The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1895-04-18
'rl have the boy If IT takes . thou

III have the boy II 1T takes thou
sand
THAT does me, muttered Bill, as he
buclsled on his pistol belt
Coin, goin'. goin'," said Kanuch,
his beer mallet poised in air; ''are We
all done? Sold to Gentleman Jim for
seventy-five."
The beer mallct fell and the deal was
closed.
Say" whispered Oklahoma Bill as
Gentleman Jim left the saloon with
the kid over his arm, ''can l come
down and play with the leetle duffer
'casionally?"
Certainly, Bill-any time"
obliged ter ye," and Bill balanced
his plug of tobacco on his nose until
the youngster got out of sight
AS Gentleman Jim crossed the foot
bridge spanning the stream that lay
between Dickinson and his cabin in
Blacksnake Hollow, the moonlight
quivered upon the upturned edges of
the waves like an ever shifting net
work of gold; and the stars above
seemed caught in the net below.
The night was still, save for the
chirping crickets and the harsher notes
of the frogs. These sounds seemed to
awaken loneliness in the gamblers
breast. He paused, leaned on the
hand-rail, looking down into the water.
Suddenly he drew a package from his
pocket and dropped it into the stream.
Then he turned and continued on his
way with n firmer stride while the
words. "No more" broke from his lips
in an undertone.
Opening the door of the cabin in the
Hollow, he found dim light burning
on the table, and man, smoking, sit
ting by the bed and watching the fea-
lures of a sleeping child.
"Bill?"
soft, ole man, the kids asleep"
Oklahoma Bill got up.
'Look-ee thar" he went on, motion
ing toward the bed; talk about yer
cberubses-they ain't in it with that
face. I've been a-settin' right thar,
like lump on a log, watchin' them
sleepin' features, an l swear, jim
twas as good as sermon"
piiAA SduSiiS iDill
and led him to the other side of the
room.
81 want to talk with you, Bill. Sit
down here"
whats up, Jim? You're glummer'n
| ever seen ye."
I've taken that youngster to raise,
haven't II"
I'VE have, Jim. Ye promised me
that more'n month ago, just arter we
put up that seventy an got him."
Yes, yes. We've taken him to raise
The question is this: We're morally re-
sponsible for that lads welfare"
"Sartin," said Bill, refeotively, as he
toyed with his pipe
"At his age a child receives strong
Observation-Disclosures that may en-
dure through life. Suppose he should
grow up to be a gambler, ot-or-"
"Or whisly-guzzlin', no-count COW
puncher, with nothin' but murder
'ecord to back up his claims to respect
utility, hey? Out with it, Jim. l don't |
nind-it's the truth
How would you feel to have the lad
ROW up SOP
I'D feel as though he ought tove
led in that Blue mountain stage, long
With his pap"
Bill looked hard at the dim light.
There was a silence, and Jim drew |
.loscr to Bill and laid u hand on his |
knee.
e''Bil, let's REFORM
Bill looked into his friends face
blanlSly.
MEAN it?"
DO l mean it?" repeated the other
slowly. "Bill, have no other profess
sion but that of gambling. l was never
taught an honest trade, and that came
easiest for me to learn myself. To-
night dropped my cards into the river.
Perhaps | can turn cowboy or miner,
and make a living for the lad and
myself"
Bill went to the door, drew some
thing from his pocket, and Jim heard
a crash of breaking glass outside.
mo more whisky in mine," said Bill
as he came back and caught Gentle
man Jim's hand. ''This is another
partnership, hey?'
Yes" replied the gambler, quietly.
Jim, are We thar?"
Eyes"