Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-10-07
yer their faces when "holding up, .

4 HtteuIOu 10 Inose storles, duu, sdNc lor
an impatient movement occasionally
when some other anecdote was told
he appeared not to notice what was be-
ing said. Once or twice he muttered
something about the folly of frighten-
ing an old woman to death without
cause, but these were his only remarks.
His solicitude for the old lady was
quite unnecessary. No idea of danger
seemed to disturb her placidity, and
when told of the most blood curdling
deeds perpetrated by the road agents,
she invariably expressed her feelings
by the pious wish that the Lord might
forgive such wicked men. On other
subjects, however, she was more talk
alive, and her well-beloved son was a
topic she never wearied of. AS the
stage was crawling up the lofty noun
tain side she told her fellow travellers
about her boy. He had been a little
wild in the far-away home in the
south she admitted, and when people
began to look at him askance he had
decided to 60 out west, where no mar
row prejudices would restrict him, and
make fortune for himself. For months
he had met Indifferent success. His
letters came more rarely and told of
disappointed hopes. Then they ceased
altogether. The lady told how
her agony grew to be almost
greater than she could bear. Then
came letter which changed every
hing. Her son had met a friend-the
best man, the old lady asserted, that
ever lived, and he had lent her boy a
helping hand and since then he had
Oeen successful and every month he
sent his old mother money, until she
lad been able to save enough to come
and take him by surprise. 1t was to thank
| his machless friend that the old lady had
come west, as well as to see her boy.
Then she told of the two mems meet
ing as it had been related to her in
letters from her boy. Her son had
been employed near Leadville in a
mine. He was discharged, and deter
mined to go prospecting through the
mountains by himself. His usual bad
Iuck followed him. His provisions
gave out, and then for days he wan
1ered about bruising his shoeless feet
against the sharp rocks of the noun
tains, and only kept alive by the few
berries he found in his way; finally he
Iay down to die-too weak to move
further and utterly hopeless of any
lelp reaching him. Gradually his
senses left him and he became uncon-
scious. When he came to himself the
face of a stranger was leaning over
him, hand was holding flask to his
swollen lips and friendly voice was
.elling him to drink. The letters
spoke of the stranger as jim, and it
was ON this Jim that the strongest
feelings of gratitude were lsvished by
.he mother miles away. He not only
saved her boys life but he cared for
| MIN when he got well, took him into
partnership and enabled him tc satisfy
| mis- ambitions. The old lady had
never even heard the mans last name,
but next to her boy she said she loved
Jim best of all the world and was anx-
Gus to get to Deadwood to tell him
20. When this good mother had fin
shed her story she found the eyes of
he gentlemsnly looking man fixed on
ner with an almost terrified expression.
When he saw, however, that he was
observed he restrained himself and
sank back into his corner in the same
Did listless attitude.
That night the stage with its four
passengers reached the very heart of
the mountains. But change had ap-
parently come over the travellers. For
The first time the old lady and the two
Iprospectors slept peacefully, and the
gentlemanly man in black gazed eager
y into the dark night from the window
at his side. Suddenly number of
figures sprang into the road, voice
commanding and stern ordered a halt,
and dozen pistols were pointed at
the driver and through the windows of
the stage. For moment the traveller
in black seemed surprised, then throw
ing the door open by which he sat, he
sprang into the road, and before a
shot could be fired at him his voice
rang out above every other sound
"Stop!" he cried, sits me! It's Cap
tain Jim !" For a moment he stood
by the side of the stage surveying the
masked men who, at the first sound of
his voice, had lowered their weapons.
His eyes finally rested on a figure
taller than the rest, standing near the
horses heads. In few peremptory
words he ordered the two prospectors
who had been his fellow travellers to
alight. When they had obeyed, Cap
tain Jim strode to the figure he had
singled out, and seizing him by the
arm dragged him to the stage door.
Then he tore the handkerchief from
his struggling companions face, lifted
him bodily into the stage, saying as he
did SO: "Damn you, Sid, get in there
and hug your old mother"
AS Captain Jim led his men and the
two prospectors away from the stage,
the lady's voice from inside followed
them, crying: "My boyl my boy
thank GodI"