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BLACK®
ROCKS
By
RALPH
CONNOR
■^TXeUd l ,r eHouied NIxon"aa he caught
sight of Graeme. “Here you arel”
passing him a bottle. “You’re a
knocker, a double handed front door
knocker. You polished off old whisky
soak here, old demijohn/ 1 pointing to
Slavln, “and I’ll lay flvo to one we
can lick any blankety blank tblerea in
the crowd.” And be held up a roll of
bills. V
. But Graeme proposed that be should
give the hornpipe again, and the floor
was cleared at. once, for Nixon's born*
plpo was very popular and tonight, of
course, was In high favor. In the midst
of hl3 dance Nixon stopped short: bis
arms dropped to his sides; bis face
bad a Icol: of tour, of horror.
There, before him, In bis riding cloak
and Loots, with bis whip lii bis hand
'as he bad come from his rkU\ cto;d
Mr. Cral". Ills face was pallid, and
his dark eyes were biasing with fierce
light. As Nixon stopped, Crulg step-
ped forward to b'.m, and. «>T«ej)ltig
his eye.; round upon tbo circle, bo sold
In tones Intense \v!lb scorn:
"You cowards! You pet a innn
nbcrc bo's weak! Corvnrds! You'd
damn bis soul for bio money!”
Tbero was a dead silence, nnd Craig,
lifting bis list, said solemnly:
"May Cod forgive you tbls night's
Then, turning to Nixon and thro wing
bis arm over bin shoulder, be said In
a voice broken nnd bushy:
“Come on, Mixon! We'll gor’
Idaho mado a motion as !f to stop
b!m, but Graome stepped quickly for
ward and said sharply, "Make way
nisi*, can't youSf ans the crowd fill
back, and we four passed through,
Nixon walking na In a dream, with
Cralg'a arm about him. Down the
street we went In silence and on to
Craig's shack, w.bere wc found old
- man Nelson, with the Ore biasing nnd
strong coffee stcnmlng on the stove. It
was bo that bad laid Craig, on hi; nr
rival from Urn Landing, of Nixon’s
fall.
There was nothing of reproach, but
only gentlest pity. In tono and touch as
Craig placed the half drunk, dased
man In his easy cbalr, took off bis
boots, brought him lils own slippers
i him coffee. Then, as bis stu-
l to overcome him, Craig pnt
forth
"Don’t mind, old chap,"'said
kindly.
But Craig looked at him without a
word and, throwing himself Into
chalc, put his face In bis hands. As we
sat there in alienee the door was sud
denly pushed open, and In walked Abe
Baker, with the words: “Where If Nix-
on?’ and we told turn where he wan
Wo were still tslking when again a tap
came to the door, and Shaw came In
looking much disturbed.
"Did yon hear about Nlxo.i!” he alli
ed. We told” him wlist we knew,
“But did you hear how they got
him?’ he asked excitedly.
As he told us the tala the men stood
listening, with feces growing hard.
It appeared that after-the maldng of
the league the Black Bock hotel man
had. hot Idaho a hundred to fifty that
Nixon could not bo got to drink before
Easter. All Idaho's schemes bad failed,
and now he had unly three days In
which to win Ms money, and the ball
was bis Inst chance. Hero, again, he
was balked, for Nixon, resisting all an-
. treaties, barred his shack door and
went to bed before nightfall, according
to bis InVnrlcble custom on pay days.
At midnight some of Idaho's men came
battering at the door for admission.
Which Nixon reluctantly granted, for
half an hour they used every art of
persuasion to Induce him to go down
to the boll, the glorious success of
which wee glowingly depleted, but
Nixon remained Immovable, and they
took their departure, bodied and curs
Ing. In two hours they returned drunk
enough to be dangerous, kicked at tha
door In vain, finally gained entreuce
through the window, hauled Nlxou out
of bed and, holding a glass of whisky
to Ms lips, hid Min drink, but be knock
ed the glass away, spilling ibo liquor
over himself and the bed.
