley below. There was a garden mode at inter

vals along the scattered bits of l evel

ground, where fruits and vegetables were grown, and where they flourished as plentifully and luxuriantly as everything flourishes in that genial clime. No toueh of winter in the air on that

bright December day, no shadow of wintry dimness on the bright young

spirit who was the presiding genius of

this Swiss-like home.

When' Bose Harbush first coxae to Bar Crik with her father many and anxious bad been the consultations

about their future abode.

She was eager to select a pleasant place, for she well knew that hor lot

was cast in that western wilderness.

The reason for this necessity her father had never endeavored to conceal

from her, but had told her at first with

an openness and candor which had

well nigh broken her tender, senmtive

heart but which hod imbued her with

a strong resolve to devote every energy.

every thought to his future cam and

comfort

They had been living very henpily

in ew lorn uity wnen rue iever oi

speculation seized upon many who had

but few funds of their own to risk that

way. It seized Mr. Harbush, who was

the cashier of a business conducted by

two brothers named Arnold,

His first venture with his own umall

savings turned out bo well that in an

evil moment he was tempted to embark

in a larger speculation wwn meowu

profits and some money borrowed from

the firm without their knowledge.

Matters turned out as they usaally

do under such circumstances. Mr,

Harbush was ruined, and would have been disgraced hod it not been for the kindness of the

elder of the brothers. He would not

their wives were coarse, common creatures, with whom Bose would not

associate. And so the days would have been very dreary, and the evenings still more so, had Joe's visits grown fewer or ceased. There was another visitor at the little cabin of more interest to Mr. Harbush than to his daughter old Sandy MoGee, a rough but good-natured miner, who had been in Bar Creek for over forty years, and who was familiar

with every inch of mountain and prairie in the West

He looked with much approval upon Joe's suit, and told Mr. Harbush that Bose could not do better in those parts if she wore to look around for a hundred years. Then Mr. Harbush would smile and give it as his opinion that she might do a great deal worse if she were

about six weeks before our meeting with him in Old Paul's saloon, to which pleasant resort we will now return. CHAPTER IB. The new coiner was evidently well known to Shavy Jim, for he neve rose from his chair as Sandy MoGee eamo up the length of the loug, narrow room and stood beside him.

"If you're going to take charge of j

that ruffian," said Joe, as he saw the stranger shrink from tho iron grasp of Sandy's strong, thick fingers, which

closed tightly on his arm, "I'll leave him to you, although I owe Mm something for cocking at me." Macklin's smooth, bronze face turned quite white, but he gave no other sign of uneasiness or terror. "It ain't fur a man as has shot at three men an' only missed one," con-

tor who don't swig with the rest is shot

down like a b'ar." "Oh, damn you for a thick-headed fool!" exclaimed Jim, in dispair. "I wasn't going to shoot him for that only for refusing to drink the health of the girl he's struck on. There's a principle wrapped up in everything, you know. That was the prinoiple in this matter, and it was what I was going to fight for the drinking of your sweetheart's health, whether you're a drink

ing man or not" Macklin was glad to see that Sandy was rather favorably impressed with this argument for he nodded as if in acquiescence, and muttered something about Jim's "standin' a good show fnr a lawyer if they ever needed one in those parts, which it worn't likely as long as pistols an' bowie knives held out" Jim took out of his pocket a small

body if .1 ht-d the girl I was after," he said, with a coarse laugh. "Look bore, Jim Macklin, said Sandy, angrily "I've wasted enough tinio foolin' round here. If ye can't take a friendly warnin or two then what I mean had best be pounded inter yer with good hard words. Stumpy Joe is an honest chap, an' if he wants Itoso Harbush an' she wants him, he'll have her. If she don't want him, why he won't git her, but no black-hearted

rnjnnl who's killed two men not in a

"Wa'al, it wont be long, lve goe

Chriii'muH present iu my eye for Rosethat'll jes turn her mind on you agin. "Better hurry up with it, then," said Joe, "for Christmas day is to-morrow."

"Oh, itll be Jon time, don't worry

bout that, Joe, only when yon go to take her some of yer usual flxins in the

morriin' ask her to step down in tho valley a bit to see what Sandy has got hang in' from a Chris'mus tree for her.

