The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-26
Reformation at Blizzard Camp
By FRANK H. SWEET

quiringly. eagerly, In search of something
| that would please a 10-year- boy who
was childish. But there was little they saw:
only huge miners boots and pyramids of
picks and shoyels and blankets and barrels
| OF -four and beans and pork, and on the
shelves tobacco and canned goods and a
small assortment of earthen and tinware,
and then, at the far end of the store, a
| bar for the accommodation Of those who
were thirsty
1 There were no dry and fancy goods and
notions upon the shelves, no show cases
| upon the counter, no display In the one
| dingy window. Such things would only
begin to make their appearance with the
coming Of the first woman, and that was
not vet.
''Ruther a slim show for playthings,
Dobson." said the owner of the cranber-
| rtes, after fruitless search with his eyes
| from one end OF the store to the other.
Don't s'pose a pack O. playin' cards
| would dog" as his gaze paused hopefully
on an extensive assortment of that popu-
| lar article. They has pictures on em.'
Wouldn't do at ALL" answered Dobsol
decidedly. They amt moral, an the
| first kid who patronizes us has got to be
brought UP moral. Say, you.'' to the
watery eyed man, who was edging toward
the bar at the far end Of the store. None
O. that!''
None o. WHAT" asked the man quer-
ulously Il amt steppin' on your toes.
mo. but you are on the kids. See
here'' an incisive ring in his voice which
had made many stronger men trmeble-
you amt Walkin' the same line you was
tWenty-four hours ago. Then you was a
poor, no count drunkard who'd right 20
dig his grave without opposition from no
body; now you're markin' out trail for
that kid to foller. See? Me an my
friends here amt no call to interfere be-
tween father an son." dropping his voice
! to an easy, familiar tone and placing his
hand epcouragingly upon the tremulous
shoulders, 80 longs the father makes a
good deal, but when he slumps"-hs voice
still soft, but the steely CLINT returning to
his eyes-"then me an my friends step
in. Sabe? Bein' the first kid in camp.
! we've constitooted ourselves his guardians
just like every man in the place will do
soon's they hear O. his bein' here. S'long.'
| He turned back to his companions, and
the watery eyed man, after one long, visit
! full, farewell glance toward the bar, re
| surned his fruit1ess search of the goods
There was nothing now to divide his at
tention. He knew the men with whom he
| had to deal and realized that hencefortf
the bar was to be as far removed from
| him as though a wall Of granite inter-
vened. But to his credit be it said that
| even with the realization came a new
firmness to his lips and new steadiness
| to his eyes.
whats that on the top shelf" he
asked suddenly.
'That? Oh, that isl Dunno hest
tated the storekeeper as he took down
/ the object in question and examined it
critically. 1T got in with some goods a
year ago, an has been up there ever
SINCE
why, you chunp.'' cried the cram
berry owner derisively, mot to know
jumpin jack when you see one! I've
bought lots to home for the children.
Seer And he pulled a string which sent
| the acrobat tumbling up over the top of
| his red pole. Just the thing for the
kid
Just the thing" repeated the watery
| eyed man, drawing a small bag of gold
dust from his pocket. It'll make the
boy laugh.
As he was going out the owner of the
cranberries stepped to his side.
Here, take this along with YOU he
1 said, relinquishing the can to which he
had been clinging so fondly. cit will help
to make out a Christmas for the boy
And this too! And this too! added
the owner of the sardines. and the owner
i Of the baked beans, and then Sheriff Doh
:: son pushed before them and slipped some
| thing bright and heavy into the hand
which held the jumping jack.
f. TITS a nest egg for the kid he said
gravely. Now. you better go home an
fill up his stockin'. an tomorrer you may
| tell him merry Christmas from all O US"