Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-09-18
'.Al11.'' .. -
From the July Overland. !

sits all right, sir.n
CAN right, is it.: In my humbl,
opinion its about as wrong us wrong
can be-
HI looked down &C the bruised f,csl
and broken bones he had affirmed tt
be "all right with a half contemptu
Gus smile, and then. resigning iimsel
to the inevitable, laid quietly watching
the White hands Of the young doctor
as he prepared splints, bandages. etc.
aud commenced the work of setting
the bone, ROW rendered doub!y diff
cult BY the swelling Of the bruised
flesh.
The light Of the setting sun stole in
to the room, illuminating with a sud
den glory the bare walls and comfort
less surroundings, and throwing into
strong relief the two figures which
gave life to the picture. The doctors
frank, good-humored face, slight easy
figure and air Of careless good breed
ing. cculd not have been out of place
under any circumstances; but the
other seemed strangely in unison with,
and yet in contradiction to, Lis sur
roundings. His muscular frame might
have served as a model for strength
and beauty-a Hercules in prison
dress! His hands, roughened and
hardened by toll, had been as tender
and well-shaped as the doctors own.
His face, bronzcd by exposure to all
wcathers, was still high bred and re-
tined-aquiiine features, clear, brave
eyes, and above all, the close cropped
hair Of a convict. He had that air of
reserve, totally distinct from rudeness,
which only well-bred people possess,
and which impresscs even the most
vulgar and obtusc.
Though the sensitive mouth betray-
ed his delicate, nervous organization,
nothing could be more stoical than the
torture he was suffering.
"Why on earth, man, don't you say
something, or cry out :" exclaimed the
doctor, half impatiently. 4
Nnti..in9 the gatLa,i..s >~I,itc,e~s
around his patients lips, the doctor
hastily poured something in a glass,
and, bidding him drink it, went quick
~ Oh with his work. After q few
silence he glanced up sudden
".
"What's tlat:' pointing to a small
blue figure on the brawny wrist.
"That! O! my crest. l did it
when was boy, said the man indif-
ferently.
'Your crest?"
HDid l say tl,at!o and flush crept
over his face. II must have been
people do dream, some
times, don't tlleyg"
The doctor did not answer, but look
I'd kecnly at him, as he turned away
MS head with short, embarrassed
augh.
"What is your name:'
"No. ALP
II don't mean that; l mean yonr
lame,' persisted the doctor.
"Jim Brown
DR.. Harris laughed. "Jim Brown
Why don't you say Bill Scroggins
)ne name would suit as well as the
'thcr.'
All frowncd slightly. "NVhy should
tell YOU my namc."
'!I'm sure I don't know" was the
nswer; ..unlcss because l want you
D. That crest on yOnr arm is very
Ike my own. | thought perhaps we
,ere related.o
"And if we're! You wouldn't own
,e.r
"Why not! I'm not bad fellow ,
l my way, neither do l think you are.
Why shouldn't own yOu:" !,
The man raised himself on his arm, :
nd locked searchlngly in the doctors ;
ice.
" A convict :" he said SLOWLY.
"Well,n said the doctor, dryly, 81 :
ont see much society except convicts, !
t present, and l can't say but what |
ke them as well as l do those who
link themselves good deal better. ! !
We found out it isn't always the worst
lat are caught, by any means. I'm
alical' you must know" he added
laintly, "and very much disapprov- ;
of by the family"
All looked out into the gathering =
,rkness for some minutes, and then a
id, quietly: q
"Well, sir if you care to hear a con- l
cts story, sit down awhile. I've .
.ver told it to any one, and l don't L
low why should tell it to you; but a
G moods ON me, and might IS well b
TX as think, maybe; and then you've y
lesscd my secret partly-at Least, a
II know Pm not Jim Brown and .
,ile flashed across his face. How t
i do You think am Z" he continu- l
DIR. Harris looked at the powerful IN
ame of the man-at the strong, hard Al
les in his face. y
{. Between forty and fifty, ! should 70
"" ., .,
I. ..Thirty six, yesterday. was twen- Al
.fonr the, day / was sentenced 2 1a
easant way Of celebrating ones birth. q
\. wasn't iti There was q lot OF "
If in the papers about my youth u
4 nv heinr SO hardened Did they re
ink / was going to beg for mercy1E u
i II I'VE been out here twelve years 4
W. and escaped twice and been w
nght again; but I'll try II once "a
re. some time :.
: You ought not to tell me that 4
Il tie doctor, smiling. 'o'