The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-03-21

u S S'CeftAlulys Nltl----Auy tlAlAe.
"Bliged ter We, and Bill balanced
4 his plug Of tobacco on his nose untlls
the yonngster got ont Of sight 5Szs
i AS Gentleman Jim crossed the fook
bridge spanning the stream thst ~
between Dickinson and his CO bin IA
lBlacksnake Hollow, the moonl1gAt;
Iquivered upon the upturned edges AZ
\ the waves like nm ever shifting net
work Of gold; and the stars ahove)
seemed caught in the net below.
Tie night was still, save Tor thsI
chipping crickets and the harsher nOteel
al the frogs. These sounds seemed 40:
j awaken loneliness in the gamblers
4 breast. He paused. leaned on the.
hand-rail, looking down into the water
Suddenly he drew . package from his
/ pocket and dropped it into the stream
Then he turned md continued on his
way. with frmer stride while the:
words, mo more" broke from his Hips
in an undertone. ss.
Opening the door of the cabin in the
Hollow, he found dim light burning
on the table, and Q man, smoking, nit
ting by the bed and watching the fesss
lures Of sleeping child.
..Bill?''
| soft, ole man, the kids asleep.
Oklahoma Bill got mp. ~ ssS5
| 'Look-ee thar" he went on, molten
ing toward the bed; talk about yer
cherubses- they ain's in It with that
face. I've been a-settin' right thar
like q lump on log, watchin' them
sleepin' features, am I swear, JIM
twas as good as sermon. : $3.50
Gentleman Jim caught Bills hand
and led him to the other side Of the
room.
II want to talk with You, Bill. Sit
down here" 4.
Whats up, Jim9 You're glnmmer'n
ever seen We. ID
..I'ye taken that youngster to raise:
haven't l?'' 5Ss Ssss
'sWe have, Jim. Ye promised mo
that more'n q month ago, just arter We
put up that seventy-fve an got him. 4 5
Eyes, yes. We've taken him to raise.
The question is this: We're morally re-
sponsible for that lads welfare. E 5sss
.'Sartin," said Bill, refectively, as hef
toyed with his pipe.
Sat his age child receives strong
impressions-impr that may en-
dure through life. Suppose he should
grow up to be gambler, or '';74s$
''Or a whisky-guzzlin', no count cow
puncher, with snothin' but q murder
record to back up his claims to respect
ability, hey? Out with it, Jim. i don't
mind-it's the truth.
l.
grow up SOP" s S.5s .33 .5s;s
I'D feel as though he ought to've1
died in that Blue mountain stage, long
with his pap. =
Bill looked hard at the dim light.
There was a silence, and Jim drew
closer to Bill and laid = hand on. His
knee.
Bill, cts refo d. ''ss
Bill looked into his friend face
blankly. Ss
MEAN itt??''
do mean it?' repeated the other
slowly. Bill, / have no other protes-
sion but that Of gambling. 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 living for the lad and
myself s.=. =. 4. q .ss HI zi:
Bill went to the door, drew some
thing from his pocket. and Jim heard
a crash of breaking glass outside.
mo more whisky nymine, . said Bill
as he came back and caught Gentle
man aJiIn's hand. 'sThis is another
partnership, hey? 5ES
Eyes" replied the gambler, quietly.
| Jim, are yez thar?'' s2
Eyes"
1 Kid asleep"
5$stYes.n Tzs5, IL ~ So n