The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-12-23
IHE MAn FELL ON Hl1 KNtt1 AND
BOWED aI] GREY HEAD AND wEpL.
aaDM4 IN HIS ARMS 1al gzap
BODY OF Ills WIFE

His body was h~ideously MANNED and
broken: n leg hung limp from the
hip; his hands We're cruelty twisted
and rushed. A shock of matted white
hair pulled down oyer a scared and
deeply scared forehead, half con-
cealed a red and empty ~eye-socket.
Behind him, on a ragged piece of car
pet that rose and fell with the wind
that blew up through the cracks of The
floor, %squatted the withered hulk of
a woman, her skull bald with age, her
sightless yes staring into space.
Clasped to her sunken breast she held
creature of her w seN-a woman
pallid. haggard and pitifully emaciated,
evidently in the last stages of some de-
vouring disease. Clinging to the mans
legs stood a small boy of s. his tiny
hand already callous with labor. his
thin face pinched from scant food and
long wear hours Of work, while two
little girls, dirty and half naked.
crouched, whimpering piteously, on the
wet floor in a corner.
In horror. Bullion turned from the
window. He had always made it a
point to ayoid the sight of suffering.
Who are these miserable creatures 81
he asked of his guide, who stood silent
ly at his elbow.
"A miner and his family employed
in a free country n by Christian
men"
lmpoSSlble! exclaimed Bullion,
Such a state Of things could not ex-
list. 1t is evidently a picture conjured
up by the feyered brain of some de-
mented d~emogague. 1t can't actually
be true
ITO these helpless victims of it" re-
piled his guide, sit is. alas, too true"
Impellad by a mixture of pity and
morbid curiosity, Bullion once more
approached the window and looked In.
He now for the first time noticed the
presence of another person in the room
"a h~eavy-browed man holding in his
hand a paper marked with a red seal
The old miner faced him, standing be-
tween him and the frightened women
and children in an attitude expressive
of iinpotent defiance and sullen fear
The look of apathy on the wan face of
the sick woman. a loo stamped there
by slow years of accompanying drudg-
cry. was more fearful in its pathos
than the most violent demonstration of
grief.
Gimme a chance" he said in a quay
ering voice, holding out his MANNED
hands in an awkward gesture of ap-
peal. I've worked for the
these 16 years the best | know how,
and sent the boy to the breakers as
i enough to pick the coal from the slate,
instead of putting him to school. 1t
amt my fault if I still owe 'em for rent
n ood We had to live"
The sheriff shook his head Impatient
~ wit hthe air of a man anxious to get
through with IN abhorent task.
That's none of my business he said.
My orders was TO give you six days
notice n then put you out, I'M out.
you go"
For a moment the old miner was ST
lent; he seemed to be struggling to
overcome the paralyzing sense of i'm
potence and despair that numbed him,
body and soul.
Gimme a day" he begged, brokenly;
Just a dag My wife is sick. 1t would
kill her to go out in a night like this.
You can't have the heart to put her and
the old woman out to die in the rain
and sleet.'
For answer the sheriff kicked open
the rickety door. Git" he said.
angrily. The ruined and broken old
mar cast a vol at the pathetic group
behind him and brushed a tear from his
4 Scared cheek with the pack of a shak-
ing hand.
4 guess well have to get out" he
said. simply. The sick raised
herself with difficulty on her red ell
bows and finally struggled to her feet.