The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-09-01

kind of hotch-potch-a mixture of
both, as it were. Its grades OF re-
spectability descended from the point
nearest Main Street to the two hum
|dredth house on the brink of the
prairie. Leon found 108 dismal
looking dwelling with wire screen
across the lower window, which con-
tanned placard bearing the sign:
Employment Agency. In answer
to his summons, the door was opened
cautiously and face was seen peer
ing through the crack. Evidently
satisfied as to the visitors honesty,
it was eventually thrown wide open
revealing figure resembling, as near
as anything, an Egyptian mummy
that Leon remembered having seen
in the British Museum.
May / see Mr.. Randall, please?'
inquired Leon. The mummy giggled,
wagged it's head up and down, tap
/ ped itself on the breast with it's fore
finger and answered:
Ess! I'm Randall"
Leon explained his mission.
Come inside" said Randall, lead
ing the way to a room few feet
from the door. The room contained
desk and couple of chairs. Ran
dali drew one of the chairs to the
desk and sat down. The transform
alton was startling. The Randall
seated at his desk intent on business
was an entirely different parsonage
from the Randall that bade Leon
enter. He became animated and
incisive ia his interrogations.
/ What's your occupation?" he in
quired.
! Clerk" answered Leon.
! Hum! Ever handle hosses?'
Neverin my life, answered Leon.
] Ever do pick and shovel work?''
J, No"
AL right; I'll ship you away as a
mucker. You'll leave hear on the
Montreal Express 6 a. m. tomorrow. :
I am not very particular, Mr.
Randall explained Leon, but may
/ inquire what kind of an occupa.
, ton a mucker is? The name doesn't
} sound very pleasant, does it?'
What's in a name?" beloved
, Randall. "Mucker is merely another
term for neophyte, that is, man who
, commences at the bottom with de
{ sire to reach the top"
Leon nodded.
How much money have you got?'
| asked Randall.
1 Ten dollars" replied Leon.
Hum! It'll cost you six dollar
: for your fare and two dollars securit!
fee"
8 ''All right" said Leon, not anxiou
: to lose the chance of employment
: II can pay that" Randall held ou
his hand and Leon passed over tn
eight dollars, receiving in exchang
:. a railroad ticket for Smell, Ontario
l. You'll leave here at Ga. m. to
/ morrow" explained Randall, an
l. you'll reach your destination some
l. time tomorrow evening. You'll FIN
e hotel at Smell where you can res
d with the other lads who are waitin
II to go to the same camp with yol
J" The company's coach is due the da
ID after tomorrow, so you'll have
% pleasant-hum, pleasant journe.
of goodbye"
e. Leon reached Smell at s o'cloc
j. the following evening and began
er look around for the hotel Randa
ly had spoken Of. There was nothin
e. of the kind in sight, but little r.
moved from the track was log hl
)" with smoke issuing from the chimne
n which promised shelter from the co
he which was becoming intense. Ma
n ing his way toward it, he raped {
e, the door, which was promptly throw
of open. Entering, he found par
IL of six Russians who eyed him criti
gs ally but not unkindly. Only one
er the party knew anything Of tt
IL English language and his vocabulal
was limited to two words:
ed You work?' which he kept I
lat peating with various gestures. Th
Of led Leon to believe the inquiry WI
,e- are you going to work with us
b e So he nodded his head, whereup
m. the Russians smiled and extend
on their hands in friendship and syl
he pathy. Next day the coach consi
in ing of team of horses and a b
,en sleigh arrived and the party, pae
ing their luggage in way calculat
me to afford little comfort, got in
are top and started en- route for I
] q camp forty miles distant ACROSS