Gilpin observer., 1907-02-07
y JII1
By B. T. KAHMANN


whole camp who was not his friend.
The first time Jim made his appear
| ance was on chill September morn
ing. | was walking to the mine when
| heard a CHEEKY whistle and, turning,
beheld tall, stalwart young fellow,
dark eyes, smiling mouth, and at
once l took fancy to him.
/ smiled involuntarily and held
forth my hand. He grasped it eager
ly and, shaking it, turned his head as
If to hide. his emotion. You are the
first man to treat me like this, and
you amt never going to regret it,"
raised my eyes, looking at the
firm, square jaw, and into the honest
face, and answered, Il know l shall
not"
From that day jim remained. He
was always Jim; no one knew him by
any other 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
"Ao Wv IL
Jim was no model, not by any
means. He loved to stand before the
Golden Gate bar, most of his earnings
going to that source, but he never
indulged too freely, and he was never
known to be seen under the influence
of liquor. He was fond of playing,
| cards being one of his favorite amuse-
a1ents. He was much delighted when
he won, but he always played fairly
and squarely, and was never accused
| of cheating.
The little children in particular
loved Jim. He was wont to sit with
| dozen or more perched about him,
one on each knee, some leaning con-
| fdently against him; all eagerly list
sning to some tale which he could so
ikillfully invent Many a trinket
| found its way into their homes, and it
was always Jim's deed.
One bright and sunny morning a
group of men were leaning and
| lounging in the Golden Gate bar. Jim
and | were at table playing cards.
The devil! I've won again." cried
Jim. slapping his knee in delight.
Il bet that is the last game you
ever win," / retorted jokingly.
Scarcely had spoken when the
door was flung open and q man, pant
ing and breathless, threw himself into
the room. The dam in the mine has
given way
Great Godl" The cards slipped
from my hands as l realized the ter
rible meaning of his words.
The miners will be drowned like
rats in a trap; there amt no way to
get out" the man continued.
| saw Jim turn pale as he put down
the cards. He seemed to study for
a moment, then rose saying, Yes,
there is a way, only one way; they
cant 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 will
be released, the water will rush
through the opening, and few hours
work will set them free"
DO you know what it means to
break that wall? Death for the one
who attempts it. The water will surge
ont with such a tremendous force.
taking everything In its way, and the
mamie would scarcely have time to
realize his fate"
He did not finch; he acted as if
there We're no need tor excitement,
as If it were an everyday affair. You
spoke truly when YOU said that was
my last game of cards. It is, pal, for
Jim viii never hold another ace"
What do you mean?"
Il mean that that wall must be
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 single
chorus.
"oh. no l amt; but it's got to be
done"
We sprang forward. grasping him
by the arms. but he shook himself
free.
Let me so. boys. of what good am
t | anyway? never did anything in
my life. Why not let me do this
You can't go; you have all got wives
and children. Think of them and OF
the men in the mine. struggling for
life and freedom, with that awful
death in store for them. If no one
goes and helps, hundreds. your best
: friends and all, will drown in the
mine, when they can be so easily
saved. What is the cost of one life
when 1t will save hundreds? Who
will mourn and weep when they
bring me back so cold and stin:
There won't be any tears. because
there is no one who cares, and II
those hundreds perish. how great will
be the ruin and disaster You mus,
let me go. Look! see those mothers
} Listen to the songs upon their lips
|. and see their smlling faces VIII ther