12 TIIM OMAHA "DAIliY..lUSPt . . DEOIQMIMDH 4. 1807.
Uncle Jim and Uncle Billy.
o
. . . .BY JWKT HAUTE. . . . . - jb J
PART I.
( Copyright , 1W7 , by Ilrct Itnrte. )
They were partnots. The avuncular UMo
was bestowed on them by Ccdsr Camp , possi
bly In recognition of a certain matured good
humor , quite distinct from the spasmodic
exuberant Mplrltn of KB other members , and
possibly from what , to Its youthful sense ,
Rccmcd their advanced ages which must
have been at least 40 ! They had also set
habits , even In their Improvidence , lost In
calculable and unpayable sums to each other
over cuchro regularly every evening , and
Inspected their slulco boxen punctually every
Saturday for repairs which they never
made. They even got to resemble each other ,
after the fashion of old married couples , or ,
rather , OB In matrimonial partnerships , were
subject to the domination of the stronger
character ; although In their case It Is to bo
feared that It was the feminine uncle Illlly
enthusiastic , Imaginative and loquacious
who swayed the masculine , steady-going and
practical uncle Jim.- They had lived In the
camp alnco Its foundation In 1S49 ; thcro
eccmcd to bo no reason why they shouldn't
remain there until Its Inevitable evolution
Into a mining town. The younger members
might leave through teat less ambition or a
desire for change or novelty ; they wens sub
ject to no such trilling mutation , Yet Cedar
camp wan surprised ono day to hear that
undo Hilly was going nwny.
The rain was softly falling on the bark
thatch of the cabin with a mudlcd murmur ,
llko a sound heard through sleep. The south
west trades wcro wa m even at that altitude
ao the open door testified , although a flre of
plno bark was Dickering on the adobe hearth
and striking out answering fires from the
freshly scoured culinary Utensils on the rush
sideboard which uncle Jim had cleaned that
morning with his usual ncrlotis persistency.
Their best clothes , which were Interchange
able and worn alternately by each other on
festal occasions , hung on the walla , which
were covered with a coarse sailcloth canvas
Instead of lath and plaster , and were diversi
fied with pictures from Illustrated papers
and stains from the exterior weather. Two
"bunko , " llko ship's berths , an upper and
loycr one , occupied the gable end of this
olnglo apartment , and on beds of coarse
sacking , filled with dry moss , were care
fully rolled their respective blankets and
pillows. They were the only articles not
used In common , and whcse Individuality was
respected.
Urjcle Jim , who had been sitting- before
the fire , rope as the square bulk of his
pjzrtner appeared at the doorway with an
armful of wood for the evening st ve. 'By '
that sign ho know It was 9 o'clock ; for thn
last six years Uncle iBllly had regularly
brought In I'ho ' word at that hour , and Uncle
Jim had as regularly closed the door after him
and set out their single table , containing a
greasy pack of cards taken from Its drawer ,
a. bottle cf whisky and two tin drinking cups.
To thl-j was added a ragged memorandum
book r.nd a stick of pencil. The two men
dro\v \ their steels to the 'table. '
"Hoi * on a mln.lt , " said Uncle Dllly.
His p-artner laid down the cards as Uncle
Billy oxtractc-d from his pocket a pill box ,
and , opening It , gra > cly took a pill. This
was clearly an Innovation on their regular
proceedings , for Uncle iDllly was always In
perfect health.
"What's thl for ? " asked Uncle Jim , .half
scornfully.
"Agin ager. "
"You ain't got no ager , " said Uncle Jim ,
with the assurance of Intimate cognizance
of his partner's physlclal condition ?
"Dut It's a pow-ful preventive ! Quinine !
Saw this box at 'Rlley's ' store , and laid out
a quarter on It.Ve kin keep It here , , com
fortable , for evenings. It's mighty footliln'
arter a man's done a hard ilay's work 'on the
river bar. Take one. "
Uncle Jim gravely took a pill and swal
lowed It , and handed the box back to his
partror.
"We'll leave It on the table , sociable like ,
In case any of the boys come In , " said Uncle
Billy , taking up the cards * . "Well ! how do
wo stand ? "
Uncle Jim consulted the- memorandum
bo k. "You wcro 'owln' mo $02.000 on the
ilast game , and the limit's $75,000 ! "
' "Je whllllklna ! " ejaculated Uncle Dllly.
"Let mo sec. "
Ho examined the book , fecfbly attemptlne
to challenge the additions , but with no effciH
"set down my flalm at Angel's ? " he con
tinued.
