Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-05-24
LAcK pRICE. pECK HAND.

aa
suppose not one In Il thousand will
rare 10 read @ deCi; hands story lcofie
call Us coarse and vulgar. Grohtcd; but
our work makes us 50. There arc ladies.
! fancy. who will shuddor ut the thought
OF such Il story. and gentlemen who viii
din into il carefully. cNpccting u u q
string of oaths. Judee for yourselves
whether this tile of Jack Price, ny part
ncr, 10 tit Cor refined ears.
No uet4l TO tell you Cf a JCrk hande
fife. A man tigf beat aiout IN tie cold
md rain. handling siCety ropes OF l.l-
uncing himself IN the gunwale of o coal
Aarge-withsetprenry fecf Of swift water
under him, Is not apt 70 be a pretty. hid
EiCVCd. soft voiced fellow. II Ills face Is
rid II Is because midwinter winds on the
Ohio arc not good for the complexion.
He deals with rough work and q rough
himself: hut his heart H. just about a.
apt to be right us that OF a senator or a
judge.
We started from Pittshurg on the
George Hammond ia July. Jack and |.
There vas a liig river ard we made good
time to Louisville. whore we shipped or
the Charley Roberts. bound for Orleans.
70 say we found il hot on the over Mis-
si3sippi gives no idea Of the weather.
Half The crew were unfit fer duty. Ono
morning there wGs a whispering among
the bows.
Whats up, Jack" said l..
'Steve Robiuson's down with swamp
fever"
The boys gathered in a knot around
panic among thcm. The mate shook his
licld and louked thoughtful.
The man must be put ashOreI' said
the captain.
NO, sir cried Jack Price.
who are yolf'
'Plain Jack Price: but Steve don't go
ashore. It's an outrage to think vi ii"
Who's to nurse himS'
Me"
do you know what swamp fever isl
"Do know anything
Doubtful"
''I1l nurse Steve. I tell you! We've
made five trips together. and II he is put
ashore here In the swamps, ] go with
him"
lyon il Is" said the captain, turning
on his heel. mot another man goes int
Stoves stateroom."
For ten days Stevc's room was qtaran.
tined. Nobody but Jack SAW the inside
Of IL. We saw him sometimes, carrying
something TO the sick mar or sitting on
the guards to get q breath of air; but
every soul on thu boat kept out of Iii,
way. We all liked Jack. but the fever
might he in his clothes. lie began u
look pale. hut he never Grunlbled. On,
day the news came out to Us that Steve
was dead, 4 few hours after we buried
Lin on an island in the river Ia a pine
box. and the only thing like n prayer
eaid over him wa from Jack: God help
hin!'
The foyer did not spread. and we all
bTeathed freer. A few evenings after
Steve's death ! was on watch at the
head Of the tow, ard Jack WIS with INC.
We were pulling at tobies 10 keep oil the
mosquitoes. There was "a haze over tho
water, Gut the stars were shining. and
the brood river vas quiet rs a lalsc.
"Jnck," said l, I've got u raging
h~ea,lachc."
nor said he, as if he asked q question.
BE took my hand and held it.
''Not fever, Is Il, jack
Come and lie down." was his answer
a diZziHcss auGo over me. and with.
out Jacks arm TO steady me ! would
never have reached my bunk. lrcncm.
Der very little after that. / learned af.
forwards that ] was delirious; hut how
long ] cannot tell you. ! remeInbci
Jacks face near nc at times as in {
Gream-the kindlicst face you over cav
not handsome. maybe; but a face viii
como Of Gods goodness IN IT,.
When | got back TO reality again
found Jack bending over me. ! was il
the slnle stateTOom and | could feel from
the motion that the boat was under way
GLOW long have | been ilere, JackY'
"Quite n while, my hoy"
"And whore are wey'
mot far from Memphis"
"Csoing up or dOwGf'
"Going home. Don't talk Il it tire
you"
"What was the matter with me. JGckY
"a touch of fever, but you're bette
now"
Cant / look out, Jack7 It win DO n,
good TO see tho SUI
He raised me up gently aa a womai
would have done, and | looked on
through the glass door Of the s~tatero0C
eagerly as a child. Had the sun eve
ehoue so brightly before? The low
wooded shores looked like paradise. NJ
mountain stream ever seemed 20 beauti
full TO nc us the great muddy river.
"Jact," said /, when he laid me dow
agnin, "what q J ever do to pay your
"Pay me for WHAT
LOOK Mt me; I'm thin as a ghost.
mus have been sick a long time. YOu'v.
pulled me through, Jack"
''lve done nothing Of tho kind" sail
he, laughing.
noticed FOR the first time how yer.
thin aud pinchcd his face was. ltseemei
as II he had grown old.
Look Ut me, Jack; you've been tn
best fricnd | ever had"
He made no answer, but took my ham
and pressed IT, IL seemed as II n ais
.camo between US, and | saw big tear
etanding 10 Jacks kindly eyes
u thought Id got past this said hC
coughing.
Next day he came In smiling, With
letter and some oranges.
II went ashore az Memphis" he "a
plaiued, "and found q letter from Siste
AMMO. They're looking for me home.
Vel soon be u Pennsylvania again
Jack"
lie looked mo full in the face an
mnile6. Ills eye seemed very large an
his cheeks were hlOcdleaa- Il saddene
me 70 look a. him.
y must e. now" said be. Il hop
you'll enjoy the oranges
J was niepding last aud expected