The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-04-20
FOR HIM. FOR HER.


Gerry. engineer at the Aladdin, was
drunk. He had been in that condition
ever since the "grand opening" of the
Gold Bar liquor dispensary.
Barnes, the superintendent of the
Aladdin group was mad. This state
of mind on the part of the "old man"
also dated from the grand opening
aforesaid.
These conditions resulted in Mr..
Gerry's retirement from his position
as engineer, and left him free to ex-
change his "time," even unto the last
cent, for the doubtful oblivion pro-
ducer dispensed at the Gold Bar and
other institutions of the kind, of which
there were several in camp.
The new engineer was rather out of
the usual order. | have often won-
dcred how it happened that Barnes
took him on, for the old man always
insisted that mine was no place for
boys, much less an engine-room.
And the newcomer was certainly
not man. He could not have been
more than eighteen, to Judge from APP
pearances, and was small for his are.
But he could handle an engine with
the best of them.
Next morning Rice, the assayer, VINO
had been over near the Gila for sew
eral days on business for the company,
returned. The new engineer and my
self were sitting at rather late break
fast when the assayer entered the dim
ing-room.
The latter came over and shook
hands with me, and introduced the
new arrival. Rice shook hands with
him in his frank way, giancing at the
engineer rather keenlv. The latter
seemed EN- barraSsed and acted strange
~, ! thought, though | paid no par
ticular attention to the fact at the
time.
The new engineer soon became the
most popular man in camp. He was
so pleasant and oblging. and withal
so gcntlemanly and nice in his ways,
that every body "cottOned" to him
straight of. And then we liked him
because he was "white"-that is about
the most expressive adjective we could
apply to him.
And "MiIly." as we called him (his
name was Milton Ledyard). seemed in
return TO like ali the boys, in his quiet
undemonstrative way. though it was
quite plain that he took particular
liking 10 Rice.
Every body liked Rice. He was big
and handsome. and had deep bass
voice and 4 jovial, hearty way about
him. Moreover, he could shoot quicker
and strai9hter than any one else-in the
camp; could and did drink more than
any other man in the district without
showing il, and was always ready. TO
help The weaker side in row, albeit
even Miily was'nOt more gentle.
But there WAS something about Mil
ly's admiration for Rice that distin-
guishec il from the feelings the rest Of
Us entertained for him.
by Jove! old man, It just gives me
the lidgets," he said to me one day as
we sat chatting in my office, "to have
the little cuss tag me around so. l
wish he didn't like me quite so we'll
no. I-dom't either, but-damn ii all, it
makes a. man feel like a shadowed
criminal"
Then. for the first time since | had
known him, | wondered if there could
have been any thing in that old story
that was circulated when he ran for
the county clcrkShip five years before.
At that time there was rumor
started. no doubt by the opposition, to
the effect that he was Il fugitive from
justice on account Of young lady he
had betrayed. But the yarn had
gained no credeuce and was speedily
lost sight of.
Let's 90 over to the ball tonight" :"
suggested Rice at the breakfast table
one morning. "There'u be plenty of
beer and lots of Gila monsters to dance
with. Come on, colonel; we're getting
rusty and need little shaking up"
Want to 90 aud shake foot, Mil
ly?" he added. noting the wistful look
in the lads eyes. "All right; let's
make up n crowd and 20. Aud put on
your best bibs and fuckers. boys-two
Of old Miles girls are just back from
St. Louis, and we want to create an
impression
We met with the usual hearty well
come of the Southwest. and ii was not
long before we were inside taking
hand in the fun. Milly and | for
while sat and watched the others, and
got no end of enjoyment out of it.
Pretty soon noticed that Rice was
paving considerable attention to one
of the Gila girls, pretty little thing.
whose father raised garden truck"
few miles up the river. He danced
half dozen times in succession with
her and did not leave her an instant.
This is never the proper thing and
is not good policy where girls are
scarce. and | knew it might make
trouble, as the girl was understood to
be as good as engaged to Harvey
Bragg, who was one of the worst"
men in the county when feeling dis
agreeable.
And he seemed to be feeling dis
agreeable this evening. Every few
minutes he would return from the room
where the beer and whisky were on
tap and look Scowlingiy on the scene
in the big liyinG-roum: and | knew
enough of him to believe that he was
likely TO cause trouble presently.
Ii came. The next dance was a
quadrille, and Rice and his partner
were just taking their places in the
first set when Harvey Bragg. his face
/ like a thunder cloud. strode out on
the floor and touched the assayer on
the arm.
As Rice turned l saw by his eyes
| that be too. was affected by the liquor