The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-29
The Baby Boolnner. /.
By HERBERT D. WARD.


With this friendly auNlce tne Hlah
rode rapidly away. Where does the
news of disaster obtain its winged feet?
Bub never stopped to wonder at the
accuracy of the statement, hut turned
to the left and. with tiuttering heart.
urged his jaded horses to trot. soon
he got out and led it, running at ITS
head. He thought he saw womans $
dress i'm a clumD of sage bushes ABOUT
half Il mile ahead. Tk,pn he saw be-
yond. a man heading for the same spot,
leading Il riderless horse. Yes, 1t was
Jerry. The boy uttered low moan.
crying: Mamma, mammal" He let go
the bride and flew aS fast as his INN
legs would allow him. over brake ana
stone. until he sank exhausted on the
sod beside n pale, slight woman, wound
ed unto death.
Bulbs heroic little soul took in the
situation as far as it was able, with Il
manly self-restraint beyond his years
The sick child had suffered SO much
himself that he knew by instinct how
not to add to the suffering of another
He did not cry out nor make u russ,
nor startle the mangled woman with
his grief. He only put his thin cheek
down close to hers and petted her two
| OF three times.
Poor mamma" he said, dear man.
ma: you got hurt, haven't you? Never
NINA, Bub mere. II idhe 'dit w
YOU. Shall | get the quinne"' said
Bub, gulping down the tears. Receiv-
ing no answer but the groans of the
dying woman, the child said:
Perhaps you'd rather have the mus
tard plaster? | think | know where
the blue pills are" added Bub, they're
under the seat in the wagon some
where's" But Il power greater than
quinine and blue mass the main con-
sttuents of the boomers materia med
ica) deiied the little nurse. His moth
ers aunt, blue eyes regarded him sol
emnly. Death looked out of them. A
woman's protest against the fate Of
her motherless babes gathered like an
army in her nature and fought for
life.
Poor Bub," she moaned. my little
little, Bub, My sick boy! And oh, my
baby Where's my baby? Where is
Vice."
Here she is. marm!"
A big, bass voice. shaken with emo
tiun as new to the deSperado as the
baby'S delicate kiss upon his coarse
cheeks. interrupted the piteous scene:
Grizzly Jim stood there, Jerry pant
ing behind him: Wee, the baby, cud-
died trustfully against his bloodstained
heart.
YOU" cried n SHARP, young voice
suddenly. 1t was the girl with the yell
low hair-the adventures, who had
abandoned the choicest claim in Okla
homa for another WOman's sake. She
glanced at Grizzly Jim with scorn. Il
only went to get water for her. said
the girl in IL mattcr-of-fact tone, re-
straining herself powerfully: Il only
left her for IL minute. Here, you poor
thing. Drink, if you can. III hold
3 1n,l l,v IN
the crippled boy: "lct me help: I'm
stronger than you. / won't hurt her.
She needs a woman-a woman does.
when it comes to dying"
At this juncture the baby-girl began
to laugh and pat her pink hands. open
ing and shutting her little fingers
rapidly with delight.
hummer" cried Wee, "Mummer,
Dee mummer!"
Lord have mercy on mel" walled
the dying woman, two of em babies
left in this awful place. Why, / can't
die. | won't die,'
removed the soiled sOmbrcro from his
shaggy head; he sank upon one muddy
knee before poor Caddy.
'Marm,' he said, bluntly, ct shot at
ye; l own to t. | meant to hit another
woman. ! missed my dog goned aim
/ for the fust time in twenty year.
\ slight smile crossed the lips of the
yellow-haired girl who held the dying
Woman'S head upon her broad, strong
breast; but she didn't look up. nor
answer Grizzly Jim. After an instants
silence she said in IL low voice:
you've got the floor, you, sir. Keep
it. Drive ahead. She won't hold out
many minutes
"All I've got to say. marm. is this
here" pursued Jim unsteadily: eve
done the mischief and I'll bide the con-
sequence. Yer horse an yes bebby got
yer claim. an | staked it fur em, an
by Heaven above us, marm, I'll Keep 1t