Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-01-10
~ ] w.
By B. r. kAHMANN

By B. r. KAHMANN Z
GaRsxishA W Daily story Pub. Co.,
We all liked Jim, not a man in the
whole camp who was not his friend.
Fhe first time Jim made his appear
ance was ON chill September morn
ing. was walking to the mine when
| heard CHEEKY whistle and, turning,
behe1d a tall, stalwart young fellow,
dark eyes, smiling mouth, and at
once took fancy to him.
smiled involuntarily and held
forth my hand. He grasped it eager
~ and, shaking it, turned his head as
il TO hide his emotion You are the
first man to treat me like this, and
you amt never going to regret it. 2
& I raised my eyes. looking at the
firm, square jaw, and into the honest
face, and answered, IT know shall
not
From that day Jim remained. He
was always Jim; no one knew him by
any ether name. and he offered no
explanations. No one asked who he
was. where he came from, what he
had done, or how long he intended to
stay. They all met him quietly and
gladly accepted his presence, and
soon every man, woman and child
was his own particular friend.
Jim was no model, not by any
mexna. He loved to stand before the
Golden Gate bar, most of his earnings
going 10 that source, but he never
fndua9sd too freely, and he was never
kno~h to be seen under the influence
OF ngnor. He was fond of playing,
cards being enc OF his favorite amuse-
Baenak Hs Was much dAlighted when
he wsa. hxt he always played fairly
and seuaeeag, and was newer accused
Of dAAaaln& Z.
RAs hs shih1pea h part3cular
lowsd AR. a was wsa4 to sit with
aeasa ar sad1e peasaea about him.
ons a eaah kpaA ssms leaning CON
nasaalk as1ianfa khtnx all eagerly list
.entaS T. same tn yetaa he could 50
ssha,v kasp nany a trinhet
fa sas 1As Vegsinto their homes and It
WIS aaR0 mRs dead I.
o1s h and sunny marning a
grpaR q MIN wens leaning and
laa4gaes n Nas aa1daa eets haR Jim
and Wsna ct ttlbie panying cards.
HE asaM Bps wuA agains" eried
Tim, stseBtng his knee IN delight. 6
Z ~ that is the la4t game you
ever waa.' natertea jshdngly.
senGoaN had I spnkan when the
door Yves flung open and man, pant
ing AID bpeathless, threw himself into
the Feam. 1.-THE dam in the mine has
given way. s..
''Gseat God!" The cards slipped
from my hands as realized the ter.
r1hle meaning of his words s.s,
The miners will be drowned like
rats Ia trap; there amt no way te
set oat, the man continued.
I sew Jim turn pale as he put down
the eapdR He seemed to study fol
moment, then ross saying, Eyes
there is way, only one way; they
can't get out of the east shaft, be
cause that is blocked by the breaking
OF the dam, but the wall, by breaking
that the pressure of the water viii
be released, the water will rush
through the opening. and few hours
work wall set them free"
'eDo you know what it means tc
break that wall? Death for the one
who attempts it. The water will surge
out with such tremendous force
taking everything in it's way, and the
mamie would scarcely have time t
realize his fate"
He did not finch; he acted as Il
there were no need tor excitement
as if it were an everyday affair o,
spoke truly when you said that was
my last game of cards. It is, pal, fol
Jim will never hold another ace
What do you mean?"
II mean that that wall must BIZ
broken, and am the man to break it
and don't think it likely that shall
ever play after that"
Jim, you are crazy!" The exclama
ton fell from 20 lips in a single
chorus. 81
a"Oh, no amt; but It's got to b,
done.'
We sprang forward, grasping hin
by the arms, but he shook himsel
free
LET me go, boys, of what good an
I anyway? I never did anything ii
my life. Why not let me do this
You can't go; you have all got wive,
and children. Think of them and O
the men in the mine, struggling 70
life and freedom, with that awfu
death in store for them. If no on,
goes and helps, hundreds, your bes
friends and all, will drown in til,
mine, when they can be so easil,
saved. What is the cost Of one lif,
when it will save. hundreds? VIII,
will mourn and weep when the,