The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-04-07
tho county they are getting scarce
along the main roads"


doorway, the gun across her lap. At
this exhibition Big Jim found out, for
the first time, that he was coward.
The uncanry sight of the old woman.
in this out-of-the-way, tomb-like
locality, and dallying with q cooked
gun, all united in q conspiracy
against his courage. Little sensa-
tions, like cold finger tips, began, to
play up and down his spinal column.
Then his lower jaw got loose and be-
gan to play against the upper one
rapidly and automatically. At last he
said:
'.Old lady, I fear your husband will
not be in any way soon. guess I'll
be goin'."
Il guess We won't stranger; not in
a hurry, nohow.
What do you want to keep me
here for?'
you'll find out when the old man
comes in. guess we has bin a-lookin'
for you long time"
"Lookin' for mep Why, my dear
old lady, you never even heard of me
before -
Il guess have. We've been longin'
ter see we, and now we'll look at you
for some time to GOMEZ
''Old lady," spoke Big Jim, now
terribly frightened, '.I'll give you $40
to let me 60"
"Not much" replied the old crone
with grin of beastly Joy.
Big Jim knew now, of course, that
the old woman intended to guard him
until the arrival of her husband, after
which he would be murdered and his
money taken.
Again, in despairing plea, he said:
'.I'll give you $50"
"Not much. You're with a heap
more than that to the people of this
kentry. No, sur, jist hush. We got
We in the trap, an dig an paw all ye
want to ye won't git out!''
But Jim now felt his time was up,
and he tried to remember a prayer
he had once learned when child.
He was fumbling over the debris of
memory in search of the prayer when
his ear was startled by chugging
footsteps at the rear of the house.
The old woman instantly got up and
stood, her old face twisted into a de-
formed smile. When the newcomer
(whom Big Jim rightly OWNED was
her old many came around near the
door, the old fiend cried in triumph:
1--we trapped him!''
"Oh, hush, honey! Has We, shores"
The old woman .'teetered'' her
chin up and down and replied:
"Uh hugh!"
Bully for ye, honey-yer shore2
Is he in thar?''
"Uh hughr'
Bully for We, honey!''
The old man now came in view.
Big Jim had found the prayer and
was mentally repeating it. He was
now reconciled to die, as he knew it
was impossible to longer live He
felt, too, that he ought to go home to
glory, as he had never stolen any
thing, never murdered man nor
failed to vote his party ticket straight.
He was indulging in these consoling
reflections when he was shaken up
with loud report from the old mans
mouth:
''Er wagh, haw, haw, haw, haw,
haw, haw! wy, how de do, Mr.
Lee? Wy, Mr.. Lee, how did you
ever get hur?" The old fellow bound
| ed into the house at one spring and
caught Big Jim by the hand with both
of his. The old fellow was delirious
with joy. Finally he quieted down
enough to talk, when he said:
''Mr. Lee, y must look over my old
woman's little impoliteness. The
fack is, Mr.. Lee, them ar burned
| United States marshals has been a
batterin' us so up hur that it's almost
impossible for us people to be able ter
make an honest livin' outen our stills.
But, thank the Lord, it's you. and
know you enjoy a few good slugs O.
moonshine as well as anybody. Ole
woman. this is Big Jim Lee, the bully
ole fellow l used to work for years
ago - Cincinnati Commentaries.
| zette.