The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-25

was afraid to face, but ne did not face Ais
now.
The wayfarer looked up ar him inauir-
Ingly. FOR many months there had been
the dull stare OF stupor, or the wild glegm
OF insanity recurrent in his eyes. Today
II Derrick had watched. ne would have
seen that they were intelligent, Inquiring.
alert as MS own; he would have seen that
the insanity had passed, for a time. at
least
The man still played with his fingers on
the violin strings, but he looked up and
spoke slowly and quite intelllgently
Il amt goin' 10 let up on lookin' for
ner, Derrick, old chap, for feel she's
Twin an maybe lookin' for me- An nv
runnln unto you ike this is q sort O. sign
10 me that I'm right. Fl l found you,
partner, why shou4dn' ind herr"
Derrick pulled a meerschaum from his
coat and lighted il, without answering,
His hand trem bled as he struck the match.
Never once did he look in the mans face.
We been OF my chump, | know. for
God knows how long" said the man. Il
don't remember everything that happened.
out remember her and our camp on the
creek, an the little bit OF land. was a
drunken tool. an didn't know then how
fond | was Of her. l remember going into
hlowa for the grub ana things. an leavin'
you an her and the lad 10 keep things
agoln'. l mind all that. but | remember
nothin' after. 'cept drinkin' an buckin'
monte, and shootin', an I got hit
IN the head. When l came to-
don't know how many weeks, orrnonths. or
years 1t was after, went back, an she
was gone, an you was gone, an the little
ranch was claimed by stranger. don't
remember much after that, savin' walkin'.
walkin', walkin'. God knows where, an
lOokin' for her. Sometimes | worked on a
ranch-sonetimes played the violin for a
square meal. | guess | was always of nav
base, Tor there's big blanks, an often I
didn't know, an l couldn't tell how [ got
TO place"
Derrick listened silently. It was the
first time the man had talked to him al all
OF his past wanderings. He made no re-
Spouse.
The man took his hand and pressed it
simply and warmly.
''lt's like old times to be near vo1 AGAIN
old man." he continued. at minds me
OF the fun and the tears and the work
we've had together-it wasn't too much
work, en- ~ he said with a chuckle But
II was boss times, an we'd a trusted each
other, old man, wouldn't We, with ali the
stakes?"
Derrick shivered little, but said nothing.
But there was only two things l loved,
ever, IN ell my life, partner" continued
the man. This (he touched the violin)
and her. In all my trampin' this has been
with me, talkin' 10 me about Katie telIin'
me about her-that's when it plays sweet.
Then, when | give up hope an feel I'll
never find her, ! tell the violin les how |
feel, an then it speaks back an sings
despalrln' like. a CHAP IN Kansas City
wanted me 10 play in the orchestra. said
| would, but if you'll believe it, partner.
the fiddle wouldn' sing-wouldn' speak a
word. Out on the prairies, where Katie
was at home, it can talk; not song will
she sing in the gaslighr."
He touched the strings gently, bringing
out tender, pathetic note, as the violin
responded to mis- thought. Suddenly he
rose up and came before Derrick, placing
hands on both shoulders. Derrick bent
his head and looked at the ground.
Dye know what l done?" the man
asked. II was clear bit in nv mind las
month, same's feel today. I felt fit 10
do something, pard. l remembered things
as do today. l got
that kid of yours-good boy he is-to
write to old Nobby Jones, who kept the
hog ranch on the Big Bend, dye mind ?"
.1ou-you wrote TO Nobby Jones?"
Derrick spoke in broken whisper, and
for the first time he looked the man in the
face.
He'll knowl He'll tell me where she
went to. Old man, will you help me go to
her?"
Derrick rose to his feet slowly. His face
was pale, and his teeth set.
"Nobby-Nobby Jones was always a
damned liar" he cried, and sprang from
the room.
The card players were still grouped to-
gether as he came back among them, but
lying hstlessly around. Derrick Joined
them, almost unnoticed, his meerschaum
gripped closely between his teeth, his face
twisted out OF shape And into that unhu-
man contortlon which is the effect of
4 J
together.
Suddenly merry laugh sounded behind
him, and, as the ranchman turned, Her.
mann jumped into his arms.
I'm late, amt [ ?" the boy cried, but
the fellows in town took such blamed
time fixing things"
Did you get everything you needed for
school?''
Yes; Say, fellows, what do you think
of me?"
He was dressed in new clothes, and took
child's delight in showing off his unac-
customed grandeur.
The men gathered round and formed
ring.
lis them your best, kid?" Big Jim said,
reprovingly. They wont last long at
college, ef you ride thirty miles at.
jump like you done today"
What do you take me for?" the lad an
swered. No; | changed clothes in the
black jacks, an my old ones are across the
creek. l wanted TO surprise you"
Derrick and ki and the rest solemnly re-
viewed the boys appearance. They had
sent MIN 10 the town TO TT himself for
suitable clothing for his entrance into city
and college life. To them there was moth
ing lud,CrOus in the serious and critical
examination they gave mis- coat, MS
pants, MS boots, even his neckue. he
was in measure their charge. He was
70 ~ al A. vY1l-;
and they had all insisted on helping 10 get
the outnt OF this child of the ranch. Be-
yond and shut out from the claims of more
reHned society themselves. there was an
element OF pathos in their earnest solicit
tude concerning the boys proper entrance
into the schools.
y guess he'll do?" said Derrick, inter-
negatively, looking at the others.
Looks regular dude" Il said.
Amt they jes' a little uncomfortable ?''
Big jim. whose garments were always of
the loOsesr, asked.
What We want?" HI growIed. indig-
nantly. store clothes is allus oucomfort-
able"
AN Josh. the old bum, came after me,
as I was leav!n' town" the boy said
eagerly, and gave me those books. He
sad he was a college man himself, an they
might prove useful
The deuce he did" Derrick cried. IF
the old tank can be filled. III MI him.
mex time I'm in town. Let's see the
books.
The books were handed round. and the
man who had sung TO them. being himself
OF education, was solicited Tor an opinion.
IAN here, Derrick" sad Hermann,
rather timidly, are the bills"
Derrick glanced lightly al them. The
bills, as all Western bills must be, were
stiff ones, but eaca man, as ne looked az
! 4 - -