Show BLACK ROCK A Tale of the the Selkirk B By Connor Conner Shaw haul hall charge of the lii lal de department he- he wh whose e special care can K It I Ice ce was ceI I tT tO see that the lie men were made welcome wel wei- 11 come collie to the thC cozy cheerful rending reading room where th they ml might ht chat smoke e read write or ni pIn play games to ran fancy y nut lint felt that thin the h success ON R or failure of Ir the the scheme would woul largely lanI depend tipon upon th the character of the Ito ro- ro Ident manager who 11 caring Corr for Cor r reading room riom and con control rol and operate time the the Important department represented h by ly lb the tho e coffee coN I At this point the tho whole ht business may conic come Come lo to grief ho lie s said ald 11 10 to Mrs I Mavor or Ia without whose counsel nothing nothing was done hy conic come to t grief she sho asked I brightly ri gh ht t I 3 Bl Because if we e don't dont get thin Iho right man mami that's lints what will wll happen he lie re replied replied re- re pl plied In a tone tomie that lint spoke of or anxious worl worry But wo vc WI shall shaH get gel the right man nian never I foam fear Her set erie courage never nev nev- er Cr 1 faltered lie Ho Io will wil conic come to tl I its us Craig turned and gazed at hot her In Infrank fan frank admiration and said If I I only had your OUI OU cOlm courage Courage e she answered quickly It I Is not nol for you Oll to 10 Ul my that thaL And at his answering look the til red rell came camp Into her cheek chck and anti the depths In her eyes glowed anti and I marveled and md wondered looking at Cral Craigs Craig's cool coni face wh whether his blood were P running evenly through hi his veins But his hil hie voice was quiet quiet quiet-n a shade hadl ton too quiet I thought a s as he 11 el gravely replied I I would often be lie a a coward but hut for forthe forthe forthe I the shame of if Ir Ir And so 50 o the 1 league waited for 01 theman theman the theman man to come comp who was to be he hI le resident l ent manager and anti make the lie new enterprise a a. success An And como corno h he did hut but hit the manner mannel of his coming coming was ns so extraordinary dinar that I have believed beHoved In the lie doctrine of a special providence ever er since for as ns Craig said If J he lie had come como straight from Crom heaven I could not have been more 1010 surprised While the league was as thus Ihus waiting Us its Is Interest t centered upon Slavin chiefly chief chief- I ly y because he lie represented more morp than thana a any ny other the he forces s of oC the lie enemy and though Bm Billy Breon Breen stood between him ilm an and the vengeance of oC the angry men who iho would have made short work olk of oC him i and his saloon not nothing could save him from flom himself and after the funeral SlavIn went to his bar and 11 drank whisky as he had never drank before But nut the time more he lie 11 drank th the lie fiercer and gloomier he lie and when th the men drinking with wih him chatted chaffed him he lie swore deeply and with wih alone such threats that thy they left If him It I did not help hell Slavin either to have hav Nixon stride in through th the crowd drinking at his ham bar hal anti and gl give him ilm words of warning It I is not your fault Slavin he 11 said In fn slow cool voice that you and your pi precious crew didn't send mo nit to tomy tony 1 ny my death too Youve You've won on your our bet bet but aut I want to say that n next time though hough you Ot are seven to one or ten teti times that when an any of you boys offer me a a dr drink nl Ill I'll If take you ou to th mean light fight und and Ill I'll lf not disappoint you ou und and someone some ome someone one ono will wf b be killed lAnd And so saying ayl g he ho strode out kit ht ng again ln leaving a oT oT-n oT nten behind him All AJ who had hod not been heen concerned In the bu business s at Nixons Nixon's shack expressed ed approval IO al of his position position po po- and hoped ho lie would see ee it itI I through rough h But nUL the expression of Nixons Nixon's words word upon Slavin Sla In was as nothing compared with that made by Geordie Crawford It I was no what whal he said so much as th the manner of or solemnity h he carried was struggling COI- COI con con- to keep kep his promise to not be he ard arti on the tho bo boys and found considerable considerable relief In remembering that he ha had agreed to tn leave them tae lae the lie But the tho manner of or leaving them lien was wa so r solemnly awful aul that I I could not nol wonder wondel that Slavin's superstitious Irish nature supplied him with wih supernatural terrors It I wa was ivas the he second day after the fu funeral funeral fu- fu u- u nerl that Geordie and I 1 were weme walking walkIng walk walk- Ing toward Slains There Thore Sla was a n great shout of laughter as we drew near Geordie stopped short and sa saying Well eJi cl just gang gan In a passed ed through the lie crowd antI and up to tho tIme bar Michael l Slavin began Geordie an and amid the time men stared in dead ead silence with wih their glasses in their hands had Michael Slavin I promised ed the lad Ind Id I'd bear ye yo nae rae wull IM-wull I but juist leave ye yo tae tac the and I want tao tae tell