Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-10-28
A Coin BArH.-Tom Collette is a


a CoLD BArH-Tom Collette is a
minei, teamster, coal-burner, or any.
thing else that is necessary when he
hnds that his pocket is growing emp
ty, and his larder lean. Tom, with
two friends. Joe and Jake, was max.
ing 4 painful journey from Pine Grove,
IN Esmeralda County. to Eastern Ne.
vada. They camped one afternoon by
some hot springs, near Walker Lake,
and discovering hole half full of cold
water near one of the hottest springs.
turned the hot water as it flowed out
OF the spring, into the hole, until the
cold and hot water blending made ex.
sctiy the right temperature for bath.
Then they plunged in and ENJOYED
the delicious water as only those can
who have Travelled over dusty alkai
roads for several days,
When they had eaten their supper
and lighted their pipes the theme of
conversation for a long time, while
they smoked, was their bath, and the
wonderful refreshment ii had brought
them. They spread their blankets
on a grassy spot behind some willows,
a few yards away from the springs,
and fell asleep.
Tom was NJ with the dawn. The
memory Of the bath was fresh in his
mind, and so he bounded from his
blankets, and with skip and a Jump
plunged into the water, and sank 10
his neck. Then came a howl of an
guish, and he srrang upon the bank
with the agility of wildcat. In the
mean time his fair skin had changed
to the color Of picked lobster. The
hot water had been running all night;
all the cold water had been natural
iZed hours before the dawn, and now
the water in the hole was almost OF
the same temperature as the water in
the boiling spring from which It
flowed Tom was in terrible state.
He says, Il thought was picked"
But he did not hesitate as to the
course he should pursue. With inf
mite care be drew on his trousers and
boots. Forcing back tears of anguish.
tHo oHfft" n e4uts Rselhke lhkeAhfat, Ahfatehhs put On
his old.time frank smile as he nearcd
the rendezvous, for Jake was just then
sitting up in his blankets. gaping and
stretching. Seeing Tom approach,
Jake asked where he had been. Tom
replied that the recollection Of the
magnificent bath Of the previous even
ing was 50 vivid in his memory that
he could not think of breaking up
camp without repeating it, and all
ded-
Its just lovely, Jake '
Jake did not waut to hear maIe,
but sprang from his bed and rushed
away toward the spring. As swiftly
as Tom could, he followed, and from
behind the willows kept covert watch.
He saw Jake throw of his clothes,
spring into the water, heard a veil of
anguish and then saw him with Won
derful haste emerge and spring upon
the bank and vainiy try, by swift sp-
plications OF his hands to different
points Of his body, to arrest the lntol-
erable pain, swearing and crying all
the time
At last Jake managed TO get into
his clothes, and started for camp.
/ Meeting Tom, he began with fierce IN
vectives to upbraid him for his decep-
ton. Bnt Tom cut him short IN an
instant Hush up. said be. Would
you bawl like a calf, and give us away.
when | want to cook that other son Of
a gun up in camp
Soothed by this, Jake grew quiet,
and both leisurely proceeded to camp.
Bv this time Joe had commenced to
rouse up, and seeing the Others ar-
proach, asked them where they had
been. Tom answered eheerfuliy he
was holding his pantaloous away from
his body In the rear at the same time.
"Do YOU think we could break camp
without one more magnificent swi.H ,
Not much.
At this. Joe. getting up. cried,
Not much, you bet T. and dashed
away toward the spring.
As be disappeared behind the vii
lows, Tom sprang for his PISTOL, and
said to Jake
Get your gun quick. 1t will mean
business when Joe comes back.
In few seconds Joe did come. lie
was crying and cur.ing furiously, and
never stopped until lie caught uP has
pistol
Drop it," said Tom. Il have a
, dead bead on Won, and so has Jake
Besides, | took all the caps off your