The diamond drill., June 21, 1902, Image 3

About The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
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CONTINUED.
IladMr. Craig not boon away at the
j-ancncg tnat week, had Geordle not
boon on the night shift, had Mr. Ma
yor not boon bo occupied with the care
of her sick child. It may be Hilly tnlgbt
have Mvn saved his full.
The anticipation of the ball stirred
Black Hock and the camps with a thrill
of exiKxrtnnt delight. Nowadays wlien
I And myself forced to leave my quiet
smoke In my studio after dinner at the
call of some social engagement which
I have failed to elude I groan at my
bard lot, and I wonder as I look back
anl yememlKT the pleasurable nnticl
patbift with which I viewed the ap
proaching ball. Hut I do not wonder
now any more than I did then at the
eager delight of the men who for seven
days in the week Kwung their picks up
in the dark breasts of the mines or who
chopped and sawed among the solitary
Ell en com of the great forests. Any break
In the long and weary monotony wax
welcome. What mattered tlx? cost or
consequence? To the rudest and least
cultured of them the sameness of the
life must have been hard to bear, but
what) ft was to men who had seen life
In fa most cultured mid attractive
forms I fall to imagine. From the mine,
black and foul, to the shack. b;ire,
Cheerless and sometimes hideously re
pu'tlve, life swung In heart grinding
monotony till the longing for u "big
drink" or some other 'blg break" be
came too great to lear.
It was well on toward evening when
Sandy's four horse team, with a load
of men from the woods, come swing
ing round the curves of the mountain
road and down the street. A gay
crowd they were with their bright,
brown fares and hearty voices, and
in ten minutes the whole street whin
ed alive with lumbermen they had
a faculty of spreading themselves so.
After night fell the miners came down
"done up slick," for this was a groat
occasion, and they must be up to it.
The manager appeared In evening
dress, but this was voted "too giddy"
by the majority.
As (Interne and I passed up to the
Black Rock hotel, In the large store
room of which the ball was to be held,
we met old man Nelson, looking very
grave.
"Going, Nelson, aren't you 7" I said.
"Yes," he answered slowly. "I'll
drop In. though I don't like the looks
of things much."
"What's the matter. Nelson? asked
Graeme cheerily. "There's no funeral
on."
"Perhaps not," replied Nelson, "but
I wish Mr. Cr;:! were at home." And
then he added. "There's Idaho and
Slavin together, mi you may bet the
devil Isn't far
Hut Graeme Lt : s 1 at his suspicion,
and we passed on. The orch"strn was
tuning up. There were two . l di.is, a
concertina and the cello. Hilly Hreen
was lovingly lingering his Instrument,
now and then Indulging hlmsi-Jf in a
little snatch of so.no air that e.wnc to
him out of hN happier past. He lo ik
ed perfectly deliiJited. and as I paused
to listen he gave me a proud glance out
of his deep, little, blue eys n 1 went
on playing softly to him. sent
ly Shaw came aloni'.
"That's goed. r. .ly." I.e. railed out.
"You've got " ?! '. ei, 1 see."
Hut l'.Illv iKii) n dded and went on
playing.
"Where's Nixon?" I asked.
"Gone to bed." said Shaw, "and I am
glad of It. lie finds that the safr.-t
place on pay day afternoon. The boys
don't bother him there."
Tin dancing room was lined on two
sides with beer barrels and wYi-ky
kegs. At one end tie orchestra sat; at
the other was , table with re,p:i
tnents. where the soft drinks might ' e
had. Those who wanted anything ehc
might pass through, a short passage
Into the bar Ju-d behind.
This was evidently a superior kind of
ball, for the men kept on their coats
and went through the various figures
with faces of unnatural solemnity, but
the strain tiMiti their feelings was riuie
mparcnt, and It became a jrii stio-j
nrHv long It could lie maintained. As
th trips through the passageway be
came more frequent the dancing grew
in vigor ami hlWirlty until by the time
supper was announced the MIMnc
had sufficiently vanished to give no
further anxiety to the ewmnlttii.