"I allowed you $10,000 for that , " said Uncle
Jim , -with equal gravity , "and It's a fancy
price , too. "
The claim In question being an un-
pro-peeled hill side ten miles distant , which
Uncle Jim bad never seen , and Uncle Dllly
had rot visited for years , the statement was
probably true ; nevertheless , Uncle Dllly re
torted :
"Yo kin never tell how these things will
pan out. Why , only this mornln' I was
-takln' a turn round Shot Up hill , , that ye
kuow Is just rotten with quartz and gold ,
and I'couldn't help tljlnkln' how much It
was llko my ole claim at Angel's. I must
take a day off to go on there and strike
0 pick In It , If cnly for luck. "
Suddenly ho paused and said : "Strange ,
ain't It , you should speak of It tonight ? Now ,
1 eall that queer. "
Ho laid down his cards and gazed mys
teriously at ills companion. Uncle Jim
Vilew perfectly that uncle Hilly had reg
ularly once a week , for many years , declared
his final determination to go over to Angel's
and prospect his claim , yet nevertheless he
half responded to bis partner's suggestion cf
mystery , and a look of fatuous wonder crept
Into his eyes. But ho contented himself by
Baying , cautiously , "You spoke of It first. "
"That thamore Blng'lar , " said t'nclo Hilly
confidently. "And I've been thinking about
It and kinder seeing myself thar all day. Ha
mighty queer ! " Ho got up and began to
rummage among some torn and covcrless
books Inthe corner.
"Whoro'a that dream book gene to ? "
"Tho.'Carsco boys borrowed It , " replied
Uncle Jim. "Anyhow , yours wasn't no dream
only a kind o' vision and the book dcn't
take no stock lit visions. " Nevertheless , he
watched hla partner with some sympathy ,
and added , "That reminds mo that I had
a dream -tho other night of being In 'Frisco
at a Hir.-ill hotel , with heaps o' mcuey , anJ
All the time being sort o' scared and bewil
dered over It. "
"No ! " said his partner cagorlj- , yet re
proachfully. "You never let on anything
about It to mo ! Its mighty queer you bavin *
these stranjo feclln's for I've had 'em mj--
uelf. And only tonight , comln' up from the
spring , I saw two crows iiopplng in the trail
aid I saja If I ECO another It's luck , sure !
And you'll think I'm lyln' , but when I
wont to the wood pile Just now there was
the third ono slttln' up on .1 log as ; plain as
I BCO you. Tell ye what , folks kin laugh hut
that's just what Jim Fllgeo saw the night
afore ho made the big strike ! "
There were both smiling , yet with an un
derlying credulity and ncrloutiiors as
singularly pathetic as It seemed Incongruous
to their years and Intelligence. Small wonder ,
however , that In their occupation and en
vironments living dally In i n Atmosphere
of hope , expectation , and chance , locking
forward each morning to the blind stroke of
' a pick that might bring fortune they should
ceo signs In nature enl hear mjatlo voices to
the trackless woods -that surrounded them.
Still less strange -.hat they were peculiarly
susceptible to the more recognized diversions
of chance , and wcro gamblers on the turnIng -
Ing of a ord : who trusted to the revelation
of A shovelful of upturned earth.
It wan quite natural , therefore , that they
should return- from their abstract form of
divination to the table and their cards. But
they were scarcely seated before they heard
a crackling step In the brush outside , and
the free latch of their door was lifted. A
younger member cf the camp entered. He
uttered a peevish " -halloo ! " which might
have passid for a greeting , or might have
been a slight protest at finding the door
closed , draw the stool from which Uncle
Jim bad just risen * , before the flro , shook his
wet clothes like a Newfoundland dog , and sat
dawn. Yet ho was by no means churlish nor
coarse looking , and this act was rather ono
cf easy-going , it-UM1 , jouthful familiarity
than of rudeness. The cabin , of I'ncles Hilly
nntl Jim was considered A public tight or
"common" of the camp. Conferences be-
twcen Individual miners were appointed
thoro. "I'll meet you at Uncle tlllly's" was
a common tryst. Added to this wn a tacit
claim upon , their advisory or nrbltrntlvc
power * , or the equal right to request them to
utcp outsldn It the Interviews wcro of a
private nature. Yet there was never any
objection on the part of the partners , and
tonight there was not a shadow of rts'ntmcnt
of this Intrusion. In the patient , good-
humored , tolerant eyes of Uncles Jim and
Hilly as they garc-d et their guest. Perhaps
there was a slight gleam of relief In Undo
Jim's when he found that the guest watt un
accompanied by any ono , and that It was rot
a tryst. 'It would Have been unpleasant for
the two partners to have stayed out In the
rain while their guests were exchanging
private confidences In their cabin. While
thcro might have been no limit ty their good
will , there might have been one to their
capacity for exposure.
Uncle Jim drew a huge log from bcsldo
the hearth and sat on the driest end of It.
while their guest occupied the stool. The
joung man , without turning away from his
discontented , pcovlsh brooding over the lire ,
vaguely 'reached backward for the whleky
bo'.tlo and Undo 'Billy's tin cup , to which
ho was assisted by the latter's hospitable
hand. Dut on | eettlng down the cup his eye
caught sight of the pill box.
"Wot's that ? " ho said with gloomy scorn.
