The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-05-17

could DO no more than hold a Gun of
water to his lips now and then.
When night began to fall she made
up bundle of TOMS clothes. They
were OLD. but Of more value than her
shawl. If he died she would not r..
deem them; if he got we'll Well.
she had said that the Lord sometimes
raised up u fried for the poor and dis
tresSed.
'Humph. -Four o'clock D. m, and
New Years Day, and you not out of
bed YETI"
III was ayoung man Of y, who had
gone to bed at , O'clock that morn
ing. His face was pinched and pale,
his eyes hollow and bloOdshot. and
one LOOKING at him might have taken
hin for an old man.
"Made a foo Of Yourself again last
night, didn't your" he growled, talk
ing to himself as he lay looking
around. 'Old man, do you know
that I'm about ready to cut your ac-
quaintancc? A Young man of decent
family-plenty of money, good pros
poets, and yet how are you using
yourself: Champagne, cards, dissi-
patton. Going right to the dogs on
the gallop. AT twenty-five you feel
like a man of fifty. Health, pros
poets and the whole outfit going to
the devil. and what are you getting
in exchange? You are the son of
your father and a high roller-that's
all. When YOU come to figure it
down you are a champion fool-noth-
ing else"
He lazily turned over. sat up on the
side of the bed and continued:
"Head as big as a house, and your
stomach full of vitr.ol. Nice chap
you are. A decent mule ought to be
ashamed to kick you. No sand-no
en~ergy-hardly strength enough to
get into your clothes and wash up.
You and I are going to have a talk
after a bit. Had no idea where the
boys tucked me away this morning,
but l guess this is a hotel, and I'll
order a bite to eat"
Half an hour later the high roller
sat down TO his cigar, and as he
smoked he said:
What l want to know is how
much longer you are going to con-
tinue this sort Of business. You've
had six or seven years of it. and it
seems to me that you ought to be
through. When a young man gets
to that point where he realizes that
he is an ass. he's ready for a change.
Suppose we swear Off: Suppose we
surprise the old folks by dropping
this h%igh-rOller business and living a
halfway decent life. Champagne,
cards, songs, cigars. and all that last
bum. That reminds me. seems to
me 1 had Il streak OF luck. Let's
see"
He had money in every pocket
twOS, tiyes, and tens. The bills
were crumpled and rolled, but he
smoOthed them out on his knee and
counted them over and said:
"A fool for luck. Here's an even
$500. and | must have had luck, Just
about enough 20 pay for a wine sup
pei, and just about a hundIeth part
of what I've lost at cards. Well,
what are you going to do about the
other understanding Off: Strikes
YOU as about the correct thing, does
it? Ali right. Hold up your right
hand and repeat after me.
Il, James Forbush, being in my
right mind for the first time in sew
eral years, and fully realizing that l
am the biggest idiot in North Amer
lea. do hereby afiim and declare
that | am no longer Il high-rOller on
wheels. In other words, / pledge
myself to eschew cards, drink, and
other rapid transit matters, from and
after this first day of January, lS9-,
and if | break my word may l be de-
sp.sed by men and kicked by ami
mails"
That's all right, old man-all
right. May come hard, but you'll
wobble through. Now. as to the
money. You don't neec. it. At was
won at cards, and there's wine stains
on ever bill. In be ng a h%igh-r0ller
you've forgotten all about charity.
You've been ready to Tip a dollar to
the waiter who held your overcoat,
but never Il nickel to the beggar on
the street. Let's take Il walk"
x * x x x X
swell, what's the matter with
you?'
Don't arrest me, sir; I'll move
ARREST nothing. What's in the
bundle?"
'TOm'S suit, sir"
"And who's Tom"
"My boy, sir, and he's sick with
pneumonia, and Pm trying to sell his
clothes to get medicine"
s.Come off! l never heard OF such a
&:,tD