Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18
ls2-poUB1E sH

If can helpit. Jack my dear" said she. and
next day she pointed to poor .'Tangiefoot Ned
tumbling up the gulch to his cabin. with no more
humanity in his appearance than one of the
beast that perish.
"Once-and not SO long ago, nayther-he
was young and hopeful like you, Jack" she
said; ''look what liquor brings on a man, and
fly from the sight of it,"
Lets have little game right here, Tip"
said Monte Mack. that evening, lyon pour US
white man in these mines it's Tin Finnsan.
and he knows how to sell fust class fquer,
too; that's what | allns say. Dick, you deal
for four-handed game; Tip and the young
'un II join in jist for a spree. Won't We
honey"
mo he won't then" cried the watchfal Mrs
Finnigan, bursting in upon them, and for once
daring TO assert herself in her husbands do
main; we've been after this lad wild yer dirty
cards ever since he come to Dry-up; and if We
liver ak him to take a hand in them chatting
games yer up to again, sure I'll teche yez both
new thrick wild the ind ov my broom, so
will"
The gamblers shrank abashed before the
Woman,s flashing eye; but Tip was much
scandalized. He was a disciphnarian, and be-
leved in the inferiority OF the weaker sex; he
had always exacted from his wise and usual
quescent wife the strctest obedience and her
late assumption of wilfulness woke his dis
pleasure.
uiSht ueT eyes were very Tcu when Jak
came to sit a little while with her. as he always
did before retiring to his bunk in the back end
of the store.
'You niver write letters nor resave any, as
see. Jack, !" she remarked abruptly.
The youths eyes filed with sudden tears; he
shook his head and bit his lips nervously, but
did not reply.
His questioner was persistent one. She
kept her gaze steadily on him, and he could not
AFFECT Inconsistencies. as he tried hard to do at
fpSf nnrfo l,,Ax 1~.k
in and broke down with something like sob.
Mrs. Finnigan, nobody knows where am.
l ran away
He hung his head in shame at this confession
and Ills face baZed into perfect scarlet when
his friend, rising her hands in shocked surprise,
repeated:
Ran away! Lord pity your poor distracted
mother, you wrong-headed boy!"
They must all have complained and talked
against Inc TOTO Mr. Franklyn and to Nellie"
he burst out in great heat and agitation. He
said so many dreadful things about my selfishly
imposing on them and-and-1 just vowed I'd
never write or so back till l could pay up all
owed Them
"Well, heaven be praised. We can kape yer
word. and start home Tomorrow. Eve news
for We. jack ye can sell ont yer right and title
70 the ferry at small fortn, and you shall do
1t, and go home to see yer mother, if NY names
Betty Fnnigan!"
Then in quieter but still more resolute terms
Mrs. Finnigan explained to the lad that her
guardianship over him must end since it had
already produced ill-feeling between herself and
husband.
"And tho next to my own boy that the
blessid saints has in their holy kapn@. this day
! have warm heart for you. Jack" she con-
SS ysyS S au aaa R 1 s Plsss a na
him. find. This is no place for lad ov your
breedin and belongings. l may kape We out
OF the gamblers hands and away from the
whisky cups but there's more and worse timpta-
lions that can't rache. SO We must just lave
them all behind ye.''
She backed her argument with an offer from
tall HOosier, known as I-anky. who was ready
to pay down i'll hard dust hundred ounces
81 ,600) for Jacks right and titleto the Ferry
and then added in whisper that Jack could
pay firstcass passage au0ecarry 5000 home
with him. A few moments passed. during which
the varying emotions OF the boys mind were
easily read by her keen eye on his transparent
face Suddenly over the changing lights ard
shade OF doubt, ambition. pride and calculation,
broke out sweet, soft. beaming tenderness.
and yielding to its influence Jack leaned his
curly head upon her shoulder and murlnured
III go and see my mother
And Gods bessin go with you!' exclaimed
Mrs. Einnigan solemnly. "Her prayers have
been about We like guardian angel this far,
and may the same biessin' go wild We till life
ind"
"Ill write to you, Mrs. Finnigan, you dear.
good friend" cried Jack. giving his iandIady a
secret and sincere embrace behind the kitchen
door, as Hank pushed his modest trunk in which
the precious dust was stored into safe place
on top of the Stockton coach.
mot word, DEAR" said the hostess of Dry
up, controlling her emotion by a strong effort;
mot word. darlint for | could not read it if
We did. III just trust ye to the saints, as had
to do wild my own bay, and may be we'll see
aicl other some day beyant this
lis that ere party a coning!'' hallooed Hank
from the coach box -
Here he is shouted Tip: land more fool he
to lave place that would be the maxim oy him.
I'm starting big bar and I'd have paid him
small fOrtin' to wait on it; but tue chaps heads
turned wild the price he got for his ferry" The
porch was full OF 'bOys" come to see that rare
sight in those days--a departure. Jack waived
his hat as he climbed up the stage, but pulled it
over his eyes as he dropped into place beside
Hank; he mad caught a glimpse of his friend
weeping at the kitchen pane.
Some time after the express held q package
directed to Mrs. Finnisan. and great was that
good woman's surprise when appraised of the
fact.
mgly richly mounted picture of handsome
young man whom no one recognized until its
recipient cried out in rapture:
''Arrah, sure it's jack Jack, in his own
clothes and jist as he looks among taim he was
born wild. Sorra a beautifuller pictur nor this is
IN the whole new state of CalfOrny and |
wouldn't take its weight in goold for it,
So saying she hung it beside an humber one
OF her dead child and there they remained to-
ferry.
Bicycle Fsricfs.
From the Cincinnati Commercial.