The Frontiersman Part 19

Pritchen was taken by surprise, it was easy to see that. He had reckoned on a disturbance, but had not expected the sudden action of Caribou Sol. Inwardly he cursed his men for their slowness in stirring up the meeting. He wished to remain in the background in order to further his future designs. But with this towering form confronting him matters a.s.sumed a different aspect. He shrunk back from those blazing eyes, but only for an instant. It would not do to show any sign of weakening in the presence of the miners.

"To h-- with you!" he cried. "Do you think I'm a dog? I mean all I give, and I give more than words."

Quick as lightning his hand slipped to his hip pocket, a revolver flashed for an instant in sight, and then whirled through the room to strike heavily against the opposite wall, while Pritchen staggered back, and sank heavily to the floor, felled like an ox by one blow of Caribou Sol's clenched fist.

Instantly an uproar arose. Pritchen's followers with a cry of rage surged forward and bore down upon the gray-haired giant, while the rest of the men sprang to his a.s.sistance.

So quickly had everything taken place that Keith stood dumbfounded. He had noticed the presence of Pritchen and his gang, and felt rather uneasy as to their purpose in attending. But as time pa.s.sed and nothing happened he hoped that the debate would end quietly. Now, instead of peace, a general fight was on. Blows were being exchanged, cries and curses were ringing through the room. It must be stopped.

He leaped over the benches and besought the a.s.sailants to desist, but his voice was drowned in the general clamour.

"Oh, G.o.d," he mentally prayed, "help me, tell me what to do to stop these brutes!"

And even then his prayer was answered. The commotion gradually subsided. The men, some with faces scratched and bleeding, were staring in one direction as if they saw a ghost. Keith looked, too, and instead of a ghost he beheld the trembling form of Constance Radhurst.

In the moment of excitement he had forgotten her, and when he saw her standing there on the rude platform before the curtain, in the presence of those rough men, he was tempted to rush up and lead her gently away.

A groan almost escaped his lips. What a different ending to the debate from the one he had expected. It had been planned that Constance should appear, but only as a pleasant surprise, to sing some old songs when the debate was over. He had taken a step or two towards the platform, when in a clear, rich voice Constance began to sing:

"Come, sing once more to-night, my lads, Come, sing some old refrain, Of love, of home, of childhood days, And live them o'er again.

_Chorus:_

"We've drifted far away, ye ken, From home and kith and kin, Fling open wide your hearts to-night, And let the old times in.

"Put strife aside, and banish care, And sink them out of sight, Oh, comrades of the weary trail, Be brothers for to-night!

_Chorus._

"And then let fall whate'er betide, The trail be steep and long, We'll quicker step and keener fight, Cheered by some old, sweet song."

_Chorus._

It was but a simple song which Constance and Kenneth had often sung together in the good old happy days. She little realized then to what purpose it would one day be used. But with the men the words affected them not so much as the sight of that sweet face, whiter than it should be, and the trim figure on the platform. Into many a mind flashed the memory of other days.

For an instant there was silence when Constance ended. Then, "Three cheers for the lady," shouted one strapping fellow. "Three cheers,"

came the response, and how their voices did ring as they roared and stamped their approval.

Keith in the meantime had taken his place at the harmonium, and when the men's voices had died down he played the air of "Annie Laurie."

With Constance leading, and the miners joining in the chorus, it was a time never to be forgotten at Kla.s.san.

Pritchen was a surly witness of this marvellous transformation.

Regaining his feet, he tried to speak to his men. But they had forgotten him in the new excitement. They were in a rollicking humour, these husky fellows, who but a few minutes before were tearing at one another in the wildest confusion. In his anger Pritchen seized one by the shoulder.

"D-- you!" he shouted. "What's wrong with you all? Are you going to let a bit of lace turn your heads?"

The only response he received was the man wheeling square around, and bawling full into his face:

"And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I'll lay me doon an' dee."

"Curse you all!" he cried. "You confounded idiots!" and in a rage he left the building and started for Perdue's store.

The sound of the last verse followed him into the darkness, and then silence. He stopped and listened. Presently there floated through the air the old, familiar tune of "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." All were singing it, he could easily tell that, and his men, too! He turned and shook his fist at the building.

"My time will come!" he cried. "You d-- missionary! I'll get even with you! You may laugh at me now, but beware!"

CHAPTER XV

THE SUMMONS

The morning after the debate Constance was moving briskly about the little cabin she had a.s.sisted in erecting with her own hands. She was relating to her father, who was lying on a cot, the stirring scenes of the previous evening.

"Oh, it was so funny at first to listen to the strange things some of the men said. They were like a lot of school boys. But there was one old man who spoke so earnestly when he told about his past life that I could not keep back the tears from my eyes."

"And you were behind the curtain all the time?" questioned her father.

"Yes, until the row began. At first I felt like running out of the building by the door which was near, I was so frightened. But when I saw the efforts Mr. Steadman was making to stop the fight I seemed like a coward for the thought of deserting. For a few minutes I did not know what to do. Then I remembered a story I had read long ago, how an angry mob was stilled by a song, and I made up my mind to try it on those men. I could hardly stand at first, my knees were so weak, and I trembled violently. But when I saw the effect the song produced I took courage and had no more trouble."

"My dear, brave child," responded Mr. Radhurst affectionately, "you remind me of your mother; you have her disposition, so brave, and yet so kind and gentle."

"Not very brave, daddy, but I would do anything for you," and Constance gave the old man a loving kiss. "If I am gentle it is you who made me so; you are always so considerate."

"But tell me, Connie, how it all ended. I am anxious to hear some more."

"Oh, we sang hymns and songs the rest of the evening, and then those great, rough men came up one by one and shook hands with me. Some of them, I really believe, had not shaken hands with a woman for years, as they just wabbled my hand, and then dropped it as if they were frightened. But the old man with the white hair and long beard squeezed my hand till I nearly cried out with pain. The tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked into my eyes and said, 'G.o.d bless ye, lady, ye've done us a power of good to-night.'"

"Mr. Steadman must have been pleased, Connie, at the happy ending."

"Happy? I don't believe I ever saw such a look on any man's face before; it fairly shone with delight. He looked at me and tried to express his grat.i.tude in suitable words, but I never heard a man stammer so in my life. He gave up the attempt at last, and simply said, 'Thank you!'"

"Did he say he would come this morning to see me?"

"Yes, as soon as he could, and I believe that's his step now."

"I am afraid I am very late," said Keith, when he had entered the building, "but you see I've been delayed."

"Overslept yourself?" laughed Constance.

"Oh, no. I've been to the drug store."

"The drug store!"

"Yes, and found the druggist asleep. When I awoke him it took me two whole hours to get what I wanted. How is that for business?"

"A drug store! and a druggist! I don't understand," and a puzzled expression spread over Constance's face.