Hut the committi had other eauw
for concern. Inasmuch us after supper
certain of the miners apiieared with
their coats off aid proceeded to "knock
the knots out of the Moor" in break
down dances of extraordinary energy.
These, however, Were beguiled into tho
barroom and "tilled up" for safety, for
the committee were determined thnt
the ispeet ability of the bull should lie
preserved to the end. Their reputation j
Was at Make not In Hlack Hock only, j
but at the landing as well, from which J
most of the ladies had come, and to l'w '
shamed in the presence of the Landing
lrople could not be bortH'. I heir dllll
cultles seemed to be Increasing, for at
this point something seemed to go
wrong with the on lu stra. Tho cello
appeared to be wandering aimlessly up
And down the scale, occasionally (lick
ing up with the tune with animation
And then dropping It. As H.ily raw tne
npi ro-whlng he drew himself up with
frrt fit Kolenmlty, gravely winked at me
and said:
i--d a c MKher Cor.Pwrl
Mosn nuniortunate! Heauchiful hln
strument. but shllps a cog. Mosh hun
fortunate!" And he wagged his little head sagely,
playing all the while for dear life, now
second and now lead.
Foor Hilly! I pitied him. but I
thought chiefly of the beautiful, eager
face that leaned toward him the night
the league was made ami of the bright
voice that said, "You'll sign with me,
Billy?" and it seemed to me a cruel
deed to make him lose his grip of life
and hope, for this Is what the pledge
meant to him.
While I was trying to get Hilly away
to some safe place I heard a great
shouting In the direction of the bar,
followed by trampling and scuffling of
feet In the passageway. Suddenly a
man burst through, crying:
"Let me go! Stand back! I k" :
what I'm about!"
It was Nixon, dressed in his lsst
black clothes, blue shirt, red tie, look
ing handsome enough, but half drunk
and wildly excited. The "Highland
Fling" competition was on at the mo
ment, and Angus Campbell, Lachlan's
brother, was representing the lumlier
camps In the contest. Nixon look id on
approvingly for a few moments. Then,
with a quick movement, he seized the
little hlghlander, swung him In his
powerful arms clean off the floor and
deposited him gently upon a beer bar
rel. Then he stepped into the center of
the riKiin, bowed to the Judges and be
gan a sailor's hornpipe.
The committee were periJcod, but
after deliberation they decided to hu
mor the new competitor, especially as
they knew'that Nixon with whisky In
him was unpleasant to cross.
Lightly and gracefully he went
through his steps, the men crowding in
from the bar to admire, for Nixon
was famed for his hornpipe. Hut when
nfter the hornpipe he proceeded to ex
ecute a clog dance, garnished with
acrobatic feats, the committee inter
fered. There were cries of "Hut him
out!" and "I-t him alone! G on, Nix
on!" And Nixon hurled back Into the
crowd two of the committee who had
laid remonstrating hands ujou him,
and. standing in the open center, enied
out scornfully:
"Hut me out! Put me out! Certainly!
Help 'yourselves! Don't mind me!"
Then, grinding his teeth so that 1
heard them across the room, he added,
with sayage dcllNTatlon, "If uny man
lays a linger on me, lil lil eat his
liver cold."
lie stood for ci few moments glaring
round uik)ii the company and then
strode toward the bar, followed by the
crowd, wildly yelling. The ball wa
forthwith broken up. I looked around
for Hilly, but he was nowhere to be
s en. Graeme touched my arm.
"There's going to be something of a
tir-i". so just het p your eyes skinned,"
he said.
"What are you going to do?" I nked.
"I V Kei p mys;if beautifully out of
tro';!.!e," hr re pilt d.
In a few moments the crowd came,
surging hack. In ud-d hy .ioii, who
was waving a whisky bottle 'over his
head and yelling a; one possessed.
"Hello!" exclaimed Graeme softly.
"I begin to see. I .on'; there!"
"What's up" 1 a.vkcd.
