The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-12-28
4oo ecurelaDd eue., atlanta G.

pianks a perfect picture of STRENGTH ana
contentment. The nrelieht throw ,.,ad,.
so" over ms rough but pleasant features
04'u you lelt an instructive liking for this
! cnilu OF the mountains a vonr drer
e,"ACc uesplte his uncouth dress and
"a cummings. In one hand he i Id 4 glas,
~ pedulhs liquor and the other Law
OH the table behind him where a,moe.
within touch of his big fingers ,a,. ne
oe!t ana horse pistols with two or fbrea
others Of like kind and two long Keen
owie knives NC"
II tell We what. boys" he cried slap
| ping his big sinewy thigh. "a night like
! liis mere with the wind er howlin out.
sac, and the sleet en- snow cr shirtin in
| at the windows. makes er feller mighty
grad TO git 10 er big fire like this. en- a
jug Of this here Hotter Molly"
iez. cried Huffy Hanks, a little sour
looking man. who was setting on a neg
looking contemporary at Pete. as ne
| drank more and more Of the whIskev,
IS, II does he snared Mighty
good indeed when big fellow like Won
sits up and brags and drinks ali the
hquor the whole company helped to pay
Tor. and will end UP by making fool OF
himself. Ana turning he walked over
10 the other side of the fire where L
group of the younger men were sitting
talking of its being Christmas eve and
the old folks at home"
Whats that you say?" roared BraWny
Pete, raising his big shaggy head ana
following Iluffy Hanks with his eyes
eyes in which there had begun 10 CLEAN
a dangerous light whats that? The
hull company paid for il, did they? Well,
d like 10 know If didn't pay my share,
en- ii II wuznt me who stuck the first
puck IN the ped Of the 'Eurek3 anyway?'
Huffy Hanks turned and hts face was
white and drawn as he eazed Into the
furious eyes OF his enemy. Although
small of stature he was equal to aay
man in camp IN courage and brute
strength.
IN take 10 cu$sing from you nor no.
body else, and YOU have got to take it
back" he Kissed through his set teeth,
coming forward end snatching one OF
The knives.
Take it baekr' cried Brawny Pete
reaching for his pistol, 'I'll see YOU dead
FIRST
But from a corner. where he had been
setting, his golden head on his hands,
sprang a boy
mo! No! Men. MOI For Gods sake DO
not fight Go back Hutfy. and you,
Pete. you are mad with drink, YOU den't
know what you are doing. When you are
sober you are the best Of friends"
'Out Of the way, kid" roared Pete.
no foolin' erbout tins. This IS men :
business" and he tried to push the hoy
aside. Tor he had thrown himself be-
tween them.
Huffy Hanks, becoming more furious
AT the DELAY, came forward and with q
muffled oath made a lurch at Pete with
the keen, shimmoring blade. He missed
his aiyn and Pete fired. All was smoke
aud confusion for a minute and the
sound Of heavy foot steps. When the
smoke cleared away there lay the boy,
VIII Bronson. between the two dazcd
men, with bullet hole through hit
shoulder He lay there. one hand on his
breast, with the other BY his side, END
his fair hair falling back from his fore
head ana closed eyes--A perfect picture
Of death
Pete and fluffy Hunks looked at each
her in dismay, while the other men
hastily bore the unconscious boy 70 tho
nearest bunk and began TO administer
restogatiyes.
Just then loud knocking was heard
at the door. and ono Of the miners went
| forward ana opened IL.
Followed BY cloud Of snow and a
gust Of wind that sent the sparks flying
NJ the cavernous chimney. a man Stun
hied forward, holding in ms arms child
The chnd q boy OF perhaps seven
years scrambled down and ran towards
Tie fire. showing plainly that whoever
had borne Che brunt Of he storm il was
not him. Bat the man, with sigh as
he eazed about him. tottered ana tel
ca a pile Of skins ncaI the aoor.
By this time the boy Of The shooting