The daily Alaskan., 1906-01-12
A GREWSON1E
 THANKSGIVING

ally from a black bottle that stood on the table beside him. A cold wind blew an equally cold rain against the window panes and roared in the chim- nev. There were sounds of some one without knocking the mud from his boots, and a man entered.
 "A bad night, Bill," said the landlord. ''I don't see why the parsons don't choose a better season for Thanksglv- in. If they must thank the Lord for what they don't git they might as well do so when at least the weather's like ly to be such as to be thankful for"
 Just such a night as this year ago. RememberT" Bill replied, looking at the landlord with a singular expres- sion. The landlord made no reply.
 Say. Bill" he said presently, taking his pipe from his mouth, there's a gen tleman come about an hour ago that looks for all the world like the one We done year ago tonight. He come be- twixt daylight and dark and kep' his coat collar up and his hat down over his eyes, so I couldn't see, but there was somethln' about him that remind ed me of the other"
 ''Well, the other left us sOmethin' to be thankful for. and perhaps this one has been sent by the Lord to do the same" And Bill, who had seated him self on the other side of the table, helped himself to a stiff glass of grog.
 q showed him the nor'east room" !" the landlord went on, but be turned and started into the nor'west room just as if he'd been there before and know ed all about it."
 Bill looked up quickly at the land lord. He didn't say anything. It was not necessary. It was in the north west room that the stranger had been murdered. The two men sat, now and again helping themselves to the con- tents of the bottle Each knew the thoughts of the other. Their funds were low, and 1t was necessary to re plenlsh them. But they didn't like the only way for doing so that suggested itself to them. Besides, the resem- blance of the man upstairs to the one from whom they had secured a fine haul a year agone and his passing so famlliarly into his predecessors room made the work all the more obnoxious ro them. The rum they drank did not make them drunk. They were below par, and 1t gave them the necessary stf1ening.
 singular" said Bill presently, that a year ago tonight there was only one traveller in the house and only one to- night"
 "It goes to show that the Lord takes care of us. Some think only good peo- ple git any luck. 1 reckon we've got IS much to be thankful for on this Thanksgivin' night as if we had wings growin' out of our shoulders"
 There was a pause, during which a similar picture came up before the memory of each-a picture of happy and innocent group gathered around the freside after the Thanksgiving din- ner. There were the old father, proud of bis boys and girls; the mother solici- tous for her children's future, all con stitutlng a loving united family. Sure ly there had been great changes since then. The landlord went to the fire and sat, bent over 1t, peering at the Nve coals to which 1t was now reduced. Bill sat with his hat drawn down over his eyes, apparently asleep.
 Suddenly wheezy clock struck the hour of Il. Bill slowly raised himself.
 'Well, what d'you thlnk?" he asked.
 CT amt up to job tonight"
 Neither am I. But I've got to have money"
 ''We didn't git so much out of the job we done Q year ago"
 We got five hundred for the dia' nond."
 The last reminder stifiened the reso- !ution of the landlord, and they began 60 make preparations for sending the gentleman where he wouldn't need his 5elongings. The landlord went out and returned with his pistols, but Bill pro tested that he didn't like noisy weap- Ons.
 That's fright" said the landlord There isn't q house within a mile.'
 'Yes, but suppoSin' some un happen ed to be walkin' by and heard shot What would become of us in case the stranger should be traced here? Bet ter do him as we done the other"
 Bill took off his boots-the landlord was already in slippers-and, going to the staircase, they silently crept up to the floor above. The door to the tray eler's bedroom was ajar, as if inviting them to enter. A kerosene lamp was fixed in the hall throwing some light into the room. Bill tlptoed to the open ing and looked in. Then he returned to his companion and said:
 Hes awful still. l can usually hear any man breathe when he's asleep, but can't hear him."
 'T'm sick of the business before it's begun" replied the other.
 "Oh, git some sand into you. Come onV'
 Each, drawing a long knife, crept in- to the room. In passing through the door they left 1t wide open, and there was light enough to see the stranger stretched on the bed. Suddenly both s&orta5 baclT and Ioolyed into each oth-