Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-07-04

THEN HE STOOD BACK AND GAZED ABOUT
CURIOUSLY.
companions and whose first act on
aiighting was to snatch pail from
the drivers seat and go in search of
water for the horses.
'Dey vass t'irsty," he remarked ser,-
tentiously as he went from one to an
other watching them carefully and
giving water only as he thought judi
ciOus and not as the painting animals
craved. ''In de German army we our
horses yass look after"
Then he stood back and gaZed about
curiuusly his shoulders square and his
right arm bent slightly at the elbow,
as though his hand were resting upon
the hilt of n sword. One of the mine
owners paused on the opposite side
walk and regarded him attcntivelv
He. too. had habit of carrying his
arm in that position. and. besides.
there were other things about the up
right. soldierly figure which carried
him back to certain years of his own
in the German army.
An hour later the stranger was in
stalled as the chief engineer of tie
Gold Bug, with a salary of $50 a day
and with the understanding that he
was TO have the oversight of other
miners. with corresponding increase
Of compensation The blue eyes of the
German had grown big with wonder
at the muniiiccnce of the salary, but
the mine owners had only narrowed
and frightened. He knew that another
man with this scientific giants ac-
quiremcnts would have asked 500
and been given il without question.
In the books he was entered as Hans
because of the clerks inability to un-
derstand the long. unpronounceable
name he gave. but down in camp he
was simply cause" while the bury
teamster he one day tossed twenty
feet into the river for beating horse
became effect"
Mails We're of uncertain arrival at
Dead Level Bar. Sometimes they
came twice month. sometimes only
once In two months. and sometimes
the appearance of road agents prevent
ed them from coming ut all. Hans had
been there six weeks before mail
before the clerk connected the letter
whose address he could not decipher
with the engineer whose name he
could not pronounce.
When the letter was brought to him,
Hans was sitting on n bowlder out
side the mine. his blue eyes fixed upon
n distant point of the horizon with an
expression of wistfulncss and regret.
Five minutes later he was in the su-
perintendent's office.
81 gif my notice." he cried, his face
glowing and his blue eyes radiant. II
take dc stage in twenty minutes
Take what in twenty minutes? Oh
you want more salary" The superin-
tendent threw his feet into another
chair and looked mt him expectantly.
well. how much? Will 30 per cent
increase dog
II tell you take de stage" Hans re-
iterated. Il gif my notice"
His earnestness was too evident to be
mistaken. and the superintendent rose
hastily TO his feet
"Come. come Hans" he expostulated
Think better of it. Well pay you
more than anybody else"
sit is not de pay" eagerly. You nc
understand. You been goot to me. and
stay longer with you as anybody.
But now | vaSS 20 home-to Katrina.
You see." as n slight smile appeared on
the youthful face of the superintend-
ent, lit is like dis Dere vaSs t'ings tell
about me. and Katrina hear dem, and
she say TO me. Co Den hear anodder
man vass seek her. and come to Amer
lea to forget. But. no; dere vass no
place To forget. When | come to de
mountain. | see Katrina everywhere
and | hear her voice NIT de trees and
when | dream. Now dis" holding the
me dat Katrina is waiting. and 1t say
de lies nit me are all discover and dat
de odder man be punish"
II am glad to hear it. Hans" said
the superintendent heartily. But still
think YOU ought to remain with us.
Why. Just think of it. man. Six months
of this work and you can go back and
build Il castle for Katrina"
But Hans raised himself to his full
height and looked down compassionate
ly.
You is young man." he said, land do
not understand desc things. Gold is ev-
erywhere. all over de world; but dere
is only one Katrina. elf my notice
and 20 on the stage. and | say gootby."
The superintendent watched him
down the hillside and then turned to
his desk with n sigh
Il am Young man" he Thought bit
terly. but | do understand. l have
already lost my Katrina" T.