It was drink or fight, and Nixon was
ready to fight, bat after a parley they
had a drink all round and fell to per
suasion again. Tbs night was cold, and
poor Nixon sat shivering on the edge of
his bed. If Jie would take one drink,
they would leave him alone. Be need
not show himself so still. The whisky
fumes filled Ms nostrils. If ono drink
would get thorn off, surely that was
better than fighting and killing aoma
one or getting killed. Ho hesitated,
yielded, drank MS glass. They eat
about Mm amiably drinking and laud
ing him as a fine fellow after all. Ono
more glass before they left,' then Nixon
rose, dressed himself, drank all that
: was left of tho bottle, put Ms-money In
Ms pocket and came down to tho
' dance wild with Ms old time madness,
reckless of faith and pledge, forgetful
of. home, wife, babies, his whale being
absorbed In ono great passion—to drink
'and drink and drink tilt ho could drink
no more.
Beforo 81ia\v hml finished his tale
CraIk’s eyes were streaming with tears,
and groans of rage and pity broko al>
ternntely from him.
Abe remained specchlcsB for a time,
not trusting himself, bat as ho hoard
Craig groan. “Ob, the beasts, tha
flfPdfT b* soemgd, ei^ourgfed Jyt
himself loose, and he began'’swearing
with the coolest and most bloodcurdling
deliberation.
Craig listened with evident approval,
apparently finding complete satisfac
tion in Abe's performance, when sud
denly he seemed to.waken up. caught
Abe by the arm and said In a horror
stricken voice:
“8topl Stop! God forgive usl '“Wo
must not swear like this."
Abe stopped at once and in a sur
prised And slightly grieved voice suld:
“Why, wtint's the matter with that!
Alu't that what you wanted?”
“Yes, yes. God forgive me! I am
afraid It was." he answered hurriedly,
“hut 1 tbutt not."
“Oh. don’t you drorryl” went on Abe
cheerfully. “I’ll look after that |mrt.
And anyway ain’t they the blankest
blankety blank’’- going off again Into
a roll of curs:» till Craig. In nn agony
of entreaty, succeeded in arresting tbe
flow of profanity possible to no one
but n mountain stage driver. Abe
paused. looking hurt, und asked If they
did uot de serve everything he was call-
tajrdown upon them.
“Yea. yes," urged Craig, "but that Is
not our business.”
“Well, so I reckoned." replied Abe.
recognizing the limitations of tho doth.
“You ain’t used to It, and you cau’t be
expected to do it. but it just makes me
feel good—let out of school like—to
proprrly do ’em up. the blauk, blank”—
And off be went again. It waa only
under the pressure of Mr. Craig’s pray
ers nnd commands that he finally
agreed to “hold In, though It’s tough.”
“What's to be don. :*’ asked Shaw.
"Nothing,” answered Craig bitterly.
He was exhausted with his long ride
from the Laudlug and broken with bit
ter disappointment over the ruin of all
that be had labored ao long to accom
plish.
“Nonsense!” said Graeme. “There’s
a good deal to do.”
It was agreed that Craig should re
main with Nixon, while the others of
us should gather up what fragments
we could find of the broken league.
We bad Just opened the door when we
met a man striding up ot a great pace.
It was Geordle Crawford.
“Hae ye seen the lad?” was hla salu
tation. ' -
No - .w aepiuHA'so i told GeordlZjf
ytT last sight of Billy In the orchestral
“An’ did ye no’gang alftcr him?” he
asked In Indignant surprise, adding,
with some contempt “Mon. but ye’re a
feckless buddlef*
“Billy gone, too?” said Shaw. “They
might have let Billy alone.
Poor Craig stood In dumb agony.
Billy’s fall seemed more than be could
bear. We went out leaving him heart
broken amid the ruins of bis league.
with Abe. uf^get fisck* at 'em. 1
We had uo difficulty gHting them out.
Abo began to yell. Some uicn rushed
out to learn the cause. He seised tbe
foremost man, making a hideous up
roar all the while, and In three minutes
bad every man ont of the hotel and A
lively row golpg on.
