St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-26
BLACK ROCK.
[ ION tinued from Nov. 1871

= WOTK
"May God forgive you this night
work.
Then, turning to Nixon and THROWN!
I his arm over his shoulder, he said il
2 voice broken and husky:
"Come on, Nixon! Wen gow
. Idaho made a motion as if to stoI
him, but Graeme stepped quickly for
ward and said Sharply, make way
there, can't you" and the crowd fel
back, and we four passed through
Nixon walking as in a dream, witt
Craig's arm about him. Down the
street we went in silence and on tC
Craig's shack, where we found old
man Nelson, with the fire blazing and
strong coffee steaming on the stove. II
was he that had told Craig on his ar.
rival from the Landing, of Nixons
fall.
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity, in tone and touch as
Craig placed the half drunk, dazed
man in his easy chair, took off his
boots, brought him his own slippers
and gave him coffee. Then, as his stu.
por began to overcome him, Craig put
him in his own bed and came forth
with face written over with grief.
Don't mind, old chap" said Graeme
kindly.
But Craig looked at him without a
word and, throwing himself into a
chair, put his face in his hands. As we
sat there in silence the door was sud
denly pushed open, and in walked Abe
Baker, with the words Where is Nix
on? and we told him where he was.
We were still talking when again tap
came to the door, and Shaw came in
looking much disturbed.
did you hear about NiXon?" he ask
ed. We told him what we knew.
But did you hear how they got
him?' he asked eXcitedly
AS he told us the tale the men stood
listening, with faces growing hard.
1t appeared that after the making of
the league the Black Rock hotel man
had bet Idaho hundred to fifty that
Nixon could not be got to drink before
Easter. All IdahO's schemes had failed,
and now he had only three days in
which to win his money, and the ball
was his last chance. Here, again, he
was baked, for Nixon, resisting all en-
treaties barred his shack door and
went to bed before nightfall, according
to his invariable custom on pay days.
At midnight some of Idaho's men came
battering at the door for admission,
which Nixon reluctantly granted For
half an hour they used every art of
persuasion to induce him to go down
to the ball, the glorious success of
which was gloWingly depicted but
Nixon remained immoyable, and they
took their departure, baffled and ours
ing. In two hours they returned drunk
enough to be dangerous, kicked at the
door in vain, finally gained entrance
through the window, hauled Nixon out |
of bed and, holding glass of whisky |
to his lips, bid him drink, but he knock |
ed the glass away, spilling the liquor
over himself and the bed.
1t was drink or fight, and Nixon was
ready to fight, but after a parley they
had drink all round and fell to per-
suasion again. The night was cold, and |
poor Nixon sat shivering on the edge of |
his bed. If he would take one drink,
they would leave him alone. He need |
not show himself so stiff. The whisky |
fumes filled his nostrils. If one drink |
would get them off, surely that was
better than fighting and killing some |
one or getting killed. He hesitated,
yielded, drank his glass. They sat
about him amiably drinking and laud-
ing him as fine fellow after all. One
more glass before they left; then Nixon
rose, dressed himself, drank all that
was left of the bottle, put his money in
his pocket ard came down to the
dance wild with his old time madness.
reckless of faith and pledge, forgetful
of home, wife, babies his whole being
absorbed in one great passion-to drink
and drink and drink till he could drink
no more.
Before Shaw had finished his tale
Craig's eyes were streaming with tears,
and groans Of rage and pity broke al
from him.
Abe remained speeches. for a time,
not trusting himself, but as he heard
Craig groan, ooh, the beasts, the
tiends!' he seemed encouraged to let
himself loose, and he began swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdling
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac-
ion in Abe's performance, when sud
lenly he seemed to waken up, caught
Abe by the arm and said in horror
stricken voice:
"Stop! Stop! God forgive us! We
must not swear like this"
Abe stopped at once and in a sur
)rised and slightly grieved voice said:
"Why, what's the matter with that?
Amt that what you wantedW
Eyes, yes. God forgive mel am
lfraid it was" he answered hurriedly,
but | must not"
ooh, don't you worryw went on Abe
'heerfully. "I'll look after that part
And anyway amt they the blankest
'lankety blank"- going off again into
roll OF curses till Craig, in an agony
# entreaty succeeded in arresting the