Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-08-08
Nothing and
Everything
Copyright, 1906, bv Frank II. Spcdrma,
q WITCHBACK lay between
VI two summer resorts In Colo
FSTSsI RADIO, one large and prosper
axsEoJ GUS town, a very swell town
By FRANK H. sPEARr1AN

L "A
YsEXS1 RADIO, one large and prosper
lSxs3eI Gus town, very swell town
with group Of very swell springs, the
other nothing more than huge hotel
up the gorge at Spanish Peaks, hung
about by granite tapestries hard as the
managers heart.
When III TOledOre mine was smok.
ing. as they put it for a lively market,
Switchback boasted lively popula-
ton. with three shifts On-5OO men
| Jut never ut any time more than one
loss. He was FL Toledore manager,
mining engineer and superintendent
John Blair. He was boss.
The highway that connected the re-
sorts crossed the Switchback street be-
tween the boarding house and the de-
pot The sun ut the noon hour beat in
tently on it, and John Blair, OIL the
porch of Mrs. JacksOns boarding
house. melting the last Of his favor.
ite tobacco into blue haze, was sink
ing into doZe when his ear caught
the sound Of laughter, different from
Switchback laughter. He opened his
eycs-like the cliff road, they were
gray ana dusty-and saw Il man and Il
woman coming down from the gorge.
The man led bear, and the woman
carried violin.
Right in front Of the boarding house
the bear became perverse. Whether
from heat or from the odors OF Mrs.
Jackson's kitchen. he settled back on
his launches and vigorously resisted
every effort to get him forward. The
man pulled at him, and the woman
pulled; both together pulled and
seemed to find it very funny. The boss
of Switchback-let us say fatty, the
autocrat-gradually woke to the con-
test. Mining engineers know little
of everything, even bears, and with half
an eye exposed the autocrat saw the
animal was thirsty and that the "da-
goes" to use tine word in his mind, were
more stupid than their class, for they
seemed wretchedly awkward ut han
ding their property. The man began to
prod him with stick. The woman
shook her violin rather alarmingly at
the beast, and bruin, accepting the
challenge, squared himself.
Hey, there, Tony" sang the auto
crat. interfering by virtue of his job IN
everything inside camp limits, why
don't you water the brute, you idiot!
Don't you see he's thirsty?' The mu-
sician turned in surprise. II say, why
don't YOU water him." repeated the au-
tocrat, lazily insolent. You'll never
start him that way"
The woman caught her companions
arm and, looking John Blair's way,
spoke to her associate. John was only
brownish, mineral looking chap, but
his voice rang in a domineering way.
The Italian, nodding, gave his cOmpan-
ion the chain and trotted over to the
corner store. Just as he entered 1t Mrs.
Jackson's little girl, spying the show,
rushed from her kitchen into the street
with western slice Of bread and but
ter and headed straight for the bear.
The apparition must have seemed to
him in the nature Of special Provi-
dence, for, jerking the chain from his
mistress hand, he dashed ut the bread
and butter like grizzly. The Italian
girl screamed, and Mrs. Jackson's
youngster yelled. John heard. and to
hear was to move. but before he could
cross the narrow street the bear had
borne the child, slice and all. to the
ground.
The frightened girl with the violin
John saw she was young and slight,
beat her hands and painted in pretty
terror. Reaching the child's side with
astonishing bounds. the autocrat, seiZ-
ing the bears collar. jerked it off the
bawllng urchin. Thoroughly and ex-
cusably eIragcd, the beast turned on
the interloper, and with the utmost air
| of business The encounter was short.
| for miners and bears are Instant in
| fight. The frightened Italian girl.
grasping her violin. saw the bear.
springing wickedly. tear at Blair's arm,
| thrown out as buffer. In very
flash the struggling pair fought In
blood. The Italian rushed from the
store with his tardy bucket. but not
until the autocrat had by 4 shrewd
and mercless twist hurled the bear to
| the ground and put back into its sheath
dripping knife he had passed across
the brute's throat. The unfortunate
bear had taken the worst Of 1t.
Meantime the child's mother ran
shrieliing into the street. and Il dozen
women from as many shanties swarm
ed after her. The Italian girl shrank
| in dlsmay beside her companion, while
John Blair stepped quickly to them.
''Sorry | had to kill your bear. To-
n.y." he said to the bewillercd musi.
clan. Its your fault. not taking care
IF him. He jumped on the child.
intcrfcrcd to keep you out of trouble
| This is Il bad camp for your sort. They
| ,ung three dagoes here Il few years ago.
They'd swing you up and light their
pipes on yon If your bear did any
damage. You'd best get Out-see?-
and be lively about it! Understand?
he added in Italian, for the women
were already closing about the fright
ened pair.
"Them's the murderin' villains!
shouted Mrs. Jackson, dragging .hei
innocent vindlctively up by the wrist
Look A. the poor little gyurl! They'd
ought to be lynchedw There was
chorus Of echoes.
"Ow can we get out?" anxiously
asked the man Of John Blair.
"Blast it! Get out the way you gOt
in-hit the pathw exclaimed the auto
crat impatiently; but, glancing at the
gathering mob Of women and children
the men were fortunately under
ground or asleep-the autocrat changet
his advice. Things were shaping them
selves with the speed Of cyclone. Th
!; Italian girl shrank closer to him.
burly Switchback dame tore ut he
face, and she huddled. frightened
against his arm. The virago's finger
missed the girls cheek, but they caugh
the kerchief cff her meek. The bea
tanner interposed to resent the assault
John Blair, pushing him back, snatch
ed the scarf from the woman's ham
and rebuked her by name. Then b
turned.
Great God! Don't touch one o
these women. They'll tear you t