Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-02
HOW SHE SAVED HIM.

Sooner or later tho trouble, was
bound to come. For weeks, even
months, the fire had been smolder-
ing, ready at the slightest draft
to burst into open flame. OF this the
Girl was aware, for she commanded
those who dwell behind the lattice
OF responsibility, and she made ii
her business to know everything
that concerned Maxwell. The rela.
tions between the two were strictly
honest, albeit none gave them cred
1t for that, not even Maxwell s wife,
whose worse fault was n deep root
ed jealousy of her husband. A posi-
tive denial might have carried con-
viction to the camp, for the Girl had
never been known to lie, but she
was proud and reticent, and of the
lawless court over which she reign
cd none dared question her, except,
later on, Jim Brady, and he, learn
ing the truth from her own lips, be-
lieved, but that was not until events
had already precipitated the crisis.
Bad management and a system of
shameless population had brought
affairs at the San Sacrada mine with
in measurable distance of ruin. The
new manager found himself con-
fronted with the task of cleansing
an Augean stable, n process never
wholly devoid of risk, but distinctly
dangerous in an isolated communi-
ty where the grip of tho law is I'M
certain and ovory man carries his
six shooter handy. But there, as is
ever elsewhere, was n party on the
side of order and fair play.
Maxwell relied on the loyal mi
nority to back him up and his own
authority and nerve to do the rest.
Within a month of his arrival he
had demonstrated pretty clearly
that he was open neither to bribery
nor intimidation. His answer to the
first incautious attempt to buy him
over was the prompt and vigorous
election of the agent. He went about
unarmed, and the camp knew it and
respected his pluck. Nevertheless
the situation was fraught with peril,
for the malContents banded them
selves together and held meetings,
with elaborate precautions as to Sc
crecy, which made occasion for
much tall talk, attended by no in
considerable consumption of whisky.
As tho liquor circulated tho senti-
ments waXed increasingly incendi-
airy, and dark hints were dropped
to the effect that people who would
not listen to reason might find them
selves, some fine night, fitted to a
wooden jacket" free of charge.
The raw material of mutiny was
ready at hand, needing only time
and the man to work it up into the
finished product-murder.
All unwittingly the Girl supplied
both, for Brady, mad with jealousy
and hungcring for tho word which
no was too proud to ask and she to
give, went out 10 the cave of Adult
lam and SwOro with many strange
D'bt rs " cDNN Viz VI inc
brotherhood, even to the breaking
of tho older command, which is en-
bodied in the sixth clause of tho Dec
alogue.
Tho lot was cast and fell, as might
have been expected, on the new
member, with Silas Field as under
study in case of accidents, which
precaution seemed unnecessary, see
ing that Brady could snuff q candle
at 80 yards and knock the pin out of
an ace at half that distance. Had
tho man been common ruffian to
fire on an unarmed victim, Max
wells life had paid forfeit for his
honesty, but the digger had in his
veins good Irish blood, albeit pud-
died through two or three genera
lions of mongrel stock, and he sent
his challenge like gentleman,
though, for obvious reasons, it was
anonymous. Maxwell laid tho docu-
ment before the Girl, for it was
through her that he felt the pulse of
the camp. He laughed as he did 50,
tracing with his forefinger the rude
outline of n coffin, which did duty as
crest at the top of the paper; but
there was no answering smile OF
her lips, for she had recognized the
handwriting and knew i1stinctively
that this was not an idle threat She
was no alarmist, but she implored
him to carry n revolver, and chafed
when Maxwell refused point blank
to do so.
IF I'm potted from the rear" he
said, I'D have no time to use it,
and so far events have proved that
I'm safer without. Why should l
change my habits in obedience to an
anonymous threat? I'm not going
to be bullyraggcd by set of thieves.
1t isn't the first time they've tried
the game either; I've had warnings
before
But not like this"
She was studying the soiled, Drum.
pied missive, trying to read between
the i'll spelled lines.
did she-your wife-see this?"
He hesitated, for she had never
yet been named between them, but
the need for open speech was strong
upon him, and after pause he an
swered her as he would have an
swered another woman.
mo; we had bit of scene about
it too. She took it into her head that
1T was-an designation. 1 let her
think so If was better than break