"You Kce Idaho and Slavin nnd their
pet-'-," he replied. "They've ot poor
Nix'on in tow. Idaho is rather nasty,"
he added, "but I think I'll take a hand
in this .';ime. I've soi n ome of Idaho's
Work before.' .
The scene was one pilte strange to
me ; 1 1 i I was wild beyond description.
A hundred men tilled th room. Mottles
were passed from hand to hand, and
men drank their till. Heldul the re
freliho fit tables Mood t'e hotel man
and his bari'pcr, with their coats off
and slecvcN rolled up to the shoulder,
jussing out twiltles and drawing beer
and whisky from two keei hoisted up
for that purjiN NKon whs in his glo
ry, li was his night, i'vtry innn whs
to g t drunk at his expense, lie pro
claimed. I'.lnglng down bills upon the
table. Near him were some league men
he was treating liberally, and never far
away were Idaho jiVai Slavin passing
botth s, but evidently drinking little.
I followed Graeme, not feeling too
comfortable, fr this sort of thing w.ti
new- to me. but admiring the tol a,
suranee with which he mnde his way
through tls crowd that swayed and
yelled and swore and laughed in a
most disconcerting manner.
"Hello!" sttoutcd Nixon as ho caught
sight of Gnverne. "Her you are!"
passing him a lotth "You're a
knocker, a double handM front door
knocker. You pollslnd off old whisky
so-ik h"n old demijohn," pointing to
Slavin. "and I'll lay five to one we
can lick any Mankoty blank thieves In
the e- wil." And lie he'd up a roll of
bill !.
Hut GrntftiM1 proposed tint he should
Live the iHirnpljto again, and the t'oor
wa" (I'-iitil at opeo, for Nixon's boi.i
pipe ;i very ixrpid.fr and tonight of
eour- e. -vis in h! ii f.nor. In the midst
if his d me' Nixon stopped short: his
arms dropped to hN sides; his faco
had a' look of fear, of horror.
There, before him. In his riding cloalc
and boots, with his whip In his hand
ns be hid come from his. ride, sto d
Mr. Craig. Ills face was pallid, and
his dark eyes were blazing with flcrco
light, As Mxo;i st oi'pcd, Craig step
ped forward to him, and. sweeping
his eyes round upon the circle, he said
in tones Intense with scorn:
"You cowards! You get a man
where he's weak!. ..'-Cowards! You'd
damn his soul for h!a..money!"
There was a dead silence, and Craig,
lifting his tint, said solemnly:
"May God forgive you this night's
work!"
r
ain't used io
""ion ain't used p Sand -you can't be
expected to do it. b-t It Just r .rtkcs me
feel good- let out of school like to
properly do Vm up, the blank, blank"
And otf ho went again. It was only
under th- pressure of Mr, Craig's pray
ers and commands that he flnaHy
agreed to "hold In, though It's tough."
"Wliat's to !? done?" asked Shaw.
"Nothing," answered Craig bitterly.
He was exhausted with his long ride
from the Landing and broken with bit
ter disappointment over the ruin of. all
that he had lalxred so long to accom
plish. "Nonsense!" said Gra-eme. "There's
a good deal to do."
It was agreed that Craig should re-
Then, turning to Nixon and throwing I main with Nixon, wbllo the others of
We ave now ready to servo In mil at
all hours of the flay. All home made
funis at Mrs. Vs. N. Uer'a Lunch
room ami Confectionery.
his arm over his shoulder, he said in
a voice broken ami husky:
Come on, Nixon! Weil go!"
Idaho made n nwtlon as If to stop
htm, but Graeme stepped cjulekly for
ward and said sharply, "Make way
there, can't yon?" and the crowd fell
back, and we four passed through,
Nixon walking as in a dream, with
Craig's arm about hlm Down the
street we went In silence and on to
Craig's shack, where we found old
man Nelson, with the tire blazing and
Strong coffee steaming on the stove. It
was he that had told Craig, on his ar
rjyjil from tho Landing, of Nixon's
fall. -
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity, in tone and touch as
Craig placed tho half drunk, djjjed
a in his easy chair, took off his
boot?, brousht him his own slippers
and gave him coffee. Then,"as his 'stu
por began to overcome him, Craig put
him In his own bed and carne forth
with a face written over with grief.
