The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-25
DRIFTWOoD
THE PRIDE OF OLAF.
BY PHIL N. ARMSTRONG.
"A Ch ristmas StoryO

A bulky nRuTe 6Hleibit6 Atohs chilly waters grasped the bow of the life boat close to the gun.al and ciung there like a leecb. Eager hands hauled the giant inboard and admin,stersaa ~ stood nothing of their tongue ana only sat straight yp shaking himself like a Newfoundland dog.
 There was on lis course race an eus barrassed expression as though to Tall overheard were disgrace and ne Ieit
 lie was one of the shipload of iWmi- grants that were entering New fork harbor: in some unaccountable way ne had lost his balance. hence his predica. ment. ... several days before in time, he hoped, to spend Ch ristmas sn New fork--aiso to look for work. The voyage seemed Sa with afe its iD iTreSuiar % sky line Of massive
 But it was to this new country he had long been turning as a q mecca I oi there on the ship now probably ,wail- ing and weeping him as crowned n. wharf. Olaf felt at his breast to see that his bag of money was safely tied about him and hurried over to the After much difficulty he located her. but 1t was a long time and much con- fusion before they were permitted to walk around the town and look for Finally they found cheap lodgings on Sixth Avenue. Here how dinerent was the dirt and noise from what tney had pictured 1t. In their fancies, they ina gined New York city paved with gold in a land flowing with milk and honey.
 on the streets. Soon their fife grew monotonous and wholly uneventful; there was always the same coarse, vulgar crowd at the table the nas same he could not understand them. Thoreau learned of a French lady how to make artificial flowers and was So perse> lar assistant. One morning Olaf .ob- served a new face at the table, a face that he did not like, for he had seen something of the kind around the gam, a, was handsome and dark, but withal. dangerous and indicative of low cum ming and baseness.
 All through the meal the new face could not keep It's eyes off Tn oreau, and she more than once blushed crim- son at the calm. compelling stare.
 Olaf took nothing that morning but a cup of black coffee, without sugar or cream, and as he rose from the table he muttered something in threaten ing tone. The very shrug of his shoul-
 Olaf had lost his job the day before and was now in search of another; the stranger with the stealth of pam ther. followed the Norwegian into the street.
 Turning into Broadway. Olaf paused to look at the dizzy height of the Park in wonder. his finger slowly and awk- wardlg counting the stories.
 Presently a hand fell lightly upon his shoulder and someone smiled Into his face. Olaf startled. It was the
 He invited Olaf by signs to accom- pany him to a cafe for bit of Christ thirsty. after but a moments hesita- tion, consented. They strolled leisure iy up Broadway. it being a relief lief to to easily guided through the noise and E,confusion which was even now new and nerve-racking to him.
 Crossing to the west side again, they walked down Greenwich Street and moved back to Sixth Avenue, the poor Norwegian so bewildered he knew not where he was. The stranger politely seemed like a palace to Olaf; they sat at a little table and Olaf's benefactor
 motioned to the waiter. who hurried
 schooners of beer and two large bowls | of hot soup which was followed up by
 two plates of oysters. . There was enough of the brute tn Olaf to fall at anytime a victim to his | appetite and kiss the hand that fed
 him. no matter to whom the hand might belong.
 The meal finished. the cigars lit, the | stranger paid the bill and led the way | up to the rear of the room. where, af-
 ter twining in and out innumerable l halls and many different doorways of
 the big rlckety, vile-smell;ng hostelry, | they at length paused before door where the darkness made not even the keyhole visible.f Taking a key from his pocket, the stranger opened 1t and
 entered with Olaf.
 | At first nothing was discernible, for | the extreme blackness of the room, but | the stranger. lightinG feeble gas jet | there was soon distinguishable a chair | a looking glass and a bed in the cor
 ner. on which reclined the perfectly | rigid form of a girl. 1 Going over to her. Olaf saw that she | was only asleep, but strange to say
 her hands were bound behind her and
 she lav with her face to the wall; the | remote that had she made an outcry | 1t would never have been heard. | Hence she was not gagged.
 On her pale young face were tear. stains. where she had evidently wept herself to sleep.
 Olaf cienched his fist. all the man. hood In him stunE to the quick as he longed to strike his companion. to crush
 him If he were the author of this
 'r!mme The face of fine other was seen tc but hs mouth only grew firmer and hi 1 eyes cold as steel; while in his bear. ing was authority and defiance.
 Olaf turned upon his friend with
 look of helpless appeal as thouKf
 awaiting instructions.