Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-17

kissed him and went up into her own
room.
The Pilgrim walked out into the bar
room. There was an unpleasant odor
of bad tobacco, and the big iron and
clay stove in the corner was fairly
ablaze. Notwithstanding this the men
were fairly crowding each other to get
a little nearer the fire. On the opposite
side Of the room game Of faro was
going on. Old Briggs was dealing, but
judging from his face the cards were
not running as they should-that is not
from. Briggs standpoint. The Pilgrim
spoke to several of the men, and then,
going over to the card-table, being
careful to attract the attention Of
the dealer, put dollar ON the high card
lost it, and then turned and walked
out. On the porch he lighted cigar,
and waited until he should see the en-
CINE as it turned the curve some two
miles above.
1t was half an hour after train time
when he saw the headlight He jumped
quickly to his feet, ran across the road
and waited a short distance above the
station where he knew he could not be
seen.
Alone in her room, the girl had passed
through the great struggle of her life;
but as the time wore on the struggle
became less, and when, finally, she
heard the shrill whistle of the engine
in the distance, she hurriedly picked up
the satchel containing all she was to
take with her and stole stealthily down
stairs.
The noise had been so great all that
night in the house, that had not the
door leading into the barroom been
standing open at the time she would
probably never have known of the
great unpleasantness that took place
that night between the host and the
guests of the Last Chance" But as
she reached the lower hallway the
voices inside were raised to such a
pitch that she stopped for moment to
glance in at the open doorway. For
one brought up in and about western
barroom the scene needed no explana-
ton. On the side of the room opposite
the door she saw a great crowd of half
drunken, angry, cursing miners and
cowboys. Some of them had picked MP
pieces of furniture and bottles, and
against their dark clothes she saw that
some of them held knives and revolvers.
In the center of the room was an up
turned faro table with the cards and
chips scattered ON the sandy floor.
Within few feet of her and grad
ually backing toward the wa.il was old
Briggs, In one hand he clasped roll
of bank notes with some gold coin,
with the other he was trying to pull
revolver sfrom his breeches pocket.
The girl walked quickly toher fathers
side and, putting her arm about him,
she took his empty hand in hers. And
thus for few moments the old man
and the girl stood facing the ugly,
angry, muttering crowd of gamblers
The silence was first broken by the
girl whats the matter, dad?" she
said, very quietly.
The old man gazed at her wildly,
mumbled something to himself and
drew her back against the wall
"It's no place for you, Bess," began
one of the crowd. Your dads been
cheating; we've got him dead to rights
this time and we're goin' to do for him,
sure"
Now, dad" she said. speak up,
speak up"
But the old man stared at her va
cantly and went on blinking his pink,
watery eyes and shrank further out of
her embrace. The girl hesitated for a
moment, and then with sudden move
ment snatched the money from the old
mans hand, and running to the door
threw it far into the road. In mo-
ment the room was empty and the men
were fighting like SO many hungry
coyotes in the dusty road.
AS the last man crossed the threshold
old Briggs reused himself suddenly,
and rushing to where his girl stood
slammed .both the doors, and locking
them put the keys in his pocket. Then
he staggered to the bar and began to
pour out a tumblerful of whisky. The
girl started to go to him to stop
him, but before she had half crossed
the floor the slow tolling of a
bell and then sharp, shrill whistle
rang in her ears. With a cry she ran
to the door, but it was locked. She
tried to force it open, but her poor
strength was of little use. With a
bound she was at the old mans side
Give me the key!' she shrieked;
''don't you understand, the keyr" But
the old man only stared at her vacant
ly and showed his hands deep in the
pocket where he had put the keys as if
in fear she would tear them away from
him.
what would You do with the key?"
he said Let them in again to shoot
me? For Heavens sake, girl, you're
the only one that1l stand by me. Don't
you leave me for Gods sake, don't
leave me-"
The girl YEARLY arose from the side
of the old man and walked slowly to
the window. She saw the red lights Of
the train as they slowly wound their
way over TIN prairie, and then made a
long curve and finally disappeared be
hind the mountain and were lost for
ever. mo, dad" She said I'm not
going to leave you. Charles b. Davis,
in \. y. Independent.