"Don't mind, old chap," said Graeme
kindly.
Hut Craig looked at him without a
word and, throwing himself into a
chalr.'put his face in his hands. As we
sat there in silence the door was sud
denly pushed open, nnd in walked Abe
Haker, with the words, "Where is Nix
on?" and wo told him where bo was.
We were still talking when again a tap
came to the door, and Shaw came in
looking much disturbed.
"Did you hear about Nixon?" ho ask
ed. We told him what we knew.
"Hut did you hear how they got
hhn?" he asked excitedly.
As ho told us the tale the men stood
listening, with faces growing hard.
It appeared that after the making of
the leaguo the Hlack I lock hotel man
had 1s t Idaho a hundred to fifty that
Nixon could not le got to drink before
Kaster. All Idaho's schemes had failed,
and now he had only three days In
which to win his money, and the hall
was his last chance. Here, again, he
was balked, for Nixon, resisting all en
treaties, barred his shack door and
went to bed before nightfall, according
to his invariable custom on pay days.
At midnight some of Idaho's men came
battering at the door for admission,
which Nixon reluctantly granted. Tor
half aji hour they used every art of
persuasion to Induce him to go down
to the ball, the glorious success of
which was glowingly depicted, but
Nix on remained Immovable, and they
took their departure, haliled and curs
ing. In two hours they returned drunk
enough to be dangerous, kicked at the
door In vain, Anally gained entrance
through the window, hauled Nixon out
of bed and. holding a glas.s of whisky
to his lips, bid Lhn drink, but he knock
ed the glavs a vi ay, ' spilling the liquor
over himself and the bed.
It was drink r tight, and Nixon was
ready to liht, but after a parley they
bad a drink ail round and fell to per
suasion av.ain. The right was cold, and
poor Nivori f.if shivering on the edge of
his bej. If Le would lake one drink,
they would leave him alone. He treed
not "diovv himself so stiff. The whisky
fumes idled bis nourlls. If one drink
would get them off, uriy that was
Letter than lighting and kilting some
on,' or getting klll d. lie hesitated,
yielded, drank his glas.s. They sat
about him amiably drinking and laud
lug him as n Tine fellow after all. One
more glass before they left; then Nixon
rose, dressed himself, drank nil that
was left of. tho bottle, put his ir-onoy in
his pocket ami came down to the
lance wild with his old time madness,
reckless of faith and pledge, forgetful
of home. wife, babies, his whole being
ubsorhed in ru great passion -to drlr.k
and drink and drink Gil he could drink
no more.
Hefore Shaw had finished his tale
Craig's eyes were streaming with (cars,
and groan of rage and pity broke al
ternately from him.
Abe rem.liiMl speechless for a time,
not trusting himself, but as le heard
Craig groan. "Oh, the beasts, the
llends!" he seemed encouraged If) let
himself loose.' and he began swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdling
deliberation
Cntlg listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac
tion In Abe's erformaiuv. when sud
denly he seemed to waken up. caught
Abe bv the .it in and said in a horror
Ktrlckcn voice:
".Stop! Stop! G! forgive us! We
must not swear like this."
Abe Ktopptd at once and In a sur
prised and slightly grieved voice said:
"Why. what's the matter with that?
Ain't that what ymi wanted?"
"Yes, yes God forgive me! I am
afraid it was," he answered hurriedly,
"but I must not." '
"Oh. don't ou worry!" jvent on Abe
chfcrfully. "I'll look after that part.
And anyway ain't they the blankest
hlankcty blank" going off again into
a roll of curses till Craig. In an agony
of entreaty, succeeded In arresting the
i!ow of profanity poslblo to no one
but a mountain stage driver. Abe
paused, looking hurt, and usked If they
ui 1 not dierve everything he was call
ing down ifpon thorn.
"Yes, jes," urged Craig, "but that Is
not fair business."
"Well, so I reckoned." replied At
u cognizing the limitation? of the cloth.