leU ye YO that Im I'm Im keepin ma r d. But But nd and here he rise raised his hand and his voice became preternaturally solemn his is upon upon yer er hans han's Do ye e no no see sec It I His voice oice rose rosc sharply and as he pointed Slavin Instinctively glanced athIs athis at athis his hands an and Geordie added A Aye f an an the time Lord will wi require it I o you an nn yer er hoose They told wId mo me that shivered erell as if it taken with wih ague after v out and though he Iau laughed hed and amI swore he lie did not nol stop drinking till tl ho lie sank Into a u drunken stupor and ha hato had to be carried arrie to bed His little French- French Canadian wife could not understand the he change that had conic come over o her husband 0 Hes les like hike one bear he confided to Mrs to whom she he was showing her b baby by of or a year ear old Hes lies not I kees cs me one tam tarn day a Hes He's mo most t ba bad lies He's les le's not even evel look attie at de tie baby And this seemed Seem sufficient proof that something was vas seriously wrong for fOl she went on to lo say sy Hes lies link tink more for fO dat at leel heel baby dan for Cor de le whole won hes he's Unk tink more mom for or dal dat al bab baby dan dat mu for CO me but bUl she shrugged her pl pretty t little Itlo shoulders In II deprecation of or her speech You must for said Mrs pra pray him ld lr Mayor Mavor o and amid all al will VII wi come right Ah Aim she answered earnestly ear ear- nestly nesty ever every tIny day ever every lay day cay I pra pray la ha him sainte Viege et l tons toils le les saints for You must pray to 0 your OUI I Father in heaven for tor him Ah ih oui 1 I weel wed pr pray pray an and Mrs rr Mayor Mavor sent her awa away bright with wih with new hope and courage in her heart hearL She Sho had hind ver very soon need of or all her courage for fOl at al the w weeks week's en ner wr bab baby fell fel dangerously I Iii en Slavin's anxiety and team fear were not relieved rele cd much mitch by the r reports orts the men n-men brought him from time to time lame of or Geordies Geordie's ominous forebodings for tor had no doubt but th thy thu the Avenger of or I Blood was hot upon Slavin's trail tri and anti andas antias andas as the sickness grew greis' he lie hec became mc confIrmed confirmed con con- firmed In this conviction While he could not nol bo 10 said to find satisfaction In Impending affliction ho he could hardly hide his c complacency In Inthe tho the promptness of or Pro l Providence ence In Iii vindicating vin yin his hh theory of retribution But BUl Geordie's Geordies complacency was as somewhat rUdel rudely shocked b by Mr Ir Craigs Craig's answer to his his- theory one da day You read yo your r Bible to little profit I It seems to me Geordie or perhaps I I you YOI have has In I never t fI rea read the lie Masters Master's teaching bout the lie Tower rower of Sloam Better read that and take that warning warn warn- big ing InG to yourself gazed ged aC after 1 Mr 11 Craig as ho he IH turned awa away avay and muttered The Toor Tool o 0 Siloam it I Is Is' Is Aye I ken flue fine lP about tho hue Toor o ci Siloam an thu the tu Tool Toor o ti Babel as wed weel wel an nn lv Ive I've read too the lOUR ions Herod an nn sic Ic like Mon Ton hut but buthe's huthEs huthes hes he's hEs a a hot hot laddie an lacks laces thIs thIs- What hat about Herod I Abool Herod with a strong tn tinge e of contempt In il-i hi his tone Herod Herod Her Her- od oil Mon lon line hac ye no read In the time s Herod an nit the time Wl mis In the lie tl I him Oh Oi ye yes I M see l I J hastened to answer amwel Aye a mule Cult can cnn see FCC what's flapped In jn his hlf face faro with which hit bit of nr proverbial proverbial pro plO me nw p philosophy II he lie suddenly Hlll In I left ler nut But thenceforth contented himself In iii 11 Mr Mi Craigs Craig's presence nt at least laRt wI with wih Ii ominous equally aggravating and Impossible to answer r. r That flint same sam night ev however r. r Geordie showed that lint with wih all al his theories lie hue haul had a mans manN true heart for he c came m mIn In to tl Mrs hs Mavor r. Ol to 10 sa say Yell ehl he be needed beetled d ower yonder Im I'm t 11 1 n k ln In Why h Is th time the baby worse Have you OU beon in 7 Na na na replied cautiously Ill Ihl 1 no Jun 10 gang where Im I'm Im no nn wanted limit But Bu yon thing ye e can cn hear outside out- out side Aide weep In an nn She's ma maybe be need ye toe Ie he went Int on dUbious dubiously to me Yore Yure a 1 kind III o 0 doctor I hear not committing himself to any opinion as to my professional value But Slavin Slav Slav- In ln would have ha none of or me ne me having got gotlie the lie doctor ductor sober enough to prescribe prescribe Time Tile Interest of the camp in was as great greatly Increased b by the tho Illness of his baby which was as to t him as ns th the lie apple of hi his eye fye There was was' a n few who Impressed sed by Geordies Geordie's profound upon the matter were in inclined In- In dined to favor avol the retribution theory theor and connect the baby's Illness with wih the vengeance of the Almighty Among Amon these few rew was Slavin himself ant and goaded b by his remorseful terrors lie he sought ought relief In drink But this brought him