The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1894-12-01

where's your huSDand!
"Gone for water" she said, casting
a terrified glance over her shoulder
In he direction Of the Belknap creek.
Without another word Dick swung
the woman up in front of him and DASH
ed away out of the path OF the stam-
pede. Providence and q good horse
saved him and his burden. When the
crowd at the station heard of him and
his exploit next day Uncle Henry Har-
ris, the wooden-legged local preacher
and ferryman. exclaimed:
We'll, Dick, that's three you've re-
pented for
Yes" said Dick, ut is, countin' the
kid. They was men that l killed,
though. an I don't know as I ought to
count kids in place of EN-"
"Oh," replied the old man, chats one
of EN- that the Bible says. "Of such
is the kingdom of heaven"
"f you count that way the kid would
be worth more than the whole drafted
layout. That wouldn't be fair, though,
an l hold a man out to count fair
when he repents. if he ever does. If
the Good Man will count the kid for
it'll be all I'll ask"
The mex summer a Mexican wagon
train passed through the country. and
two of the teamsters showed well de-
veloped signs of smallpox. The rest
of the train left these two to die on
the prairie and pushed hurriedly on out
of the way. When the cowboys heard
Of it they were highly cnraged and de-
termined hat the best thing to do
was to shoot the sick men down like
dogs and so avoid the danger Of the
plague.
You'd better kill EN- at long range.
then" remarked Blue Dick. 81 guess
the Good Man would count greasers
If he'd count kids, and I think I'll
tackle these two"
File was as good as his word. He
remote from human h%abitation. and
waited on them as If they were his own
children. All through the long hot
days he cared for their wants. and oft
en- at night he stood guard over them
with his Winchester. No one disturbed
them. BY fall they were well and able
to so their way. Blue Dick was as we'll
as ever, but it was not until several
months later that he ventured back to
Red River station.
THAT makes five. boys" he announc-
ed, 'countin' the kid and the two greas.
ers. I've only got one more to repent
for"
"What'n you do then?" asked some
one.
well, I sorter like the business and
I think I'll keep my hand in. I'll try
to get a few ahead, SOS that if I have
to kill anybody else it'll be sorter made
up for in advance"
Failed With His Sixth.
The next week there was a fight
between two squads of men on the
sandbar in the river in fro 1t of the
town. Such fights were nothing I'M
common, but this Il was a little worse
than usual. One of the combatants
ventured farther toward the opposite
line than usual and was shot off his
horse. This was Blue Dicks opportu-
nifty. Putting spurs to his pony he
dashed between the lines across the.
sandbar toward where the wounded
man lay. He reached the place, but
the fellow, misunderstanding his inten-
tons, drew his S~iX-shooter and shot
his would-be rescuer through the body.
Blue Dick fell from his pony, but held
the bride reins still in his hand.
III bet I do saw you yet, d-n you"
he growled through his clenched teeth
Take these reins and climb up on
tnHt pony ana git.
The man attempted to obey. He
succeeded in clambering on the pony's
back, but a Winchester ball brought:
him to the sand again, dead this time.
After the fight was over the boys
brought Blue Dick to the little hotel
and made him as comfortable as posi-
bic, though all could see that the end
was near.
1T looks like n plagued shame that
| couldn't save him, after I tried so
hard. That would have made six. and
the thing would have been square"
The rough cowboys stood around in
aW estruck silence.
'DOgged if | don't hate to die while
I lack one of the six" remarked the
dying man. after a long silence.
Say" calculated n of the toughest
men in the room. 1T don't come much
in my line of business, Dick, but we've
ali heard the preachers tell about the
Good Man that died himself for just
such poor cusSes as we are. Maybe
you might count Him for one"
A light came into Blue Dicks eyes,
though he was evidently rapidly grow
ing weaker.
Il hadn't thought Of Him." he gasp
ed, IAN l don't know how it would
be. If I can't figger it out some such
way as that, though, I'm afraid I'm a
goner. l gueSs-anyway-Ill have to-
risk it."
Five seconds later he was dead.