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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1889)
WEST SIIORK. It was a quarter to six, and Tom cnnio slowly along Water street in Linn. Little John was standing in his office door, preparatory to his tramp toward St. Timo thy's hill. Tom observed this with a chuckle, and hastening his steps, he hailed his partner just as.the key was turning m the rusty lock. " Where ye ben?" asked Little John, querulously. " Ye ain't ben here fer days! " " 'Tendin' ter bus ncss, 10m answureu. ncre " Ain't goin' nowhere," said John. " Goin' tor stay The door was unlocked, and they entered. Tom puttered about his bench, and Little John took his fa vorite chair and watched. " Goldthurst's house is burned down, 'n' come one broke in my house V stole my wife's clothes?" Little John exclaimed. . . " Did they?" said Tom, looking around and grin ning. "Couldn't they find any thin' more vnlcblo ter "tL "Stole her watch, too," John continued. " Who was it, d'ye know?" , Tom gravely put his finger beside his nose and thought, then shook his head. ' Didn't know but what ye could tell.' mid John, "yeknowevcrythin. Did yo see my girl? eagerly. No; she must a died. I didn't see her nowhere. " She ain't dead," breaking into a childish whine. " Ye didn't go where she is." John went to the bench and took a long drink from the black bottle. , , " Goin' ter be hero tor-morrow? he asked. Tom shook his head. " I've gut some bus'ness," ho said. I ter go ith n.o tor-night I've gut ter work a snel 1 I've gut tor make night day. I told Vm I would, n I W1 The braggart gave a mysterious shake of his head, his eyes J! fairly .bluing with self gkn .cation. " Yell go ith mo, won't ye? " he asked. " Yes," John answered, unhesitatingly. I raps we'll find my girl, too." .niiiir Tom looked at the shrunken figure, a Hiul.ur Hinilo moving his great lips. , . " Ye go ter sleep," ho said. " '"'v ' r fV! awake a long watch tcr-nlght ter m t e s,,ll. l.kt another swaller out o' the bottle, n n-rt toed to the sleeping figure, ... ''j J . ( moved from the waist coat p-xket th ' " tacles, then the watch, then the , . his eyes about the dingy ro ... f ' . irik ...ore of value, ho return,,! to the ' ; ,. from the bottle, then filled Ins " ' J nu ward hi. sleeping partner the h k expression of quiet enjoyment and ,it- seven o'clock, then Litt io John J 'j v , f,, ting his foot on the sa lan.andrr hi i and bead like eyes glistening m H pipe. " Are ye ready?" Tom asked, the minute the palo blue eves opened, " Yes," answered Little John. " Yo'll find her fer me, won't ye? D'ye think?" " Sure to," said Tom. who held the Mile close to the little man's nose. " Take another swig o' this ter make ye brave. We've a long journey afore us." Ity oontintially plying his partner with liuiior Tom got hint outside ami the door locked, before the loss of the valuables were discovered. As they were starting away, John sloped. " Where's my specs?" he said. tremulously, n my watch? Hev yo seen 'em? Mother'H scold alsnit Vm," whimpering. " They're inside, on the bench," wild Tom. I BiHt'd Vm. Wo ain't gut no time ter go buck now. We'll come this way when we gits through 'n' git em. Perfectly satisfied, the little man trotted along, .tamping down his cane at each step, and wvasionally turning his weak, (...skeptical face toward the more powerful mind in simple questioning. They trudged across Linn till they struck the turnpike Mow the l,0t" Bo yo goin' much farther? " asked Little John, who was Wming very weary. " Not much further aU, Tom answered, and put new force into the feeble little man by giving him an other draught from the bottle Now ye .wail hm j I U git ,y horse. I'm too old ter walk much, n keens horses a handy." , , . . . . John sat on a stone and wa.tcd his hands folded on his knee, hi. eyes gating vacantly Into Imm ark, ro.M, which was not Irs. penctraU ban he heavy mi" t thut was settling on his own brain. U gave no 3 to Tom's long aUence but urncd his head Lily toward the sound that bade bin. come Sea -K the carriage, he breathed the cud evening air ""WtnIlnnuan, tl.-U Ujn I-,, .H,k tt own , oMilllmry. It was abml nine o clock when ." v ie through Mill str.Tt. and k.-..t ou aero the X When they bad the fast of the at rag- ho, :;, whei dwelt the foren,n of ho ... J, f y alighted, and the how was g.ven his I I -rty, Kgh encouraged to !.! the woods 'J ',XMWltlllMM,MI...M i; his partner, i liv n circuitous route they furred th -ir way -j ' inoine.it tin wau ninn .i , f ( llt K;:,; ,1 hn I.- returned he .aid slow ly ,ft".! Jul, win he rl"k -Irikr. In ye wu.t light