The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-10

nary Woru leL he sdiu W lne sluce lne AlSnt
he come.
"Ner me-"
"Ner me-"
Then a speculative silence fell on the
smoke-enveloped group around the stove.
Like ez not" continued tine old man be-
tween his puffs, were a-harborln' run
away criminal from the East, or boss
thief"
He don't look 'zactly like a criminal"
spoke out a prominent citizen, known as
Fizletop. I'VE didn't s'picon nothin' when
he drove up in that big wagon O. his'n and
asked if there was cabin lie could rent"
That's jes' il" interrupted Dad with en-
phasis. "'Pearances is deceivin'. Would
q man shut hisself up alone indoors all day
il he wasn't sharp or sump'in? Would
man live three weeks in tn town without
minglin' with the boys or inwltin' 'em TO
his place. if he knew Their war'nt nothin'
agin himY
These unanswerable arguments had
hardly been unburdened when there came
gentle knock at the door, and, moment
later, the subject of the conversation stood
within the room.
He was man Of perhaps IS, tall and
slight, with skin of eliminate wilderness,
end deep-set eyes which reflected the quiet
earnestness of an unusually thoughtful and
sensitive mind. An intensely black, droop-
ing mustache seemed rather to assist in the
prevailing tone of sadness in his face.
With an easy self-posseSSion the new
conner removed his hat. an act evidently of
natural and unconscious courtesy, and, with
a slight inclination of the head, which
seemed to include all in the room, he greeted
the loungerS with lows poken good even
ing"
There was long, awkward pause. A
bright spot flashed into each of his pale
checks as his greeting passed unanswered,
but he still retained his thorough self-pos-
session. Replacing his hat with firm
motion and keeping his eyes uDtiinchlngly
on the crowd, he proceeded to explain
calmly what he wanted. His horse had
died the day before in the shed at the cabin.
Ii some one could be gotten to remove the
body he would be well paid for his trouble.
1t required a strong prejudice to 0ut-bal-
ance an offer of this kind, but popular feel
ing seemed TO be decidedly against the
stranger, and, in Saddletown, popular feel
ing was very likely to prevail.
Finally one of the men removed corn
cob pipe for a sufficient length of time to
dTawl out, with mock gravity:
Reckon you'll have ter git rid O. the boss
meat yerself, mister, None o the boys
seem to cotton to the job
This speech was hailed with round Of
outlaws from the Saddletown citizens. and,
before these had died away, the stranger,
with a slight bow, had disappeared as
quietly as he had come.
Perhaps it was the laugh that had so mol
living an effect on tue assemblage. Per-
haps it was the eYer-incTeasing tobacco
that as it may, there certainly was a reac-
ton in favor Of the Stranger after his de-
parture.
The Western miner of dozen years ago
was a curious mixture of good and evil,
swayed by the slightest of impulses, and,
perhaps, only this can account for the flood
Of good feeling which rolled into Dad
Tangle's little shop as the evening pro-
crossed. FiZzletOp declared, with more
good humor than respect, that 1.-THE old
bone-bag seemed gamy," and even Dad
himself allowed that me mightn't be so
bad arter all" This was the state affairs
had reached when one Of the boys sug-
gested, with a laugh, that they should 20
over and cart the old boss away before
morning"
The idea had been offered as joke, and
yet fifteen minutes later the crowd was
struggling through the moonlight toward
the Strangers cabin.
1t was decided that Fizzletop's team
should he used, as his shanty was nearest
that of the Strangers, and the boys had
almost reached the old shed, when suddenly
there was quick exclamation from FiZZle-
top, clatter of horses hoofs, the sharp
crack, crack, OF derrlnger, and, in an
other moment, some of the party were
chasing a riderless horse, while the others
bent over motionless figure in the road.
The figure was that of the Stranger. The
horse was FiZzletop's.
The change from good humor to indigna-
tion was extreme. Even before the uncon-
seious man was pronounced still alive, sew
eral were making toward the shed in search
Of rope. The report Of FiZzletop's pistol
had quickly attracted number of speeta-
tors, and to these Dad Tangle was eXpound-
Ing on the keenneSS of his perception of
character, and his ability in particular to
0etpPt a hOrsP-thipf at first cOuint -
Strange to say, FiZzletop seemed to take
the affair more calmly than the others.
"Give the man a chance" he said, as the
rope was brought up, ready noosed. she
can't escape. Let's carry him over to his
cabin aud give him trial."
After good deal of grumbling at putin
the thing of" this was finally agreed to-
but Dan insisted on taking the rope along
SO that it would be on hand when wanted
1t was only few steps to the Strangers
cabin. and when Fizzletop's horse had been
returned TO the shop, there the still uncon-
sclous man was borne.
After forcing open the door and deposit
ing the limp Inquire in the already lighted
room, the men proceeded to examine care
fully the Interior, and many were the ex-
pressi0ns OF surprise at the shelves of books
the great lamp aud the general air of neat
ness. But the supreme sense of Saddletowr
justice was not to be shaken by mere senti.
mentality.
Dan Iangle had just delivered himself Of
the opinion that as the Stranger had beer
seen making off with the horse no trial wa:
needed, when one Of the men suddenly in
teTrupted him with:
"Hellol what's this?"
In moment the crowd was clustered
spellbound around the speaker.
On peg hung tiny frock, while be-
meath rested pair of tiny shoes.
The rough, hard faces were studies, In
their varied expressions.
Ii was Fizzletop who broke the smell
without word he stepped quickly to the
bedside and pushed aside the curtain. Or
the pillow lay a flushed little face, amid I
tangle of golden curls.
Que or two Of the miners turned away
with heads bent forward on their breasts
FizZletop's hand trembled strangely as b,
held aside the curtain, and old Dad TangI'
essayed to speak, and got as far as ",Well
III be - when something seemed Il
choke him, and after swallowing suspi
ciously two or three times, he made his way
uncertainty outdoors.
The light on the tiny face awakened til,
little sleeper, and the blue eyes opened
wonderingly.
Where is paDa?"
Several more of the group, with silen
and unsteady steps, passed out through tn,
open doorway.
He's a-a-asleep now" Fizzletop an
e"SAouf huShil9, anu the curtain dropped II
conceal the motiOnless figure on the floor.
lie said he was going to bring docto
lot me-, said the childish voice.
FiZzletop started.
"A doctor here in town." he asked will
quick earnestness
oh, no." answered the little one simply
The people in town wouldn't help u.s."
but have You no nanny, deary?"
Mamma is dead" said the child, grayely
Without another word Fizzletop turned
With one bound he placed his ear to tn
figure on the floor.
"Of with his coat boys" he whispered
hohrsely, as he dashed through the door
way, and moment later there was clatte
OF flying boots.
So the little flushed face had a docto
alter all, and the doctor had two patient
instead Of one
They'll both be all right in few days,
ne SAID TO tile circle Of anxious faces as b
rode away. II knew the man over il
Frisco. He's heart-broken and despondep
over the loss of his wife, but he's a first
rate fellow"
1t would be untrue to say that in afte
days the tall, slight figure was the mos
popular one in town; for the most popuIa
was not man at all Int thap na,f -,