The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-06-18

There was an urgent need of n
COOKS helper in the Silver Bell
mine mess house, and when Toxic
hato came into camp and applied
Tor work, Judd, the superintendent,
promptly signed him.
In some respects it proved unfor-
tunate, both for Judd and Toxic. as
TOXIC was a Jap, and Silver Bells
crew, from Croskey, the night fore
man. to Milkevitch, OF the chuck
tenders, was largely Russian.
Within an hour from the time of
Tokio's arrival it was known from
top to bottom of the Silver Bell
that Judd had signed a Jan. The
protests that followed were loud and
strenuous. The stopers discussed II
while they waited on the station lev
els for the hoist cars 20 drop them
down into the mine; the muckers.
with Merskey and Blustock as
spokesmen, denounced it as an out
rage when they consregated at the
blacksmith shop for sharpened drills:
the millmen talked IT. over I'm Sign
language" while they scraped the
copper plates beneath the thunder
ing batteries; and even Big Pete, the
Samoan cook whom Toxic was es-
pecially to assist, looked upon the
little Jap with disdain.
1t was soon evident to Judd that
the Jap was not wanted in Silver
Bell; nevertheless the big-hearted
superintendent was determined TO
Keep the little brown boy as long as
he was faithful to duty. "The war
don't reach u.s." said Judd, when
they came to them with their pro-
tests. This is California, and a
mighty long way from the disputed
territory" Then he wheeled around
In his office chair and put his face to
the desk, as If the matter was fully
dismissed from his mind.
Despite the threats and abuse
Toxic was cheerful to work. He was
boy In years, and coming from n
race OF small men, was but a dwarf
beside the giant miners of the Silver
Bell. He entered into his duties
with such vim and dexterity. such an
absolute knowledge of how things
should be done. that Big Pete was
LED to show him due respect. Him
Is small, but him IS typhoou at
washin' Dishes" Pete declared.
TOXIC could speak but little Eng
fish when he first came to the mine
but he possessed an ambition to
learn, and occupied all his spare time
learning the alphabet and spelling
simple words. One day Judd entered
the mess house between meal hours
and found the little Jap studiously
bordering over the big black letters
OF calendar that hung on the wall
shortly after Toxic was called into
the Kitchen to make pie dough. and
the superintendent was surprised nj
dinner when a big pie was set before
him on which was inscribed the word
December"
That completely won Judd. Hence
forth Judd and Toxic sat together
an hour each evening and Judd
taught the boy.
sui the crow would have nothing
TO do with Toxic. They tolerated
him Just as they did the mess house
cat-because they were Obliged TO.
They never spoke to him kindly. and
though he was the best waiter that
ever served the crew, the men were
always finding fault. Toxic took
the abuse with supreme good nature.
and for every frown returned
smile.
Only once did he lose control of
himself. That was on the day the
news came to camp, reaching Toxic
through Judd, Of peace being de-
clared at Portsmouth. The boy was
delighted, AID in celebration OF the
event baked a monster cake, setting
it In the middle Of the main table
for supper. Across the white frostlnq
we're the words in chocolate. "Ko-
mura-Teddy." And then, because the
Russian commissioners name was
omitted. Croskey, the night fore
man, was angered, and in a frenzy
throw his portion Of the cake out of
the window.
The broad smile that played over
Tokio's face vanished, and tho glare
as OF swapping serpent glitterod
from hts black eyes. Hic hand
gripDed the long knife, and he raised
the blade as II 70 strike. Then rea-
son returned, his hands dropped to
his side and ho left the mess house
Without q word. Out behind the
meat cellar, u the cool darkness Of