The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-09-05

her God directed hers And then she
kissed him ard went up into her own
room.
The Pilgrim walked odt into the bsf
room. There was an unpleasant odof
of bad tubaccb, and the big iron and
clay stove in the corner was fairly
abiaze. Notwithstanding this the men
were fairly cfowding each other to get
a little nearer the fire. On the opposite
side of the room a game of faro was
going on. Old Briggs was dealing, but
judging from his face the cards were
not running as they should-that is not
from Briggs standpoint The Pilgrim
spoke to several of the men, and then,
going over to the card.table. being
careful TO attract the attention of
the dealer, put a dollar on the high card
lost it, and then turned and walked
out. On the porch he lighted a cigar,
and waited until he should see the en-
CINE as il turned the curve some two
miles above.
1t was half an hour after train time
~ III SO" nv hCddllShL Nv JuiAPCu
quickly to his feet, ran across the road
and waited a short distance above the
station where he knew he could not be
seen.
Alone in her room, the girl had passed
through the great struggle of her life;
but as the time wore on the struggle
became less, and when, finally, she
bo,rd <ho shr;Il ,,h;,tl, ~ tbo o..;,o
in the distance, she hurriedly picked up
the satchel containing all she was Il
take with her and stole ~stealthiiy down.
stairs.
The noise had been SO great all that
night in the house, hat had not the
door leading into the barroom been
standing open at the time she would
probably never have known of the
great unpleasantness that took place
that night between the host and the
guests of the Last CHARGE" But as
she reached the lower hallway the
voices inside were raised to such a
pitch hat she stopped for a moment to
glance in at the open doorway. For
n brought up in and about a western
barroom the scene needed n explana.
ton. On the side of the room opposite
the door she saw a great crowd of half
drunken, angry, cursing miners and
cowboys. Some of them had picked up
pieces of furniture and bottles, and
against their dark clothes she saw that
some of them held knives and revolvers.
In the center of the room was an up
turned faro table with the cards and
chips scattered on the sandy floor.
Within a few feet of her and grad
ually backing toward the wall was old
Briggs. In one hand he clasped a roll
of bank notes with some gold coin,
with the other he was trying to pull 4
revolver from his brooches pocket.
The girl walked quickly toher fathers
side and, putting her arm about him.
she took his empty hand in hers And
thus for a few moments the old man
and the girl stood facing the ugly,
angry, muttering crowd of gamblers.
The silence was first broken by the
girl. whats the matter, dad?' she
said, very quietly.
The old man gazed at her wildly.
mumbled something to himself and
drew her back against the wall.
Its no place for you. Bess," began
one of the crowd. Your dads been
cheating; we've got him dead to rights
this time and we're goin' to do for him,
sure"
Now, dad" she said, speak up,
speak up"
But the old man stared at her va
and went on blinking his pink.
eyes and shrank further out of
her embrace. The girl hesitated for a
moment, and then with a sudden move
snatched the money from the old
hand, and running to the door
threw it far into the road. In a mo.
the room was empty and the men
were fighting like so many hungry
in the dusty road.
As the last man crossed the threshold
old Briggs reused himself suddenly,
and rushing to where his girl stood
both the doors, and locking |
them put the keys in his pocket. Then
staggered to the bar and began to
pour out a turnblerful of whisky. The
girl started to go to him to stop
him, but before she had half crossed
the floor the slow tolling of a
bell and then a sharp, shrill whistle
in her ears. With a cry she ran
to the door, but it was locked. She
tried to force it open, but her poor
strength was of little use. With a
bound she was at the old mans side.
Give me the key she shrieked;
don't you understand, the KEY" But
the old man only stared at her vacant
and showed his hands deep in the
where he had put the keys as if
in fear she would tear them away from
him.
What would you do with the key?"
ne said. LET them in again to shoot
ne? For Heavens sake, girl, you're
The only one that'l stand by mt. Don't
you leave me for Gods sake, don't
cave met"
The girl YEARLY arose from the side
If the old man and walked slowly to
he window. She saw the red lights of
he train as they slowly wound their
way over the prairie, and then made a
ong curve and finally disappeared be-
lind the mountain and were lost for
,ver. mo, dad" she said, I'm not
.oing to leave you."-Charles B. Davis.
n n. Y. Independent