had busily circulated the report among the
idlers of Wilson's Bar that Bob Matheny had taken to himself a young
wife, who was accompanying him on his monthly trip to the mountains.
This report was published with the usual verbal commentaries, legends,
and annotations; as relevant and piquant as that sort of gossip usually
is, and as elegant as, from the dialect of Wilson's Bar, might be
expected.

Late that evening, a group of honest miners discussed the matter in the
Star Empire Saloon.

"He's the last man I'd a-suspected ov doin' sech a act," said Tom Davis,
with a manly grief upon his honest countenance, as he hid the ace and
right-bower under the brim of his ragged old _sombrero_, and proceeded
to play the left upon the remainder of that suit--with emphasis, "the
very last man!"

"It's a powerful temptation to a feller in _his_ shoes," remarked the
tall Kentuckian on his right. "A young gal is a mighty purty thing to
look at, and takes a man's mind off from his misfortin's. You mind the
verse, don't ye:

'Sorrows I divide, and joys I double?'"

"And give this world a world o' trouble," subjoined Davis's partner,
with a good natured laugh at his own wit. "It's your deal, Huxly. Look
and see if all the cards are in the pack. Deuced if I don't suspect
somebody's hidin' them."

"Every keerd's thar thet I hed in my hands, ef you mean _me_," said the
Kentuckian, sharply.

"Waal, I _don't_ mean you. A feller may have his little joke, I
suppose."

"Depends on the kind o' jokes. Here's the two missin' keerds on the
floor. Now, ef you say I put 'em thar, it's a little joke I reckon I
won't stand. _Sabe_?"

"Come, I'll pay for the drinks, old fel', if you'll allow me to
apologize. Waiter, drinks all round. What'll you take, gentlemen?"

"Now, that's what I call blarsted 'an'some," remarked Huxley, who was an
Englishman from Australia:

"'Friend of me soul, this goblet sip,
'Twill dry the starting tear;
'Tis not so bright as woman's lip,
But oh, 'tis more sincere!'

"Here's to ye, me hearties."

"Which brings us back to our subject," responded Davis's partner,
commonly called "Gentleman Bill," as the glasses were drained and sent
away. "Do you believe in curses, Kentuck?"

"B'lieve in cusses? Don't the Bible tell about cussin'? Wasn't thar an
old man in the Bible--I disremember his name--that cussed one of his
sons, and blessed t'other one? I reckon I _do_ b'lieve in cussin'."

Hi