Will ye? Promise now.

Ses. Ill promise, said Joe, c-egin-

but jest fur j ning to feel a little curious about this

IN THE GREAT

decent stand-up fight,

'their boodle is goin' ter git Bose not

while I'm around, mind that now. An'

I'm a match fur ye, Jim Macklin. With two words I can bring the sheriff." "But you wouldn't," cut in Macklin ; "you woulda'k spring such a trap on mo as that, now?" "Mebbe," replied Sandy, "if I saw ye hangin' around old Harbush's place." "And if you didn't see me?"

"If I don't see ye, but some th other fellars do, I'll hear of it sure, an' the

cons'quenceu to yeT 11 be the same,"

answered Sandy, as he flung away the

ofiimn nf Ilia r-iorOT('tt and strode Off

, ,, vniul. past tea that Christmas eve he

Macklin also arose. For a little while every miner of any consequence m Bar

m I. n n-,ruamnA blue with his Crik within its hospitable walls,

curses, but his rage was soon re- Walking up to the bar, Sandy called

Qo. uw1 he. too. moved awav. for drinks for the crowd.

Whfle Sandy and Jim had been en- "You're doin' the han'some thing fur SmhIv " muttered Saul as he

UUKUU w VMtx - " ' I ' - -

holding an interview with Hose.

gift of which Sandy spoke so mysteri

ously.

"Then ni be a watchin' for ye near

Burly's, whar the birches are biggest an' highest " ke called out as he turned

abruptly down another path, the closely woven bushes of which soon hid him completely from Joe's sight

Soon after six o'clock Old Sauls sa

loon began to present a cheerful appearance, an the miners came dropping in one by one to enjoy their after-sup

per smoke, their evening drink, to gossip over the East news, and to indulge in a social game of poker or loo.

When Sandy McGee came in at half-

CHRISTMAS EVE

CITY.

prosecute Harbush, he would do aothinc that would bring unpleasant noto

riety upon the already repentant and

heart-broken man. He even procured

passes for Harbush and his daughter to

Arizona upon the former's expressing

a desire to go to some Western State,

where he might begin life anew.

Harbush had tried his hand at min

ing, but with poor success, and not having that perseverance and spirit of

endurance which are the chief requi

sites of a miner, had long ago givun up all hope of redeeming his fallen for

tunes, and the means of even gaming the simplest and scantiest livelihood might have proved too difficult a prob

lem for him had it not been for the advice and assistance of an honest, farm

er-like young fellow who was kno'jm in

that region as Stumpy Joe.

This name was a sad misnomer, lor

Joe was nearly six feet two, hut he

had been ehristenod by one of the

characters of Bar Crik Sandy McGee when he first came there, twelve

years before, a short, stumpy lxy of

nine, and it had clung to Mir ever

to wait that length of time, and'so the discussion of Joe's good qualities would

continue until that young man seemed like a god in the eyes of these simplehearted men.

But just before the time of which I

write there had been a third visitor at the cottage, whose frequent calls, however, wore unknown to any one but

Bose.

He was a handsome, smooth-faced

man of thirty or thereabouts, with that j careless and haughtily indifferent manner whioh so many callow people fancy

to be the true air of your genuine man of the world.

He had come one day to the cottage Harbush's absence, and, during a

short half-hour had so effectually in

gratiated himself with Bose that she

consented, though with some reluctance, to his coming again. He was so different from the other men she hod met with there; even different from her beloved Joe, and the difference, she said

to herself, was all in the stranger's favor.

He was handsome, he was bold. Bose

was one ot tnose many, women wuu

have but little pity for or sympathy

with a timid lover, and she remember

ed rather wrathfully that Joe had come

steadily up the mountain side evening after evening for two years before he

hod even ventured to hint at his deep and ardent love for her; while the

other the new one well, on his second visit he had gallantly taken her

his arms and kissed her, and vowed

that he loved her beyond everything in

heaven or earth.

