Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-12-04
HiddGl4rGaSQre
ATALEO OF CALIFORNIA.
Written for the Tribune By 7. II. TINS.
CHAPTER VI
THE BATTLE HE COULDN'T WIN.

hAA"$ N'ANS
ton and detection, and the little shelf
over the head of his bed, once the I'M
disputed territory sacred to his Pipe and
tobacco box was now usurped by a bottle.
A gentle remonstrance upon the whlskey
question was met by him with the answer
Eyes, | know its a bad habit, but a man
away out here gets the blues occasionally,
and a little blue ruin helps to liven him
up. | don't drink much" and as he stood
mp, and stretched out his powerful arms,
and then extended his broad full chest, he
added ought to be able to stand as
much as most men," YES" came my as
sent, "but you'd better not try it" "Once
more at any rate was his smiling answer,
rs he reached down the bottle and offered
it to me. My refusal TO join with him did
not alter his purpose for he took a long
pull and a strong pull at it and then sat
down on the edge Of his bed. For a
while he attempted to appear cheerful,
but it was a doleful failure, his answers
became monosyllables and mechanical. The
bottle came down from its perch pretty
often. but 50 far as | could see Mac did
no get drunk. At bed time he steadily
strode over to the clock, wound it up,
hung the key on a nail, put aside from
the middle of the floor the big rocking
chair, put the lamp on a stand near his
bed, in fact did everything that was the
habit of his orderly nature to do before re-
firing. "All snug, over there?"-"yes,"
and he blew out the light. After ten
O'Clock at night it is no very hard for a
young healthy man who has ridden thirty
miles that day in wind and dust to fall
asleep. Though Morpheus did not exert
his powers over me that night quite SO
readily as upon others, still within a half
hour my slumber was profound. But in
that short time heard the bottle leave the
shelf three times, and 1.-THE loud gurglings
convinced me that Macs rotations were
copious.
In the morning, as often happened, he
was the first astir about the place. He
called me, and then went out. My team
fed and harneSsed, breakfast had been
dispatched and endeavors were tending
toward an early start, when on looking up
| discovered Mac coming down the trail
with a demiiohn in his hand. He had
hecn up tot'L.oafer's Shanty,, as the saloon
at the summit of 1.-THE long grade" was
called. Along the south side of the lum-
Der piles he went to the cabin, Fentered.
and in a moment ealne out and off UP to
the clearinghouse. His head was bent.
but his long, strong stride was straight and
certain and l silently though inWardly
admired his strength. Two days more
had passed, and it was Saturday night. A
load Of stores had made my up trip a slow
one and it was late vixen the wagon was
backed up to the store-room door. Ny
first greeting was from the cook. whose
numerous questions We're quickly answer
ed Ny text was from Duncan, who in 4
troubled voice said You oven late til
NIGHT, I'm glad tho your here. the maun
Mac has'na been DOT tn hoose tn day. an
the wicker covered, big bottles as empty
as a broken gourd. his heed is fu' o tan
1rums. he's gone clean daft with the
whushy. Away with ye doom to him, I'll
tax cot the beasties an feed Them Leaving
Duncan to unhitch and feed the team |
fastened to the cabin. where half undress-
cd | found Mac pacing the floor. His
lnkempt locks, tangled beard, swollen
lips. and feverish startled eyes told me the
story at a glance. He knew me though,
and my presence seemed temporarily to
scothe him. He put out both hands talk
ing mine in his, and scanning me closely
said Not a scratch then grasping up
the lamp he examined me from head to
foot and as he put it down again, exelaim-
ed "sound as a dollar I'm glad; glad YOU
circumyented them. the friends; they were
here, and drove them off, then they
started after you'll was loading my Gun to
come and help you when Duncan and
Chase came in, they stole the gun and
hid il, then they hid my clothes, but / de-
to go just as I am, when | heard
You coming, heard you speak to the horses.
knew your voice and made Duncan go
nrlng you. Duncan nor Chase nor none
Of them understand this natter He had
talked rapidly, loudly and eScitedly and
as he stopped for breath l tried t 0 seothe
him and hunor his f%aneies, but he went
more wildly than ever, you are my
only friend, not a cent. shall any Of them