The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-20
chambers journal. ]


Dolly and he were friends. How or
why the friendship was first struck up
Ia 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 q
chubby, dimpled little maiden, was not
much in Jim's 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 hfe's book than is well
for any man to dip. And Jim had not
come out of the ordeal unsoiled, 1t was
o 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.
81 calc'late,"" said Judge Remis, who
was taking his ease outside after hard
days work and blowing in a gentle,
meditative sort Of way thecurling smoke
from his pipe, 81 calc'late 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
mods of assent. "And yet," said the
judge, taking the pipe from his mouth,
the better to enforce the remark, dolly
there seems sort o. struck with him."
"Thats 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
question more easily asked than an
gwered.
Pretty baby Dollyl with her dimpled
face and brown eyes = darling baby
Doilyi 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
f
seated on Jim's beautiful horse, Red
Mustang, one of Jim's strong arms
thrown protectingiy 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 admiringly. "Daddy'H yike
'em, 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 a sufficient amount of truth
in the statement to cause 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
savored of disloyalty to Daddy, and 10y
atty to Daddy was part of Dolly's simple
creed. Suddenly she frightened. "Sc
am l." she announced.
"Are yer, now?" asked Jim.
"Iss," said Dolly. Aren't your"
Jim made no reply. Catching sight OF
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 such
treatment from her strange friend, picked
up her basket and trotted contentedly to
her fathers side,
"Who'ye you been with, DollyT said
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 gen like you taking VI
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 of romp'
ensued.
However, it so happened that Jim was
to give apractical answer to Dolly's ques
ton as to whether he was ready for al
he could get by committing theft
daring theft, and by no means his first
although for the first time discovered.
Caught red handed" said Big Ben
his hand tightening onrinously on his
heavy stock whip.
The camp was soon ablaze with ths
news, and from every side there hoclzet
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
his nistol as freely as he nleasAd but i
such community theft was necessaril
the objectionable crime.
'sro the right aboutr' said Big BeI
sternly.
Jim scowled at him. He did not as
for mercy, knowing that it would b
useless. He would have been the last tc
offer itin such case himself.
Suddenly attracted by the tumult ap.
peared Dolly, looking out at the world
fnom her great sun bonnet.
Kun away" said the judge sharply;
Tins ere amt no place for little CELLS. u
Dolly was an obedient little soul, and
tnran ordinary case would have obeyed.
But baby as she was, something of the
Significance of the scene came hometr
her; jim standing alone amid, that rine
Of cruel faces.
She gazed pitifully at him.
go away, Dolly" said Big Ben
"you'ye nothing to do with him. Hei
thief"
Dolly's eyes sought Jim.s for a denial
AS he met them with his own reck
less, defiant ones, a something elsefashe,
into them, and then and there he uttere,
q downright lie: Don't you believe 'em
Dolly; amt nothing OF thesort" And
half involnntarily, he threw wistfu
glance at Big BEN
Suite of his roughness Big Ben mus
have had soft spot somewhere, fol
bending down to Dolly, he said gently
ssThere, you see, Dolly, ! must haS
been mistook. This ere fellow mstea
Of being tkief, is wirtuous youth a
innocent angel, in fact. Now run away
So Dolly departed satisfied.
After she left silence and hesItatlol
fell upon the men. The little scene ha'
touched them. After a whispered con
suasation the judge, stepping forward
cut the cord round Jim's wrist, saying
CURLY, Here, You young scoundrel
Wen let you off this time. But cleal
out OF this; we don't want no thieves
here"
uIshout a word Jim turned ON his