- - - - - - I
us should gather op what fragments
we could find of the broken league.
We hail Just opened the door when we
met a man striding np at a great pace.
It was Geordlo Crawford.
"Ilao ye seen tho lad?" was his salu
tation. No one replied, m I told Geordlo of
my last sight of Hilly in tho orchestra.
"An did ye no' gang alftcr him?" he
asked In Indignant surprise, adding,
wJth some contempt. "Mon. but ye're a
feckless huddle!"
"Hilly gone, too?" wild Shaw. "They
might have let Hilly alone.
Poor Craig stood In dumb agony.
Hilly's fall seemed more than he could
bear. We went out, leaving him heart
broken amid the ruins of his league.
Tfcwas - - ""-
CIIAPTL'U IX.
A
THE LEAGUE'S REVENGE.
S we stood outsldo of Craig's
shack In the dim starlight ye
could not hide from ourselves
that we were beaten. It was
not so much grief as a blind fury that
tilled my heart, and, looking at the
faces of the men about me, I read the
same feeling there. Hut what could
wo do? The yells of carousing miners
down at Slavin's told us that nothing
could Is? done with them that night.
To bo so utterly leatcn and unfairly
and with no chance of revenge was
maddening.
"I'd like to get back nt 'em," said
Abe, carefully repressing himself.
"I've got It, men," said Graeme sud
denly. "This town does not require
all the whisky there Is In it." And he
unfolded his plan. It was to gain ros
session of Slavin's saloon and tho bar
of the Hlack Hock hotel nnd clear out
all the liquor to Im found In both these
places. I did not much Mko the Idea,
but Geordie said: "I'm ga'en alftcr the
lad. I'll hae naethln' tao dao wi yon.
It's no that isy, an it's a slnfu'
waste."
Hut Abe was wild to try It, and
Shaw was quite willing, while old Nel
son sternly approved.
"Nelson, you and Shaw get a vouple
of our men and attend to ttn saloon.
Slavin and the whole gang aro up at
the Hlack Uock, so yon won't have
much trouble, but come to us as soon
as you can."
And so we went our ways.
Then followed a scene tho like of
which I can never hope to seo again,
and it was worth a man's seeing, but
there were times that ldght when I
wished I had not agreed to follow
Graeme In his plot.
As we went up to tho hotel I asked
Graeme:
"What about the law of this?"
"Law!" he replied Indignantly. "They
haven't troubled much alsait law In
the whisky business here. They get a
keg of high wines and some drug and
begin ojteratlons. No." he went on; "if
we can get the crowd out and ourselves
hi we'll make them break the law In
getting us out. The law won't trouble
us fiver smuggled whisky, it will n
great lark, and they won't crow too
loud over the leatrue."
I did not Ilk" the undertaking at first,
but a I time: 1 t .of the whole wretched
Illegal bus! -J.': s
weakness ; :!
camps, w o'.i I
us brothers, ',
of the cowa!tl-
let my scruple o and
with Abe, to "; I back at
t'ourishlug ujK.n tli;
':"en in i he mines and
had 1 ::r;ie I to regard
j i: ily as 1 V ought
tl it did for Nil on. 1
flel ruilned.
em."
We bad in; dit'.ieulty getting them out.
Abe began to yell. Some men rushed
out. to learn the cause. Ho sclzf d the
foremost man, making a hideous up
roar nil the while, and In three minutes
had every man fait of the hotel und a
lively row going on.
In t wo miiiutcti more Graeme and I
had the floor of the ballroom locked
and barricaded with empty cask. We
then closed tlt' door of the barroom
leading to the outside. The barroom
was a strongly built log shack, with a
heavy door seennd. after the manner
of the early cabins, with two strong
oak bars, so that we felt safe from at
tack from that qtmrter.
The ballroom we could lxt hold long,
for the door was slight and entrance
was jMisslble througli the window. Hut
as only a few casks ff liquor were left
there our main work would be In the
bar, so that the flght Would Im to hold
the passageway. This we barricade!
with cask;, and tables. Hut by this
time the crowd Imd legm to realize
what had hapf.'!! and were wildly
yelling ut door and windows. With an
ax which Graeme liad brought with
him the casks wvre sri stove In and
left to empty tttvinselve.
