The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-11-21
HOW I KEPT
NY CONTRACT
Ioriginall

Indian Territory. If l finished it ac-
Cording to agreement | would make
small fortune. If I failed my forfeit
was so large that my work would not
pay me. There was but one reason
why I should fail, and that was alco-
hol. couldn't keep my men sober.
There was plenty of prohibition in
the territory and just as much liquor.
All sorts of poisonous stuff was
brought in surreptitiously, diluted
wood alcohol being consumed in large
quantities. 1t was all brought by ped
dlers across the line from Oklahoma.
1 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 it. l never saw any one sell liquor
and never saw the men drink it. The
first thing | knew they were all drunk.
Then work must be stopped till they
got sober.
l was going by the supply store one
morning and saw peddler sitting ON
O keg. Always on the lookout, | asked
him what was in it. He told me that
it was kerosene, and on my demanding
to sample it he put in a spigot and
drew kerosene true enough. Neverthe-
less that night the men were all drunk
/ went to the store and, looking over
the stock of barrels and such like
found a number with false bottoms. \
small compartment at one end smelt of
kerosene; the rest smelt of whisky.
After that | inspected every article
that could hold liquid when it came
into camp. For awhile | kept out
liquor and kept the men at work. Dur
ing this period | made great headway
and felt sure that if could continue it
l should make good my contract and
pocket enough funds to enable me to
live as l liked for the rest of my life.
My work must be finished by the
18th of April, and on the 18th of Feb
ruary / knew that fifty days more
steady work would be 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
an
at once and keep them sober l could
complete my contract; if not l was
doomed. There was pretty Mexican
girl near my camp with whom l had
spent many an evening very happily.
On the evening in March mentioned,
men and to get my mind off my dlsap-
pontment, / went over to see little
Margarita Fares.
"What Is the matter, senor2 You
look as If some great calamity were
upon you"
/ told her of my troubles.
"What will senor give to know how
the men get their liquor" She looked
at me roguishly. She was bewltching.
"My heart" replied on the impulse.
"What use is the heart without the
hand?" she asked. her eyes dancing
with mischief.
''The heart, though given and de-
clined, is still in the keeping of the re-
cipient. The hand offered and declin-
ed remains with the giver."
She arose and went into the next
room There l heard her opening doors
belonging to cupboards and sideboards
and the clink of glasses. supposed
she was intending to bring me some
fluid rcfreshment What was my sur
prise to see her return with couple
of eggs each in an eggcup. They were
,On tray, and there was a silver spoon
for each egg.
81 only finished my supper half an
hour ago." | said.
But you have not had anything to
wash it down"
''Wash 1t down with boiled egg?"
I'VE shall see
Setting the tray on table, she push
ed one of the eggs toward me. broke
the shell at the small end with the
spoon, while she did the same with
the other egg
''Scnor, your good health" she said,
raising her egg to her lips.
There was the unmistakable odor OF
WHISKY under my nose | slipped from
the eggshell and slipped whisky. The
girl set her egg on the table without
tasting it. looked at her question
ingly.
"Dont you understanu?" she said
mo"
''rhe eggs that are coming in are
shells full of whisky"
reached across the table and caught
her in my arms, then hurried away to
the supply store, where | found many
dozen eggshells, both full and emptied
Of liquor. took up one of the empty
shells and found that it was a good
imitation of an eggshell made of plas-
ter of paris. Each shell held one drink
l smashed all the full ones could find
and forbade the sale Of eggs in camp
from that day forward.
This was the last trouble was