Now all this sounded very differently

from .Toe's bashful declaration. Me

had been a little doubtful of her recep

tion of his proposal, and his timid tone

liAti-ftvfirt this. But the other went

about this delicate business with

cheery confidence that all would turn

out as he desired, and that Kose would certainly be his, which rather added to the pleasure of the proceeding than

otherwise.

Bose was too young and had lived

such a hermit-like life too long to be

able to take the stranger's proper measure, as a more sophisticated girl

would have done. To her his highflown language was delightful, and she was never tiied of listening to the extravagant praises which ho continually showered upon her.

She wondered now that Joe had not

spoken of the brightness of her eyes;

that he hod not gone into ecstasies over her glossy hair, aud begged for a tress

to wear next to his heart, as the stranger hod demanded shortly after their first meeting. No, poor Joe had

done none of these things. He had fallen far short, as many men do, of

what is expected of them. She even began to whisper to herself, though faintly, that she was rather glad than otherwise that there was no actual engagement between herself and Joe, for how many things might happen in the future, she would

say with a wise shake of the neaa. had not mentioned the stranger's

tiaued Sandy, Hter say ter the fellar who was thar an' saw it who's ter hurry or who ain't" "Yes, yes; you'd better leave him,

package of Mexican cigarettes, offered one to Sandy, lit one himself, and prepared to take his turn at interviewing. "I say," he ejaculated, after they

Joe. It'll take an old b'ar like me ter ! had smoKea a utue wnue m sueuce manage him a b'ar as has got claws ! "the opinion is straight enough about ready an' willin' ter scratch him, an' I what he thinks of her, but nobody mebbe a rope if it's needed." i seems to kuow for a dead certainty Onlv the man for whom these last ! what the girl thinks of him."

words were intended heard them. He turned a trifle pale, but he threw his head back defiantly as he endeavored to gain his feet

Thet's right; get on yer pins an

come outside with me; thar's a leotle mutter I want ter see you about an' if

thar's ter be any shootin' over it, best

be in the open air. J

So saying, he led the reluctant Jim

outside the saloon, and the two sat down on the broken trunk of a gigan

tic tree some little distance off.

"Better be quick with your business,

if it's with me," said Jim, sitting np-

right on the log, and striving to look carelessly and indifferently at Sandy.

"Pm damned if I will, replied San

dy quite solemnly. "It's not fur a

marked man like you, Jim Macklin, ter

say who's ter harry and who ain't."

Sandy came to a pause here, and the

stranger after waiting impatiently for him to continue, ventured to ask

"How the devil does that make a marked man of me, I'd like to know? You know well enough I was set on by them, and only shot in self-defence." "An' if you was whioh thar's evidence to show you wasn't what's become of the boodle j ju took off them poor dead fellars?"

Macklin was about to make an indignant denial, when Sandy's right hand waved rather threateningly, so he refrained. "B would have bin a better day's work if you'd livid 'em all outvrhile you was about it, fur the fellar that got

away he went ter the Sheriff of Wicklow and give evidence as'll get your neck broke when they've got you, thet's "I s'pose you'll tip 'em the wink, then," said Jim, laughing a little, but very anxious, nevertheless. "Wa'al, no," said Sandy, reflectively, "can't say as I would do suoh a euss'd mean thing as diet, even ter a feller I ain't a lovin' like a brother. But thet depends," he added. . "Depends on what?" demanded Jim, eagerly. "On what he was a doin' ter thet

young fellar," said Sandy, nodding his

head in the direction of the saloon. Shavy Jim laughed merrily. "Oh, if that's the go, I'll swear on every Bible in America that I wasn't going to hurt a hair of his innocent little head." "Then what was you a drawhV on him fur?" "Well, you don't think I'm so much of a milksop as to let a boy slap my mug a second time, do you?' "An' what was he a slappin' it fnr the first time?" queried Sandy, in his usual

"Xo. Nobody knows fur a dead certainty," repeated Sandy, with much emphasis on the last two words. "But can't they give a guess?" "Yes, I s'pose they oould if they wanted ter. Free country," replied the old miner, dryly. Half inclined to believe that Sandy

wan making game of him, Jim gave a stealthy glance at the face beside him, but'could gain no information from the calm, immobile features and downcast

eyes.

