The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-01-07

was revealing in my delicious second
morning sleep, just awake enough to
enjoy 1t, Mr.. Craig came abruptly, an
nouncing breakfast and adding:
Hope you are in good shape, for we
have work before us this day"
"Hello" ! replied, still half asleep
and anxious to hide from the minister
that 1 was trying to gain a few more
moments Of smoothing delight. whats
abroad?"
1.-THE devil" he answered shortly and
with such emphasis that l sat bolt up
right, looking anxiously about.
ooh, no need for alarm! He's not
after you particularly-at. least not to-
day." said Craig, with a shadow Of a
smile. "But he Is going about in good
style, l can tell YOU"
BY this time l was quite awake.
We'll, what particular style does his
majesty affect this mornlng2"
He pulled out a showbill. "Pecul-
iarly gaudy and effective, is 1T not2"
The items announced were sufficient
ly attractive. The Frisco Opera COM
pany was to produce the screaming
farce" THE Gay and Giddy Dude"
after which there was to be n grand
ball. during which the "Kalifornia Fe-
male Kickers" were to do some fancy
figures, the whole to be followed by q
big supper" with 1.-TWO free drinks to
every man and one to the lady" and
all for the insignificant sum Of 50.
Cant you go one better?" I said.
he looked inquiringly and. a little
disgustedly at me. "
what can you do against free drinks
and a dance. not to speak of the high
kickers7" he groaned. mo-" he con-
tinued. tits n clean beat for us today.
The miners and lumbermen will have
in their pockets $4,000 and every dol
lar burning n hole. and SlavinN and his
gang will get most Of it. But he
added, "you must have breakfast.
You'll find a tub in the Kitchen DONE
he afraid to splash. 1t is the best I
have to offer you.""
The tub sounded inviting, and before
many minutes had passed / was in a
delightful glow, the effect of cold water
and n rough towel and that conscious
ness of virtue that comes to n man
who has had courage to face his cold
bath OF q winter morning. =
The breakfast was laid with fine
taste. A diminutive pine tree in q pot
hung round with wintergreen stood In
the center Of the table.
well, now, this looks good-porridge,
beefsteak, potatoes, toast and marina.
lade."
II hope you will enjoy 1t all"
There was not much talk over our
meal. Mfr. Craig was evidently preoc-
cupied and as blue as his politeness
would allow him. Slavin's victory
weighed upon his spirits. Finally he
burst out: Look herel can't-I
won't stand It'll Something must be
done. Last Christmas this town wax
for two weeks, as n of the miners
said, "a little suburb of HE'LL 1t was
something too awful. And at the end
of 1t all one young fellow was found
dead in his shack, and twenty or more
crawled back to the camps, leaving
their three months pay with Slayln
and his suckers. I won't stand 1t, L
say!" He turned flercely on me. whats
to be donep -
This rather took me aback, for / had
troubled myself with nothing Of this
sort in my life before, being fully oc-
cupied in keeping myself out Of diff
Guilty and allowing others the same
privilege. SO I ventured the consola-
ton that he had done his part and that
a spree more or less would not make
much difference to these men. But the
next moment 1 wished / had been SLOW
er in speech, for he swiftly faced me,
and his words came like q torrent:
God forgive you that heartless world
Do you know But, no; you don't
know what you are saying. You don't
know that these men have been clam.
bering for dear life out Of q fearful pit
FOR three months past and doing good
climbing, too. poor chaps. You don't
think that some of them have wives,
most OF them mothers and sisters. in
the east or across the sea, for whose
sake they are shaving here, the miners
hoping to sav enough to bring their
families to this homeless place, the
rest to make enough to go back with
credit. Why, there's Nixon, miner,
splendid chap, who has been here for
two years and drawing the highest
pay. Twice he has been In sight Of his
heaven, for he can't speak Of his wife
and babies without breaking UP, and
Etwice that slick son of the ~devil-thats
Scripture. mind you-Slavin, got him
and rolled. him. as the boys say. He
went back to the mines broken In body
and In heart. He says This Is his third
and last chance. If Slavin gets him,
his wife and babies Will never see him
on earth or in heaven. There are San
dy and the rest too. And" he added In
a lower tone and with the cGfious little
thrill of pathos in his voice, this is the
day the Saviour came to tho world"
He paused, and then with a little, sad
smile, "But 1 don't want to abuse you"
EDO. I enjoy It. I'm a beast, a self
fish Abeastr' For somehow his ~inteBsei
blazing earnestness made me feel un.
comfortably small.
"What have we to offerT I demand
ed.
Wait till I have got these things
cleared away and my housekeeping
done"
i pressed my services upon him,
somewhat feebly, / own, for I can't
bear diehwater, but he rejected my
offer.
~ don't like trusting my china to the
hands Of a tenderfoot."
Quite right, though your china would
prove an excellent means OF defense at
long range,
1t was delft a quarter of an inch
ANH 80 AL