The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-05

her eyes seemed to grow deeper and
the light in them to glow more intense
as she listened to Craig pouring out
his tale. Then she gave him her hand
and said:
"You have your man at last.
"What man"
''The man you have been waiting
for"
"Slavin?"
"Why not"
81 never thought Of it"
"No more did be or any Of u.s." Then,
after a pause, she added gently, HE
has been sent to u.s."
"Do you know, l believe you are
right" Craig said slowly and then add
ed. "But you always are"
81 fear not" she answered, but
thought she liked to hear his words.
The. whole town was astounded next
morning when Slavin went to work in
the mines, and it's astonishment only
deepened as the days went on and he
stuck to his work. Before three weeks
had gone the league had bought and
remodeled the saloon and had secured
Slavin as resident manager.
The evening Of the reopening Of Sla-
WINS saloon, as it was still called, was
long remembered in Black Rock. 1t
was the occasion Of the first appear
ance Of the League Minstrel and Dra-
matte troupe in what was described as
a "hair lifting tragedy, with appropri-
ate musical selections" Then there
was q grand supper, with speeches and
great enthusiasm, which reached its
climax when Nixon rose to propose the
toast Of the evening, "Our saloon" His
speech was simply quiet, manly &C.
count Of his long struggle with the
deadly enemy. When he came to speak
Of his recent defeat, he said:
"And, while I am blamin' no one
but myself, am glad tonight this So
loon is on our side, for my own sake
and for the sake Of those who have
been waitin' long to see me. But be-
fore sit down want to say that
while live shall not forget that I
owe my life to the man that took me
that night to his own shack and put
me in his own bed and met me next
mornin' with an open hand, for tell
you I had sworn to God that mornin'
would be my last"
Geordie's speech was characteristic.
After q brief reference to the "myste-
rious ways o. Providence" which he
acknowledged he might sometimes fail
to understand, he went on to express
his unqualified approval Of the new
saloon.
"It's q cozy place, an there's nae sui
phur aboot. Besides a. that" he went
on enthusiastically, 'ffll be terrible
sayin'. I've juist been coontin'."
you betw calculated voice, with
great emphasis.
GIVE juist been coontin'," went on
Geordie, ignoring the remark and the
laugh which followed, "an' it's an awfu'
like money ye pit over WI the whusky.
Ye see ye carna dae WI ane bit glass.
Ye maun hae twa or three at the vera
least, for it's no vera forrit ye get VII
ane glass. But WI yon coffee ye juist
get saxpence worth an ye want nae
mair."
There was another shout Of laughter,
which puzzled Geordie much.
"1 dinna see the jowk, but I've slip
pit over in whusky mair nor hummer
dollars"
Then h>paused, looking hard before
him and twisting his face into exraor-
dinary shapes till the men looked at
him in wonder.
"I'm rale glad o. this saloon, but it's
over late for the lad that Gamma be
helpit the moo. He'll not be needin'
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 speeches. 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. 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 ta-
bles and then to Slavin, and I found
myself wondering if she knew what 1t
was that came to Slavin.