The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-07-05
By
RALPH
Common
: s 8 6 {
CONTINUED.


~ rear not,f she answered. but
thought she liked to hear his words
The whole town was astounded next
morning when Slavin went 10 work in
the mines, and its astonishment only
deepened as thu days went on and he
stuc,: 90 his work Before three weeks
had gone tile league bad bought and
remodeled the saloon and had secured
Slavin as resident manager
The evening Of the reopening Of Sla-
wins saloon as il was stil called. was
long remembered IN Black Rock IT
was the occasion Of the first appear
ancc IF the Aeaguc Minstrel ana Ora
matte troupe in what was described ITS
a Hair lifting tragedy with appropri.
ate musical selections" Then thore
was Il grand supper. with speeches and
great enthusiasm. which reached its
climax when Nixon rose 10 propose the
toast Of the evening. Our saloon" His
speech was simply quiet. manly nc
count Of his long struggle with the
deadly enemy. When he came 20 speak
OF his recent defeat. he said:
"And. while | am blamin' no one
but myself am glad tonight this sa-
loon is on oY side, for my own sake
and for the sake OF those who have
been waitln' long to see me- But be
fore | sit down ! want 20 say that
while | live | shall not forget that
owe my life 20 the man that took me
that night to his own shack and put
me In his own bed and met me next
mornla' with an open hand. for tell
you | had sworn TO God that mornin'
would be my last"
Geordie's speech was characteristic.
After n brief reference TO the "myste-
rious ways o. Providence" which he
acknowledged he might sometimes fail
to understand. he went Oh to express
his unqualified approval OF the new
saloon.
''it's coy place. an there's nae sui
phur ABBOTT Besides a that" he went
on enthusiastically. It'll be a terrible
savin'. I've just been coontin'."
''You betr' calculated voice. with
great emphasis.
'i've Juist been coontin'," went on
Geordie. ignoring the remark and the
laugh which followed. IAN it's an avfu'
like money ye pit over WI the whusky.
Ye see ye Gamma dae WI ane bit glass.
Ye maun haze twa or three at tho verre
least. for It's no yerra forrit ye get wi
ane glass But WI yon coffee ye JUST
set saxpence worth an ye want nae
MAR"
There was another shout OF lnughter
which puzzled Geordie much.
~ dinns see the Jowk. but Pye slip
pit over in whusky mair nor hummer
doiinrs.- En-
Then he paused. looking hard before
him and twisting his face into extraor-
binary shapes till the men looked AZ
him In wonder e
"I'm rsie glad o. this saloon. bat les
over late for the lad that Gamma be
hefpit the moo. He'll not be needjn'
help o. oors. doot. but there are ith-
ers." And he stopped abruptly and sat
down. with no applause following
But when Slavin. our saloon keeper
rose to reply the men jumped up on
the seats and yelled Till they could yell
no more. Slavin stood, evidently in
trouble with himself. and finally broke
out:
IT'S speechless am entirely. What's
come to me l know not nor how It's
come. but I'll do my best for you"
And then the yelling broke out again.
did not yell myself. l was too busy
watching the varying lights In Mrs. Ma
vor's eyes as she looked from Craig to
the yelling men on the benches and tn
bles and then TO Slavin, and | found
myself wondering II she knew what IL
was that came to Slavin.
f,II A pT,ER VI