The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-15

y
4 going TO tell you. You will not find Man
town the map of California for the rea-
con mat it mostly ceased TO be before the map
made.
1t was named Mantown because there was not
in it. The Parson insisted that for that
it should have been named found largely
In sacred history-le road to which, it is sad is paved
with good intentions.
The Parson my partner and cabined together
with "Polaris" Polaris was our other. partner He
said he came from the north pole never believed it,
When the Parson, who carly riser threw the
hoursack he had wiped his hands and face MY
head and said: The old lady up there's pickin her
geese, Tom and Polaris and looked and saw the
ieathery white fakes falling laughed When kept
and till the nine feet deep the laugh
the other side OF our mouth. The snow settled and
trcze and We in for it.
There whisky enough and provisions enough so
that did fear dying OF thirst hunger but we
were pining tor amusement.
Forty days and forty nights shaking dice and PLAYING
poker at the Red Goose had become monotonous. The
Red Goose a saloon. The way it got its name wa
tns-whch is also the beginning of the end Of the thing
that happened 1t all finished, the saloon was and
ready Tor business, and big smooth sgnboard wait
ing TO be painted, but there wasn't there could
paint IT. We falling into the way of speaking Of
old BOb's' when along came a dandy-looknc
young chap with pants cut smaller at the ankle than
the knees and booheels four inches high and tapered
down TO the size OF a twobit piece He wore soft
slouch hat. embroidered flannel shirt and had red
silk sash tied around his waist He said he broke
Old Bob asked him if he could paint sign for the
saloon. He asked what kind OF a sign was wanted
Old Bob told him he wanted figure Of great originality
and one that would tell the name without any printed
matter He always put on airs in his speech when he
thought he knew more than the other fellow did and
the dandy chap was modest-lookng, in spite OF his
clothes.
Wei. the stranger took the job. and when it was
done and put up the door and old Bob came out
10 size up he roaring mad He he wouldn't
pay for It. The figure painted it was a big red
goose The painter called all the town to prove that
he had painted according to order by asking each one
separately what it Every of them said "Red
goose He then asked Pontedly if it not of "great
originality and every one to a said it was the
first red goose they had ever SEEN So old Bob had to
pay Tor the sign and set up the drinks besides After
OF poker in the saloon which he had christened and in
tic morning OF the day walked of it and left
with all the available gold of the his pockets
II hat was the beginning of Mantown We worked
like beavers all and fal-dug and drfted and
picked and shoveled and PANIED and sluiced and
demmed-gambled and fought and drank-and dreamed
Of home.
Then the snow fell. Forty days showed in had de-
pressed us. That night We felt though something
were going to happen, and we wished it would
Old Bob was getting uneasy; che was afraid the men
would cease to patronlze him and go in for a camp
meeting or something just to break the monotone of
II that night 1 spoke of-the night before Christ
mas. The boys kept roaring fire in the fireplace and
l4eo 10 keep me cheer gong put was too plainly an
etortal except at the card tables. The improb
able things always happen without warning at the
door OF the Red Goose, like bird blown from the
night, came ,shlyerlng, oldsh-ooking man. His hair
was long and subby beard hid the under half of his
lace. He lost he said and nearly floze and had
2 the rheumatism and wanted to at the fire.
We all stood back and let him have the fire to him
self He stretched his long, slender fingers in the
warmth OF the large blaze. warmed his feet at If and
turned his back TO His eyes wandered round the
BIG. ugly room and lt the piano.
The propretOr-t always pleased old Bob to he
called the proprietor'-sad that piano had cost him
bucketul of gold and nobody played two ounces
worth on it yet He expected different sort OF
town when he had il brought up
ne man at the FIRE set his glance questionngJy on
the instrument that Poaris volunteered to tell him that
II was pyanner, and asked him if he could pIav ON
the 'crtter" ' "
he SAID he used to play little, and began to rub his
urging him to play He said he was afraid his fingers
were too stiff They gave him drink of whisky ard
seated him at the piano He ran his fingers along the
Keys several times and began play The men looked
Up rom their cards He played the piece through and
part OF The Girl l Left Behind Me-" and stopped TO
Tu9 his hands and straightcn his fingers
lhey brought him glass of hot whisky and com.
Slheo tnings to eat, dozen each CLAIMING II 10
DC ms privilege to pay. the bill The monotone WIS
broken The man played piece after piece and then
Struck out on an accompaniment of Home Su1aa+
nome Pretty he cleared his throat and began
tc sing the words ' anu began
iie threw his head back and the long wind b1o,,.
III shd down on his shoulders His voice roee - wi
ness W rs vibrant sweet
NO other such music, no other such voice had die