The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-08-25

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partners. Instead Of three members o
j. the firm walking together to the claim, a.
. was their usual custom, the professor be
came absorbed in book. and tho major
!. consumed an unusual amount OF time ii
lighting Acigar. After the deacon had
y been gone long enough TO preclude the pos
sibili,y OF being over taken. the maioi
y started.
Q The professor fingered over his book a
few moments longer. when he also started
9 but was suddenly stopped by the German
cook. who ran against him. exclaiming:
dat saloon. de Pride Of Spurtip, is all
! afire."
. The professor took lively double-quick
in the direction Of fire; for the saloon
, was very near the claim and the works Of
the claim were Of wood only. Fortunate.
ly. however. the wind Was in . favorable
direction. SO the professor stopped and
gazed at the confagration with satis.ac-
tion; Tor although tho professor was very
quiet man, his opinion OF the liquor trade
was very decided.
As the saloon was of unpainted boards
and upholstered, the flames made rapid
progress: so that Jim Slipson, tho proprie-
tor had barely time to save two or three
armsful Of bottles. With these he retired
to the opposite side OF the street where tho
spectators stood; and he was mournfully
contemplating the effect of caloric upon
alcohol, when he suddenly started and
exclaimed:
"Good Godl Injin Mary is in the loft
over the saloonr
"Whos that," asked the deacon, who
had joined the crowd.
"Shes-well not exactly one of your
kind, deacon, replied Jim. She came las
night with her younguu, an she wanted
TO stay thar till mornin'.
Some poor, depraved creature, l s'pose,
sighed the deacon.
Well, said Jim, prudently massing on in
front most of his outlayng bottles, reck.
on Injuns in general, was Off hnntin when
'hgion was give out, deacon; an Mary
amt no better n the rest But anybody's
too good to be roasted, leastways in this
world, continued Jim Slipson, remember
ing the deacon's groundwork of belief, and
treating it with polite Difference.
She don't intend to risk it now, at any
rate, exclaimed the major as a dark figure
dashed out Of the flames, and, rolling on
the ground to extinguish its flaming cloth
ing. disclosed the coppery, dull, heavy,
impassive features OF Indian Mary
Hooray! shouted the crowd, Mary had
been seen very often at Spurtip; but never
before had Spurtip felt itself called upon
to exhibit any respect for her
1t was very evident that Mary had been
nslcep or drnnt ~ both: for shn atood
stupidity rubbing her eyes for several mo-
ments.
Didn't you say she brought child with
her? asked the professor of Joe Slipson
Good God, yesl exclaimed jim, sezing
Mary by the shoulder and shaking her
violently. Mary, Mary, where is the
youngun?
Mary stopped rubbing her eyes and
stared vacantly at Jim for moment;
then she uttered piercing scream, and at
tempted to enter the burning building
again. The intense heat, however, drove
her back, and she stood in front Of the
crowd with fierce, hopeless glare in her
eyes, while every few seconds she uttered
horrible cry, half groan, half yell, which
made the most whiskey-hardened men
shiver and turn pale.
A hundred dollars for whoever'll get
that baby shouted the major.
Nobody stirred There were plenty of
impecunious men at Spurtip;. but none
seemed inclined to earn money in exactly
this manner.
Two hundred shouted the professor.
Three! roared the deacon. It's a little
heather and it runs double resk
"Tain't no no use tryin', remarked
Seventeener, ex-member OF on eastern fire
department No feller cud live in that
there fire more'n half mint He'd ley !
ter breathe an then twould be all up with
him.
That you a-yelling over your loss, Jim9
pleasantly asked Joe Backsey edging into
the crowd, and patting the unfortunate s
bsr,keeper on the back. {
It's Injin Mary, her baby's in the loft. l
o Lord, just listen TO the poor devil '
said Jim, as Mary uttered another cry.
Joe picked up bucket Of water and
poured over himfelf, and in an instant Ia.
ter dashed into the flames, and up the
blazing ladder which led to the loft. Not !
q man spoke; it seemed that no one
breathed for moment. The deacon 0
closed his eyes, and his lips were seen to
move rapidly, and many men, though un- l
used to such exercise, followed the dea- I
cons example.
Suddenly mighty roar broke from the
crowd as Joe Backsey. hatless, hairless, 9
beardless, and almost black, emerged from 8
the blsziag building with dirty bnndle q
in his arms. He bad nearly crossed the
street, when suddenly he stopped, scream.
ed: Catch It'll threw the child, and drop :
ped, face downward. on the ground.
The deacon was by his side in an in
slant, shouting for water and oil. as he
tenderly turned the insensible form over >
No 60, said Seventeener, giving Joe's .
face critical glance. He's breathed the
Hre; know IT by bis ipshn' nose; he
won't never breathe nothin' else.
r. Toxf cx;ad tbA deaeon ubita hig u