As I was alout to empty the last
cn-di Graeme st?nnd me, saying: "It
that stand bote. It will help us." And
so It did. "Now skip for the barri
cade!" jelled Graeme as a man came;
crashing through the window. Hut be
fore he could ng iili Id feet Graeme ;
poiutiug to a V window high up In
the wall, i v
I made all haste. The casks did not
jtake much time, and toon the whisky
jand beer were flowing over tho floor,
j It made mo think of Geordle's regret
over the "slnfu waste." The bottles
to. k longer, and, glancing up now and
then. I saw that Graeme was being
hard pressed. Men would leap, two
and three at a time, upon the barricade,
and Graeme's arms would shoot out.
nnd over they would topple upon the
heads of those nearest. It was a great
sight to see him standing alone, with
a smile on his face and the light of bat
tle lnxhls eye, coolly meeting Ids as
sailants with thot terrific, lightning
like blows. In fifteen minutes my work
was done.
"What next? I asked. "How do we
get out?"
"How Is tho door?" he replied.
I looked through tho iortholo and
said:
"A crowd of nen waiting."
"Weil have to make a dash for ft, 1
fancy,'' he repriod cheerfully, though
his face was covered with blood and
his breath was coming in short gasps.
"Get down tho bars and te ready."
Hut even as he spoke a chair hurled
from below caught him on the arm,
nnd before he could recover n man had
cleared the barricade and was upon
him like a tiger. It was Idaho Jack.
"Hold the barricade!" Graeme called
out as they both went down.
I sprang to his place, but I had not
much hope of holding It long. I had
the heavy oak bar of the door In my
hands, and, swinging It round my head,
I inadfji the crowd give back for a few
mTmitntsT
Meantime Graeme had shaken off his
enemy, who was circling alout him
uon his tiptoes, with a long knife In
his .hand, waiting for a chance to
spring. '"'
"I have been waiting for this for
some time, Mr. Graeme," he said, smil
ing. "Yes," replied Graeme, "ever since I
sjwlled your cutthroat game In Frisco.
How Is the little one?" he added sar
castically. Idaho's face lost Its smile and lecame
distorted with fury as he replied, spit
ting out Ids words:
"She Is where you will Is? before I
am done with you."
"Ah, you murdered her too! You'll
hang some beautiful day, Idaho," said
Graeme as Idaho sprang upon him.
Graeme dodged his blow and caught
his forearm with his left hand and held
up high the murderous knife. Hack
and forward they swayed over the
tloor, slippery with whisky, the knife
held high in tho air. 1 wondered w hy
Graeme did not strike, and then I saw
his right hand hung limp from the
wrist. The men were crowding upon
the barricade. I was In despair.
Graeme's strength was going fast.
With a yell of exultant fury Idaho
threw himself with all his weight upon
Graeme, who could only cling to him.
They swayed together toward me, but
as they fell 1 brought flown my bar
upon tho upraised hand and sent the
knife llylng across the room. Idaho's
howl of rage and pain was mingled
with a shout from below, and there,
dashing the crowd to right and left,
came old Nelson, followed by Abe, San
fly, Haptlste, Shaw and others. As
they reached the barricade It crashed
tlovvn and, carrying me with It, pinned
me fast.
Looking out between the barrel. I
saw what fro.e my heart with horror.
In the fall Graeme had wound hi
arms about his enemy and held 1dm
In a grip so deadly that he could not
strike, but Graeme's strength was fall
ing, ami when I looked I aw that Ida
ho was slowly dragging both across
the slippery f!oor to vv h ; e the knife
lay. Neaii-r and nearer hi outstretch
ed tin;, e:s came to the knife. In vain
I yell, d ; n l struggled. My voice was
lost In l he awful din. and the barri
cade held me fast. Above me. stand
lag in a barrel head, was Haptlste,
yelling like a demon. In vain I called
to hi in. My tinkers could Just reach
his loot, and he heeded not at all my
touch. Slow ly Idaho was drag'ng his
almost uneoi. scion a victim tow aril tin
knife. Ills fingers wire touching tin
blade point when, und r a sudden In
splration. I pulled out mv penknife.
opened it with my teeth a';d drove the
blade into HapfMe's foot. With a
hloixlcurdling yell he sprang down and
began dancing round In his rage, jer
Ing among the barrel.