"He looks half asleep the old fox,"

said Macklin to himself as ho lit an

other cigarette and went on. "I don't suppose this a Garden-of-Eden sort of a place, whore everything's perfect, no curiosity about your neighbors, or " "Couldn't be a Garden of Eden 'thout a snake in it But mebbe thai is one," and Sandy looked shrewdly

He had suddenly concluded that his

partner could wait there for him if he chose, but that he would remain there

no longer.

"I'll go end tell Rose what they're all saying about us," he said, as he picked his way up the mountain side, in too

much haste to go around by the even

path,

He thought that the rumors whioh

were flying around Bar Crik, coupling

her name with his, might be the

means of inducing her to give him a decided affirmative to his oft-repeated

question,

For Bose hod not actually refused him." She was too much of a coquette

and too enraptured with the unusual possession of an oxtra string to her bow to come out with a fair and square

no" at onoe. From tho attic window of their lit tle

cottage Bone caught a glimpse , of Joe's

faee as he came over the low gate und up the pathway to the door. She noted his unwonted seriousness, and some still, small voice within gave her instinotive warning that a crisis of some

kind was at hand. He did not kiss her as he entered, as was his habit to do, though timidly,

but stood quite stul and silent for a moment with his eyes fixed upon her with a pitiful, appealing look. "Dear Bose." he said at length, "I've

hastily set out glasses and bottles for the thirsty men who came swarming np to the bar.

"Yes," answered Sandy, complacent

ly, "an' I reckon on their dour tne

han'some thing by me.

"What's that?" asked several. Then Sandy told his story in a sin

J. A .rl.Ai;y. I'ttw anH thA hAartx i

yus iiuu yi gnu, " , j

of his rough listeners were deepiw touched. They all liked Joe he was amoe them, if not of them, and in tho estimation was well worthy of Bose'aV hand. If she had coquetted with him V for the sake of encouraging one of their own number not a word of disapproval: would have been uttered, but that the

pride of their camp should be won by

a stranger, and a murderer at that, was more than they could bear.

So when Sandy propped that the

only way to secure Joe's happiness and

mete out proper justice to the offender

was to summarily dispose of bun, every man rose to his feet and shouted:

"Aye we'll bang him!" The murderer was lying in a drunken

sleep upon a well-worn buffalo-skin.

He was dressed in the costume m which we first beheld bin., and his bread sombrero was on the floor at his side.

Gently the miners raised him and

bore him out of the little cabin np

the valley to the foot, of a tall tree whose branches seemed peculiarly

always believed you when you've told adapted to their present purpose.

She i drawl.

first I "Why, you see, they'd all been drink-

visit to her father, and, learning this ! ing at my expense in iionor oi my n.M

since. , . , ... j. i, ,i;.j ),,. i n,111Rarnne at Old Saul's haiineiiin to

. . , -rr . t 1 nnnn IIIH KHUtlllU VlOlf. IW wovw . w I' I ' .

Me It WOS WHO Miuglil. uu' 'a ! . ,, fm

... . . i keen T.nai, uuu n tinu-? vmon w malrn hi srardeu a means of sup- KeelJ luav "

to

port now to raise his fowls, his vege

tables, his fruit He it was who pro

cured a ready sale for these, not. only in the mining-camp at the base of the

mountain, but in the larger towns that

lav at the south and west.

Perhaps Joe would have taken but little interest in Harbush had the latter been alone, and would have left him to row hie own boat against the stream of ill-fortune without a iiingle thought or regret. But there was a daughter a pretty daughter and she should be comfortable and have plenty as long as Joe knew how to advise her father to secure it And Bose had not been unobservant if all this.

