Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-23

Dig ollNer, Wnen the SoDS quleteu down, ,
"we'll go up to my snanty and rest
a bit. You look all tired out and
there's alkali-dust on your cheeks and
your eyes are all wet. Wen get tub |
of water and soak off some of the can
ON, if that III be agreeable. You II have I
to stay with me prob ly for some time -
''Say, you re awful good!' exclaim-
ed Molly, putting her hand into Big
Silver Is massive fist, and looking up at |
him with trustful eyes.
So it was settled that Molly should |
stay with Big Silver at his shanty on
the hillside. She became, by virtue of |
her position, as the only female in Pipe
stem, the Queen of the Canon, and Big
Silver was proud of her He acted as
her chancellor of the exchequer wheni
the entire camp presented her with a !
bag of gold dust and nuggets as token
of their appreciation.
Though Molly had changed in her short
residence at Pipestem from pale, thin
Imisp of a girl to be strong, 1.-THE and
graceful, full of color and fleet as a
deer, it was apparent to Big Silver that
she was not altogether happy. He OBJ
served her sitting at the door of the
shanty, looking lost and forsaken.. Then
The would put his strong arms about her
and caress her in a manner entirely for
eign to his apparent ferocity and rude
| style of life 1t seemed that he was
about to throw off the shell of tacitur-
nifty and show wholly unsupported side
! of his character. Then the gloom of
his sadness drove the light from his
ha ho 90 -
mines again.
| Winter swooped down over the canon,
bringing with it gusts of wind. and
snow until all mining operations were
stopped and communication with the
outside world nearly severed. It was
as cold now as it was hot during the
summer and made the bleak hills seem
bleaker Week after week the snow
piled up, and there was nothing to do
but wait-wait through the long months
until the returning sun should melt the
snow. 1t was possible, if necessity re-
! quired, for a man to cross the noun
tains during the winter.
1t was during the shut-in days few
weeks before Christmas that Big Sliv-
e1s heart was completely won by Mol
ly. As he Whitfield things for her out
of deer horn, she would read old maga-
Zines to him. One night, when the wind
1wailed dismally about the shack. and
the wolves howed in the hills, she
isnuggled up into his arms and he told
her stories. He related how he once
/ lived in distant city where there were
handsome houses, beautiful women, the
atres and lights, cars and automobiles,
and how he spent money, until her eyes
Iopened wide in wonder.
What did you come here for?''
Molly asked, pulling his ear playfully.
II Big Silver patted her curly head and
looked at her with that peculiar,
! hungry light in his eyes and was silent.
4 Something I don't quite under
stand,' he confided at last, in sub
dued voice. "And prob 'ly | shall never
i know. y
Z cit II all come out right by and by, y
whispered Molly hopefully.
"But by and by don T take away
! suspicion or heart ache, Molly ii takes
I something else-honesty and truth and
sometimes, just word that might be
said. +"
: Molly climbed higher into his arms
and locked her little fingers about Big
$ Sliver's weather -bronzed aneck.
: Uncle Slizzers," she began, in a
3 confidential tome "do you think Santa
Claus would bring me a rag dolly if | d
} write to him."
~ don't doubt it, Big sliyers re-
: piled, amused.
~ just want a rag doll and nothing
else. Only maybe, d like a doll-car.
riage and rocker. Do you think be ID
bring all those things out here to Pipe
, stem2',
''If he knew it was you who wanted
them he d slide down the steepest canon
$ and climb the highest mountain to bring
them he answered. g You re good all
the way through, Z he added, earnestly
Am /, really and truly?0
"Sure you are. And | hope you will
always be so, and never give anyone
! cause for pain. But, there, you d better
get paper and pencil and write that let
| ter to Santa Claus
Long through the night Big Silver
pondered and the next day he unfolded
plan to make a great Christmas foi
s Molly. He was 50 enthusiastic the mer
noticed his changed expression and atti
! ttule He met with an equally cnthasi
tonliS lNoi'bhSS-
Men from distant cabins came dowr
: to Pipestem early Christmas Day foi
] this celebration, each bringing toker
4 to present to the Queen. The big 50
I loon, with its bullet holes, its low cell
ing, and battered oil lamps, was trans
< formed. Huge masses Of pine bough
E filled the corners where usually cari
g tables clustered; from the rough-hewl
I cobwebby beams hung long festoons 0
faded bunting. 1nnumerable small flag
e gave the place the appearance of
< Fourth Of July event. And in the cen
p ter, hung with scattered tallow-dips, wa
the big Christmas tree. Gifts hung o
= the branches. and ID prominent position
4 were the rag doll, the carriage and tn
e rocker.
q Big Silver contemplated his work wit
satisfaction. That tree would set I'll
y, heart Of Molly bounding 10 the highes
'r peak Of joy He chucklcd with pleasur