The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1884-07-15

lay and hadn't the strength tur open 'em.
Ar read 'cm tew him. His hearts most
broke. His mas sick and needy, an he's
dead strapped; all his sugars gin ter old
sawbones ny ter Their Bend fer medicine
aid SIGH. Boys, think er Jim. How "a yer
feel il yer war fixed that way while yer
mothers lay suffering and in VANITY Boys.
twas him 'mongst all on us wot fuststruck
Their lead. gin us pints, helped us all and
now he's short, faint no more'n squal'
and just we should chip in and help him
out with er leetle dust Come, what dye
say! We kin soon make it up, and we'll
never miss wat we drops on Their plate.
Yer can't tell yer know, mout be our
turn one o'these days ter get Their ager and
be stretched out right thar whar poor Jim
! il, an our dust all gone ter Their medicine
/ shop at Their Bend. We'd feel right good
eff Their boys would jist chip in er leetle ter
help Their poor mother along till we got
better agin. We'd do Their same Of we was
we'll. Yere's ma ante. It's small but it's
all ar kin afford. Any of yer ielars can
raise it. Come, pour out on ther bench. "
Big Jake quietly loosened up his belt.
Others followed suit, and little 10y little the
pile grew in proportions. There was damp
in the boys eyes, for Bricktop's words had
struck home, and each one felt that
although he'd had hard luck for time that
it was nothing compared to poor Jim's.
and was glad he was able to give some
thing, if only little.
"Boys," said Brick, "this good turn ter
Jim'll make us light hearted, an we'll
have good luck termorrer. It's gittn
kinder late, an ar reckon as how ard bet
ter 60 an spring ther good news to jim.
Poor fcllar! lt'll make him feel right
glad. Well, pards, here's hoping Jim'.'
cit wels soon"
Bricktop drained the glass, tied up the
dust, bid the boys good night, and, step
ping through the door, took the road dow,
the guich, and he was 50 on lost in the darl,
ness and gloom beyond.
The storm outside ha l somewhat abated
its fury; and after Brick had departed the
boys were II bit CHEEKY, laughed, cracke,
jokes, made up game of draw, and had
another "shout."
For several hours they played, and cloS'
on toward midnight the door opened an,
something happened that startled earl
man as much as could have an earthquake
brought him to his feet rs though he had
seen an apparition.
Jim walked in, nodded to the boys
, sauntered easily up to the bar, called fol
his liquor, then sat down by the fire ano
commenced to load his p,pe
The boys looked at one another in amaze
ment, perfectly dumbfounded. Twas IL
though a bomhshell had dropped in anon
them, and they were waiting for its eN
plosion.
Big Jake watched Jim for awhile, an
then said: "Jim, what's ther matter IL
yer. Have yer been sick? Yer dom, loo
it by a burned sight. No? Ar though
not. Boys, we're played 10y Brick --soale
to raise Their wind. His claim ain't hi
payin' WIRE er big pack er fools, an
=, Their hull ont is we're been took in al
, skinned"
., "Aftcr him! After Their dernd oner
=, cuss! Catch galoot an string him up,
yelled the boys as they drew their barke
# ana made for the door.
"Hold on thar! 'Taint no use cr follerii
:, of Jim. He's got tew long er start, an
l., darker nor en- pocket outside. Yer kudr
- find er track till mornin' emmy way. We
a. catch him some time, an when we doe
- why We'll SINCE him right smart, that's Il
=. Ar don't low AS how any on III went bro
on him, an Their dust won't do him go
noiiow. He'll strike a brace game insi
-. of er week an be as poor Off as ever.
is Their gamers on it, boys, arter all,
J.. we cut an eye tooth, an it's proved to
that we'd be true friends to each other
time er need, like as nothing else cou
- SO ante and look pleasant Fust man wi
-. er jackpot smiles all round"
% %. Cresttallen but wiser they resumed
game, but their interest had died out, a
49, soon the bar-parlor of the Valley Mug
-, was deserted save by its drowsy bar-keep
=, who snored in blissful ignorance of his 5
49, itude until the streaks OF dawn she
through the chinkS in the walt, when
=, awoke to find the fire OUT, and that he h
been sleeping with his feet elevated ON
80 bench, while his head rested in the wo'
boX.-COr. Boston WObe.