Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-02-11
THE BORROWED BLANKET.

iss that our friend Waterman board.
Cd the Southern Pacific train a. the
Arcade depot. Los Angeles, one
evening In late October and started
upon his new venture, with bis ssm.
pie case we'll stocked, and a case full
OF good cigars in bis coat pocket. II
was tremendous snndertak ting which
40 had before him. and upon his
shoulders alone rested the responsi.
oiiity OF its success or failure. His
employers had conceived the daring
idea OF invading q field hitherto mo.
nopolired by San Francisco houses.
70 viii, Central and Northern Nava.
d.. and - Waterman was the beat
man available, he had been commis.
stoned 10 sound the tocsln OF war In
the enemy's camp. so 70 speak.
Not . whit did he underrate the
importance Of the task laid upon
him, but. resolved 70 do his bes, aud
let results take care of themselves.
Waterman stretched his llnbs com.
fortably In the smoking car, deposl
ted bis overcoas and sample case he
side him. and lit cigar a. the train
pulled slowly out of the city.
We would like 10 follow him In all
the details OF his "trip. but time and
space forbid us. We must, there.
fore, hasten on and meet our enter
prising traveller % 0 bustling min
Ing town Ia northwestern Nevada
He bad arrived late In the even
Ing, and learned that the only nc
commodations 10 DO had for the nigh,
were at q large canvas tent which
had been fitted up to do duty as a
hotel.
Tho air was keen and frosty, and
quite q numerous little party Of
guests were gathered about sheet,
iron stove NJ one corner OF the tent,
this space serving as the Office and
sittlng'room OF the hotel. Among
them was q very intelligent woman
OF middle age, who Waterman soon
learned was there in the interest ol
some mining property which shc
owned in that part OF the State. u,
IN IN ola saying that nothing OF any
consequence happens In this world
without there be o woman In 10, and
there seems 10 be considerable evi
dence that 10 Is 10. In this case her
name was Mrs. Clayton, and she
talked quite volubly upon various
matters OF business with her fellow.
travellers. Waterman found her I'm.
mensely interesting. and decidedly
refreshing after the tedium of his
journey. Almost upconsciouslv n.
found himself adjusting more n a
nicety his well. fitting coat and az
ranging the ends of his moustache I,
q way calculated TO ,naLs a .ood i'm
preston. And In .b,. no ae,,sr.a
himself that he WINS undouh,sa,,.,.
ceeding.
She at length baas than a r,.o.
ant good night and wen. N ,ooL 80,
the landlady of the hoteI and IN.
conversation was con,,r,as Tor cow,
time by the men over their n,nas ard
cigars. Finally they got sleepv and
by mutual consent adjourned for ,h,
night. The beds were simplv cur
tanned of from one another nv por
tisre nLa ~;.e-.i".s vf muslin. ana
each guest was assigned his partic.
ular room" by the landlady. Wa
terman. feeling In extra good spir.
its, considering his accommodations
very cheerfnlly disrobed and turned
into bed to get night $ sleep. But
the bedding was a trifie scanty for
such cold night, and he q. length
began TO shiver moss uncomfortably.
~ have got 70 have more bedding
than this" he calculated to himself.
as he rolled out of his bunk and
lighted a tallow candle which stood
upon n small soap box beside il.
"If there's any spare beds handy
III just help myself 70 some quilts.
Don propose 10 lie here and freeze
II I can help it,"
7, ~. .orr.~.u... .a;.,.;..,.
q" WIG Sos"p@' ssiscns o1gUhsus utS