The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-12-06
HOW 4 KEPT
ny CONTRACT
lorlrlnall

toriginal.l
! was under contract to have a GER
tain work done by a certain time In
Indian Territory. II / finished it ac-
cording to agreement would make a
small fortune. If / 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. l coul, 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. |
watched v it'll the greatest care to see
that none Of it was sold about my
/ camp, but for my life couldn't pre-
vent It. never saw any one sell liquor
/ and never saw the men drink 1t. The
first thing knew they were all drunk
Then work must be stopped till they
got sober.
was going by the supply store one
morning snd saw a peddler sitting ON
a keg. Always ON the lookout. asked
him what was in 1t. He told me that
| 1t was kerosene, and on my demanding
to sample 1t 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. 4
small compartment at one end smelt
kerosene; the rest smelt of whisky.
After that / inspected every arti
that could hold liquid when 1t came
into camp. For awhile kept OUT
liquor and opt the men at work. Dur
ing this period l made great Roadway
and felt sure that II could continue II
should make good my contract and
pocket enough funds to enable me to
live az liked for the rest of my life.
My work must be finished by the
18th of April, and ON the~S5th of Feb
ruary l 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 us the spring advanced.
watched the supply store, but cou'f
, 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 l could get them Sob
at once and keep them sober l could
J complete my contract; If not | was
+ doomed. There was pretty Mexican
s girl near MY camp with whom | had
: spent many an evening very happily
r On the evening in March mentioned
to get rid of the sight Of the drunken
men and to get my mind off my disap
t pointment, went over to see little
J. MarGarita Fares.
e what is the matter, senior? Yor
Il look as If some great calamity were
o upon you"
l. told her Of my troubles.
( 'What will senior give to know how
the men get their liquor?' She looked
It at me rogu' lilly. She was hewitching
II "My her / replied on the impulse
ID what use is the heart without tl'
handY' she asked. her eyes dancing
n with mischief
# 1.-THE heast. though given and ="
4. clined, is still in the keeping Of the
le cipient The hand offered and declin
ed remains with the glveff'
II She arose and went into the nex
u room. There heard her opening door
<. belonging to cupboards and sideboard
1. and the clink Of glasses. | suppose'
ID she was Intending to bring me som
p. fluid refreshment. What was my su-
"a prise to see her return with coup
ID of eggs each In an eggcup. They wer
&c on tray. and there was a silver spool
for each egg.
III 81 only finished my supper half Al
III hour ago." | said.
10 But you have not had anything t
m wash 1t down"
p wash it down with a boiled eggT"
= I'VE shall see."
nj Setting the tray on table, she pusl
&c ed one of the eggs toward me. brok
Ip the shell at the small end with tn
~. spoon, while she did the same wit
rs the other egg.
no "Senor, your good health" she sai'
m raising her egg TO her lips.
an There was the unmistakable odor {
II whisky under my nose / slipped froI
\ the eggshell and slipped whisky. Tn
no girl set her egg on the table withor
W. tasting it. looked at her question
lngly.
oh Don't you understand she said.
~ mo"
,1s THE eggs that are coming in al
shells full of whisky"
he / reached across the table and caugl
Ill
be
his s--'Iu-'--a--'--- -a-------'.
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