"Hat poison ? "
" ( Julnlno pills agin ager , " said Uncle
Jim. "The newest thing out. Keeps out
damp like InJIn rubber ! Take one tn follow
ycr whli'ky. Mo and Uncle Dllly wouldn't
think o' scttln' down , quiet like , In the
evening arter work , without 'em. Take one
jor welcome ! We lee ; | > 'em out hero tor
the boyis. "
Accustomed as the partnera were to adopt
and wear each other's opinions before folks ,
as they did each other's "lothlng ,
Uncle Hilly was , nevertheless , aston'ohed
andi delighted at Uncle Jim's enthusiasm
over his pills. The gue&t took ono and swal
lowed It.
"Mighty bitter ! " he eald. glancing- his
boats with the quick California ! ) suspicion
of some practical joke. Gut the lioiitrtt
faces of the partnera reassured him.
"That [ bitterness ye'taste , " said Uncle
Jim , quickly , "Is whor the thing's gettla'
In Its work. Sorter slckenln' the malaria
and kinder watcrproofliv' the Insldes all to
onct and at the same lick ! Don't yer see ?
Put toother In ycr vest pocket ; jou'Il be
coin' for 'em like a child. * f ore , yc Vi nome.
vi ? ; J Jl"'i'S 'things ugo"ln'"on jour
rfr mTlJick ? Boomln' , eh ? "
The guest raked UV ? head and turned
it sulllclently to fling his answer back over
his shoulder at his hosts. "I don't know
what you'll call 'booraln' , " he said , gloomily ;
"I suppose > ou two men' ' sitting here com
fortably by the fire , without caring whether
school keeps or not , would call two feet of
backwater over one's claim 'boomln' ; ' I
reckon you'd consider 150 feet of sluicing
carried away , and drifting to thunder down
the South KIsh , something In the way of
advertising to your old' camp I suppose
j-ou'd think It was an Inducement to In
vestors ! I shouldn't wonder , " 'ie added ,
still more gloomily , as a sudden da.ih of
rain down the wide-throated chimney
dropped In his tin cup "red Itwould bo
just like you two chaps , slttln' there gor
mandizing over your quinine. If > er oald
this rain , that's lasted' three weeks , was
something to be proud of. "
It was the cheerful and satisfying cus/tom /
of the real of the camp , for no reason what
ever , to hold Uincle Jim and Uccle nllly re
sponsible for Its. present location , Its vlcls-
oltudcs , the weather , or any convulsion of
nature ; and It was equally the partncis'
habit , for no rcoson whatever , to accept
these animadversions end apologize.
"It's a rain that's soft and mellowln' , "
said Uncle Dllly gotitly , "and supplln' to
the sinews and muscles. Did ye ever notice ,
Jim" ostentatlcaHly to his parcuer "did ye
ever notice that you got Inter a kind o'
owealy lather workln' in It ? Sorter openln'
to the pores ! "
"Fetches 'em every time , " eald Uncle
DiHy. "Better nor fancy soap. "
Their guest laughed bitterly. "Well , I'm
going to leave It to you , I reckon tn cut
tlio whole concern tomorrow , and lite out
for Homethins new. It can't be worsa than
this. "
The two partners looked grieved , albeit
they were accustomed to these outbursts , [
Uverylody who thought of going away from |
Cedar camp used It first as a threat to these
patient men , after tie | fashion of runaway
nephew a , or made an exemplary scene of
their going.
"Hotter think twice before yo go , " said
Uncle Hilly.
"I'\e seen worse weather afore ye came , "
said Urclo Jim Flowly , "Water all over the
bar ; the mud so deep yo couldn't get to
Angel's for a sack o' Hour , and wo had to
grub on pine iiuts and jackass rabbit ? And
jet wo stuik by the camp , and here wo
ure ! "
The mild answer apparently goaded their
guest to fury. Ho rose from his seat , throw
bark his long , dripping hair from his hand
some , but querulous face , and scattered a few
drops on the partners. "Yen , that's Just It.
That's whci gets me ! Here you stick , and
hero jou are ! And hero you'll stick and rust
until you starveor drown ! Here you are ,
two men who ought to ho out In thewsrld
playing your part as grown men , rtuck hero
like children ' laying house' In the woods
playing work In your wretched mudple
ditches , and content. Two men net sa old
that you mightn't be taking yrur part ID the
fun of thu world , going to balls or theatero ,
or paying attention to girls , and yet old
enough to have married and have your
families around you. content to etay ID this
God-f nsaken place , old bachelors , pigging
together llko poorhc-uso paupers. That's
what gets mo ! Say you llko It ! Say you i'x-
pcct by hanging on to make a strike and
what docs that amount ito ? What ore your
chances ? How many of us have made , or
are making , more than , grub wages ? Say
jou're willing to share and share alike as
you do have you got enough for two ?
Aren't you actually living off each other ?
