Newspaper Page Text
. LOVE IN SLEEPY CAMP.
' (From Mainly About People.)
It was too hot for work in
"Sleepy Camp," so nearly all the
men had given it up for the day
and lounged into Zeb's saloon to
have a smoke and a drink.
Though it was getting well on
in the afternoon the sun was still
blazing hot and there wasn't a
breath of air to move the red dust.
In a little shanty, not far from the
saloon, sat two young diggers,
both tall, well built men, but one
handsome, the other ugly hence
their nicknames Bob, the. Beauty
and Ugly Sam. Sam sat in the
corner near the window, through
which "could be faintly heard the
laughing and singing at Zeb's ;
Bob sat on the table, swinging his
legs.
"It's a treat to git out o' that
scorchin' sun," said Ugly, pulling
a pipe out of his pocket and knocking
the ash on the floor.
"Yes," agreed Beauty, stretching
his arms and yawning fearfully.
"We've had a grand day,
haven't we, Beauty?" asked Sam,
striking a match on his boot.
"Yes," answered Bob, shutting
his big mouth with a snap.
"You seem to take it awful
quiet you don't seem to grasp
that we Ave two pards have
found the biggest nugget ever dug
up in 'Sloop Camp.' "
"Oh, yes, I do," replied Bob,
kicking so hard at the table leg
that it seemed more than likely the
rickety old thing would give way.
"Let's have another look at it!"
So saying, Sam jumped to his
feet and took a key out of his
pocket, crossed to a large chest
that was standing up against the
wall, fitted it in the lock and threw
back the lid with a bang.
It was a nugget goodness
knews how much it was worth.
"Isn't it grand," cried Sam, falling
on his knees and patting it
affectionately with his hand.
"I should say it was," said Bob,
slipping off the table to have a
look over Ugly's head.
THE HONOLULU TIMES.
"Another find half as big as
that, and we're made fer life," and
Sam closed the lid and locked it,
putting the key carefully back into
his pocket.
Bob crossed to the table and
took up his former position.
"Ours has turned out a trump
of 'er claim," he said.
Sam nodded his head and re:
plied :
"Rather."
"What'll you do when yer have
enough give up work?" asked
Bob.
"I might think o' doing so,"
answered Sam, relighting his pips.
"Might git married, eh?"
"Maybe."
Bob slipped down off the table
once more and went to the door
opened it and looked out. Two
or three miners were passing on
their way to their shanties; they
greeted him with "Good evening,
Beauty," and walked on. Bob
kicked the door to and strode
across to Sam, who was still puffing
at his pipe.
"Look here, Ugly," said Bob;
"it's no good us two goin' on like
this, is it?"
"No," replied Sam, rising frim
his seat.
"What's ter be done?"
Sem shook his head.
" 'Bout Lil, I mean," explained
Bob.
"I know what yer mean, Beauty,"
and Sam looked intently at
the floor as if thinking.
"Who does she like the best o'
us two?" asked Bob.
"Can't say the one she's talkih'
to at the time, I guess."
"Look here, Ugly," said Bob,
"we've always been good pals,
we've not had rows like Hatchet
and Black George, and it's a pity
we should start now, especially
'bout a woman."
"Yer right enough there 1"
agreed Sam.
"Now, we both love Lil," continued
Bob, and there was a perceptible
catch in his voice at the
word "love," "and we think she
cares fer us both jist about the
same."
"Ye."
"Well, if one were to go, the
one left would most probably
have 'er eh?"
"Yes," from Sam, with a nod
of the head.
"Who's to go?" asked Bob.
The two men looked at each
other there was silence for a moment
except for the distant laughing
then Sam felt in his pocket
for something and said:
"You see this dollar piece?
Well, it may sound a bit wrong 10
spin for her, but listen, Beauty,
one of us two has ter go. I'll
throw this coin up, you call, and if
yer right I'll pack, but if yer wrong
I'll stay.
Bob bit sis lips.
"Is it a go?" asked Sam.
"And the one that goes, does he
take his share?" Bob asked.
"He takes that," answered Sam,
pointing to the chest. "If yer
right yer have Lil and I take the
nugget, but if wrong yer go with
the nugget and I stay with the
gal."
"It seems a bit funny "
"But," interrupted the other,
it's a way out of the wood; if we
both staty ther'll be shootin'."
"All right, Ugly, it's a bargain."
Bob drew a long breath. "We'll
stick by the spin of that there
dollar."
"We will. Shall I throw?" asked
San quietly.
"Yes," came from Bob in the
same tone.
"Call while it's high," said Sam,
and up it went spinning round
and round in the air.
"Women !" cried Bob.
Down it came with a ring on the
floor and rolled into a corner of
the room.
"See what it is," said Sam.
Bob crossed hesitatingly and
peered down into the corner.
"It's heads," he cried, "I've
lost."
"And I've won," cried Sam,
rushing over to the place and picking
up the dollar, "my dear old
lucky coin," and he put it to his
lips and kissed it then went to
Bob, who was looking out of the
window.
"Shake!" he said, holding out
hand.
