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Some women I know of help a man faster that way than t'other," said the old miner. "Buster's a chump! Just look at all the money he's made off the natives and see the way he treats 'em!" jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the two asleep in the corner. "And that kid of his'n. He ought to take care of him instead of lettin' him starve to death like this. I swear its a shame!"
"I should like to meet some character who is really doing something in earnest; that is, some cowboy, miner, prospector, teamster, one of those twenty-mule-team kind, you know, or any such chap. Why, even the real estate men that have been up to my hotel seem to be acting a part. One expects every minute to see one of them pull a gun and hold up a fellow. No doubt they mean business."
There were all kinds of games and all kinds of traps to catch the honest miner and rob him of his money that he had labored hard to dig out of the ground. That night Jim Beckwith and I took in the sights of the city.
It was in a winding street, which led from the hill to the river, at a little distance from the mine. When we reached the house, a woman who was leaning up against the door talking to two or three neighbors told me that Gaspard, the miner, would not be back until six o'clock. "What do you want of him?" she asked. "I want to see Alexix, his nephew." "Oh? you're Remi?" she said.
The miner stopped, and began leisurely filling his pipe. "Well?" asked Tom, trying not to let his voice sound too eager. "Well, that was Phantom Mountain." The miner seemed to have finished his story. "Is that all?" asked Mr. Jenks. "How did you know it was Phantom Mountain?" "'Cause we seen the ghost my partner and I that's why!" exclaimed the man, puffing on his pipe.
It is related that an inebriated miner, impeded by mud and drink before its door, was found gazing at its remarkable facade with an expression of the deepest despondency. "I hev lived a free life, pardner," he explained thickly to the Samaritan who succored him, "and every time since I've been on this six weeks' jamboree might have kalkilated it would come to this.
I like to sit in front of my fire of an evening and wonder about it while I smoke my pipe, and fancy I can see the murderer hiding in a garret in an out-of-the-way alley, or as a stowaway on board a gert ship, or as a miner deep down in a coalpit, and never thinking that even there t'police can track him. Did you ever hear tell o' Mr. de Quincey, sir?
The young miner sat back in his chair, thrust both hands in his pockets, and stared rudely at the intruders. He did not mind the interruption as much as she did, since he was losing, and had been steadily ever since he sat down to play with Katrine, and doubts and angry questionings of his opponent's methods began to stir in his dull, clouded brain, as toads stir the mud in some thick pool.
You would not, from his manner or voice or dress have called him an American. You might have said he was a gentleman planter from Cuba or Java or Fiji, or a successful miner from Central America who had more than a touch of Spanish blood in his veins.
"Well, good-by," said Fleming, extending his hand. "Ye didn't tell me what luck ye had with the pan," she said, delaying taking his hand. Fleming shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, my usual luck, nothing," he returned, with a smile. "Ye seem to keer more for gettin' yer old ring back than for any luck," she continued. "I reckon you ain't much o' a miner." "I'm afraid not."
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