In two mlnntes more Graeme and 1
bad tbe door of tbe ballroom locked
and barricaded with empty casks. We
then closed tbe door of tbs barroom
leading to tbe outside The barroom
was a strongly built log shack, with a
basvy door secured, after the manner
ot the early cabins, with two strong
oak bars, so that wt felt safe from at
tack from that quarter.
The ballroom ws could not bold Jong,
for tbe door was slight and entrance
was possible through the window. Bat
as only a few casks of liquor were left
there our mtln work would be in the
bar. so that tbe fight would bt to bold
tbe passageway. Tbls we barricaded
wltb casks and tables. Bnt by this
time the crowd had began to realize
what had happened and were wildly
yelling at door and windows. With an
ax which Graeme had brought with
him the casks were soon stove In and
left to empty themselves.
As I was about to empty the last
cask Graeme stopped me. saying: “Let
that otand here. It will help us.” And
so It did. “Now skip for the barri
cade!" yelled Graeme as a man came
crashing through the window. But be
fore he could regain hla feet Graeme
had seized blui and flung him out aimd
the heads of the crowd outside. But
through the other windows mem were
coming In. und Graeme rushed for the
barricade, followed by two of tbe ene
my. tbe foremost of whom 1 received
at. the top and hurled back upon tbe
others. 4
“Now be quick!” said Graemes* "I’ll
hold (Ida Don't break any bolt ft v on
tho floor. Throw them opt ihfcre,”
pointing to u Ultle window high up to
tho walk
I made all baste. The casks did not
take much time, und soon the whisky
and beer were flowing over tbe floor.
It made me think of Geordie's regret
over the “alnfu* waste.” Tbe bottles
took longer, and. glancing up now and
then, I saw that Graeme was being
hard pressed. Men would leap, two
and three at a time, upon the barricade,
cud Graeme’s arms would shoot out,
and over they would topple upon the
heads of those nearest. It was a great
sight to see him standing alone, with
a smile on his face and tbe light of bat
tle in hla eye, coolly meeting hla as
sailants with those terrific, lightning-
like blows. In fifteen mlnntes my work
was done.
“What next?" I asked. “How do we
get out?"
“How is the door?" he replied.
I looked through the porthole and
said:
“A crowd of men waiting.”
“We'll have to make a dash for it, I
touch. Slowly Idaho waa dragging bis
almost anco6scions victim toward the
knife, nis fingers wert touching tbe
Much- point when, under a sodden In
a^IrMtoo, J pulled out my penknife,
opened It with my teeth and drore tbe
blade Into Baptiste*# foot With a
bloodcurdling yell be sprang down and
began dancing round In bis rage, peer
ing among tbe barrel#.
“Look! Look!” I waa calling In ago
ny and pointing. “For heaven’s sake,
look, Baptiste!”
The fingers bad closed upon tbe knife,
tbe knife was already high in tbe air,
when, with a shriek, Baptiste cleared
the room at a bound, and before tbe
knife could fall tbe little Frenchman'#
boot bad caught tbe uplifted wrist and
sent the knife flying to the wafL
Then there was a great rnahlng
sound aa of wind through tbe forest,
an-! the lights went ont When 1
awoke, ! found myeelf lying with my
head on Graeme's knees and Baptists
sprinkling snow on my face. As I
looked up Graeme leaned over, end.
•mUlng down into my eye#, he said:
'W>d boy! It waa a great fight and
we put it up well” And then be whis
pered. “I owe you my life, my boy.”
His words thrilled my heart through
end through, for I loved him aa only
men c^n love men, but I only answer-
4 could not keep them hack.”
waa well done." be said, and I
felt proud.
I confess I was thankful to be so
well out of It for Graeme got off wltb
a'bone In bis wrist broken and I wltb
a couple of ribs cracked, but bad It not
been for tbe opeu bairel of whisky
which kept them occupied for a time,
offering too good a chance to be lost
and for the timely arrival of Nelson,
neither of us bad c;«r seen the light
% r
ir.y t j-.i
CHAPTER IX.
