The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-01-25

4
.8;7.S RADIO, one large and prosper
GUS town, a very swell town
with group Of very swell springs, the
other nothing more than huge hotel
up the gorge ut Spanish Peaks, hung
about by granite tapestries hard as the
managers heart.
When Ell Toledore mine was smok
Switchback boosted lively popula
ton, with three shifts on-5OO men-
but never ut any time more than one
boss. He was Ell 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 at the noon hour beat in
tently Oh it, and John Blair, on the
porch of Mrs. Jackson'S boarding
house, melting the last of his favor
lite tobacco into blue haze, was sink
ing into doze when his ear caught
the sound Of laughter, different from
Switchback laughter. He opened his
eyes-like the cliff road, they were
gray and dusty-and saw man and a
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 the word In his mind, were
more stupid than their class, for they
seemed wretchedly awkward at han
ding their property. The man began to
prod him with stick. The woman
shook her violin rather alarmngly ut
the BEAST and bruin, accepting the
challenge, squared himself
Hey, there, Tony" sang the auto
crat, interfering by virtue OF his job III
everything inside camp limits, why
don't you water the brute. you IDIOT!
Don't you see he's thirsty?' The mu-
stefan 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
a brownish. mineral looking chap. but
his voice rang in Il domineering way.
The Italian, nodding. gave his compan'
ion the chain and trotted over to the
corner store Just as he entered it 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 a special Provi-
dence, for. jerking the chain from his
mistress hand. he dashed at 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 Il pretty
terror. Reaching the child's side with
astonishing bounds, the autocrat, seiz-
ing the bears collar, jerked it off the
bawling urchin. Thoroughly and ex
cusably enraged, 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 a 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 shrewd
and merciless 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 it.
Meantime the child's mother ran
shrieking into the street, and dozen
women from as many shanties swarm
ed after her. The Italian girl shrank
in dismay beside her companion, while
John Blair stepped quickly to them.
Sorry l had to kill your bear, To
NY" he said to the bewildered must
clan. cts your fault, not taking care
Of him. He jumped on the child.
interfered to keep you out Of trouble.
This is bad camp for your sort. They
hung three dagoes here few years ago.
They'd swing you up and light their
pipes on you 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 her
innocent vindlctively up by the wrist.
Look a the poor little gyurl They'd
ought to be lynched.' There was
chorus IS echoes.
"'Ow can we get out?" anXiously
asked the man of John Blair.
"Blast IT. Get out the way you got
in--hit the path" exclaimed the auto
Graf imDatiently. but plancnp Mt the