Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-03-11
n aaief.r

less, defiant ones, q something else flashed
into them, and then and there he uttered
. downright lie: Don't you believe 'em, :
Dolly; Amt nothing of the sort" And, 1
half involuntarily, he threw o wistful /
glance ut Big Ben.
Spite Of his ronghness Big Ben must
have had a soft spot somewhere, for,
bending down to Dolly, he said gently:
"There, You see. Dolly, l must have
been mistook. This ere fellow. instead
of being a thief, is n wirtuous youth, an
innicent angel, in fact. Now run away"
So Dolly departed satisfied.
After she left silence and hesitation
fell upon the men. The little scene had
touched them. After a whispered con-
sultation the judge, stepping forward,
cut the cord round Jim's wrist, saying
CURLY. Here, You young scoundrel, |
well let you off this time. But clear
out of this; we don't want no thieves |
here"
Without word Jim turned on his |
heel. Some men would have left the
place at once. Jim was made of differ
ent stuff. Expelled from the camp he
built himself cabin ON the outskirts,
not trying to live the disgrace down, but
enduring it with the logged obstinacy
which was part Of his nature. The
miners. even Big Ben, ignored him com.
pletely; for Ben, for all that instant OF
softness, hal certain rugged fibers OF
pride about him which led him to treat
q thief with merciless Justice.
The effects of this severely letting
alone" system were not very apparent,
which was no doubt the reason Of its be-
ing carried ON 80 long II Jim had only
shown proper spirit Of penitence he
| would have been forgiven. But, except
| that he was trifle surlier. he went on
1 his way pretty much as before, even
4 Dolly being treated in public with savage
a silence. But as she WAS not alienated
q there Ia reason to suppose that he meuded
i his manners when they were alone to-
|, gether. For together they still were at
times; and although muttered protests
10 went up from the camp on such occa-
a sions not man but had manliness enough
q to refrain from making Dolly part ol
"a Jim's punishment. So she and dim
re and Red Mustang had many n fin,
IN scamper together over the prairie.
NJ But there came "A time when Jim anC
Red Mustang between them were to d.
,g q fine work. time when n sudden dan
IN ger doomed out, and Jim rose to IL hk
he the brave man that he was-when will
n clenched teeth he subdued the demon
Nv within him. and proved that on occasion
he was ready. not for all he could get
NJ but to give mp all that he had For
savage "whoop" rang out one night o
NJ the unsuspecting camp. Men knew whs
m7 il was. and sprang 10 their feet with
a snarl of rage. Rifle in hand they rushe
m out.
"Injin," said the judge, coolly loadin
Isd his rife, and in the moonlight gleame
NV the dusky painted figures. There wa
,od little love lost between Injun and whit
~ man. The .'man-and-a- brother" theor
ard had not been propounded on either sid
al IL was war 10 the knife on both. "Stead,
me boys. steady" said the judge, 10 who
such scenes were by no means new
ga Ready thereg Now-at EN-
IN. And Fat EN-" IL was. Down swuI
the muskets. out flashed the shot, M
ont with look that was not good to 8
the upon their faces tine boys began the
,llv work-sharp work-butchery. The "a
2ed ages swarIned into the camp only to
rms cut down. Ii was soon over. But the
tbe dams had fought bravely, and, old, tri
full hand as he was. an uneasy light h
Tvs leaped to the judges eye. lit was
,raa close shave" he muttered, wiping I
great drops of sweat from his brow as
.ci. watched the fleeing band "a Gle
riks shave. A little more, and 7
"a. pause was suggestive.
The day was already breaking VIII
, "a the judge turned in home. Hope I
,ad. little lass hasn't been scared
thought; and, involuntarily, que'
nth tender CLEAN passed over the wealth
80 beaten face as he thought of his "ht
,ar. Lass"
a. "Dollyr' he said. opening the cal
door. There was no answer. "Don,
ovvr and then again little quicker. doll.
"a Again that night the men were arous
- by a cry-an awful cry, wrung from
nj. strong man in pain; aud when they hl
IA, RED forward it was to find the jud
with the fashion of his face all change
pointing to the empty cabin, on VIII,
floor shone the CLEAN OF a tomahay
=. ., That and the confusion OF the place Il
az its tale all too plainiy-Dolly had bt
cent carried off by the Indians
!, y; And not a man among them but shi
dered, for Indian revenge is very h
.,,.n rible thing at its best. aud the pitt
80 helplessness of IA little child would hs
4. - no weight with Blackfoot warrior
the warpath. especially If the chill
la t,eople had defeated his own.
"a In the dazed silence Jim stepped {
ward-Jim. with his shoulders W
L. squared and a resolute look ON his ia
lie eyed the group rather scornful
Dan .Going TO stop here all day. he ask
~ "Bein' a. thus is just the right time
give your horses rest. I'm OFT A
'O-' 80 he was, he and Red Mustang togeth
i. a, racing over the plain. But not Def
n,lv he had seized the judges hand in tie
ms grip. saying. with totally unexpec
catch In his voice. "Jedge, IL | can
bring her back" Not much, but
- meant great deal.
= al Thoroughly reused, the rest follow
a., ais example-not one hung back
a. that fleet horses and brave hearts col
a do would be done for the little one.
Ben, USED 70 thinA fseu ." viz -'
] his horse in the world. and never wonde
at Jim's pride in her. A beautiful CT
the ure she was. indeed, and what was N