Smyrna times., 1876-03-08

lar worse than the inevitable clash. and 7
felt impelled to rush toward it. An hon,
; previous and had been coward. had
cIung to life and knuckled to a bully. 7
could not see how far | had bemeaned and
degraded myself until it was all over Now
when looked at the picture of the inter.
view between me and Myers, felt sensa-
tlon akin to remorse as if had committed
some shameful oflense. Sometimes think
cowardlce to be only another form of selfish
ness. The moment a man rises to that
condition where he may renounce what is
very dear to him, he becomes brave.
The Swett's Bar store was the common
resort at night for almost everybody in
camp 1t was place visited as little as
possible, for its greasy deck of cards, its
wranghng, noisy game of "seven.up," its
commlngled odor of whisky, tobacco. pork
ana Goldfish, and its rough loungers per-
ched on boxes and barrels dimly seen at
night IN the dark corners by the uncertain
hight OF smoky lamp, all these had no
attractions Tor me. / preferred to wander
amid the lonely hills. heard loud talking
ana laughing within the store as l neared
1t that evening. knew what that meant
Myers and his followers We're there holdino
aJuollee overtheir supposed victory.
"Got any more fancy mining superinten-
dents to come up from Frisco and iump
JACK Myerss claim? l hope they'll send
EN-, Tor can chaw em up as fast as thew
come along"
These words were being uttered bv the
nero OF the hour as l entered. The store
was tull. The usual camp loungers, nv
own men and Myers's gang, were frater.
nlzlng on the basis of whisky brotherhood
Myers ordered drinks for the house every
fifteen minutes, and it was obligatory on all
10 drink. 1t was, however, a cross thew
endured with fortitude and resignation.
My entrance caused sudden silence
The gradual cessation of noisy conversation
at last attracted his attention, as he stood
at the bar. He turned, and, on seeing mo.
remarked:
Hullol Just in time-iust had drinks
all round. Come, put another nail in vonr
coffin -
Ihls was spoken directly to me. His
next observations, as he walked up and
down the store, were aimed at me, and for
the general benefit.
"ImJack Myers-free, white and twenty.
one. can run alone, can. I'm chief
mere. Is there any other chief? Is there
anybody here who won't drink with Jack
Myers? Cummings, your whisky's waiting
for you-drink."
do not wish to drink" was nv replv
1t was dramatic silence then which
reigned in that greasy, grimy store. For
moment the roar of the Tuolumme as it
rushed and foamed along on its way to the
sea, an the cry Of coyote on the hill above
were the only sounds heard.
We'll, now, you shall drink, or I'll set ,
you on my knee like baby and pour it
down your throat" was his sneering re- &
mark. ,
Jack Myers, said l, d" 1 know what YOU
want. You want to force Quarrel on me '
80 that you may shoot me down like dog. '
ou want me to turn and take water, and c
run back like a scared wolf to San Fran. G
CISCO. You think I'm afraid to fight. I'm /
not. I'll fight you now. Take off vour v
lhree men; give me a fair show Come t
along with me to the barley-field yonder.
"here there's no trees and the ground is
eVel, and III fight you, and we'll see who's
,hief'' p
l turned to the crowd. "You, men. YOU
ire Americans. Will you stand by and see
air play? am alone here-alone, and 7 Z
uppose friendless. Munse, will you be NV a a,
econd ?" Il
Yes" promptly replied Munse. u
Thank you. Now, Mr.. Myers, am :.
eady. You are a fighting man, and can't u
eiuse such fair invitation. Before we p
cave the house we'll take another drink at
ny expense. Mr.. Myers, I'll drink with 81
ou now." And 1 swallowed the liquor
Which had been prepared for me.
This was a turn in affairs which Myers h
had not expected. 1t had been al
lis intention, as was ever his custom in sucb b.
ases, to abuse, taunt, revile, possibly to T
ash the liqour in my face and thrust me CO
rom the door, Blindly, as it were, he un. OF
erstood that the magnetism of fear, if I
nay so express myself, would not only pre- gl
ent any interference on the part of others, -
ut would, like a succession of Intoxicating hi
raughts, stimulate him to still greater
Try. S'
But my unexpected stand had cleveloped I'll
n opposing influence. 1t came from the m
zen around me. 1t was something mys. ul
erious, silent, subtle, the working of one Sc
lind on another the creeping forth as it "a
ere into the air of spirit opposed to WI
rutish tyranny, the invisible sympathy u
nd respect for man who dared to stand 'n
p for himself; all this concentrated and en-
ii like sort Of blight, a damper on the 81 81
itherto invincible Myers. 10