TBS LEAUUCs REVGNQB.
S we Hood outside of Craig’s
shock In the dim starlight we
could not hide from ourselves
that we were beaten. It was
not so much grief as a blind fur, that
filled my heart, and, looking at tbe
faces of the men about me, I read the
eamo feeling there. But what could
we do? The yells of carousing miners
down at Slavln'e told us that nothing
could be doue with them that night.
To be so utterly beaten nnd unfairly
and wltb no .chance of rerengo waa
maddening.
"I’d like to get back at ’em," laid
Abe, carefully repressing himself.
‘Tve got It, men,” said Omeme sud
denly. “This town docs not' require
all the whisky there la In It" And he
unfolded Ms ptnn. It was to gain pos
session of Slavln'e saloon nnd the bar
of the Block Rock hotel nnd dear out
nil the liquor to be found In both these
places I did not much like the Idea,
hut Geordle aald: "I'm gn’eu airier the
lad.- I'll bne imethln' tao due wt’ yon.
It's no that easy, an' It's a alnfu'
waste.’’
But Abe waa wild to try It, and
Shaw was quite willing, while old Net
son sternly approved. ,
“Nelson, you and 8hnW get a' couple
of our men and attend to the saloon.
Slavln und the whole gang are up at
tbi Black Bock, ao you won’t have
much trouble, but come to ua aa toon
as you can."
And so we wcut our ways.
Then followed a scene the Ilka ot
which I can nevcr-liopo to see again,
and It was worth a man's seeing, bnt
tbera were times that night when I
wished I bail not agreed to follow
Graeme In Me plot
Aa we went up to the betel I asked
Graeme:
“Wlmt about the law of this?'
"Lawl” he replied Indignantly. “They
haven't troubled much about law In
the whisky business here. They get a
keg of high wines and same drugs and
begin operations. No,” he went on: "If
we enu get the crowd out nnd ourselvci
In qp'll make them break the law In
getting us out The law won't trouble
ua over smuggled whisky. It wlU he ■
great lark, and they won't crow too
loud over (he league.”
I did not like (be undertaking at flret
but aa I thought of the whole wretched
Illegal business nourishing upon the.
weakness of the men In tbe mine, and
camps, whom I had learned to regard
as brothers, and especially as I thought
ot the cowards that did for Nixon, I
Ltt-ffil KOfilSl S9 .iSil flitemlned,
bis breath was coming in short _
“Get down the bars and be ready.”
But even as he spoke a chair hurled
from below caught him on the arm,
und before he could recover a man had
cleared the barricade and was upon
him like a tiger. It was Idaho Jack.
“Hold the barricade!” Graeme called
ont as they both went down.
I sprang to bis place, but 1 had not
much hope of bolding It long. I bad
the heavy oak bar of the door In my
bands, nnd, swinging It round my bead.
I made the crowd give back for a few
moments.
Meantime Graeme bad shaken off his
enemy, who was circling about him
upon bis tiptoes, with a long knife In
his hand, waiting for a ^chance to
spring.
“I have been waiting for ibis for
some time, Mr. Graeme,” he salt
ing.
“Yes,” replied Graeme, “ever since 1
•polled your cutthroat game In Frisco.
How Is tbe little one?” be added sar
castically.
Idaho's face lost Its smile snd became
distorted wltb fury as he replied, spit
ting out his words:
“She—Is—where yon will be before I
am doue with you.’
“Ah. you murdered her too! You’ll
hang some beautiful day, Idaho,” said
Graeme as Idaho sprang npon him.
Gracme.dodged his blow and caught
hie forearm with his left hand and held
np high the mprderous knife. Back
and forward they swayed over the
floor, slippery wltb whisky, the knife
held high in tbe air. I-wondered why
Graeme did not strike, and then I saw
his right hand hung limp from tbe
wrist Tbs -men were crowding upon
the barricade. I was In despair.
Graeme's strength was going fast
Wltb a yell of exultant fury Idaho
threw himself with all bis weight npon
Graeme, who could only cling to him.