Aren't you grinding each other down , choking
each other's struggles , as you sink together
deeper and deeper Ic. the mud cf this cusied
camp ? And while you're doing this , aren't
you , by your age. and position here , holding
out hopes to others that you know cannot be
fulfilled ? "
Accustomed as they were to the half
querulous , half humorous , hut always ex
travagant criticism of the others , there was
something * o now In th" Arraignment of
.themselves ihnl the par ncrs fo ft rmm '
> at dllcnL There wns a Might flush on I'tic'e
! Hilly' * cheek , there wns a Might pileneea on
UnMo Jim' * . Ho was the flret to reply. Hut
ho did o nidi a certain dignity which
neither hi * partner nor Ihclr guct had fcvor
seen on lite face before ,
"An I''ii our flro that' * warmed yo up llko
thl , Dick .Uullen , " he slid , slowly rising
with hl hand resting on Uncle nitly's shoul
der , "and as It's our whisky that's loosened
your tongue , I reckon we must put up with
what yo'r sayln' , just aa we've managed to
put up with our own way o' living and not
quo'll with yo under our own roof. "
The young fellow eaw the change In Uncle
Jim's face and quickly extended his hand ,
with nn apologetic backward shako of hla
long hair "Hang It all , old man , " ho said
with a laugh of mingled contrition and
amUHomcnt "you mustn't mind what I said
Just now , I've been so worried thinking of
things about myself , and , maybe a little
about you , that I quite forgot I hadn't a
ball to preach to anybody least of all to
j-ou. So wo part friends , Uncle Jlfii , and
you , too , Uncle Hilly , and you'll forget what
I said. In fact , I don't know why I spoke at
all only I was passing your claim just now ,
and wondering how much longer your old
slulco boxes would hold out , and where , In
thunder , you'd get otho:6 : when they caved
inl I reckon that sent mo off , That's all ,
old chap ! "
Uncle Hllly's face broke Into a beaming
smile of relief , and It was his hand that first
grasped his guest's ; Uncle Jim quickly fol
lowed with as honest a pressure , but with
eyes that did not serin to bo looking nt
Hullcn , though all trace of resentment hau
died out of them. Ho walked to the door
with him , again shook hinds , but remained
looking out In the darkness some time after
Dlk Bullcn'a tangled hair and broad shoul
ders had disappeared.
Meantime Uncle Dllly had resumed his scat
and was chuckling and reminiscent as he
cleaned out his pipe.
"Kinder reminds mo of Jo Sharp , when ho
WEB cleaned out at poker by his own part
ners In his own cabin , comln' up here and
bcdevllln' Ua about It ! What was It you
lint him ? "
Hut Uncle Jim did not reply ; and Uncle
Dllly , taking up the cards , began to shuffle
them , smiling \aguely , yet at the same time
somewhat painfully. "Artcr all , Dick wab
mighty cut up about what he said and I felt
kinder sorry for him. And , you know , I
rithcr cotton to a man that speaks his mind.
"THAT'S WHAT GETS MB ! HERD YOU S TICK , AND HERE YOU ARE ! "
Sorter cleans him out , you know , of all the
slulce-guehln' that's in him. It's just llko
washln" out a pan o" prospectln' ; you pour
In the water and keep slushing It round and
round , and out coraco first the mud and dirt ,
and then the gravel , and then the black smd ,
and then It's all out , and there's a speck
o' gold glistenln' at the bottom ! "
"Then you think thorn waa suthln' ! n
what he said ? " said Uncle Jim , facing
about slowly.
An odd ' 3o ; in his voice made Uncle
Bl.iy look up. "No , " he eald qulcklv ,
shying with the teiUInct of an easy , pleas
ure-lovlng nature from a possible grave sit
uation. "No , I don't think he ever got the
color ! Dut who are jc moouln' about for ?
Ain't ys goln1 to play ? It's mor'n half-pas'
9" "
now.
Thus adjured , Undo Jim moved up to
the table nnU fat down , while Uncle BIHj
dealt the cardu , turning up the jack or
right ibower but without that exclamations
of delight which always accompanied bib
good fortune , nor dldi Uncle Jim respond
with the usual corresponding simulation o.
deep disgust Such a circumstance had not
occurred before la the h'atory of their part-
nersh'rp. They both played in alienee a
silence only Interrupted by a larger splash
of raindrops down the chimney.
"Wo orter put a couploofEtpccs on the
chimney top , cdgewtie , llko Dae Curtis does.
It keeps out the rain without laterferln'
with the draft. " said Uncle Dllly musingly
"What's the use If "
"If 'What ' ? " said Uncle Dllly quietly.
"If we don't make It broader , " "said UncU-
Jim , half wearily.
