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


had look OF fear. OF horror.
There. before him, 10 his riding cloak
and boots. with his whip in his hand
as he had come from his ride. stood
Mr.. Craig. Ills face was pallid. and
his dark eyes were blazing with fierce
I light. As Nixon stopped. Craig step
ped forward 20 him. and. sweeping
7 his eyes round upon the circle. he said
/ in tones intense with scorn:
you towards. You get man
! where he's weak! Cowardsl You'd
damn his soul for his money!
There was a dead silence, and Craig.
lifting bis hat. said solemnly:
May God forgive you this nights
work.
Then, turning TO Nixon and throwing
his arm over his shoulder he said In
voice broken and husky:
Come on, Nixonl Wen gor'
Idaho made a motion as II 70 stop
him. but Greene stepped quickly for
ward and said sharply. MAKE way
there. can't you" and the crowd fell
back, and we four passed through,
Nixon walking as in a dream. with
Craig's arm about him. Down the
street we went I'm silence and on 10
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 Nixon's
fall.
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity, In tone and touch as
Craig placed the half drunk, dQzed
sGl in his easy chair, took of his
boots, brought him his own slippers
and gave him coffee. Then. as his stu
por began 10 overcome him, Craig put
him in his own bed and came forth
with a 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
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.
ony and we told him where be was.
We were still talking when again tap
came 90 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
hfmg" he asked excitedly
As ne told us the tale the men stood
listening, with faces growing hard.
Ii appeared that after the making OF
the league the Black Rock hotel man
had bet Idaho a hundred 10 fifty that
Nixon could not be got 10 drink before
Easter. All Idaho's schemes had failed,
and now he had only three days in
which 10 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 nlGhtfall, according
10 his invariable custom on pay days.
At midnight some OF Idaho's men came
gathering at the door for admission,
which Nixon reluctantly granted. For
half an hour they used every art of
persuasion 10 induce him 10 go down
TO the ball, the glorious success of
which was glowIngly depleted. but
took their departure, baiiied and curs-
ing, In two hours they returned drunk
enough To be dangerous. kicked at the
door I'm vain. finally gained entrance
through the window, hauled Nixon out
of bed and holding a glass OF whisky
TO his lips. bid him drink. but he knock
ed the glass away. spilling the liquor
over himself AMI the bed
II was drink OF fight, and Nixon was
ready 10 tight. but after q pnrlcy they
had a drink an round and fell TO per
suasion again The night was cold. and
poor Nixon saf shlverlng on the edge OF
bis bed, II BE would take one drink,
they would leave him alone He need
not show himself so stiff The whisky
fumes filled his nOstrils III one drink
would get thom of. surely that was
better than lighting and killing some
one or getting killed lie hesitated.
yielded, drank his glass. They SAT
about him amiaby drinking and laud
ing him rs a fine fellow after all One
more glass before they left then Nixon
rose. dressed himself drank nll that
was left Of the bottle put his money in
his pocket and came down TO the
dance wild with his old time madness.
reckless or faith and pledge, forgetful
OF home, wife. babies his whole being
absorbed III enc great passionto drink
and drink ami drink TIL he could drinl,
no more.
Before Shaw had finished his tale
Craigs eyes were streaming with tears.
and groans OF rage and pity broke al
ternately from him.
Abe remained speechlcss FOR a time.
not trusting himself but as NJ heard !
Craig groan. "Oh. the beasts. the |
fiendss' he seemed encouraged TO lei |
himself loose. and he began swearing |
with the coolest and most bloodeurdling |
elaboration
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac
ton I'm Abc's performance when sud. |