She was grateful for his friendly in-

her parent. He gave only vogue reasons for this secrecy, murmured something about his not being free to marry her until a large lawsuit in California about some rich silver mines was decided in his favor, as he fully expected it would bo. And Rose, with the hope of such a wealthy husband before her, was quite willing to acquiesce in this silence. I do not mean to say that her affection for Joe diminished. She still

cherished a great regard for him ; but

be my birthday, besides and 1 was going to ask Stumpy Joe, who was sit

ting kind of solitary in tne coiner there, when the opinion of the orowd seemed to be against it" Yes yes, I know," muttered Sandy, "he quit drinkin' nine months ago." "And so 1 didn't say ony more about it." continued Jim. "Unt as I gathered from 'em that lie was pretty well gone on old Harbush's daughter, I thought it only the fair tiling for him to drink her health, and so 1 waited till the

others had oleored, and then I went over

he had taken a secondary place in that I and asked him to drink, and in a

fickle heart over the largest part oi which the handsome stranger reigned supreme. Thero was only one thing about him which she did not like bis name. It

mighty friendly way, too."

"Did he touch any?" asked Sandy, with interact. "Devil a drop," replied Macklin, in a surly tone.

and knowingly at Jim.

"The old fool is making game of me," thought the latter, "but I'll try him again. And what do yon s'pose the snake would do if there woo one?" he asked aloud. "If he went crawlin' around on no end of pins I should say he wasn't after anythin' but what snakes goes fur, ginerally. But if he went on two legs I should say he was after the game Stumpy Joe is a aimin' at" "Look here, Sandy, I see I can't pull the wool over your eyes, and so Fil confess like an honest man."

"A what?" demanded Sandy, in a tone that made Jim flush. "An honest man. Never saw one? Well, the first time you come to a clear spring, look into it and you'll see the fellow I've mentioned." Jim paused, to see if this compliment had the desired effeot but Sandy smoked on in silence, with never a word or a smile. "So I'll confess like an honest man that I've a slight leanin' that way myself, and if Rose Harbush ain't over head and ears in love with Stumpy Joe,

I say, why shouldn't my chance be jnst

as good as any other man's? The rogue kuew that it was better, but Sandy's knowledge of that little shooting affray made him extremely anxious for the old Yankee's approval. "If he sails against me," thought Jim, "I don't know what'll come of it but if he doesn't care one way or the other, then Stumpy Joe'll stand no show for Rose." Still Sandy was silent. Jim touched him gently on the shoulder. "Hay, my chances are as good as his, ain't they?" "Mebbe they are now," replied Sandy, with a wise shake of the head, "but mebbe they won't be then." "And when is that time? Why the devil can't you speak plain English?"

exolaimed Macklin, rendered desperate by this calm indifference. "When she's takin' you, my lad, an' when every right-minded man here as understood that she's fnr Joe an' lie's fur her, lias set on ye an given' ye what every sneakin' skulk oughter have fur steaiin' a gal's heart away from th' other one. " Sandy spoke with an earnestness and rude eloquence that stirred his listener's heart even more than the threat which the words implied, and his eyes drooped for a moment as he felt Sandy's glance upon him. But tho bjravado of the vufliau qnicklv reasserted itself. "And I wouldn't give a rush for auy

m that you loved me a little, and I've waited patiently for you to say you'd marry me. I've asked yon so many

times there's no need to go all over it

again. For you know I love you truly.

and would do everything I could to

make you happy. Your father likes ma and would be williuor for us to be

married to-morrow. And so I've thought it all over, and came to tell yon tha I can't stay in this that is, I cant be doubting and worrying any longer, bub I must know which it is to be. If you only love me as I think you do, say 'yes,' dearest it is such a little word to say." He drew near her with- a caressing motion, but Bose shrank from his touch, "Ob, there is plenty of time," he

heard her murmur, rather discontentedly, and his pride arose at this rebuff. His hor est eyes grew dim, but he reuolutely brushed the moisture from them and uaid in a clear, manly voice,

in which his recreant sweetheart could not detect a tremor: "You know I wouldn't force you into marrying sne even if I could do such a thing, and if you don't love me, why I

will say no more about it Perhaps you don't ke to say 'no' out and out and if that is so I won't bother you any more. But I know one thing, Bose that there was a time when you loved me. What has changed you I can't tell ; I only know that you loved me then." He had turned toward the door, and w as going, when a detaining hand was

hiid upon his arm.