They both stared at the chimney , but
Uncle Jim's eyefollowed the wall arounC
to the bunks. Thcro were many dlscolora-
tlons on the canvas , and a picture1' th >
Goddess of Liberty from an Illustrated paper
had broken out In a kind of damp , meabl >
eruption. "I'll stick that funny handblf-
of the 'washln' soda' I got at the grocer
atoro the other xlay over the Liberty gal
Jt's a mighty pcrty woman washln' wit1-
short sleeves , " said Uncle Dllly. "That1-
the comfort of them' plclcro , you kin alwayr
get somothln' new and It adds thlchnciv
to the wall. "
Uncle Jim went back to the cards In si
lence. After a moment he rose again , ana
hung his overcoat against the door.-
"Wind's comln' In , " he aald brleflj' ,
"Yes , " said Uncle Billy cheerfully ; "but It
wouldn't seem nat'ral If there wasn't tha ;
crack in the door to let < the sunlight In o'
inoriiln's. Makes a kind o1 sundial , , you
know. When the streak o * lights la that
corner , Isays / 'fi o'clock ! ' when It's across
the chimney I cuy ' 7 ! ' and eo 'tis ! "
It certainly had grown chilly , and the wind
waa rising. The candle guttered and flick
ered ; the embers on the hearth brlghtene * '
occasionally , as If trying to dispel the gather
Ing shadows but always Ineffectually. The
game was frequently Intenupted by the ne
ccsslty of stirring the fire. After an Intcrvr'
of gloom , In whlh each partner successive ] }
drew the candle to his side to examine hie
cards , Uncle Jim said :
"Say ? "
"Well ? " retponded Uncle Dllly ,
"Are you sure you oaw that third crow on
the woodpile ? "
"Sure as I see you , now and a darned
sight nlelner. Why ? "
"Nothln' . I was Just thlnkln' . Look here'
How do wo stand now ? "
Uncle Hilly was still toeing. Neverthe
less , ho .aid cheerfully. "I'm owln" you c
matter ? GO,000. "
Uncle Mm examined the book abstractedly
"Suppose. " ho said slowly , but without lookIng -
Ing at his partuer , "mippote , an Its gettln'
late now , wo play for my l.alf shcre of tlir
claim again tbo limit $75,000 to square up , "
"Your half share ! " repeated Uncle Dill )
with amused Incredulity.
"My half sluro of the claim of this yer
house , you know one-half of all that Dick
Dullen ealls our rotten starvation preperty , "
iclteratcd Uncle Jim , with a half smile.
Unlo Dllly laughed. It was a novel Idc-i
It was , of cou'-Eo , "all In the air , " llko the
rest of their game , yet even then he had an
odJ feeling that ho would have liked Die' *
Bullcn to have known It. "Wade In , old
pud , " hepaid. . "I'm on It. "
Uncle Jim lit another candle to reinforce
the fading llgit. ! and the deal fell to Uncle
Hilly. Ho turned ip Jack of clubs. He aim
turned a Httlo redder ea he took up his cardn ,
looked at them , and g'.anced hastily at hie
partner. "It's no use playing. " he said.
"Look here ! " He laid down his cards on the
table. They were tbo ace , king and queen of
clubs and jack of spades , or left bower ,
which , with the turned-up jack or clubs , or
ruht luwcr . . m , * R ! i > the w.nnlng cards'
? J I'Si" " If wo < l bn pMyln four-
lit led ny jnu on' mo nqln some other
tiiirkft , we-'rt IhVf male ( our In that deal , and
li'istCvl Rome money , eh7" nnd his eyes
a arklnl. Untie Jim's , Also , had A slight
trci.iilous light in his nn.
"Oh , no ! I didn't sue no three crows this
afterno-n' ' " added Uncle Hilly gleefully , * a
his partner In turn began to chiifllo the cards
with laborious snd scientific exactitude. Then
dealing , ho turned u a heart for trminif.
Uncle Billy took tip his cards ono by one , but
when he had finished Ills faro had become as
I ale as It had been red before. "What's the
matter ? " said Uncle Jim quickly , his own
face growing white.
Uncle Hilly slowly , , and with hrcathlcss
owe , laid down his cards , face up , on the
table. It was exactly the sequence In hearts ,
with the knave of diamonds added , Ho could
again take every trick.
They stored at each othsr with vacant faes
and n half-drawn smile of fear. They
could hear the wind moaning In the trees
bcyor.df there was a euddcn rattling At the
door. Uncle iDltly started to hla feet , but
Uncle Jim caught his arm. "Don't leave the
cards ! It's only the wind ; sit down , " he
said , In a low , awe-hushed voice ; "It's your
deal ; you were two -before , and two now.
that makes j-ou four ; you've only one point
to make to win the game. Go oni"
They both poured out a cup of whisky ,
smiling vaguolj- , yet with a certain terror In
their eyes. Their hands were cald ; the cards
are -slipped from Uncle Billy's benumbed
fingers ; when hehod shuffled them he passed
them to his nartner to aluifile them also , but
did not speak. When Uncle Jim had shunted
them methodically he handed them back ( ale-
fully to his partner. , Uncle -Hilly dealt them
with a trembling hand. He turned up n club.
"It jouare sure of these tricks you know
you've won ( " said Uncle Jim , In a voice
that was scarcely audible. Uncle Dllly did
not reply , but tremulously laid down the ace
nrvl right and left bowers.
Ho had wonl
A feeling of relief came over each , and
'they laughed hysterically and discordantly.
Ridiculous and childish as their contest
might have seemed to a looker-on , to each the
tension had been as great as that of the
greatest gambler , without the g-imbler's
trained restraint , coolness and composure.
