Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-01-22

crowd they were win their pr1gnr,
brown faces and hearty voices, ana
in ten minutes the whole street seem
ed alive with lumbermen-they had
a faculty of spreading themselves so.
After night fell the miners came down
"done up Slick for this was great
occasion, and they must be up to it.
The manager appeared in evening
dress, but this was voted "toA 9rddy"
by the majority.
AS Graeme and passed up to the
Black Rock hotel, in the large store
room of which the ball was to be held,
we met old man Nelson, looking very
grave.
"Going. Nelson, aren't you?" said.
YES" he answered slowly. "I'll
drop in, though l don't like the looks
of things much"
whats the matter, Nelson?' asked
Graeme cheerily. There's no funeral
on"
Perhaps not" replied Nelson, "but
l wish Mr.. Craig were at home" And
then he added, There's Idaho and
Slavin together, and you may bet the
devil isn't far off,"
But Graeme laughed at his suspicion,
and we passed on. The orchestra was
tuning up. There were two violins, a
concertina and the cello. Billy Breen
was lovingly lingering his instrument,
now and then INDUCING himself in a
little snatch Of some air that came to
him out of his happier past. He look
ed perfectly delighted, and as paused
to listen he gave me proud glance out
of his deep, little, blue eyes and went
on playing softly to himself. Present
ly Shaw came along.
'That's good, Billy" he called out.
you've got the trick yet, 1 see."
But Billy only nodded and went on
playing.
"Where's Nixon?'' asked.
"Gone to bed" said Shaw, "and am
glad Of it. He finds that the safest
place on pay day afternoon. The boys
don't bother him there"
The dancing room was lined on two
sides with beer barrels and whisky
kegs. AT one end the orchestra sat; at
the other was a table with refresh
ments, where the soft drinks might be
had. Those who wanted anything else
might pass through a short passage
into the bar just behind.
This was evidently superior kind of
ball, for the men kept on their coats
and went through the various figures
with faces of unnatural solemnity, but
the strain upon their feelings was quite
apparent, and it became a question
how long it could be maintained. AS
the trips through the passa geway be-
came more frequent the dancing grew
N yigor and hilarity until by the time
supper was announced the stiffness
nad sufficiently vanished to give no
further anxiety to the committee.
But the committee had other cause
for concern, inasmuch as after suppe
certain Of the miners appeared with
their coats off and proceeded to knock
the knots out Of the floor" in break
down dances Of extraordinary energy.
These, however, were beguiled into the
barroom and "filled up" for safety, for
lut were uGl6Ilulu6u Iudt
the responsibility of the ball should be
preserved to the end. Their reputation
was at stake not in Black Rock only
but at the Landing as well, from which
most of the ladies had come, and to be
shamed in the presence of the Landing
people could not be borne. Their diff
culties seemed to be increasing, for at
this point something seemed to go
wrong with the orchestra. The cello
appeared to be wandering aimlessly up
and down the scale, occasionally pick
ing up with the tune with animation
and then dropping it. AS Billy saw me
approaching he drew himself up with
great solemnity, gravely winked at me
and said:
"Shlipped cog, Misther Connor
Mosh hunfortunate! Beauchiful hin,
strument, but ships a cog. Mosh hun
fortunate!"
And he wagged his little head sagely
playing all the while for dear life, now
second and now lead.
Poor Billy! I pitied him, but
thought chiefly of the beautiful, eager
face that leaned toward him the nigh,
the league was made and of the bright
voice that said, You'll sign with me
Billy?" and it seemed to me crue
deed to make him lose his grip of life
and hope, for this is what the pledge
meant to him.
While was trying to get Billy away
to some safe place heard great
shouting in the direction Of the bar
followed by trampling and scuf11ing O.
feet in the passageway. Suddenly {
man burst through. crying:
| LET me go. Stand back! I know
what Pm about!'
1t was Nixon, dressed in his best
black clothes, blue shirt, red tie, look
iney handsnma annnnl, hut hole 1l.,,nl