They swayed together toward me, bnt
as they fell 1 brought down my bar
upon the upraised hand and sent tbe
knife flying across the room. Idaho's
howl or rage and pain waa mingled
with a shout from below, and there,
dashing tbe crowd to right aud left
came old Nelson, followed by Abe, San
dy, Baptiste, Sbaw and others. As
they reached the barricade It crashed
down and, carrying me with It ptnued
me fast
Looking out between the barrels, I
saw what froze my heart with horror.
In tho tall Graeme had wound hla
arms about his enemy snd held him
In a grip so deadly that bo could not
strike, but Graeme's strength was fall
ing, and when I looked I saw that Ida
ho waa slowly dragging both across
tho slippery floor to where tho knife
lay. Nearer and nearer hit outstretch-
ed fingers came to tho knife. In vatn
I yelled and struggled. My vote* was
lost In tho awful din, and the barri
cade held me fast Abort m* stand
ing on a barrel head, waa Baptiste,
yelling tike a demon. In vain I called
to him. My fingers could just reach
m toot^and hi h{cded not at *11 my
founj Craig sound asleep upon
U&LCouch. His cjusteruHtlou on wak
ing to see us tom. bruised and bloody
was laughable, but he hastened to find
us warm water and bandagt-s. snd we
soon felt comfortable.
Baptiste was radiant with pride and
delight over the fight and hovered
about Graeme and me. giving vent to
hla Teellngs in admiring French and
English expletives. But Ale was dis
gusted because of tbe failure at Sla
vin'#, for when Nelson looked In be saw
.Slarin'a French Canadian wife fu
charge, with her baby on her lap, and
be came back to Shaw and said, “Come
away; we can’t touch this,” and Shaw,
after looking'in, agreed that nothing
could be done. A baby held the fort.
. As Craig listened to the account of
thoSfight he tried hard not to approve,
bnt he could not keep the gleam out of
bis eyes, and aa I pictured Graeme
dating back the crowd thronging the
barricade till he was brought down by
the chair Craig laughed gently and put
his band on Graeme's knee, and
went on to describe my agony while
Idaho's fingers were gradually nearing
the. knife bis face grew pale and his
sakt, and the little Frenchman nodded
complacently and said:
“Bat’s me for sure.'
“By the way, how Is your foot?” ask
ed Graeme.
“He’s fuss rate. Dat's what you call
-one bite of-of-dat leel bees. He’s
dcro: you put your’flnger dere, he’s not
dere. What you coll him?”
“Flea!” 1 suggested.
“Onir cried Baptiste. “Dat’s one
bite of^Ra.”
“I was tbankfuM was under the
barrels,” I replies!, smiling.
“Oni! Dat’s mak me ver mad. I
Jump and swear mos awful fad. Dot's
pardon tne, M’sleu Craig, hehT*
Bnt Craig only smiled at him rathe-
sadly^
“It was awfully risky,” he said to
Graeme, “and It was hardly worth It
They’ll get more whisky, and anyway
the league la gone.”
“Well,” aald Graeme, with a sigh of
satisfaction, “It is not quite inch a
one sided affair aa It was.”
And we could say nothing In reply,
for we could hear Nixon snoring in the
next room, and no one had heard of
Billy', and there were others of the
league that we knew were even now
down at Slnvln’s. It was thought best
that all should remain In Mr. Craig's
shack, not knowing what might hap
pen, and so we lay where we. could,
and we needed none to sing os to
sleep
When I awoke, stiff and sore. It was
to find breakfast ready and old man
Nelson In charge. As we wore seated
Craig came In, and I saw that he was
not tfio man of the night before. Hit
courqge had come back; hie face was
qolet and bis eye clear. He was hie
own man again.
"Geordle has been out all night but
has failed to find Billy,” be announced
quietly.