Uncle Dllly nervously took up the cards
again.
"Dcn't , " said Uncle Jim. gravely ; "It's no
use the luck's gene njw.l'
"Just one mere deal , " pleaded his partner.
Uncle Jim looked at the fire , Uncle Dllly
hastily dealt , and threw the two hands face
up on the table. They were the ordinary
average cords. He dealt again , with the
same result. "Itold you so , " said Uncle
Jim , without looking up.
It certalfi'y teemed n tame performance
after their wonderful hands , and after another
trial Uncle Dllly threw the cards aside and
drew his etool before the fire. "Mighty
queer , warn't It ? " ho said , with reminiscent
awe. "Three times running ! Do you know.
I felt a kind o' creepy feelln' down my tack
all the time. 'Orlcky ! what luck ! None of
the boys would believe It If we told 'em-
least of all that Dick , Dullen. who don't bo
llevo In luck , anyway. Wonder what l" > 'd
have said ! and , Lord ! how he'd have looked !
Wall ! what arc you starln' so for ? "
Uncle Jim had faqed aiound and was gaz
ing at Uncle Billy's gool-humorcd , simple
.Vice. "Nothln1 ! " he said , briefly , and his
cyieij again sought the fire
"Then don't look as If you was seeln'
suthln * j-ou give me the creeps , " returneJ
Uncle Billy a little petulantly. "Let's turn
' afore the lire gocaout ! "
The fateful cards were put back In the
drawer , the table shoved against the wall.
The operation of undressing was qulcklji sot
over , the clothes ihey wore being put on top
of their blanketst Uncle Billy yawned. " 1
wonder what kind of a dream I'll have to
night It oughter to be suthln' to explain
that luck. " Thla wao his "good night" to
( its partner. In , a few moments he was
sound asleep.
Not so Uncle Jim. He had heard the wind
gradually go down , and In the oppressive
.silence that follcrwed could detect the deep
breathing of his compa'acn aud the far-off
yelp of the coyote. His cjeslght becoming
accustomed to the semi-darkness , broken
ohly by the cclntlllatlon of the dying embers
of their flre , h'e coulfl take In every } detai.
of their sordid cabin and the rude covlrcfi-
Ynent leuwhich they had lived so long. The
dismal patches on the bark roof , the
wretched makeshifts of each day , the drean
prolongation of discomfort were all
olaln to him now. without the sanguUie
nope that had made them bearable. And
when he shut his eywj upon them It was onlj
to travel in fancy down the steep mountain
Mde that he had trodden so often to the
dreary claim on the overflowed river to the
? ieaps of "tailings" that encuir.'acred It , like
empty chells of the hollow , profitless dajn
spent there , which they were always wait
' .ng for the stroke of good fortune to cleai
iway. He saw again the rotten "sluicing , "
through whose hopeless rifts and holes even
their scant dally earnings had become
scantier. At lest he arose and with Irdnlte
jentleness let hlmfslf down from his berth
without disturbing his sleeping partner and
.vrapp'ng himself In his blanket wont to the
door , which he noiselessly opened. From the
position of a few stars that were glittering
In the northern sky he knew that It wan j-ot
scarcely midnight there w re still long ,
vcotlcss hours before the day ! In the fever
ish state Into which he had gradually worked
himself it seemed to him impo&ilble to wait
the com'ng of the dawn.
But ho was mistaken. For even as he
stood there all nature seemed to Invade his
'lumble cabin with its free and fragrant
'oreath , and Invest him with Us great com
panionship. Ho fo'.t again , 'a that breath
.h't strange csnse of freedom that mystic
'touch of partnership with the birds and the
beasts , the shrubs and trees , In this greater
home before him. It was this vague com
munion that hod kept him there that stll !
held these world-sick , weary workers ID
their rude cab'ns on the slopcra around him
and he felt upon his brow that balm that
had nightly lulled him and them to sleep
and forgetfulncns. Ho closed the door ,
turned away , crept as noiselessly te before
Into hla 'bunk ' again , and presently fo'.l inf >
i profound slumber.
But when Uncle' ' Billy a.woke the next
morning ho saw It r.vae late , for the sun.
piercing the crack of the clcscj d'.or , wab
sending a pencil of light across the cold
hearth , Hko a match to rekindle Us dead
embers. His first thought was of hlb
strange luck ithe < night bet-ore , and of dls-
appolntirent that he had nit tad the dream
of dlvlnatlcn that he had looked for. He
sprang to the flo'jr , but as he stood up
right his glance fell on Uncle Jim's bunk.
It was empty. Not only that , but his
blankets Uncle Jim's own particular
blankets were ganc !
A sudden revelation of his partner's
manner the night -before struck him now
with the cruelty of a blow ; a sudden In
telligence perhaps the very divination ho
had sought flashed upon him llko lightning !
