Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-04-02
A PAID DEBT
An Easter Story

buildings Of the Town Talk mine. An
inviting odor of coffee and frying bacon
came from the windows of the boarding
house and blended pleasantly with the
fresh spring air.
Down the trail filed n company OF
men; 1t was the night shift coming home.
Their swinging dinner pals knocked the
dew from the mustard as they walked.
md left It rocking behind them. gold
en- sen of bloom.
Somewhat apart from the others limp
ed the little bent figure OF old MOsely.
His gaze, fastened on the path before
him, never wandered. One hand was
thrust within his dark flannel shirt; the
other swung empty by his side.
The men crossed II fOotbridgc to the
boarding house and fell into line for the
towel and soap. hut Moscly took II by
path to n cabin backed up against the
hill lie closed the door behind him and.
turning away from the one window. cnu-
tiously drew something from within his
shirt. looked at It moment and slipped
It again into place. Then he began pre-
pairing his breakfast.
All was animation Mt the boarding
house. Piles OF steaming corn bread.
plattcrs Of doughnuts and fried potatoes
were rapidly vanishing. Only now and
then was there lull of voices.
Ben Turner. n big fellow near the head
OF the table. broke one of these sicnccs
with the announcements. odd Moselys
goin' over to hear the circuit preacher to-
morrow at the Devidc,"
Tie mon stared. "What?" someone
asked inc:,,u,ously.
'l:'s straight enough" Turner nm
swcret. IL hccrd him nsk the boss my
self. Queer. the way he limps around
after the superintendent" he chuckled;
saint 1t. thought
"Should think Moscly'd be afraid Of
the contribution box" someone sug.
gcsted. ''rhcy might ask him for a
Hickel. How's he going to get there.
anyhow" he continued. 'lt's good
ways to the summit"
I'm thinkin' o 'rcntin' out the gray
mule" Turner gravcly answered.
The others laughed. "Try It" they
urged.
Half an hour ktcr two men went up
the by-path to the cabin. Open doors
are u pledge OF cOmradcship In the
mountains. Moscly closed his behind
him rs snail does. and the men resent
ed It. They raped upon 1t vigorously.
There was n shutting noise inside. then
q hating footstep and Mosely pcered out.
"IIear you're gOin' M to the Easter
mcetin' ut the Devidc," began Turner.
The old man looked ut him suspicious
~. lie was unused to interest In him.
self OF any kind.
YES" he hcsitatingly replied
'Ridc. supposc;" quer'ed Turner.
cts good six mile TO the summit"
Tl,nVo M n nal la. nnnt al
"Thcrcs my gray mule. lie knows ev.
cry inch of trail Oh the mountain. md
az you're bit lame, ! thought maybe
you'd like him."
Alosely looked dazcd. rs though he
scarcely understood. He mechanically
slipped one hand into his shirt and nerv-
Ously fumblcd something.
"Walkin' II be uphill work." the man
went on; ''thc trails pretty slushy yet
from the snow. but the mule'll get YOU
there nll right"
MOscly's hand had stopped fumblinI
and he opened his door wide. His lips
moved. but he did not speak for Il mo
ment.
"N's--lt's more'n I expected" lie said
at last. "Thnnk YOU"
Turner shrugged his shoulders. "Don't
mention It," he magnanimously replied
"The beasts yours, and about the
PRICE" lie eyed the man before
him with keen enjoyment. II guess Il
dOllar'd be about rightY"
Mosely's face twitched. lie shifted
restlessly from one foot to the other ant
moistened his lips.
II reckon" he hegan slowly, II rcck
on, IL it's just the same to you, II
walk"
The Town Talk worked an eight-hou
shift. and ut 1890 the men began climb
Ing the trail. Singly or In twos AM
threes they went. their lanterns CLEAN
Ing like low-hung stars against the darl
hill.
Following closely on their heels limpet
Mosely. He never carried light. VIII!
should he when he could see by some
ones else? At the mouth OF the uppe
tunnel he paused to regain his breath
The dim outline of the summit was jus
visible In the night.
"SiX miles," he uncOnsciously repeat
ed; but here'll be singin' ut the DE
vide, and | amt heard any since
He lighted his candle and disappears
Into tho drift.
The hours wore on. The hands o
Mosely's watch pointed to q; at O:3O tn
tunnel would be cleared for firing II
finished his drill and viewed with inf
mite satisfaction the slim hole directl
under the main ledge; then he began L
load. three sticks Of powder to blast.
As he fitted the fuse into the ca!
someone passed him. 1t was Parrish
the superintendent. He seldom yisits'
the night shift. and Moscly looked afts
him for n moment, wondering, then fol
got all about him In his task. lie Care
fully crimped down the edges of the ca
with his pocket knife. placed 1t IN posi-
tion and tamped the earth about It. 4
the stope was the last one In the drift
he cut some five feet of fuse to allO,
himself plenty Of time.
Just then the signal was given to fire
Moscly answered. He touched n mate
to the freshly cut tape and clambere
over the loose rocks toward the candl
burning In tho track below, grasped
and FASTENED toward the mouth OF til
tunnel. M
AT the FIRST curve he paused to give
hurried glance behind him. A faint mov
Ing spsck Of light was just visible