Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-27

Somehow, with ma "lookin' like
that" he did not regard his new en-
terprise with the same enthusiasm
which he had felt down in Meeteetse
talking over it with Ansell
Suddenly he said, Say, ma, have
you had a lot of extra work today:
You look sort of used up"
Ma hastily brushed her slickel
across her eyes as she replied, with
| forced cheerfulness, mo, 1t amt the
work that's usin' me up, Billy. It's
thinkin' what's comm to camp and
how bad it'll be for the boys She
choked and stopped.
| Society Bill made an inarticulate
reply. He stole another glance at the
freight outfit pulling steadily up the
canon, and then. with his mended
slicker over his arm. went slowly W
the trail.
The freisht-wagon was piled high
with casks and kegs, and behind rode
Ansell of Meeteetse, slouch-hat
tipped far over one ear and SIX
shooter i'm his belt. He had come to
run tho new saloon.
Two hours later Society Bill and
Shanks followed the freighter's outfit
up the canon, but not by the usuaI
trail For reasons which they DID
not mention to each other, they
stumbled through the low quaking-
asp high up on the ridge, and SO
avoided the boarding-shack.
Suddenly Shanks touched the 9TH
er's arm and pointed downward
Along the trail beside the river, her
sunbonnet cape Tapping in the wind
toiling breathlessly toward home,
went ma. a bowl in one hand and a
plate in the other.
Been up to Blacks shack" NUT
tered Shanks. Black, an employe OF
the Mountain company, had been in
jured by an exploding stick OF dyna-
mite.
"She never thinks she has too much
to do. ma don't" returned Society
Bill.
Half a mile beyond the Gales
Ridge boarding house, where the
canon widens in front Of Mount
Sniff1e, stood a deserted shack taken
possession of by the saloon outfit. In
| to it hummer Dan was rolling his
Ifreight-load, while Ansell staggered
round, swearing excitedly. His hat
was balanced on the back of his head
and his face was purple.
Il can tell you right at the start,
he began to Society Bill, that 1 amt
here to be run by no dough-faced,
meddlin', pious old woman
There was a sudden change in the
atmosphere, which caused the irate
saloon-keeper to pause. hummer Dan
suspended a keg of beer as if minded
to throw it in a direction other than
the door. Shanks doubled up his
fists, but on second thought deposited
them tentatively in his pockets. So
ciety Bill stepped nearer his partner
and said "Huh?" suggestively.
Ansell looked from one to another
with a scowl. Il heerd down to
Meeteetse that she run the whole
Miners Camp outfit, he sneered'
"and now I believe it,"
Shank's fists worked in his pockets
| "They may know more down Nee
teetse way'n l give 'em credit for, y
he remarked, amiably.
Ansell paid no attention to the re-
tort, but turned to Society Bill. well,
pardner," he began, "just recollect
she amt runnin' me nor this joint,
neither. She's just been here"
His partner looked his alarm, but
it's cause was unknown to Ansell.
She was wantin' me to please keep
a nice house," he sneered land not
sell to some kid or other up there"
kid JONES'" supplemented Shanks.
He's under age, and there's law
back OF ma on that.
Ansell turned a black brow on the
speaker. How long since you got to
be a temperance society?" he demand
ed, angrily. II tell ye if I'm goin' to
run this saloon, I'll run 1t! There
amt no law-officer within thirty-five
miles of here, and l amt layin' out to
be president Of no temperance league
There was a brief silence. Society
Bill's gaze wandered over the noun
taintops, the canon, the beer-barrels,
and finally lodged on Ansell. Then
he turned away. Say" he began,
over his shoulder, "if you want to
keep your face pretty, don't include
Ma Staples in your line Of talk again. "
A yard further on he paused again
and glanced back. And you needn't
trouble yourself to call me pardner
again, either"
Guess that Meeteetse chap needs
a little private teachin' about how to
use his tongue" drawled 'the Hoo
sier," when Shanks reported the in
cident concerning ma.
Some day he might be swallowin'
his words and gettin' choked on 'em,
added Lightning Hank"
Ansell had not introduced himself
auspiciously to Miners Camp.
Society Bill sat silently whiting a
pine peg. He had become strangely
reticent. and did not join in the others
awkward attempt at the supner-table
10 make it up to Ma Staples"
''See here, Harve." called Shanks,
Just fetch me a quart or so of that
cocoa! Ma can't be beat on cocoa"
Mighty few things she can be beat
on" said the Hoosier
Say, boys" called Shanks, "s'pose
ma had taken up with the offer of the
Mountain company and struck the
trail up to their boardin' house"
His words were drowned in a loud
groan and general speech: Wed ha'
followed" Gales Ridge tunnepd
been shut up"
Society Bill glanced from one to an
other in surprise. and then leaned
across the corner of the table and
spoke to Shanks: Say, what you
gassin' apout?"
why. Bill. don't believe we told
made ma a handsome offer while you
were away? Offered her a raise of
fifty a month if she'd desert us"
And ma didn't desert not she!"
yelled Whispering VIII. Bully for
mel"
why didn't you go, MAJ" asked
Society Bill, later, suddenly rounding
the corner of the boarding-shack and
coming on ma sitting in the doorway
Bill was expected up at the new
Joint" to help get things in readiness
for the sale of liquor on the morrow.
GO where. boy?" asked ma.
She was knitting by the fading light
reflected back from the rock-crowned
top of Dundee, toward which she
glanced from time TO time as the COL
ore phaOpa6 among tha fepcv p1Ou0S