The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-06-12
LONE JlMs TENDER SPOT.
Though M Ontl rs lie Was Sensitive Over
a Mothers Lost Package.

LShNL StfSt " GfNoGtt ~ ~ -
Though, M Outl rs lie Was Sensitive Over
Mothers Lost Package.
SIN days gone by" said the man
with the brierroot pipe as we settled
down in the smoking compartment,
Il knocked around in the west a
great deal, and for q year or two l
held out at Rocky Bar, Ida. I met a
young chap there from Massachu-
setts who'd seen hard lines and was
on his last legs. He was sick for
weeks and weeks before he died. He
knew we'll enough that his life was
ebbing away, but he was clear grit
and never uttered a complaint. On
several occasions I asked about his
friends and offered to write letter
for him, but he shook his head and
said he had no relations had my
own opinion On that matter, how
ever. Now and then as the days
dragged away and the grave came
nearer I caught him with such q
yearning look on his face as made
my heart ache. Sometimes, too,
there were tears in his eyes, though
he tried to hide them. / felt sure
there was a mother, or q sister at
least, but there was q cloud over his
life, and did not urge him to tell
me his story. He was proud spirited
and sensitive, and long enough be-
fore he died I know he would pass
away and make no sign. After his
death l found package and a letter
which he had prepared. In the let
ter he asked me to forward the pack
age, which was addressed to wom-
an in Boston. did not open it, Of
course, but from the looks of it I be-
lieyed it to contain q letter and a
photograph.
II was going over to Boise City"
continued the man as the reporter
became interested, land I took the
package along to mail it there. !
happened to be the only passenger
in tho stage, and the stage happened
to be held up. I had $500 sewed into
the bottoms of my trousers and $40
in loose money to hand over. In
searching me the robber found the
package, and though I explained
what it was and how I came by it he
insisted on carrying it off with him.
| offered to give him 800 to send it
in to me at Boise City, but he was
surly, i'll tempered brute and gave
mo no satisfaction. After we got
into Boise was telling the story in
the barroom of a hotel, and when I
had finished a man winked for me
to step out doors with him. When
we were alone, he asked:
Stranger, do you honestly be-
lieve that package was for the dead
boys mother?'
".'I am sure of it, said I.
"And what sort of /, lookin cuss
was the robber?"
Rather tall, reddish hair and
whiskers, buckskin leggings, blue
eyes, a little lop shouldered.
Twill you be here for two or three
days?'
Eyes, for a week.
He walked off, and / did not see
him again for three days. Then he
came to my room at the hotel and
handed me the package and quietly
said:
"'You see I got it, and l hope
you'll forward 1t on.
but how did you get it?' Iasked.
Went after it.
land you-you'-
"'Yes, I found the cuss. He
wouldn't give it up, and that stain
on the paper comes from his blood.
Il thanked him, but he made very
light of what he had done and went
away. remained in Boise several
days, but did not see him again. In
the course of a couple of weeks I got
down to Mountain City, and just as
l reached there a sheriff's posse
brought in my man on q blackboard.
He had been riddled with bullets
two hours before out on the Rock
City road. think they said he was
struck by - balls and was dead be-
fore he tumbled over"
''Then your man was'-
"a road agent called Lone Jim
and chap with nerve enough for
fYe men. Queer that he had such q
soft spot about him, wasn't it?"-
NJ.