The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-06-21

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second and now lead.
Poor Billy! pitied him, but |
thought chiefly OF the beautiful, eager
face that leaned toward him the night
the league was made and OF the bright
voice that said, You'll sign with me,
Bfllyp and II seemed 10 me a cruel
deed 10 make him lose his grip OF life
and hope for this is what the pledge
meant 10 him.
While was trying 10 get Billy away
to some safe place I heard great
| shouting In the direction OF the bar.
followed by trampllng and scuGling of
feet In the passageway. Suddenly a
man burst through. crying:
Let me 20. Stand back. | k~~-.-
what I'm aboutr'
II was Nixon, dressed In his best
black clothes, blue shirt, red tie look
Ing handsome enough, but half drunk
and wildly excited. The Highland
Fling competition was on at the mo-
ment and Angus Campbell, Lachlan's
brother, was representing the lumber
camps In the contest. Nixon looked on
approvingly for a few moments. Then,
with a quick movement, he seized the
little highlander. swung him I'm his
powerful arms clean Off the floor and
deposited him gently upon beer bar
rel. Then he stepped into the center of
the room, bowed TO the judges and be
gan sailors hornpipe.
The committee were perplexed, but
after deliberation they decided TO hui
NOR the new competitor especially as
they knew-that Nixon with whisky in
him was unpleasant TO CROSS.
Lightly and gracefully he went
through his steps, the men crowding in
from the bar TO admire. for Nixon
was famed for his hornpipe. But when
after the hornpipe he proceeded 10 ex-
ecute a clog dance, garnished with
acrohatic feats, the committee inter
fered. There were cries OF Put him
out.p and Let him alone. Gu on, Nix
onr' And Nixon hurled back into the
crowd two of the committee who had
laid demonstrating hands upon him,
and, standing In the open center, cried
out scornfully:
Put me out! Put me OUT Certainly
Help yourselves! Don't mind me-
Then, grinding his teeth SO that
heard them across the room, he added,
with savage deliberation, III any man
lays finger on me, Tll-I'll eat his
liver cold"
He stood for a few moments glaring
round upon the company and then
strobe toward the bar followed by the
crowd, wildly yelling. The ball was
forthwith broken MP. looked around
for Billy. but hc was nowhere TO be
seen. Gracme touched ny arm.
There's going 10 be something Of n
time, SO just keep your eyes skinned,
he said
"Whai are you going q doy' asked.
"D1Y Keep myself beautifully out or
trouble" be replied.
IN few uomgnts The crowd came
surgng back hcudpd by Nixon, who
was waving whisky bottle over his
herd and yelling IL one possessed
"Hellor' exclaimed Graeme softly
II begin t. see Look therer'
What's upy ! asked
You see Iduho and Slavin and their
pets he replied They've got poor
Nixon Ia tow. Idaho Is rather nasty"
he added, ''but | think I'm take q hand
in this game I've seen some Of Idahos
work before"
The scene was one quite strange to
me and was wild beyond description
a hundred men filed the room Bottles
were passed from hand 10 hand. and
men drank their iii. Behind the re-
frcShmcnt tables stood the hotel man
and his harkcepcr, with their coats OF
and sleeves rolled mp to the shoulder.
passing out bottles and drawing beer
and whisky from two kegs hoisted up
for that purpose Nixon was In his Clio.
ry Il was his night Every man was
10 get drunk az his expense. ne pro
claimed. finging down bills upon the
table Near him We're some league men
he was treating libcrally. and never far
away were Idaho and Slavin passing
bottles, but evidently drinking little.
followed Gracme not feeling too
comfortable, for this sort OF thing was
new to me. but admiring the cool as
surance with which he made his way
through the crowd that swayed AMI
yelled and sworc and laughed In
most disconcerting manner.
Hello" shouted Nixon as he caught
sight OF Graeme. Here you are?
passing him bottle. You're a
knockcr. double handed front door
knocker. You polished or old whisky
soak here. old demijohn." pointing 60
Slavin. "and III lay five 20 one we
can Hex ans blanlscty blank thieves In
the crowd" And he held up "A roll OF
bills
But Graene proposed that he should
give the hornpipe again. and the noor
was cleared nt once, FOR Nixon's born.
pine was very popular and tonight Of |
course was IN high favor IN the midst
Of his dance Nixon stopped short his
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