The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-17
DOLLY.

Dolly and he were friends. How or
why the friendship was first struck up
Is unknown. But this much is certain.
that the first advances must have come
from Dolly herself, for a friendship of
any kind, much less a friendship with :.
chubby, dimpled little maiden, was MOI
much in Jims line.
There was nothing attractive about
Jim-quite the reverse. A great hulk
ing fellow, with sullen face and evil
eyes, who, young as he was, had dippel
more freely into life's book than is wei
for any man to dip. And Jim had not
come out of the ordeal unsoiled, 1t was
a rough place, that little western mining
camp in which he worked-a rough
place, full of rough men, with whom.
moreover, he was no favorite.
II calc'late.' said Judge Remis, who
was taking his ease outside after a hard
days work and blowing in gentle,
meditative sort of way the curling smoke
from his pipe, Il calclate that more
thorough paced young scoundrel than
that Jim don't wlak the earth-darned
if he do"
This sentiment, as fully embodying
the views of the camp, was received with
AOQS OF dSSSuI. -Allu y0L, Setlo bAC
judge, taking the pipe from his mouth
the better to enforce the remark, 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 to know-a
question more easily asked than an
swered.
Pretty baby Dollyi with her dimpled
face and brown eyes = darling baby
Dolly! the God given bit of childhood
which was blossoming in the midst of
that band of wild, hard living, hard
drinking fellows, not one of whom, at
his widest and worst, would have done
aught to harm her.
jest look at EN-" said the judge.
raising himself up on his elbow from the
soft grass.
The men followed his gaze. and 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 protectingly around 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 lusci
Gus fruit admiring1y. "Daddy'l yike
iem, Dim, won't hep they heard her re-
mark.
'.Wellr' said Jim savagely. ..seein' as
it is 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 to cause a smothered
laugh of amusement among the listeners.
in which Daddy, otherwise the judge,
good humoredly joined.
Dolly did not laugh; instead. her brown
eyes grew troubled. Jim's remark had
ssvored of disloyalty to Daddy, and 10y
atty to Daddy was part of Dolly's simple
creed. Suddenly she frightened. "So
am l." she announced.
''Are yer, now?' asked Jim.
''Iss," said Dolly. Aren't your"
Jim made no reply Catching sight ot
the spectators, he lifted Dolly and the
berries roughly to the ground, and went
ON his way in his customary moody 81
lence.
Dolly, apparently quite used to sucf
treatment from her strange friend, picked
mp her basket and trotted contentedly tt
her fathers side
"Who've you been with, DoIlyY' sait
Big Ben, catching her up in his arms ant
tossing her to the sky.
Dim" said Dolly from Ben's shoulder
The men laughed
"Well, am surprised" said Big Bel
loftily-''a little gell like you taking III
with such as him. I wonder at you
Dolly
For answer Dolly buried her hands il
Big Ben's curls, laughing gleefully
Whereupon a glorious game IF romp
ensued.
However, it SO happened that Jim wa
to give practical answer to Dolly's ques
ton as to whether he was ready for al
he could get by committing q theft
daring theft, and by no means his first
although for the first time discovered.
ssCanght red handed" said Big Ber
his hand Tightening ominousiy ON hi
heavy stock whip.
The camp was soon ablase with th
news, and from every side there hocke
angry, fierce eyed men. They mad
short work of such sinners in those days
A few yards Of rope and the nearest tire
used to settle the business effectually
A man might gamble or swear or us
mis- pistol as freely as he pleased, but i
such a community theft was necessaril
the unpardonable crime
seTo the right aboutr' said Big Ben
sternly.
Jim scowled at him. He did not as
sor mercy, knowing that u would b