The daily Alaskan., 1907-01-11
HOW z KEPT
 MY CONTR.AC
tOrlginal ]

Indian Territory. If I finished 1t ac- cording to agreement would make . srnall 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 couldn'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 surrcptitiously, diluted wood alcohol being consumed in large quantities. It was all brought by ped dlerS across the line from Oklahoma. 1 watched with the greatest care to see that none of il 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 it. The first thing I knew they were all drunk. Then work must be stopped till they got sober. ...--ai
 l was going by the supply store one morning and saw a peddler sitting on a keg Always on the lookout asked him what was in it. He told me that 1t was kerosene, and on my demanding to sample it he put in spigot and drew kerosene true enough. Neverthe- less that night the men were all drunk. I went to the store and, looking over the stock Ot barrels and such like. found a number with false bottoms. A small compartment at one end smelt of kerosene: the rest Smclt of whisky.
 After that I inspected every article that could hold liquid when it came into camp. For awhile I kept out liquor and kept the men at work. Dur ing this period l made great headway and felt sure that if could continue it. I should make good my contract and pocket enough funds to enable me to live as liked for the rest of my life.
 My work must be finished blythe 10th of April, and on the 18th of Feb ruary knew that fifty days more steady work would be ample for the purpose. But early in March the men got on q spree, which was repeated, the sprees occurring nearer and nearer together as the spring advanced. I watched the supply store, but could discover nothing likely to contain liQuUr. Butter and eggs were coming In, but in the spring one always looks for these articles, and there Was uOtA- ing suspicious about either of them.
 On the 2Oth of March the men were all drunk. If I could get them sober at once and keep them sober l could complete my contract; 1T not l was doomed. There was a pretty Mexican girl near my camp with whom ~I had spent many an evening very happily. On the evening In March mentioned, to get rid uf the sight of the drunken men and to get my mind off my disap- pointment. l went over to see little Margarita Fares.
 What Is the matter, Senor? You look as if Soue great calamity were upon you"
 I told her of my troubles.
 What will seDor give to know how the men get their liquor" She looked at me rOgulShly. She was bewltching.
 My heart" replied on the impulse.
 What usc is the heart without the hand:" she asked, her eyes dancing with mischief.
 The heart. though given and de- clined. is still in the keeping of the re- cipient. The hand offered and declin- ed remains with the giyer."
 She arose and went into the next room. There heard her opening doors belonging to cupboards and sideboardS and the clink of glasses. supposed she was intending to bring me some fluid refreshment What was my sur prise to see her return with a couple of eggs each in an eggcup. They were ou a tray, and there was a silver spoon for each egg.
 T only finished my supper half an hour ago" said.
 But you have not had anything to wash it down"
 Wash it down with a boiled egg"
 We shall see
 Setting the tray Ou table, she push ed one of the eggs toward me. broke the shell at the small end with the spoon, wIi',r she did the same with the other Cs,;.,.
 'Seuor, your good health,' she said. raising her egg to her lips.
 There was the unmiStakable Odor Of whisky under my nose. slipped from the eggshell and slipped whisky. The girl set her egg on the table without tasting it. I looked at her question lngly.
 "Don't you underestimate" she said.
 "No."
 "The eggs that are coming in are shells full of whisky"
 I reached across the table and caught her in my arms, then hurried away to the supply store, where l found many dozen eggshellS, both full and emptied, of liquor. I took up one of the empty shells and found that 1t was good imitation of an eggshell made of plas- ter of paris. Each shell held one drink. I smashed all the full ones could find
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