only deeper and fiercer gloom so s-o that between her suffering child mind and her savagely despairing husband hus bus band the poor mother was wai as desperate with wih terror term and amid gri grief Ah madame she sobbed to Mrs Ir Mayor Mavor m my ni heart is broke for him lies He's heet beet notting for or tree days but hint jl jis The next day ay a man nian came for fOl mo In haste The rime baby was dying and Ind the lie doctor was drunk I found the time little one in a convulsion ion lying across Mrs Irs Mayors Mavor's Ma knees the lie mother mothe kneeling beside it J It wringing her lieu hands in a dumb agony agon and Slavin standing near silent lent and anti suffering I glanced at the lie bot bottle of or medicine upon the table ant and asked ed Mrs Mis Mavor the dose tumid and found round the baby had been heon poisoned My Iy look of horror told 1011 SlavIn something wa wrong and striding to me ne he caught caugh my arm arm and asked What hat H it Is Is the lie mc medicine wrong I tI tried to put him off cuff but buit his luls grip in tightened n t till tl his C fingers g lS l'S Teach c ch tho tto 1 j. j I The 1110 dOs 1050 Is certainly eTt too oo large but lut let me nie go s I I must do something He lie let me inc go at on once e saying In a n voice oice that made m my heart henrt sore ore for foi him He lie has l killed fed my baby he has 1 killed je my baby haby And then he cursed the doctor octor with wih awful curses and with wih a look of or such murderous fur fury fumy on his face Cace that I was glad tIme the doctor octOl was too drunk runk to appear appeal His Ills wife hearing his hits curses and anti understanding un un- the tho cau cause broke out into walling hard hail to 0 hear bear Ah mon petit pett ange It I is dat da y dats dat's keel d de tie ba baby y Ah Ahmon mon cheri mon lon amour Ah mon moi DIeu Ah Ahi Michael how often I say ay dat lies lie's not good tn ting thug It I was more niome than tan Slavin could bear benr and antI with wih awful curses cures lie he passed out Mrs Mis Mavor OI laid haiti the baby In i Its Is evil crib for Cor the tw convulsion lon had haul passed away ay and putting her arms about the wallIng walling wall wall- wul- wul Ing little lite Frenchwoman ted comforted antI and soothed lieu her a as a mother might her child And you ou must help your our husband i I heard her sa say He will wl need you oU more than ever eer Think of him hini Ah oui I wed weel was the lie quick reply and arid from that moment there lucre was no more wailing Availing It I seemed no more than a moment momen till tl Slavin ln came camo in again sober sobel quiet and steady the pas passion lon was all al gone from his face and only the ti-ic grief s re rema re- re ma maine I ned I As we stood leaning lening over the sleepIng sleepIng sleeping sleep- sleep Ing child the little lite thing timing opened Its It eyes tyes saw sau SW its US father and smiled I Iwas It I was as too much for him The ho big man dropped on his knees with wih a 3 dr dry sob Is there lucre no chance at all al at all al he lie whispered but give gle him no Ii hope 0 PC He lIe Immo immediately lately rose and amid pulling himself together stood perfectly quiet quietA quiet er era A A. new terror tenor seized upon the mota- mota My ry bab baby Is not what not what you call cal it I going through the form olm of oC baptism An he will wf not ot conic como to la ha sainte sinto she sho said crossing herself Do not foam fear for your little one ohe one said Mrs Ir Mayor Mavor or Ia still with her arms n about bou t her The good Savior will wl take ake your YOU darling darlng Into His own arms But the mother mothel could not bo be o comforted com com- forted b by tt tills this And Slavin too loo was uneas uneasy Where is Father Fathel Goulet he lie asked i A AI you 01 were not good to the lie holy pore pere de e las las' tam lam arn Michael she replied sadly The saints are arc not please for forye ye you u Where here is tho the priest he hue demand lemand- ed cil 11 I know not riot for sure At de do Lan LandIn Landin din dats dat's lal ink lak Ill go for tOI him he lie said sail But his wife clung to him beseeching beseeching beseech beseech- In ing ing- him not to leave leavo lieu her and amid In Indeed he lie was loath to lo leave heave his little one I found Craig an and told him the duff duff- culty culy With Hh his usual promptness he was ready i-eady with a a. solution Nixon has u a l team cain Ho lie will i wl go Then he added I 1 wonder wondel If Ir the they would not like Je me flue nt to baptize their lit littie little Itte lit lit- It- It tie tle te one Father Goulet and amid I have exchanged before now I re remember re- re member how he came can to one ono of my people In Iii m my absence when she sho was dying read with her prayed with her ted comforted her and helped her Imer across the river i He lie Is n a good bood soul an and has no no nonsense about him Send for me mc If you on think there Is lf nee need It I will wi make makein no in difference to the bab baby but it ft will wf comfort the he mother Nixon was willing enough i h to go but ut when he came t to tho the door Mrs go Mavor Mayor saw w tho the hard look hook on his face He lie le had hind hadnot hadnot not forgotten his wrong for for forda da day by by day ho was s |