The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-08-29
the expressman In m unmIsLahAbk
Missouri accent.

inc ckPftooman IN IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Missouri accent.
Clarence's curiosity was satisfied; he
was evidently one OF those early Amer
lean settlers who had been SO long domi-
ciled in southern California as TO adopt
the speech as we'll as the habiliments
of the Spnniard
The conversation fell upon the politi-
cal news of the previous night. or rather
seemed TO be lazily continued from
some previous more exciting discussion.
in which one of the contestants. red
bearded miner. had subsidized into an oc-
casional growl of surly dissent.
IL struck Clarence that the Missourian
had been an amused auditor. and even.
judging from a twinkle in his eye, .
mischievous instigator OF the contro-
versy. He was not surprised. therefore.
When the man turned 10 him with
certain courtesy and said:
"And what, sir. is the political feeling
in your district?"
But Clarence wac in no mood TO be
drawn, and replied, almost curtly. that
as he had come only from San Francis
co, they were probably as well informed
on that subject as himself.
A quick and searching glance from
the strangers eyes made hinl regret IL.
but in the silence that ensued the red
bearded passenger. evidently Sill rank
ling at heart, saw his opportunity
Shaping his huge hands on his knees.
and leaned far forward, until he
seemed TO plunge his flaming oeard--
like firebrand-into the controversy,
he said grimly:
well, l kin tell you gen'men this,
IL amt goin' TO be no matter wot's the
political feeling here or thar-tt amt
goin' to be no matter wot's states
rights and wot's fed'ral rights amt
goin' to be ne question whether the
gov'ment's got the right to relieve its
own soldiers that those secesh rs be-
sieging in Fort Sumter. or whether
they haven't-but the first gun shafts
fired at the flag blows the chains off
every blamed niger south of Mason
and Dixon's line You hear mel I'm
shoutin'! And whether you call your
selves 'secesh,' or union or copper
head, or peace men, you got TO face it,"
There was an angry start in one or
two of the seats; one man caught at
the swinging side strap and half rose, n
husky voice began: Its confound-
ed" and then all as suddenly sub
sided.
Every eye was turned to an insignifi-
cant figure in the back seat. 1t was a
woman holding a child on her lap and
gazing out OF the window with her
seX's profound unconcern in politics.
Clarence understood the rude chiv-
airy of the road well enough TO compre-
bend that this unconscious but omnipo-
tent figure had, more than once that
day. controlled the passions of the dis
putants. They dropped back weakly
TO their seats, and their muttcrings
rolled off i'm the rattle of the wheels.
Clarence glanced at the Missouran.
IIewas regarding the red-bearded miner
with a singular curiosity.
The rain had ceased, but the after
noon shadows were deepening when
they at last reached Fair Plains, when
Clarence expected to take horse TO the
rancho. He was astonished, however,
TO learn that all the horses in the stable
were engaged, but remembering that
some of his own stock were in pastur-
age with tenant at Fair Plains, and
that he should probably have better
selection, he turned his steps thither.
[To M Continued