Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-14
SANS PRAYER MEETING.
by HARRIET CARYL cox.

% sure, ana the morning edition OF the
d eastern papers would tell Of the fearful
Il collision that had occurred lust as the
train entered Lead Valley.
4 But now the excitement, In the place
OF the disaster, had begun 10 quiet
V down; for the rough miners of the lit
tie settlement were too used To perils
of all kinds to be long stirred by this
! wreck with its half-dozen lives lost.
II was all over now. they reasoned.
e and they had helped cheerfully as long
as help was needed; but now the
wrecking crew was at work. and only
an occasional straggler sauntered ND
! 70 look at the derailed cars and pile of
debris on either side Of the track
The rest of the settlement were In
the office of the one hotel the place af-
forded and the room was blue with
smoke as they sat about the suffering
fire and related anecdotes, or vied with
each other in tales of danger and hero
ism.
Some OF the stories were old ones. as
knowing glances between the men
showed; but the crowd was good
natured, and new and old alike were
received with appreciation.
Ed LADIES, the funny man Of the
place, had just finished telling new
and very taking story. Ed had lust re-
turned from a neighboring settlement,
and had, doubtless, brought the story
with him.
As the shouts of laughter that had
greeted him died away. one of the men
shouted swearing Sans goin' ter
sleep. Wake him up, and make him
tell us a good one. Come, Sam" and
they gave him a hearty slap.
Il could tell yer a story" he said.
slowly, after moments hesitation.
but yer wouldn't believe it. and
dunno as | want ter tell it;" and he
replaced his pipe and relapsed into ST.
lence
"Oh, come Off" they cried. Eyer
don't sneak out er ii that way Guess
yer can stan it if we don't swaller il
whole; it can't be no worse than some
what's been told ter-night; SO 90
ahead, old Teller"
They looked inquiringly at him.
lie drew his pipe out, rubbed its
smooth stem against his high boots as
II In thought; then, tucking il into his
boot leg, he glanced about the dingy
room.
1t amt exactly like any of yer
Stories" he began; but the smash-up
ter-night made me think of il same's
twas yesterday.
Twas fifteen years back. when |
was a-logging up in Michigan. and l
things was SO dull and hard we was
mighty glad when anything interest I
Ing came up. So when one er the log 6
gers brought news up from town that
thered been terrible smash-up. we {
was rather glad than otherwise. {
Course we was sorry for them who had a
folks killed, but it didn't matter much
ter the folks what got killed Q
$50 whole crowd on us quit camp Q
Ind went inter town. There was If
zen folks dead, and some pretty bad il
hook up. There was one woman who {
ladn known thing ever since she e
anded on 'er head. And she bad lit
lie girl, so Ben who kept the house =
old us, and he was dreadfully upset
bout that child. Cause. you see. there
va mt any women folks in town ter II
ook after II. Ben's wife had took a
hidden notion ter go east week be-
ore and she was the only one, except If
he station agents wife, who had died i
month ago. m
" 1t does seem kind er tough that OF
here amt no woman ter kind er IL
lother her, Ben said. as we set about f.
ne stove attacking same's we be now. r
lnd she's most cried herself sick. too. 10
lsh the train hadn't seen tit ter smash eN
hnr 1, -
owl. or
Yer wouldn't have sold so much SO
eer, SO yer needn't be blaming your ou
bod luck one of the men told him; pc
ut he seemed bit troubled all even. W,
X and kept a-going up ter listen
ose ter her door 70 see if she'd stopped he
wing. Bir1e-by, he came back con- tn
lerable relieved. in
- she sounds quiet he said; and SCI
wv | guess we can rest easy. ev,
$50 we was having a rousing good SKI
ne, when all O sudden the Teller foI
XXI ter me give an awful start and tn,
Id kind err low: sam, | see ghost sti
;" Ghost. nothing | replied; but / fca
oked where he pointed, and sure we
ough there was something white a.
ming down the dark hallway. SO
BY this time some o. the others saw in
was a-lookin' at something, and is
ey looked too. And fore we began par
: realize what it was a little bit of mo
ice piped up: coy
Why don't Susan come up TO hear tior
say my prayers?" mil
IF IT had been real live ghost il usu
ildnt have struck us so sudden stat
Better go bask ter bed, Ben said, mil,
ing ter speak soft like 'Susan's fas
'y now, and can't come; so run
ng.' -
But She knew he was a-fooling her, coul
she was a spunlsy little thing KEEP
i will have SUSAN" she cried a way
mpin- ho- H.tle hare TO-, uroli be '