We did not talk much. Graeme and
I worried with our broken bones, and
the others suffered from a general
morning depression. Bnt after break
fast aa the men were beginning to
move, Craig took down bis Bible, and.
saying. ”Walt a few minutes, men."
be read slowly, in hla beautiful, dear
voice, that psalm for all fighters,
•Ood la our refuge and strength.”
and so on to the noble words:
“The Lord of Hosts Is with us;
The Ood of Jacob Is our refuge.”
How the mighty wordh pulled ut to
gether, lifted us UU we grew ashamed
of our Iguoblo rage and of our Ignoble
depression!
And then Craig prayed In simple,
straightgoing words. There wag ac
knowledgment of failure, but I knew
hs waa thinking chiefly of himself;
there was gratitude, and that waa for
the men about him. and I felt my face
burn with shame; there waa a petition
tor help and we all thought of Nixon
and Billy and the men wakening from
their debauch at Blarln’s this pure,
bright morning. Then he asked that
we might be made faithful and worthy
ot God, whose battle It was. Then we
t!U&od BELSaUfrooK Uqd. wltb Mm
In silence, and every man knew a cov
enant was being made. But none saw
.bit meeting with Nixon. He sent os all
away before that.
Nothing was beard of tbe destruction
of tbo hotel stock In trade. Unpleasant
questions wonld certainly bt* asked,
and tbe proprietor decide to let
alone. On tbe point of respectability
tbe success of tb«* ball was not con
spicuous. but the tint lie* gue men were
content if not jubilant
Billy Breen ws* found by Geordle
late In tbe afternoon In bis own old
and deserted shark, breathing bearJJj,
covered up In bis filthy, molderlug bed
clothes, wltb a half empty bottle of
whisky at bis aide Geordie’s grief and
rage were beyond oven his Scotch con
trol. He spoke few words, but these
were of such com nitrated vehemence
that no one felt ti e need of Ale's as
sistance In vocabulary.
Poor Billy! We carried him to Mrs.
Maror’s home, put him in a warm
bath, rolled him in blankets and gave
him little sips of bot water, then of
hot milk sod coffee, es I had seen a
clever doctor In tbe hospital treat a
similar case of nerve and heart Re
pression. But the already weakened
system could not recover from the aw
ful shock of the exposure following tbe
debauch, snd on Sunday afternoon we
saw that bis heart was falling fast.
All day the suinern bad been dropping
In to inquire after him. for Biffr had
been a great favorite in otbei Jays,
and tbe attentlou of the town had been
admiringly centered upon his fight of
these last weeks (t was with uo ordl
nary sorrow that tbe news of b!s
dltion was received. As Mrs. Mavor
sang to him bis large, coarse hands
moved In time to the music, hut he did
not open hla eye* till he heard Mr
Craig's voice in the next room. Then
be spoke his unu:<*. und Mr. Craig was
kneeling Leslie h.'u .« « a.yaie.it. The
words came slowly:
“01 trUd—to tight hit hour—but—01
got beaten. Hit 'urts to think
ashamed o’ me. Oi'd like fa done bet
ter—01 would,"
“Ashamed of you. Billy:*’ sold Craig
In a voice that broke. “Not he.’
“And—ye hall—’elped tu? sol'' he went
on. “01 wish OI‘d ‘a’ done better—01
do.” And his eyes sought Geordle and
then rested on Mrs. Mavcr. who smiled
back at him with a world of lore in
her eyes. “You bain't h.r shamed o' me
—yore beyes aalgb so." he said, look
ing at her.
“No, Billy,” she said, nnd I wonder
ed at her steady voice*, “not a bit
Why. Billy. I am proud of you.’
He gazed up at her with wonder and
ineffable love In his little eyes, then
lifted his bend slightly toward her.
She knelt quickly and took it In both
of bets, stroking it and kissing it.
“Oi baught t’a done better. Oi’m
bawful sorry Oi went back on ’Ira. Hit
waa the lcmonalde. The boys didn't
mean no 'arm, bnt bit started the 'ell
hinsldo ”
C-eordle burled out some bitter words
“Don't be 'ard on ’em. Geordle. They
didn't mean no 'arm,” he said, and bis
eyes kept waiting till Geordle said bur
riedly;
“Na, na. lad! I’ll Jnlst leave them till
the Almlchty.”