Ho glanced wildly-around the room. The
table was drawn ouufrom the wall a little
cetcntatlously , as If to catch his eye. On
It was lying the Btalncd chamois kin purse
In which they liad kept the few grains of
sold remaining from their last -week's "clean
up. " TJic grains had been carefully divided ,
ind half been taken ! But near It lay the
little meinoraohim. book , open , with the
stick of pencil lying across It , A deep line
was drawn across the page on- which waa
reccrded their Imaginary extravagant galni
and losses , even to the entry of Uncle Jim's
half fhare 'of the claim which he had risked
DH. EGW. E. HALE
Tells ol a I'osltltfeiSptrl'lc lor ( Servous Dis
eases ,
Edward Kverotfc Hale , D. D , . M. . D. .
the cel lrnted New England Preacher ,
Autliur and i'hllanthroplBt , writes :
"I nm assure' ' ] , by n careful Inquiry
amony leading pli > siclann and personal
friends who have ueeil It and In whom I
have the utmost confidence , that Dr.
Clmrcot'8 Kola Nervine Tabletu are Invaluable -
valuable in Inzomnla and all nurvous dla <
eu ei. "
Fifty cento and $1 per box. Write for
teatlmonUla of cures. EureUa Chemical
& Mfg. Co. , Lu. Crosae ,
And Ttwtt Underneath were hurrkdly
crawled Iho words
) "Settled by your luck , IAB ! night , old pard
Jnines roster , "
Wliitl It
When wo advertise that we will Riiarantco
Or. King's New Discovery , Kloctrlc Hitter * ,
llucklen'8 Arnica Solve or Dr. King's Now
Ute 1'llls , It moans that wo nro Authorized
by the proprietors to sell thrno remedies on a
positive guarantee. Hint It i > urohn or la not
Rfttlsflcd with results wo will refund the pur
chase price , TIICRC medicines have been sold
on this gunratitcc for many years and there
could bo no moro conclusive evidence of
their great merit. Ask about them and give
them a trial. Sold at Kulm & Co.'a drug
store.
SI.I2Ul > I.\n OAlt M.VN.NKltS.
Trvo Olrln Toll of ICxiifrliMtccn wllli
tlio AmorlcMii Man.
Thcro were three or four young women in
a parlor car on a Now Jersey railway the
other day and two of them gave their ex
perience In traveling alone at night , nya thd
New York Sun. Ono had ventured the ro-
matk :
"Tho American men are always polite to
women traveling alone. It they nro not. It
Is certainly the woman's fault. Slio Is for
ward , or common , or something. "
That started the conversation.
One girl didn't know about this , end pro
tested.
"Olrls , you kuow I am not forward , at
least I hope 1 am not , or common , and yet
I had a very unpleasant experience onco. I
was going to Plttsburg alone. FUther and
brother Frank went over to Jersey City with
mo and 1 went on the Western express nt
G:30. : Frank- had the tickets and found my
section , No. 8. There was a satchel and over
coat and umbrella there , which ho moved to
the next section.
"Wo had only time to get the Illustrated
ixipcrs , soy good-bye , and I was off.
"I hadn't turned the second page of the
paper I had taken uo before wo were cross
ing the meadows , when I was startled by n
gruff volco saying , 'Who moved my things ? "
I found my paper too Interesting to look up.
Again he shouted , 'Who moved those things ?
This Is mv section and I want my thlnga
put tack In It. '
"I felt my face getting hot , but said noth
ing. Ho picked up his satchel , sat down In
No. 7 opposite , unbuttoned his shoes , kicked
first cue , then the other , across the aisle
under my feet , put on sllfocrs and a travel
ing cap , hung his hat over my head , then
went for the porter , who had just como in.
Ho growlcd-samethlng nt him and I heard
the porter say. 'Don'no , sah ; have to see the
Pullman conductor. ' Ho went Into the next
car. I called the porter , found my tickets
were all right and wandered what would
happen next. I didn't have to wonder long.
In ho came again , and , girls , he wan tall ,
bread-shouldered , elegantly dressed looked
llko a gentleman , anyway , though ho wasn't
one. He fcald something to the porter about
a mistake , then came over to me and , bow
ing , said :
" . 'I made a mistake. I ask your pardon. '
"I know my face blazed then. I did feel
so InMilted to think ho could kick his shoca
under my feet and then apologize. I looked
straight at him and said , 'I think It time
you asked my pardon ; you are the rudest
man I ever met In all my life. ' He stood
there long enough to tell me that If he had
known that I was that kind of a woman he
"over would have apologized , and then went
back to his flection.
"At Philadelphia sorao one he knew came
In and ho must have told him all about It ,
for , In one of those mjsterloua lulls which
on the train are Just llko those at a concert ,
wo all heard him say : 'I went up and told
her I'd made a mistake and asked her par
don , but she was so d sassy I was sorry
I did. ' Now , girls , was that my fault ? You
see , even an American will bo mdo some
times to women. "
The champion of men took a back seat ,
and p. jolly-looking girl gave her experience.
