The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-01-10

1 ! knew Why ana oi0 not aSk. was wopder-ssricken to see that child of nine or ten so worldiy-wise, so fluff of grown up wicked wisdom. She evidently knew all her fathers and uncie's plans and past misdeeds, and regarded them as InOthing out of the common. She caught me looking steadily at her, and diyining Imy thoughts, said:
 Papa says you are solid, and SO I'm not feared to talk to you and like you because you are kind to him. If he could ever get well me and Uncle Lou would get him out. That's what we've got the express money for"
 "Why, Nixie!"
 "Yes," she went on quietly, "you see, if he got out of here all right, they'd take him back to California, just as they brought him back here. We u,ed to live down on the C'1oosahatchee river. Papa and Uncle Lou would ish and hunt and always take me with them, and we had fine times till they got into trouble in Key West. Papa's Greaser wife gave him away, and we slipped away to Cali fornia. cried because had to give up my oranges and fruit so papa said he'd take me where they grew just the same as in the everglades-he always petted and loved me so well But that Greaser woman wrote back and told 'em where we were, and they come after papa. wish she had died before she wrote, as she did soon after. They'd lynch papa in minute, they say, if they had him back at Dead Lake, on account of the way she died. As if he would have done anything to hurt the yellow Mexican hagl He was too much of a gentle manw
 "Why, Nixie !" It was all I could say.
 "Why, Nixie-what?" She caught me up so quick and hercely could only stare. He was gentleman, and is yet. If you could just see him out of this sinking old place, with nice clothes and 6ne gold watch ard chain, his hair and whiskers trimmed, and his fine pistols and rife Oh, you just ought to see him shoot! And you needn't put on airs, and why, Nixie me, cause you are no bet ter than he is, not half as good, don't expect, if the truth was known"
 Don't be angry, Nixie. was sur prised, that's all" said humbly.
 We'll, dsn't pretend to be such a su- pe-rior chap, then, when you ain't. saw you cheat your friend, Joe Woods, awhile ago in that friendly game of euchre for the oysters. Therep
 Why" !
 You're going to say, 'why, Nixie,' again, and deny cheating, but you know you did. You kept the little Joker out of the pack two games out of three. Anal If you cheat your friend just for fifty cents worth of oysters, you'd rob the exPress-if you weren't afraid!" Her father moved uneasily just here, and she flew to his side instantly. I sat for long time idly but painfully wondering what the future held in store for tte strange little creature.
 A few nights later she joined me again about midnight She had received a let ter that day, and had been restles, all the evening and in low spirits about her father, who was going very rapidly. She knew it, too.
 " Poor, papa" she said, helping her self to a cup of coffee, and then sitting down quite close to me, as she slowly drank it from her spoon. "Poor papa He improves so slow, Mir. Guard, and it's a bad place for sick man."
 l could only say "yes."
 "But it would be a worse place for a man to die in, Mir. Guard. How would you like to have your father die there ?" nodding toward the hospital.
 l said nothing, and she went on.
 "Why don't you talk? You are mighty quiet tonight"
 "i don't feel like talking tonight, Nixie."
 |" am glad of that. Then let me hire you to just keep still for one hour. What do you say to thatr"
 There was a new light dancing in her dark eyes which reminded me at once of her uncle's picture which she had shown me. saw at once hidden meaning in her words It was intensely dark. heard a sound at the great gate at the back of the stockade, and walked quickly to it, but heard nothing more. It had sounded like carriage wheels on the loose sand in the road. At Nixie's request let her through the gate, but that was nothing unusual Guards. "out on q