Telegram-herald., 1891-02-20
JIM AND DOLLY.
A Sketch rrom Life On ths West
err Prairle5-

cFn PFaLlo5-
Dolly and be were friends. How or
why the friendship was struck up Is
unknOwa But this much Ia certain.
that the drst advances must have come
from Dolly herself For a friendship
OF any kind. much less friendship with
a chubby, dimplei little maiden was not
much tn Jim's line.
There was nothing attractive about
Jim-qpite the reverse. \ great hulk
ing fellow, with a sullen face and evil
eyes. who. young a. he was, had dipped
more freely into hfe's book than is well
for any man 10 dip. And jim had no.
come out Of the ordeal uasoiled. lt was
a rough place. that little. Western min
ing camp In which he worked-a rough
place. full OF rouyh men, with whom,
moreover, he was no favcrite.
II calclate." said Judge Remis, who
was taking his case outside after hard
DAYS work. and blowing in a gentle.
meditative sort OF way the curling
smoke from his pipe-''I calc'latc that
a more Thoroughbred young scoundrel
than that Jim don't walk the earth
.darned il he do!'
This sentiment, as fully embodying
the views of the camp, was received
with mods OF assent. And yet" said
the Judge, taking the pipe from his
mouth, the better TO enforce the re-
mark. Dolly there seems sort O. struck
with him"
That's So" said Big Ben, thought
fully.
The camp uttered growl or two OF
protest. What. did Dolly see in him?
was what the camp wanted 10 know
q question more easily asked than an
swered
Pretty baby Dollyl with her dimpled
face and brown eyes-darling baby Dol
lyl the God given bit of childhood which
was blossoming in the midst Of that
band OF wild. hard-living, hard-drink-
ing fellows. not one of whom at his
widest and worst wonld have done
aught to harm her.
.'Jes: look At EN-" said the Judge.
raising himself up on his elbow from
the soft grass
The men followed his gaze: cnd about
twenty yards away, appearing over the
prairie ridge, they saw the two; Dolly
seated on Jim's beautiful horse, Red
Mustang. one Of Jim's strong arms
thrown protecingly Ground her; the
other carrying her basket of berries,
full TO an extent That showed that
Dolly's chubby, little hands had never
gathered them alone.
Dolly herself was regarding the lus-
ciors fruit adIniringly. 'Daddyn yike
EN-. Din. won't hep they heard her re-
mark.
"ycll,' said jim, savrgely. "secin' as
IL ;S daddy. I've no doubt he will Dad
dy's ready for most all he can get"
There was sufficient amount OF truth
In the statement 20 cause a srnotheret
laugh ot amusement amongst the listen
ers. in which daddy. otherwise the
Judge. gOod-hunoredly joined
Dolly did not laugh: instead her
brown eyes grew troubled. Jim's re-
mark had savorcd of disloyalty TO
dsddy and loyalty to daddy was part OF
Dolly's simple creed. Suddenly she
Frightened 80 am l." she announced.
care yer, noyv2" asked Jim.
'Iss." said Dolly. Aren't you7"
Jim did not reply. Catching sight of
the spectators, he lifted Dolly and the
berries roughly 70 The ground. and went
on his way Ia bis customary moody
silence.
Dolly, apparently quite used TO such
rtreatment from her strange friend,
picked up her basket and trotted con-
iteutedly "a her fathers side.
"whc've you been with. Dolly?" said
big Ben. catching her up Ia his arms
and tossing her 20 the sky.
Dim said Dolly from Ben's shoul.
der.
The men laughed
well. svs surprised said Big Ben,
loftilv-s's little gsll like You talxin
up with such as him. / wonder a you.
Dolly"
For answer. Dolly buried her hands
n Big Ben's curls. laughing gleefuilv.
whersupon glorious game of romps
en<ued
However. Il so happened that Jim
was 90 give = practical answer e
polly's question a. 80 whether he wss
ready for all he could get. By commit.
ting n theta daring theft and By nc
means bis first, although for the FIRST
time discovered.
Caught red-hande6.- said Biz Ben.
his hand tightening ou,iuoasly on bis
heavy ssock-vhip.
The camp was soon ablsza with the
news. and from everv side there fnrlxes1
sur-v. nerce-evef men. Ihey nsa6e
abort work of such sinners in these
dsvs A few yarss of rope and the
nearest tree used - settle the business
ef1ectusllv. A man might gamble or
swear OF use his pistol as freely ss he
ri.as-s. bit "a such . community theft
~as necr<sar;iy the unparsiousbaecrineL
~To the right sbout" said Rig Ben.
sA-rnly.
lin, srS,~led st him He dia nos ask
f~r mercy. knowing rat it would be
usrls<s. he would have been ne last
q. efr>r IL IN ~-zh casr hirs~it ----