"Jllno was Just funny , girls , and , I guess ,
my own fault. I was alone , too. One night
wo wcro going across the Alleghenlee , and
the train rocked llko mad. I had watched
several people land In the place they hadn't
wanted to land In , and was getting a good
deal of amusement. I called the porter to
have my berth made up , walked up the car ,
sat down , without a mishap , and wondered
why the other passengers weren't so agile.
As I came back I noticed a man sound
aalccp , arms folded , head down , and hat
over his eyes. As I came opposite him the
train gave a fearful lurch ; I felt myself
going , and grabbed something. It waa the
man's neck ; I was on his lap , arms around
him. My head struck his head , and his hat
flew Into the next seat. Ho said merely ,
'Good Lord ! ' and I was gone. I didn't look
back. I just crawled In between my cur-
tame. Then I had to laugh. "
Arnold's 'Iromo Celery rures headaches ,
lOc , 25c and nOc. All druggists.
KlfiHH WorlicTN Divide Uji.
PITTSBURQ , Dec. 3.-Tho trouble In the
National Window Glass Workers' associ
ation was amicably settled this afternoon
by President Burns pnylng over J2S.OOJ to
the cutters and llatteners nnd the latter
formally withdrawing from the association
There will be two organizations of cHisB
workers hereafter , one composed of the
blciAcrs and gatherers nnd the other the
flnttcners nnd cutters. The wage scale mill
now lie adjusted nnd o general resumption
of work Is expected before the end of the
year. The court proceedings have been
called off.
FOR 1898
A New Serial Story
RAGGED LADY"
By William bean Howells
This is a story of American life , the
principal figure being n young girl
who , like the llowcr from whence
the book takes its name , is typi
cally American , \ersatile , and capa
ble of adapting licrsclf to any situation -
ation in which she may be thrown.
' A New Serial Novel
"WILD EELIN"
V By William Black
This story tlcals with Scotch and Con-
ttr.-iitnl scenes , and has all the charm
of description anil characterization
which arc Mr. Black's strong qualities.
10 Cents a Copyi ; * > 4 oo a Year
In combination with HAKPRK'S WnitKLV ,
$7 oo a Year ; $3 50 Six Alontlii.
HARPER & BROTHERS , Publishers , New York and London
For next 10 days we will make special reduced prices on all
Heaters , CooJc Stoves find
As we do not Intend to carry over any Heating Stoves it will be to your
advantage 1o buy now ns w-j will make prices that will save you money ,
llpmeinlior we are sole agents in Uniahn for the celebrated
Thu Buckwith Genuine
Cole's Hot Blast Monitor , Majestic and
Heaters. Quick Meal Steel
Banges.
Fas n am Si.
WHEN YOU WANT TO LOOK ON THE
BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS , USE
"CUPIDENE"
NHOGD RESTORED great Vegetable
' Vltullzer.thcprr'scrlp-
tlouof n famouiFrcncU pliyslclnn , will quietly cure you of all ner
vous or diseases of the gciic'raU\c nrrjun , such as LoUMntilipoi ! .
Insomnia , I'ulnslnthe'licU.Seralnat Emissions , Nervous Debility
1'lmplcs , UnlUncss to Marry , J xlmustlnir Drnlns , Varlcooclc anil
Constipation. It stops all losses hyduv or nlebL I'rcvcnii ijnlrlt.
DC.SS of discharge , wlilclj If not chrrupd loeils to Gperraatorrhatt an J
" llio horrors of Impotoner. flTl'lUKWKclcanacstlieUvcr , ILO
kidneys ana thp urinary orRanso : all ImjiurlUci
E iitrcii8thensim < lreRtoreaRmallwcakorir nB. . . . . . . . .
Tlio reason sufTeriTH are not cured bj1 Honors Is becnuso ninety per cent are troubld. wltfj
Pro ( alltl . CUriDENK Is tlio only Known comedy to euro wlllioutun operation. ( OOOCcMfmnm-
. A written cu'iranti-cgiven and money returned If BX ) boxes doca not effect n pcituaucnteuro ,
WO a box , six for (5.W , by mall. Uenil for mcuclrcLlnr and tcstlmonlala.
AdJrcK > DA.V01MiDICINKCO..I'.O.lioianG.Banl'ruiclaco.Cal. fbrSntebV
Mj-crs Dillon Unit ; Co. , 9. K. Corner Kith mill Fnrniini Sin. , Oiualiii , Nell.
The Bee has secured a quantity of large half
tone encrravinqrs of the OFFICIAL BIRD'S-EYE
VIEW of the
. . Transtnississippi
Exposition
A copy of the engraving (19x24 ( inches ) will be
given to every subscriber with the
Sunday Bee of December 5.
A limited number of extra copies will be sold
to supply those who are not subscribers or those
who desire to send copies to friends out of the city.
As the surplus edition is limited , those who de
sire extra numbers will do well to place their orders
with the Subscription Department early.
5 cents per copy will be charged for the paper ,
including the engraving.
Special prices for orders of 25 copies or more.
Newsdealers from out of town must have their
orders in by December 3d.
The Bee Publishing Co.