"Look! Look!" I was calling In ago
ny and pointing. "For heaven's sake,
look. Hapt!?!e!"
The flngei. had ched upon the knife,
the knife wa already high In the air.
when, with a shriek, Haptlste cleared
tho room at a bound, ami be ft ire the
knife could fall the little Frenchman's
Nifit had caught the uplifted wrist and
scut the knife tljlng to the wall.
Then tls-re was a great nwhlng
sound as of wind through tls forest,
ami tho lights went out. When I
nwoke, I found myself lying with my
head on Graeme's knee and Haptlste
sprinkling snow on my face. As I
looktd up Graeme loaned over, and,
smiling down into my eyes, he said:
"Good boy! It was a great fight, and
we put It up well." And then Ih? whis
pered, " owe you my life, my loy."
Ill word thrilled my heart through
and through, for I loved him as only
men can love men. but I only answer
ed: "I could not keep them back."
"It was well done," ho haid, and I
ft It proud.
had seized him arid flung him out upon ' I confess t w as thankful to f e so
the head of the crowd outside. Hut j
thf'Oiigh the otln r windows men were!
coming In. arid Orncme rushed for the1
barricade, follovvitl by two of the cue- 1
my, the foremost of whom I received
at the top and hurled back upon th.
other "Now be quick!" said Graeme. "I'll
hold th!s. Don't break any bottles on
the floor. Throw them out there,"
well out of It. for Crnonie cot off w'th
a bone f:i Ids wrist luoken and I with
a caii : cf ribs craekftl. but had i; i a
beer, for the open ha trf I of w hi-Icy
which kept them occupied for a time,
offering too good a ehan. e to l.r j, st,
und fir the timely arrival of N. on.
neither of us hul eve the light
again.
We found Craig sou I tsiccp e.j.oti
his couch. His consternation on wait
lng to see us torn, bruised and bloody
was laughable,' but he hastened to tiai
us vrum water and bandages, and vrm
eoon felt ct'tnfortab'o,
Haptlste waa radiant with pride an!
delight over the light and hovered'
alout Graeme and me, giving vent ta
hla feelings in admiring French and
I!ncllsh expletives. Hut Abe was dlj
gustid Isx-auKo of the failure at Sia-.
ins, for when Nelson looked In ho'sfiw
Slavin's French Canadian wife la
charge, with her baby on her "lap. a.l
ho came bark to Shaw and said, "Como
away; we can't touch this," and Sliavi.
after lotting In, agreed that retain
ctnild bo done. A baby held tho fort
As Cmtg listened to the account of
tho ftetit he tried hard not to approve1
but lw cxnrld not ketj the glesm out of
his eycH and as I pictured Gnu-me
dashlnj; back the crowd thronging thi
barricade till he was brought down by
the clialr Craig laughed gently and ptrt
his heid on Graeine'a knec and as I
went on to descrllw my agony wfci'e
Idaho's finger were gradually nearlrr
tho knife his face grew pale nnd h
eyes grow wide with horror.
"BajKlstc here did tho business I
said, and the little Frenchman noddirf
complacently ami said:
"Daf a me for sure."
"By tlio way, how Is your foot?" asfc
cd Gnieene.
"lie's fuss rate. Dat's what yon ct!I
one bito of of-lut loci bee. He'r
Acre; jnu put your linger dere, he's not
dere. What you call him?" '
Tldi!' I suggested.
-Ouir cried Haptlste. "Pat's one
bite at flt-n." .
"I wmi thankful I was under t!a
barrolH," I replied, smiling.
