The Portland daily press., 1894-08-20


come stuff for you. I'll fix you up with a
dose, and then you won t want anythin I'LL
the mornin. It's IL o'clock now"
AS he spoke he poured some medicine
into an old cracked tea cup and held it to
the sick youth s lips. One arm stole gently
round the boy, he was little more than
boy, who, with CLEAN of mischief in his
great eyes, put up thin white hand to tho
bronzed cheeks above him and gave them
a caressing rub.
Jake was manifestly discomposed by
this poetical exhibition of tenderness.
"Quit yer foolin,' he said huskily, land
drink this yere mixture. It'll keep yer
quiet till mornin. -
The boy drank with difficulty. "Yes,
Jake, reckon it'll keep me quiet till
mornin That's about the time the river
leaves off calm"
Jake affected not to hear this pessimis-
tic remark, but talked on in wandering
fashion until the boys fair head fell back
upon his arm. Then he covered him up
carefully, yelled the light of the lamp with
an old towel and drew revolver from the
shelf
The wind, as it blew beneath the rude
door of pine Slabs rustled the papers about
the floor. Jake picked them up, bent over
the boy to make sure that the opiate had
done it's work and crept cautiously into
the darkness.
A low whinny of delight greeted him
as he entered the narrow shanty which
served for a stable. Without striking
light he saddled his brown mare, led her
into the trail and mounted.
Now, old lady, he said, ''you bet you
have got TO hustle"
The mare whinnied again and broke
into long, swinging gallop
AS she sped on through the darkness
Jake sat squarely back in the saddle, the
reins hanging loosely, and only stirring
when splash of water from the mares
flying hoofs wetted his cheeks.
After an hours hard galloping his prac-
ticed eye detected light in the distance.
''Shoo!" he said to his mare. Gen
thy, lass, gently We're almost thar"
He drew rein on the outskirts of Marys-
vile and tied the mare to pine stump.
Then he crept along to the one tumble
down hut in which there was light and
peered thrSngh the window with a Salts
fed look.
Mr.. Watson H. Bangs (Mr. Bangs COM
prised in his own person the editor, staff,
''devil," printer, advertising agent and
| proprietor of the Marysville Gazette) was
composing Saturdays leader, assisted in
his consumption of the midnight oil by a
bottle of whisky, which occupied one end
| of the table where he sat. Every now and
then he shipped long paragraphs from
Exchanges on bench at his side and
laborious1y pasted them together. Then
| he would march to the nearest ease, F"
| pick up the type from various little boxes
and throw them about with all the rapid
| ity of a practiced juggler.
Suddenly the door opened and Jake en-
| tered, dripping from the storm.
| Old Mr. Bangs made for the drawer Of
| distant table in which his revolver lay
| hid. When he recognized his visitor, he
| abandoned all warlike intentions, casting
at the same time reluctant glance at the
| whisky bottle, as If uncertain how long 10
| would hold out against the newcomers
| attacks
| Jake slid into the editorial chair after
| carefully closing the door, and old man
| Bangs, with reluctant nod in the direc-
| ton of the bottle, went on with his task.
| ''Sit down. said Jake briefly, pointing
to chair and declining the implied invi-
| tation.
Old man Bangs sat down and refreshed
| himself with pull at the bottle
| tits nice sort of night at the Four
| Corners" he said cheerfully. II guess,
| if the river keeps on risin, old Hutchinson
| will be drowned out afore mornin."
| ''Mebbe, said Jake.
s'There' sort of yarn, when the rivers
that high said old man Bangs, lighting
pipe, there's sort of yarn when the
| river rises suddenly it carries away soul
| with the mornin light. But I reckon you
| mont take no stock in such dunn foolish
| dess?"
Reckon do said Jake, still speak
ing without a sign of resentment. "Reck-
on do. That's why I've come down."
| ''Jusso,' said dad man Bangs, putting
away with undiminished composure.
"Jusso. What's up, Jake?''
Jake carefully laid his revolver on the
table. Old man Bangs realized that his
visitor meant business and had him at a
disadvantage.
''Some folks at the Four Corners allow
ez this yere paper of yourn amt high
toned, said Jake carelessly. "You don't
put on frills enough"
Old Man Bangs looked 1ongingly at the
table drawer. "Guess I could put more
tone into the conversation if I'd the usual
seat" he said significantly and went on
smoking.
''Mebbe, said Jake, s'mebbe." He laid
the papers he had brought with him on
the table, "Some of the folks at the Cor
ners was wishful of little native talent
in this one boss paper of yourn. They al