The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-10-30
orieinaLl


small Fortune II ! failed my forfeit
was SO large that my work would not
pay me. There was but one reason
SEy should fail, ana that was aIco-
i6i conldn't keep my men sober.
There was plenty OF prohibition in
he territory and just as much liquor.
All sorts Of poisonous stun was
brought In surreptIfiousIy. diluted
wood alcohol being consumed In large
quantities 1t was all brought by ped
dIers across the line from Oklahoma.
watched With the greatest care to see
that none OF It was sold about my
camp, but for my life l couldn't pre-
vent II. Inever saw any one sell liquor
and never saw tIe men drink IL. The
FIRST thing knew they were all drunk.
Then work must he stopped till they
got sober.
was going by the supply store one
morning and saw. u peddler sitting on
\ keg. Always on the lookout. 1 asked
him what was in IT. He told me that
II was Kerosene, and on my demandNg
10 sample it he put In a spIgot and
drew Kerosene true enough. NeYerthe-
less that night the men were all drunk.
went to the store and. looking over
the stock of barrels and such like,
found number with false bottoms. A
small compartment at one end smelt of
kerosene; the rest smelt of whisky.
After that inspected every article
that could hold liquid when IL came
into camp. For awhile kept out
liquor and kept the men at work Dur
ing this period / made great headway
md felt sure that IL l could continue 1t
I should make good my contract and
10 tn Ia IN
live as liked for the rest OF my life.
MY work must be finished by the
10Th of April. and on the 18th of Feb
ruary 1 knew that nifty days more
steady work would lie ample for the
purpose. But early in March the men
got on a spree, which was repeated,
the sprees occurring nearer and nearer
together as the spring advanced.
watched the supply store, but could
discover nothing likely to contain
liquor Butter and eggs were coming
In, but in the spring one always looks
for these articles, and there was moth
ing suspicious about either OF them.
on the goth of March the men were
all drunk. If ! could get them sober
at once and Keep them sober I could
complete my contract; II not was
doomed There was n pretty Mexican
girl near my camp with whom I had
spent many an evening very happily.
ON the evening in March mentioned,
to get rid Of the sight OF the drunken
men and 10 get my mind of my disap-
TIointment / went over to see little
RIargarita Fares.
What is the matter. senior? You
look as II some Grcat calamity were
upon YOU"
/ told her or my troubles
20, f.,,.
the men get their Iiluor?" She looked
at 1nc r1griishly She was bewifching.
My heart ] replied ON the impulse.
What use is the heart without the
HANDY" she asked her eyes dancing
with mischief.
.'The heart. though given aud de
cliued. is stu IN the Keeping OF the re.
cipIent. The band offered ana declin
ed remains with Tia" =ivcr.''
She arose AMI Went into the next
room. There l heard her opening doors
belonging to cuphoards and Sidcboar,lS
and the clink OF =zlaSses. supposed
she was Intending TO bring me some
fluid refreshment What was my sIIr-
prise to see her return with couple
of eggs each in ;tn eSgcup. They were
on tray. and there WAS Il silver spoon
Tor each egg.
II only finished my supper half an
hour ago. ! said.
but you have not had anything to
wash 1t down.
Wash 1t down with 81 boiled oSg:"
I'VE shah See
Setting the tray on 81 table. she push
ed one of the eggs toward me. / broke
the shell Mt the small end with the
spoon, while she did the same with
the other egg,
'.Senor, your good health" she said,
raising her egg To her lips.
There was the unmistakIbe Odor of
whisky under my nose. | slipped from
the eggshelI and slipped whisky. The
girl set her esq on the table without
tasting 1t. looked at her question
InEly.
Don't you understand she said.
NO"
...rhe eggs that are coming in are
thells full of whisky"
] reached across the table and caught
her in my arms. then hurried away to |
the supply store, where found many |
dozen eggshclls, both full and emptIed, |
OF liquor. took up one OF the empty
shells and found that It was II good |
imitation of an eGgshell made of Plas-
ter of paris. Each shell held ono drink. |
/ smashed all the fun ones could fiud
and forbade the sale of eggs In camp |
rrom that day forward.
This was the last trouble was
destined to encounter from liquor. |
finished my work on the day | had
contracted TO finish 1t, though I had |
TO pay the men extra wages durinG: the |
last few days, and made small for
tune.
did not see Margmrita Ferries till |