Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-22
DAILY. STOR Y.
HOW KEPT MY CONTRACT.
(Origfn2l.l

Indian Territory. If I finished it ac-
cording to agreement l would make a
small fortune If I failed my forfeit
was so large that my work would not
pay me- There was but one reason
why l should fail, and that was alco-
hol I 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 surreptitiOusy, diluted
wood alcohol being consumed in large
quantities. 1t was all brought by ped
dlers 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 it, L never saw any one sell liquor
and never saw the men drink it. The
first thing L 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 Il peddler sitting OH
Il keg. Always on the lookout, asked
him what was in IL. He told me that
| il was kerosene, and on my demanding
| TO sample it he put in Il spigot and
drew kerosene true enough. Neverthe-
| less that night the men We're all drunk.
| went 10 the store and, looking over
| the stock of barrels and such like.
| found Il number with false bottoms.
| small compartment at one end Smelt OF
| kerosene: the rest smelt of whisky.
After that l inspected every article
that could hold liquid when ii came
| into camp. For awhile l kept out
liquor and kept the men at work. Dur
| ing this period | made great Roadway
| and felt sure that il | could continue it
L should make good my contract and
pocket enough funds TO enable me 10
| live as liked for the rest of my life.
My work must be finished by the
| 10th of April, and on the 10th 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
10. but in the spring one always looks
Ing suspicious about either of them.
On the Goth of March the men We're
all drunk Ii l could get them sober
at once and keep them sober | could
complete nv contract; If not | was
doomed. There was pretty Mexican
girl near my camp with whom l had
speLt many an evening very happily.
On fine evening in March mentioned,
= o l.
men and TO get my mind off my disap
pointmept, ! went over 10 see little
Margarita FARES.
What IS the matter, senior? You
look as if some great calamity were
upon YOU
! told her Of my troubles.
What viii senior give to know how
the men get their liquor" She looked
at me roguish.v. She was bewitching.
my heart / replied Oh the impulse.
What use is tue 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 s;ve:''
She arose and Went into the next |
room. There | heard her opening doors |
belonging TO cupbOards and sideboards |
aud the clink of glasses. ! supposed |
she was intending to bring me some |
fluid refreshment. What was my sur
prise TO see her return with couple |
of eggs each in an eggcup. They were |
on Il tray, and there was q silver spoon |
for each egg.
Il only finished my supper half an |
hour ago. | said
But you have not had anything to |
wash ii down"
Wash il down with a boiled egg!"
We shall see"
Setting the tray OH table, she push |
ed one of the eggs toward me. l broke |
the shell at the small end with the !
spoon. while she did the same With |
the other egg.
Senior, your good health" she said
raising her egg to her lips.
There was the unuistakabe odor of
whisky under my nose. 1 slipped from
the eggShell and slipped whisky. The
girl set her egg on the table without
tasting it. l looked at her question
ingly.
Don't you underestimate she said.
No"
The eggs that are coming in are
shells full of whisky"
l 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. l 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.
| smashed all the full ones l could find /
and forbade the sale of eggs in camp /
from that day forward.
This was the last trouble I was i
destined to encounter from liquor. I
finished my work on the day L had /
contracted to finish it, though L had |