Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-04-04
FLICKER'S DEBT.

Sykesburg was mining camp in New
Mexico and a perfect specimen of its
kind. Like the mushroom growth of a
night it sprung into existence on the dis
covery of silver mine there, and it was
Immediately stocked with the usual
rough and in many cases desperate char
acters and generous allowance of drink
ing and gambling places.
In front of the principal boarding
house-fondly termed "hotel" by Wing
Lun, its Chinese proprietor-a crowd of
idlers stood one afternoon, waiting for
the arrival of the stage. This was even
a greater event than usual today, for
Mr.. Kennedy, one of the owners of the
mine, was expected to arrive, bringing
his daughter, whom he had gone all the
way TO st. Louis to meet.
Women were seldom seen in those
parts at that time, and it was rarely, in
deed, that delicately reared young lady
ventured there, and from all accounts
this was what Miss Mabel Kennedy must
be. Many Of the men had never seen
such a persOn-''not real high roller;
one o them that can't do nothin' but look
purity and read these here novelties and
crow'shay,' as Long jim, one of the
miners, expressed it.
A handsome, bright faced boy of about
10 was sitting on the fence. hearing the
talk and whistling softly. He now stop
ped this latter occupation long enough TO
ask:
Don't yoa spact shell do nothin'
else;"
Nav, tell yer That's all any on
'em does
The boy 5 eyes grew larSe;.l the thought
of tins ornament To Sykesburg society,
but he uttered none of the thoughts, for
just then the stage turned the corner of
the road &ad ratified up to the door The
manner IN which the men watched Miss
Kennedy -. -H w&s perfectly respectful,
but very eager. and as she raised her eyes
she met the udmring gaze of the crowd
apd, biushiS Il lt,tlc, she attempted to
cross the sideNatG iuto the house, but
was stopped at IN" ii!'al step. II had been
raining and the ground before her was
soft and muddy; the men could manage
well enough in their high boots, but her
dainty shoes must suffer if she crossed.
None of the men had ever heard of Sir
Walter Raleigh and how the gallant
courtier laid his cloak down in the mud
for Queen Elizabeth to pass over, though
all would gladly have done something
similar if they only had thought of it. As
it was, some one came to the rescue with
a plank, which he flung down, and Miss
Kennedy walked over this impromptu
bridge into the house.
"Ef it amt that everlastin' Flickerr'
CALCULATED Long jim
That everlasting Flicker was the boy
who had been sitting on the fence, and
who, having knocked off the loose plank
for the young lady's use, now proceeded
to repair damages, grinning good natur-
edly in response to the friendly cuff ad-
mustered by Jim. who was disgusted
that he had not received the smiling
thanks bestowed upon Flicker, and more
than one Of the other men felt as Jim did.
for in that minute of her arrival Miss
Kennedy had awakened an admiration
which only increased the longer she re-
mained.
AS for Flicker, it was soon found that
that young gentleman, having been the
first to be of service to the pretty stranger,
was resolved TO press his luck" to quote
Jim again, Without being obtrusive or
ofiicious he found many ways of making
himself useful to her and considered moth
ing troublesome that gave her satisfaction
and brought him word or a smile.
Flicker's real name was Philip Kicker,
which his baby tongue had contracted
into the name by which he was always
called. Left am orphan in mining camp
when only years old, he had spent all
his life in drifting from one camp to an
other. Self reliant, courageous and mer-
ry, he was great favorite among the
men and had always associated with
them and learned their ways, and this
had done him no good.
am afraid he was a very bad boy in
deed; but, then. no one had ever shown
him the difference between right and
wrong. Miss Kennedy, with her sweet,
gracious manner and her shrinking from
all that was rough and wicked, was a
perfect revelation to him, and he turned
to her like sunhower to the sun. She
saw it, and was deeply interested in the
clever, manly boy who seemed SO anxious
to oblige her; though, at first, she did not
realize the really beautiful and chivalrous
devotion which he felt for her.
Once, not long after her arrival, he had
taken special pains over an errand and
when he came to her afterwards she Of
fered him money, and she regretted it
Immediately. His face crimsoned and
he looked bitterly mortified and wounded
as he stammered:
81 don't want nothin fer this kind o
work. I--T'-