Then Mrs. Mavor sang softly, smooth
ing his hand, “Just as I Am.«.aud Billy
dozed quietly for huff an hour.
When he awoke again, his eyes turn
ed to Mr. Craig, and they were tron
bled and anxious.
“OI tried ’ard. Oi wanted to win.”
he struggled to say.
By this time Craig was master of
himself, and he answered In a clear,
distinct voice:
“Listen, Billy. You tunde a great
fight, and you are going to win yet
And. besides, do you remember the
sheep that get lost over tbe tuoun
tains?" This parable was Billy’s spe
cial delight -*He didn’t beat It when
be got It. did he:-' He took It lu 111.
arms and carried It home, and ao he
will you.”
And Billy, keeping bis eyes fastened
on Mr. Craig, simply told:
“Will ’er
“Surer’ said Craig.
“Will ’e?” he repeated, turning his
eye* upon Mrs. Mavor.
“Why, yes. Billy,” she answered
cheerily, though the tears were stream
Ing from her eyes. “1 would, and he
loves you far more.”
He looked at her. smiled uud closed
bis eyes. 1 put my hand on his heart
It was fluttering feebly. Agalu a trou
bled look passed over Uls face.
“My—poor-hold—mother!” be whls
pered. “She's—hln-tbe—wukus.”
“1 shall take care of her. Billy," said
Mrs. Mavor In a clear vo*ce, aud again
Billy smiled. Then he turned bis eyes
to Mr. Craig and trom him to Geordle
and at last to Mrs. Mavor, where they
rested. 8be bent over and kissed him
twice ou the forehead.
“Tell ’er,” he aald. with difficulty, "e’s
took me ’ome.”
“Yes. Billy!” she cried, gazing Into
hla gtaking eyes.
He tried to lift her hand. 8be kissed
him again. He drew one deep breath
and lay quite still
’Thank the blessed Saviour!” satd
Mr. Craig reverently. “He has taken
* tin home.*'
But Mrs. Mavor held tbe dead hand
tight and sotted out passionately:
“Oh, Billy. Billy, you helped me once
when I uceded help! I cannot forget!”
And Geordle, groaning. “Aye. laddie,
laddie!” (Missed out Into the fading light
of the early evening.
Next day uo one went to work, for to
all It seemed a sacred day. They car
ried him Into tbe little church, and
there Mr. Craig spoke of his k>ug, hard
fight aud of bis final victory, for he
died without a fear and with lova to
the men who. not knowing, had been
hla death. And there wae no bitter
in any heart, for Mr. Craig read
the story of tbe sheep and told bow
gently he had taken Billy home; but,
though no word waa spoken. It was
them the league was made again.
33tff.jAtthlm.OBda the pti*» MU*
Ix*wl* Mover,* nuJ the miners threw
spj.V* of ever, jit*n Into tbe. opeu
gra.e. When Slavln. nobbtiig bitterly,
brought his sprte. no one stopped him,
though all thought It strange.
As we turned to leave the grave tbe
light from the evening sun came soft
ly through the gap In the mountains
aud. tilling tbe valley, touched tbe trees
aud the little uiouiid beneath with flo*
ry. and 1 thought of that other glory
which la brighter than the sun and
was not sorry that poor Billy's weary
fight waa over, uud I could not help
agreeing with Craig that it was there
tbe league had Ita revenge.
CHAPTER X.
WHAT CAMC TO SLAVRI.
RJllLLY Bit BEN’S legacy to tbe
| Q 1 Black Itock mining camp was
a new league, which waa more
QfiSni than the old league remade.
The league was new In Its spirit and In
its methods. The Impression made up
on the camp by BUly Breen’s death
was very remarkable, and I have nev
er been quite able to account for It
The mood of the community at the
time was peculiarly susceptible. Billy
was one of tbe oldest of the old tim
ers. Ills decline nnd fall had been a
long process, and his struggle for life
and manhood was striking enough to
arrest the attention and awaken the
sympathy of the whole camp. We In
stinctively side with a umn In bis
struggle for freedom, for we feel that
freedom is native to him and to us.