"Don't go away angry with me; aon t, Joe," pleaded Hose. "And and dont hnniy me so. I will promise to- that it, to think about it." She we loth to lose him altogether, and yet she had not the slightest idea ot giving Mm thedeoision, "yes," which he so desired. So after a little coaxing he promised not to mention tho matter againnot until she gave him permission to do so. Then he retraced his steps down

the mountain side in a very despairing

feame of mind.

"I oouldn't feel much worse if she'd

" im said confidentially to

the talltr ses which lined the way. He starred in amazement as a cheerful "Hullo, ther!" followed his commu

nication to the trees, and, glancing up,

he saw Sandy McGee in the pathway Sandy saw from one look at Joe's downcast face that matters were not progressing favorably. He laid his

i i Bvnmatheticallv on tne iaas

- i - shoulder.

"Up to old Harbush's?" he said,

quietly.

"Yes," replied Joe, looking down

before thn rough old miner and sobbing

like a child. "An' thut thar rosoal has cut him out, after all his lies to me," muttered fciandy. "Wa'al, if I don't fix him fur thet" They walked awhile in silence, Joe rather ashamed of his tears, and Sandy endeavoring to conjure up some fitting expressions of sympathy. Finally he said: "I ain't much on prophesying, Joe, not havin' enough piousness 'bout me fur thet, but I'm willin' ter lay a big pile 'gainst a leetlo one that Rose Harbush '11 o.ime to hur senses 'fore long." "I've promised to wait till that time, auy way," aaid Joe with a melancholy smile.'

The rope was slipped over his bead

the other end flung over a branch. At a signal from Sandy the form of the drunken sleeper was jerked np in midair, and Jim Macklin's soul had loft lis encasement of clay. . Early Christmas morning, Joe went np the mountain in the direction of the Harbush's cottage, with his Christmas offering for Bose. It was a ring of unusual beaaty, which he had purchased some time before of a newly arrived miner at Bar Crik. Rose's hard heart softened as she saw the bright gem sparkling in the sunlight and she drew near to Joe in a very penitential frame of mind. But he did not press his question then he would not take advantage of the grati

tude whioh his present had evoked, bat

said, after her raptures were over "Yon know Sandy always has a Christinas present for you. Amt yon a little curious to know about it dear?" "He hasn't brought it jet" "No, for he told me yesterday that 1 was to bring you down to the valley in Bar Crik, where he'd have a Christmas

tree fixed up for you, or something of that kind I forget exactly what, but

you were to come with me this morning-" .

Then we'll go now," said Koae, ner

curiosity roused by these words.

So she followed Joe down a rawer

steep and littte-feequented path which

was the most direct route to their des

tination. At the foot of the mountain they found Sandy waiting for them. Rose looked expectantly a him as she uttered the greetings of the day, bat he only nodded gravely and motioned -them to follow him.

"Why. where can that Christmas tree

lie, Joe?" she whispered, gassing eagerly

around.

"Thar!" exclaimed Sandy, with some

slight emotion, as they came suddenly past a turn of the road, and an immense birch-tree with the body of

man dangling from one of its branches

met their astonished gase.

Bose recognized it at once, and, giving one cry, hid her face in both hands and sank down upon the ground. Joe was no less amazed, and stood in silence awaiting Sandy's explanation. "Thar," repeated Sandy, ia a man who killed two men fur boodle job fur boodle. Is hangin' too bad fur him?" Joe murmered "Of course not, while Bose put down her hands and listened as Sandy went on. "An' the rascal, after doin' thet, bad the cheek ter oome a courtin' Roselittle Bose, as I've knowd an loved these many year. An' she wouldn't have thought nuthuv wrong bot him, but would have taken him an' let a de

cent chap slide, if " "Oh, no, no, Sandy," interrupted Rose in tears again, "dont think so badly of me. Indeed, I I" "Never mind that now," said tenderhearted Joe, anxious to turn their die mal conversation. "Rose didnt come here to see a man strung up ; she came after your Christmas present Sandy."5 "Which she'll have soon enough if she'll promise ter keep it forever, said Sandy, with a smile, "an' here it is a honest heart Will ye take it Bose?" He f laced Joe's hand on hers she looked at him dimly through her tears. "If if ho will let me," she sobbed repentantly, and laid her bead u, 0 Joe's breast