The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-05-28

tA.t, AV
through: into the front would be Is inn:-
trude upon Nellie and her company; to
come out from behind the curtain.would
be to appear like spy; SO there I stood
stonestill and waited. The first few
minutes / was too much surprised and
uneasy about my own situation to, be
aware of what was going on in the
room, when at last i caught the ound
of the strangers voice; he was saying
something like this: n 75
1t is .af very unfortunate piece of
work. sir. I beg leave 10 sympathiize
with youS and your family; but business
5is business, you know. II wasr sent,
here to settle this matter ID respect
able manner, if possible, and Unjust
proceed Ia, do it at once. Your son, II
amisorfy 20 tell you, Sir, but perhaps
you know he has lived b little fast Of
late rather too fond Of wine and evil.
company = 8, :.sjI
Yes, yes.nn uncle said, as sif ! impa-
tient to. get at the worst.
II am sorry to tell You, sir = the
stranger continued, abut y think It hap
pened while he was und Ter the influence
Of liquor, and likely surrounded by his
evil companions. ToFgbe5 brief this is
the whole story: Yourson has broken
into the money-safe and robbed his. ems,
;ployer Of SIS, 900. ;5ts5 5$.3s. S i.
Y, Robbed 9 God, ~ boy 3 rob:
I shall never forget the groan with
which uncle sank back upon the. o hair
from which he had risen at that start
ling News
own itSlooks bad, iii, but i have
come to.see if we can't arrange tSsome.
how. His employ or; & assE you know is
your friend. He bid me say that he is
not only willing bnt anxious to shield
your family name from disgrace and
your boy from the entiary, If it
can possibly be done. But the mon
.ey must be refunded there no other
course. y IS I; 4:
9 Five thousand dollars / impossible r.
uncle exclaimed = g It would lie TO take
everything to ruin my family. = 33.y
= suppose nothing Gamble done
then, the stranger said deliberately and
arose as If to depart. II
But, wait q moment 81 let me think !"
uncle said, leaning his head forward on
\ tie table BY which he sat. BY and by,
getting mp; he said 4 ST willBee what
can be- done, 4 and left the room. Twas
trying ID vain to think what he could
be about, when sud- lend he re- entered
tile room, accompanied by Mr.. Wells.
Alas, + thought Of that misery old man
as our only y means Of help. Then. they
all three talked together in 8 low tone s
Of voice. could only md rstand a
word now and then Of uncle tremulous
voice. Putting IL all together, Il know
he meant this: Joe must mot ibes sent to
the penitentisr that would kill Aunt
Margaret Ths farm the .old home
stead IL know was SO dear to him. must
go before that should be done. Would
Mr.. Wells advance the money !? TAX
ing uncle's arm he drew him aside, Yso
near by the curtain beneath which /
stood concealed / thought they! could
almost hear my breathing, his voice
was low, subdued To- q whisper, but ]
could hear the name of Nellie !; some
thing, should be done IL 4 Neellie would
consent. Great heavens! j thought and
shudd ered, can ii be possible he will ask
for Nellie's hand il return for that
Will unole sell one child to buy anot her!
II cannot tell it shall not be unless
she is willing, Y Uncle s6id, sand left the
room. It seemed like an age tosmettt that
! stood there trembling with indigna-
ton and horror. III she III wiling
Will they let her be the sacrifice to
save themselV YES and then Hay that she
Is willing; but then i thought OF poor
Aunt Margaret, with bowed head and
broken heart; something must he done
for her. Yes, after all, itRould be q
noble thing for Nellie to do.
Just then she entered the room with
her father. I3eaught sight Of her. face
she knew it all. T had never seen
her look like that befores Il am sure
Uncle did not realize the extent of the
sacrifics hiS daughter .was ! about to
make. would not wrong him BY sup
posing that he did. ssss.;Sss S.
"She. is here to affirm that she ID will
ing uncle said. The stranger looked
mp in bewildered perp1exity. MI:
Wells came forward 10 meet Nellie say
ing: &
You have been made aware Of the
Importance OF this Btep. suppose
there is no time for needless harangue
about the matter il Joe IS sayed your
father must 60 TO. morrow morning
with the money. OF course j. have no
need 81; the place and do not want IL
tIbut' il you viii consent ID an early mars
riaga and here the man WINGED 8 little,
ltperhaps because he nldn.t entirely