The Portland daily press., 1895-05-18

MIN tno uoAi5n'' u sHeue and how
great they are in comparison with bis
sinful pleasures, and then call bic a.
tention to the many precious nrouisos
that are contained in the good book,
"And some of those which aren't in
it. but which God has written inst as
plainly, interrupted tho major.
"Well. wouldn t be-ah-too sure
about that. y said the professor abstract.
edly, putting his hand before his ewes
"Nor 1 nuther,' said the deacon.
closing his lips as tightly as if thev
were the doors to the safe which CON
tanned all the company's refined metal
The major arose abruptly, and so did
his partners Instead of the three mart
ners walking together to the claim. as
was their usual custom. the professor
became absorbed in a book, and the ma
ior consumed an unusual amount of
time in lighting cigar. After the
deacon had been gone long enough to
preclude the possibility of his being
overtaken, the major started. The pro-
fessor fingered over his book few mo-
ments longer, when he also started, but
was suddenly stopped by the German
cook, who ran against him, exclaiming:
'sDat saloon, de Pride of Spurtip, is
all afrep'
The professor took lively double
quick in the direction Of the fire, for the
saloon was very near the claim, and the
works of the claim were of wood only.
Fortunately, however, the wind was in
a favorable direction, SO the professor
stopped and gazed at the confagration
with considerable satisfaction, for, al
though the professor was very quiet
man, his respect for the liquor trade
was an unknown quantity.
AS the saloon was of unpainted boards
and upholstered, the flames made rapid
progress, SO that Jim Slipson, the pro-
prietor, had barely time to save two or
three armfuls of bottles. With these he
retired to the opposite side of the street,
where the spectators stood, and he was
mournfully contemplating the effect of
calorio upon alcohol when he suddenly
started and exclaimed:
GOOD God Injin Mary's in the loft
over the saloon!'''
who's that?'' asked the deacon, who
had joined the crowd.
''She's-well, not exactly one of your
kind, deao'n, . replied Jim. She come
las night with her young un an want
ed to sleep thar till mornin.
Some poor, depraved creature, I
s'pose, sighed the deacon.
"Well, "said Jim, prudently massing
on his front most of his outlying bot
ties, 81 reckon Injins in general was off
huntin when religion was give out,
deac'n, an Mary amt no better'n the
rest. But anybody's too good to be
roasted, leastways in this world" con-
tinued Jim Slipson, remembering the
deacon's groundworks OF belief and
treating them with polite Difference.
''She doesn't intend to risk hers now
at any rate, exclaimed the major as
dark figure dashed out of the flames,
and rolling on the ground to extinguish
its flaming clothing disclosed the cop
perry, dull, heavy, impassive features of
Indian Mary.
"Hoorayp' shouted the crowd. Mary
Ao0 OCO1 cCCA tCI OlhCl 6ku OpuL GIp Dut
never before had Spurtip felt itself call
ed upon to exhibit any respect for her.
1t was evident that Mary had been
asleep or drunk, or both, for she stood
stupidity rubbing her eyes for several
moments.
sDidn't you say she brought child
with her?' asked the professor of Jim
Slipson.
GOOD God, yes!'' exclaimed Jim,
seizing Mary by the shoulder and shak-
ing her violently. "Mary! Mary!
where's the young un?''
Mary stoppeG rubbing her eyes and
stared vacantly at Jim for moment
Then she uttered piercing scream ard
attempted to enter the burning building
again. The intense heat, however, drove
her back, and she stood in front of the
crowd with fierce, hopeless glare in
her eyes, while every few seconds she
uttered horrible cry, half groan, half
yell, which made even the most whisky
hardened men shiver and turn pale.
"a hundred dollars for whoever'll
get that babyp' shouted the major.
Nobody stirred. There were plenty Of
impecunious men at Spurtip, but none
seemed inclined to earn money in exact
ly this manner.
s"Two hundredp' cried the professor.
s'Three!' roared the deacon. "It's
little heathen, and it runs double risk. -
"'Tain't no use tryin,'' remarked
Seventeener, ex-member of an eastern
| fire department.. ''No Teller cud live in
that there fire more n half mint. He'd
hev to breathe, an then 'twould be all
up with him..
'That you a-yellin over yer loss,
Jim?" pleasantly asked Joe Backsey,
edging into the crowd and patting the
unfortunate barkeeper on the back.
"It's Injin Mary. Her baby's in the
loft. o Lord, just listen to the poor
devil!" said Jim as Mary uttered an
other cry.
Joe picked up bucket of water and
| poured it over himself, and an instant
later daSha6 into Tho 6a,,,oc OVID ~, +l,,