The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-09-14
In an instant prace was on his Zee,

tauSht Ill tiilS PcCuildI dIt Vi tsiis- an
adversary once one has thrown him.
And there vas that In his mind which
made the acquisition of this knowledge
seem to him desirable indeed.
AS he Joined group of men maxi
ing their way below, he overheard the
Colonel, Miss Lucy's admirer. explain
ing the gentle pastime. Tying man
once you have thrown him." the Colo
mel was saying, "is the climax of
prowess. l saw Cal Blodgett throw
and tie Nick PAWN at barbecue at
Mount Zion campground, and 1 have
cause to remember it, for the young
lady went with deserted me for the
hero. sir-actually stuck flowers into
his hair. Here we are"
Two enormous fellows were strug-
Cling. while nearby lay convenient
rope. Finally vicksburg Joe tied the
fireman, and he lay helpless, unable
to get up.
Il will give you five dollars II you
can throw me and tie me that way"
called Drace to the victor when the
excitement had little subsidized.
Joe looked at Drace a moment. The
young man looked powerful enough to
be dangerous, but-fve dollars was
five dollars. He smiled, bowed.
spread out the wrinkled rug and took
Drace by the hand to lead him forth.
To the astonishment of all, Drace
threw Master Joe; but he could not
tie the champion.
"Show me how it's DONE" said vir-
gil. ''and I'll give you the money"
For long time, and until the Colo
mel and Shottle were worn out with
waiting. the two struggled; and so apt
was the student that he succeeded fin
ally in turning the master over and
tying him. But 1t seemed that the
burly champion was too willing, and
Drace insisted on another fall. And
now, though the struggle was genuine
on Joe's part, Drace tied him. Still
more, another FIVE promised. and vir-
gil was willing to quit.
FINEST sport I ever had!" he said
as he turned away to the upper deck
again to avoid the questions and 3e-
licitations showered upon him.
Drace was musing-not, 1t must be
which had brought him to the South,
but upon that girl of the red roses
when Shottle appeared again. Liberty
stood In his presence, not with droop
but straight in the manly resolution
to discharge the duties an adverse fate
had thrust upon him. In the belief
that it would make him look more like
a slave, he now wore his coat turned
wrong side ont.
Master, salute you," he remarked.
''All right" said Drace. But turn
your coat. want my slave, the grind
er of my mill, to appear respectfully
clad. You may sit down."
II thank you, sir"
you didn't last long"
"No. master. The tangled-haired
hag kicked me sidewise, like COW.
In only two pots! But what can you
expect Of a man that has an acefull
beaten7 How long can man preserve
his freedom at that ratef And fel-
low with spindle chin and a nose
no bigger than the average wart beat
me with four jacks. Crushed me And
he would have crushed Julius Caesar
just the same. Well, after all, free
dom has many responsibilities. As a
slave I'll cultivate what virtues I can
get hold Of, and look toward old age
and cabin on the hillside. And now,
as 1t is natural for every man to hide
his degradation, will you permit nss to
call you Virgil in the presence of 9TH
er peopleT
"I thought you didn't believe In the
natural thing! But all right; grant
your request. And now I suppose I'd
hetter give you some pocket-change.
1t isn't well for even a slave to he
broke"
The slaves face frightened with
hope "You couldn't make it rs much
as five dollars, could your"
mo, thirty cents"
| Shottle took the money and sat
dropping. Drace gave him cigar, and
they smoked for time in silence. At
last Shottle looked toward Drace, his
face guiltless Of the whimsical humor
that had hitherto possessed 1t.
Master" he said, 81 don't want to
be inquisitive, and If I'm prying into
what's none of my business, l won't
mind your saying so. But 1 want to
be faithful slave, and 1 can serve
you best If know what-what are my
masters purposes in life. For exam
pie, was there any special reason for
your learning to throw and tie that
way? Is there anybody in particular
could help you to put the rope on?"
Drace made no answer for mo-
ment, but bent a searching eye upon
his new servItor. Somehow the mans
soul seemed to shine transparent In
his face; and through it Drace saw
sincerity; moreover the longing of
youth for comradeship was strong