The Globe-republican., 1891-02-18
JIM AND DOLLY.
A Sketch from Life on the West
ern Prairies.

why the friendship was struck up Is
unknown. But this much is certain,
that the first advances must have come
from Dolly herself. For friendship
of any kind, much less friendship with
a chubby, dimpled little maiden was not
much in Jims line.
There was nothing attractive about
Jim-quite the reverse. A great hulk
ing fellow, with a sullen face and evil
eyes, who, young as he was, had dipped
more freely into life's book than is well
for any man to dip. And Jim had not
come out of the ordeal unsoiled. 1t was
a rough place, that little Western min
ing camp in which he worked-a rough
place, full of rough men. with whom,
moreover, he was no favorite.
Il calc'late," said Judge Remis, who
was taking his ease outside after hard
days work, and blowing in a gentle,
meditative sort of way the curling
smoke from his pipe-''I calc'late that
a more Thoroughbred young scoundrel
than that Jim don't walk the earth
darned if 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 to know
aquestion more easily asked than an
swered.
Pretty baby Dolly! with her dimpled
face and brown eyes-darling baby Dol
". 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 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 lus-
-cious fruit admiringly. ''Daddyll yike
'em. Dim, won't he?" they heard her re-
mark.
'Well"' 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 a sufficient amount of truth
in the statement to cause a smothcred
laugh of amusement amongst the listen
ers, in which daddy, otherwise the
judge, good-humoredly joined.
Dolly did not laugh: instead her
brown eyes grew troubled. Jim's re-
mark had savored of disloyalty to
daddy and loyalty to daddy was part of
Dolly's simple creed. Suddenly she
frightened. $50 am l." she announced.
Are yer, now?" asked Jim.
'.Iss," said Dolly. Aren't your
Jim did not reply. Catching sight If
the spectators. he lifted Dolly and the
berries roughly to the ground. and went |
on his way in his customary moody |
silence.
Dolly. apparently quite used to such
treatment from her strange friend, |
picked up her basket and trotted con-
tentedly to her fathers side.
''Who've you been with, Dolly?" said
Big Ben. catching her up in his arms
and tossing her to the sky.
..Dim," said Dolly from Ben's shout
der.
The men laughed.
''Well, l am surprised" said Big Ben,
loftily-"a little CELL like you taking
up with such as him. 1 wonder at you,
Dolly"
For answer, Dolly buried her hands
in Big Ben's curls, laughing gleefully.
Whereupon.a glorious game Ut romps
ensued.
However, 1t 50 happened that Jim
was to give = practical answer to