THE REFORM AT RED ANT
curiosity. Of course, they would take a beaker at home, but there was no more dancing on the green and trooping the colors around the merry May-pole. There were lots of books in stock, and Tib let these out at two stamps per week. Then he found a magic-lantern and pictures of other climes, and every time the whole camp, down to the last individual, was good for two days he'd give an illustrated lecture. And they liked that best of all! He'd been all over, and could give the atlas lots of points, and when he gave a talkfest on Africa or India's coral strands they were there, keen to listen.
"Of course, the man who indulged in pranks, or tried to shoot out the moon, and thus postponed the treat, was bound to become unpopular. The whole camp set aside Friday and Saturday for their extra- good-behavior days, and usually had the lecture Saturday night. Deaf Mitchell said he was tired of looking at pictures and not hearing any of the talk, and on a Saturday morning he threw a rock against our door just to stop the others' fun. When Tib and I overtook him he was surrounded by a score of miners in the woods, and one of them was busy throwing a rope over a branch. One end of the rope was decorated with a noose.
"‘We's jest tryin' a little innercent game, Mr. Smith, and Mitch here stopped ter watch us. Didn't ye, Mitch?' spoke up Gumpy.
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