Tbe sudden collapse of the struggle
stirred tbe men with a deep pity for
the beaten man nnd a deep contempt
for those who had tricked him to his
doom: but though tbe pity and tbe
contempt remained, the gloom was re
lieved nnd the sense of defent removed
from tbe men's minds by tbe trans
forming glory of Billy's last hour. Mr. *
Craig, rending of the tragedy of Billy's
death, iracstigurid defeat Into victory,
and this was gradually accepted by tbe
men as tbe true reading, though to
them It was fui! cf mystery. But they
couid all understand aud appreciate ut
full value the spirit that breathed
through the words of the dying man:
“Don't be 'ard ou ’em. They didn't
mean no 'arm.” Aud this waa the new
Spirit of the league.
It was this spirit that surprised Sla-
yin Into sudden tears at tbe grave's
side. He u.iu «*ome braced for curses
and vengeance. i' .r r.ll knew it was lie
wbo bad doctored Billy's lemonade,
and instead of vengeance tbe tnrsxnge
from the dead that echoed through the
voice of the living was one of pity and
forgiveness.
But the days of the league's nega
tive. defensive warfare w. re over. The
fight was to the death, aud now the
war was to be carried Into the ene
my’s country. The league men pro
posed a thoroughly equipped and well
conducted coffee room, reading room
and ball to parallel the enemy’s lines
of operation and defeat then* with
their own weapons upon their own
ground. The main outlines of the
scheme were clearly defined and were
easily seen, but the perfecting of the
details called for all Craig’s tact nnd
good sense. When, for Instance, Ver-
Winton. who had charge of the
enfertalumeut department, came for
Craig's opinion ns to a minstrel troupe
and private theatricals, Craig was
prompt with his answer:
"Anything clean goes.”
”A nigger show?” asked Winton.
"Depeuds npon the niggers.” replied
Craig, with a gravely comic look,
shrewdly adding. “Ask Mrs. Mavor.”
And so the League Minstrel and Dra
matic company Uvarno nn established
fact nnd proved, ns Craig afterward
told me. a great means of grace to the
camp.
Shaw had charge of the social de
partment. whose *i>ecial rare It was to
that the men were made welcome
to the cozy, cheerful reading room,
where they might chat, smoke, read,
write or play games, according to
fancy.
But Craig felt that the success or
failure of the scheme would largely
depend upon the character of the resi
dent manager, who, while caring for
reading room arid hall, would control
and operate the Important department
represented by tbe coffee room.
At this point the whole business
may come to grief.” he said to Mrs.
Mavor. without whose counsel nothing
was done.
‘Why come to grief?" she asked
brightly.
Because If w»* don't get the right
man that's wbut will happen.” be re
plied In a tone that spoke of auxious
worry.
“But we shall get the right mau. nev-
p fear.” Her serene courage never
faltered. “He will come to us.”
Craig turned und gazed at her In
frank admiration nnd said:
“If I only had your courage!”
“Courage!” she answered quickly.
“It Is not for you to say that.” And at .
hla answering look the red came luto
her cheek aud the depths In her eyes
glowed, and I marveled and wondered,
looking at Craig's cool face, whether
his blood were running evenly through
his veins. But Uls voice was quiet—a
shade too quiet I thought—as he grave
ly replied:
“1 would often be a coward but for
the shame of it.”
And so tbe league waited for the man
to come who was to be resident mana
ger and make the new enterprise a
success. And come he did. but the
manner of Uls coming was so extraor
dinary that I have believed In the doc
trine of a special providence ever since,
for. as Craig said, “If he had cornu
straight from hen urn. 1 could not have
been more surprised.”
While tbe league waa thus waiting.
Ita Interest centered upon Slavln. chief
ly because he represented more than
any other {he forces of the enemy, and,
though Billy Breen stood between him
tqfi tbe vengeance of the angry men
(To ba continued.)