Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-06-06
GENTLEMAN J1M'S MASCOT.

,ooooooooooooo ooooooooooooo
1--WE taken that youngstcr to rnise.
haven't II"
I'VE have, Jim. Ye promised me
that more'n a month ago, just arter ye
put up that seventy-five an got him."
Yes, yes. We've taken him to raise.
The question IL this: We're morally re.
sponsible for that lads welfarcT'
"Sartin," said Bill, refiectively, as he
toyed with his pipe.
AT his age q child receives strong
impressions--impresslons that may en-.
dure through life. Suppose he should
grow up to be gambler, or-or-"
"Or whisky-guxxlln', no-'count COW.
puncher, with nothin' but murder
record ter back up his claims to re.
spectability, hcy3 Out with II, Jim.
dom mind-it's the truth"
How would you feel to have the lad
grow up sof'
"rd feel NJ though he ought to've
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 o hand on his
knee.
"Bill, let's REFORM"
Bill looked into his friends face
blankly.
"Mean III"
DO mean III" repeated the other,
slowly. "Bill, have no other profes.
sion but that Of gambling. was never
taught an honest trade, and that came
easiest for me to learn myself. TO
night I dropped my cards into the river.
Perhaps I can turn cowboy or miner,
and make living for the lad and my.
self"
Bill went to the door. drew something
from his pocket, and Jim heard crash
Of breaking glass outside.
mo more whisky In mine," said Bill,
as he came back and caught Gentleman
Jim's hand. '"This IL another partner.
ship. hcy?"
EYES," replied the gambler. quietly.
"Jim, are We thar~
eyes"
kid aslcepw
EYES"
"Come out and let mo swap a few
words with ye."
Gentleman Jim got up and went out
Of the cabin.
"What IL II. Billw asked Jim, 40 be
stepped out into the moonlight.
did ye notice my breath"
YES" was the low reply. you've
been drinking. BILL"
"Y0u bet I have" returned Bill. de-
family, AN I'm goin' ter keep It right
up till the jim.jams git me an choke OF
my wind. Durn It. amt ut ter live. I
amt got no m0rnl right ter look the
kid In the face arter this. For the last
ten days LIES been rcglar hell for
mel wanted drink an wanted II
bad. Seemed like the devil was grip.
pin at my insides. when I felt the
worst, II I'd come up here. an 60 TO
funnin' with the kid I'd forget all bout
it-hlcss them dancin' blue eyes O. his!
But the kids got ter slcep-he cau't
stay up all night Jest ter fun with mo
an fight of the whisky habit. Two
hours ago came here an peeked In
the winder. He WIS asleep an you set
by the table with yer head In yer hands.
It was either fool with the kid or 60 to
booxin' at Forty-rod Fred's, an'--an'-
well, I didn't want to disturb the kid,
% rushed back to Dickinson an tossed
of q couple O. glasses OF Jersey light.
MIN, an wish ter Gawd I was dead.
I airf't no more At to come up here fun.
min with that kid than the kid II lit ter
fool with a rattler-not bit. Ain's dis,
gusted. are YET"
NO"
1.-THE only bright spot In this rough
life O mine has been the time spent
with the kid. Now, amt got no part
nership In him-I throw It up. I'm new.
er goin' ter see him ag'in-only jest
once. The mint I teched likker, after
swcarin' off-that settled It. Good.ly
to the kid. want him to grow up right
without bein' hampered by q worth.
less sot like me. Jest want ter see
him once more % he sleeps. Jim. Can
I 60 INF"
Eyes; but walt minute. We under.
took too big contract when we started
In to raise the youngster. Not that our
,, intentions weren't good enough. Bill
but our morals were lacking. Suppose
he should grow up to have my reputa'
ton nung In bis face at every turn;
Once O man establishes bad regatta
ton. nothing he does afterwari cur
live 1t down."
Bill made no reply. After q short d.
lence Jim continued:
II was thinking tonight, probably M
: you looked through the window nrd
saw me. that the boy should 10 tukeI
away"
"Whar?"
II have q sister-an honorable and
! upright a woman as the sun ever shon:
on. She lives in"
Don't tell-0n yer life! Never ever
whisper her name. nor where she lives
cause II 1t was a thousand mbiles OF
an knew the place. the time nd come
when I'd crawl on my knees all the way
! Jest ter see the kid. You take him
|, , Jim, an take him to-morrer. VIII yer
> "Yes."
!, "Will We come back?"
AT once"
"An' 60 to gamblin' aging"
II suppose So"
Bill fumbled In his pocket.
Heres forty plunkets--evcry CEN
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