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Show GUNNISON. 253 it was a week before the forwarding merchant could ship his furniture and safe. All this time the latter, with its precious contents, stood upon the platform of the forwarding houses, passed daily by all the hard characters of a mining camp, who, had they known its value, would soon have wrecked it. Gill had it marked Alonzo Hartman, Gunnison, Colorado (the name of one of bis partners), then purchased a suit of overalls and loafed around with the freighters so as to keep an eye on his treasure. At length the valuable freight was loaded, and when ready to start, Gill stepped up to the driver and asked if he could secure passage with him. After some parleying the man said, " yes, if you will do half the cooking, and buy all the supplies, tobacco and whisky, wash the dishes, hitch and unhitch the mules, you may go." Gill consented. The fourth day out they were compelled to build a corduroy road, and were subsequently delayed a day by high water. In all, they were fifteen days en route. Gill performed his part of the contract to the satisfaction of his " boss." But it was rather a novel role for a bank cashier to assume. Arriving in Gunnison, and having paid the freighter, he dropped his disguise and assumed his proper character, greatly to the astonishment of the latter, who then, for the first time, discovered the identity of his "cook and helper." |