The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-03-15
CHAPTER l.

A-~A staring mournfully into a
- summer night such as only
- the far southwestern coun-
Al-S try knows. And as the four
inclined their bodies. they
inclined also their ears. after the
strained manner OF listeners who
feel anguish at what they hear A
voice, shrill and human. pierced the
hight like needle. then, with a
wall OF a tortured soul. died away
amid discordant raspings: the voice
OF a photograph. IL was their own,
or had been until one over-confdent
day, when the Flying Heart Ranch
had staked 1t as wager in n foot
race with the neighboring Cent?
pede, and their own man had been toe
slow. AS 1t had been their pride. IL
remained their disgrace Dearly had
they loved. and dearly lost 1t. It
meant something that looked like
honor, and though there we're ten
thousand thousand monographs. in all
the world there was not one that could
take it's place.
The sound ceased. there was an APP
proving distant murmur or mems
voices. and then the song began
Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Lift up your voice and sing"
Higher and higher the voice mount.
ed until II reached again It's first thin,
ear-splitting pitch.
"Still Bill'' Stoyer stirred uneasily
in the darkness.
"Why'n'ell don't they keep her
wound up?" he complained Gala.
ghers got the soul OF warthog. It's
criminal the way he massacres that
hymn"
From rod farther down the wire
fence Willie answered him. In a boys
falsetto:
81 wonder IL he does II 10 spite me?"
"Ie don't know you're here" said
Slower.
The other came out OF the gloom.
a little stoop-shouldered man with
spectacles.
Il amt noways sure" he piped
peering up at his lanky foreman
Why do you reckon he ailus let's
Mrs. Melby peter out on my favorite
record? lie done the same thing last
night. II looks like an insult"
ITS nothing but his ignorance, {"
Slower replied. "He don't want no
trouble with you. None of 'em do
I'D like TO know for certain" The
small man seemed torn by doubt III
I only knew he done IL a-purpose, I'd
git him. | bet | could do it from
here"
stover's voice was grurI as he com
mandsd
Forget IL Amt II bad enough for
us fellers TO hang around like this
every night without advertising our
idiocy by a gun-play?'
They amt got no right to that
phonegraph," Willie averred darkly.
ooh yes. they have; they won IL
fair and square
Fair and square! DO YOU mean 10
say Hump Joe run that foot-race on
the square,"
II never said nothin Ike that what.
ever mean we bet IL. and wa lost
81 Listen There goes Carara's
piecel"
Out past the corral noated the an.
nouncement In mans metallic syl.
tables:
THE Baggage Coach Ahead. as
sung by Helena Mora for the Echo
Photograph, OF New York and Pa-a-a-
rlsl"
From the dusk TO the right OF the
two listeners now issued soft Spanish
phrases.
"Madre de Diosi The Baggage Car
in Front! T'adora Mora! God bless
'eri"
During the rendition or this affect
ing ballad the two cow-men remained
draped uncomfortably over the barbed.
wire barrier. lost I'm rapturous enjoy
ment. When the last note had died
away, Stovcr reused himself reluc.
family.
TITS time We was turnin' in" lie
called softly, Hey. Mexl"
Nj. Senorl"
ZONE on, you and Cloudy. vamos :
It's ten o'clock"
He turned his back on the Cent?
pede Ranch that housed the treasure,
and in company with Willie. made his
way TO the ponies Two other figures
Joined them. one humming In must
cal baritone the strains Of the soi.g
Just ended.
"Cut that out, Next They'll hear
u.s." Slower cautioned.
"Carambal This ting Is brek my
cart" said the Mexican. sadly. 1T
seem like the Senorita Mora is sing
that song to me. Mebbe she knows
I'm set out ere OH cactus an listen
TO her. All, I love that Senorita YER
much"
The little man with the glasses be.
gan 10 swear In bis high falsetto. His
ear had caught the photograph opera
tor in another musical mistake.