St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-27
BLACK ROCK.
CHAPTER III.
THE BLACK ROCK CHRISTMAS.


mas stan Is out strangest of ALL While |
was reveling in my delicious second
morning sleep, just awake enough to
enjoy it, Mr.. Craig came abruptly, an
nouncing breakfast and adding:
slope you are in good shape, for we
have our work before us this day."
"Hello" l replied still half asleep
and anxious to hide from the minister
that I was trying to gain a few more
moments of snoozing delight. whats
abroad?"
1.-THE devil" he answered shortly and
with such emphasis that sat bolt up-
right, looking anxiously about.
ooh, no need for alarm! He's not
after you particularly-at least not to-
day." said Craig, with a shadow of a
smile. But he is going about in good
style, can tell you"
By this time l was quite awake.
"Well, what particular style does his
majesty affect this morning"
He pulled out shOWbill. "Pecul-
iarly gaudy and effective, is it not?"
The items announced were sufficient
" attractive. The Frisco Opera COM
pany was to produce the Screaming
farce" "The Gay and Giddy Dude"
after which there was to be grand
ball. during which the "Kalifornia Fe-
male Kickers" were to do some fancy
figures, the whole to be followed by
''blg supper" with two free drinks to
every man and one to the lady," and
all for the insignificant sum of So.
Cant you go one betterP l said.
He looked inquiringly and a little
disgustedly at me.
what can you do against free drinks
and a dance, not to speak of the high
kickers" he groaned. NO." he con-
tinued. "It's clean beat for us today.
The miners and lumbermen will have
in their pockets $4,000 and every dol
lar burning a hole, and Slavin and his
gang will get most of it. But" he
added, "you must have breakfast.
You'll find tub in the kitchen. Don't
be afraid t. splash. 1t is the best I
have to offe" you"
The tub sounded inviting, and before
many minu es had passed l was in a
delightful gov, the effect of cold water
and a rough towel and that conscious
ness of virtue that comes to a man
who has had courage to face his cold
bath on q winter morning.
The breakfast was laid with fine
taste. A diminutive pine tree in a pot
hung round with wintergreen stood in
the center Of the table.
well, now, this looks good-porridge,
beefsteak, potatoes, toast and MARINA
lade."
Il hope you will enjoy it ALL"
There was not much talk over our
meal. Mr.. Craig was evidently preoc-
cupied and as blue as his politeness
would allow him. Slavin's victory
weighed upon his spirits. Finally he
burst out: Look here! l can't
won't stand it! Something must be
done. Last Christmas this town was
for two weeks, as one Of the miners
said, a little suburb of hell 1t was
something too awful. And at the end
of it all one young fellow was found
dead in his shack, and twenty or more
crawled back to the camps, leaving
their three months pay with Slavin
and his suckers. | won't stand it, |
Sayw He turned fercely on me. whats
TO be DONE"
This rather took me aback, for l had
troubled myself with nothing Of this
sort in my life before, being fully oc-
cupied in keeping myself out of diff
Guilty and allowing others the same
privilege. So | ventured the consoa-
ton that he had done his part and that
spree more or less would not make
much difference to these men. But the
next moment | wished had been slow
er in speech, for he swiftly faced me,
and his words came like torrent:
God forgive you that heartless word!
Do you know But, no; you don't
know what you are saying. You don't
know that these men have been clam
bering for dear life out of fearful pit
for three months past and doing good
climbing, too poor chaps. You don't
think that some of them have wives
most of them mothers and sisters, in
The east or across the sea, for whose
sake they are shaving here, the miners
hoping to save enough to bring their
families to this homeless place, the
rest to make enough to go back with
credit. Why there's Nixon, miner,
splendid chap, who has been here for
two years and drawing the highest
pay. Twice he has been in sight of his
heaven, for he can't speak of his wife
and babies without breaking up, and
twice that slick son of the deyil-that's
Scripture, mind you-Slayin, got him
and rolled him, as the boys say. He
went back to the mines broken in body
and in heart He says this is his third
and last chance. If Slavin gets him,
lis wife and babies will never see him
on earth or in heaven. There are San
dy and the rest too. And" he added in
lower tone and with the curious little
thrill of pathos in his voice, "this is the
day the Saviour came to the world"
He paused, and then with little, sad
smile, But don't want to abuse you"
DO. l enjoy it. Pm beast, a self
lsh beast" For somehow his intense,
blazing earnestness made me feel I'M
comfortably small.