"Gull Dat's mak me ver mad. I
Jump and swear mos awful bad. Daf
pardon mo, M'sleu Craig, heh?"
Jjut, Cruig only smiled at him ratbor
Md
"It wan awfully rlskj-," he said H
Gniens'. "and It was hardly worth tl.
They'll get more whisky, and anyway
the hvigue Is gone."
"WcJl," said Graeme, with a sigh of
satisfaction, "It Is not finite such '
one sided affair as It was."
And we could say nothing In rep?y,
for we could hear Nixon snoring In tire
next rocn, and no one had heard of
Hilly, and there were fit hers of Vsrt
league that we knew were even rmvr
down at Slavin's. It was thought tie?t
that all should remain In Mr. Cralra
shack, not knowing what might haj
Ien, and so we lay where we coutvL
and we needed none to sing us fi
sleep.
Wlien 1 awoke, stiff and sore. It wis
to find Irreakfast ready and old mxa
Nelsi in charge. As we were seatwi
Craig mine In, and I saw that he wn
not tls man of the night before. Hla
courage had come I nick; his face wa
quiet and his eye clear. He was fcie
own tnati again.
"Gotcdle ha been out all night, 'but
has failed to find Hilly," he announced
quietly.
Wo did not talk much. Graeme ami
I worried with our broken bones, and
the others su fiend from a general
rooming depression. Hut after break
fast, n the men were beginning .?
move, Craig took flown his Hlble, ami.
saying. "Wait a few minutes, meix
he mid slowly. In Ids beaut If nL clear
voles', that psalm for all fighters?"--
"Clod Is our refugo and utrerRth,".'
and so on to the noble wordsj!'
"The Icnl of Host Is us;
Tno Ool of Jacob is our rtfuKo." '
How the mighty word pulled us to
gether, lifted us till we grew ashamed
of our Ignoble rago and of our ignoble
depression! ..wr
And llc-n Craig prayed in simply
sttaichtgi !ng words. There was
knowledgment of failure, but I knew
he was th'Mklng h!- r!y of himself;
there wa gratitude, and that was fr
the men about him, and I felt my fao
burn with diainc; there wan a petition
for help, and we all thought of Nixo
and Hilly and the men wakening frorr
their debauch at Slavin's this pure,
bright morning. Then be asked th.r:
we might be made faithful ami vvorlhj
of God, vvho-se battle it was. Then w
nil slood up nnd shook bands with hluv
In silence, unci cverj- man knew a cov
enant was 1 "'M:r made. Hut rone parr
his mee:' Ultl, Nixon. Ilesev.t r.salT
away I ,.ro that.
Nothing was heard of the destruction
of the hotel stix'k In trade, t'npleasant
questions would certainly be asked,
and the proprietor decided to let bad
alone. On the point of respectability
the success of the ball was not 'Con
spicuous, but the antlleaguo men were
content If not Jubilant.
Hilly Hreen wa found by Geordie
late In the afternoon in hi own old
and deserted shack, breathing heavily,
covensl up in his filthy, mohlerlng bed
clothi. with a half empty bottle of
whisky at his side. Geordle's grief and
rage were Ifjond even Ids Scotch con
trol. Ho spoke few words, but these
were of such concentrated vehemence
that no one felt the need of Abe's as-
fflRtni'K.V) In nHnhularv.
T in: coNTiNrcn.
Of what .iocs a bit task, n vour
mouth remind you? It indicates tbsf
your somach is jM ld conditon and
will remind you that hero is nothinc-
sog.Mt for such adW.rder as Chamber
lain's Stomach and Liver Tablet after
Once used. TLev
vigorale the stomach ind regulah t!o
l-owels . Tor safe t :. - M)t
at Coles I'liHrmncy.
Wise i (ho girl whoso h n, of;V-df
;i. r- st rrotnnt-f hi t- ,i .. i . v ..
'nlain Tea. ff fiJls,,.r full ,,f
vigor aril there is iK. I
' ' ..wm.-v nu.nei
t f-r you. :.l C. WiJkinv,,, o,