Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-06-03

Il
There was q silence. and Jim drew
closer to Bill and laid . hand ON his
knee.
: "Bill, let's reform"
Bill looked into his friends face
blankly.
Mean TT"
DO I mean TT" repeated the other,
slowly. "Bill. I have no other profes-
sion but that Of gambling. I was never
taught an honest trade. and that came
| easiest for me to learn myself. To
night dropped my cards into the river.
Perhaps l can turn cowboy or miner,
and make living for the lad and my.
| self"
f, BIZ went to the door, drew something
from his pocket, and Jim heard q crash
Of breaking glass outside.
No more whisky In mine," said Bill,
as he came back and caught Gentleman
Jim's hand. This is another partner.
ship, hey?"
"Yes." replied the gambler, quietly.
"Jim. are ye thar?"
Eyes"
kid asleep?"
YES"
'COme out and let me swap q few
words with ye"
Gentleman Jim got up and went out
Of the cabin.
What Is 1t, Bili?" asked jim, as he
stepped out into the moonlight
Did ye notice my breathe"
Yes" was the low reply. you've
been drinking, Bill"
You bet l have" returned Bill, de-
Family. AN Pm goin' ter keep it right
up till the jim jams git me an choke off
my wind. Durn it, amt fit ter live. I
Amt got no moral right ter look the
kid In the face arter this. For the last
ten days life's been a reglar hell for
mel wanted drink an 1 wanted 1t
bad. Seemed like the devil was grip.
pin Mt my insides. When 1 felt the
worst. If I'd come up here, an go to
funnin' with the Kid I'd forget all bout
.t-bless them dancin' blue eyes O. his!
But tie kids got ter sleep-ie can
stay UP all night Jest ter fun with me
IN fight off the whisky habit. Two
hours ago l came here an peekei in
the winder. He was asleep an you set
by the table with yer head in yer hands.
1t was either fool with the kid or go to
boozin' at Forty-rod Frsd's, an'-an'-
well, 1 didn't want to disturb the kid.
so rushed back to Dickinson an tossed
off n couple o. glasses Of Jersey light
uin, an l wish ter Gawd l was dead.
ain't no more fit to come up here fun
min with that kid than the kid 1t lit ter
fool with a rattler--not q bit. Ain's dis
gusted, are. yea"
No"
The only bright spot In this rough
life O. mine has been the time l spent
with the kid. Now, amt got no part
nership in him-I throw 1t up. I'm new
cr goin' ter see him ag'in-only Jest
once. The mint teched likker. after
swearin' off-that settled it. Goodl.y
to the kid. wait him to grow up right
without bein' hampered by n worth
less sot like me. l jest want ter see
him once more as he sleeps, Jim. Can
I go in?"
Yes; but wait a 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 flung in his face at every turn?
Once a man establishes a bad reputa.
ton, nothing he does afterwart can
, i've Ii down"
Bill made no reply. After a short 81.
lence Jim continued:
II was thinking tonight, probably as
you looked through the window aud
saw me, that the boy should he takep
away"
"Whar"
II have a sister-an honorable and
upright a woman as the sun ever shona
on. She lives in"
Don't tell-On yer life! Never even
whisper her name. nor where she lives.
cause II 1t was a thousand mbiles on.
an knew the place, the time 'u'd 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 ye"
Yes"
"Wil ye come backT
AT once"
AN go to gamblin' ag'in7"
Il suppose so.'
Bill fumbled in his pocket.
Here's forty plunkets-every cent
I've got in the world. I sold my pistol
belt to Ole Kanuck. That moneys for
the kid. Let yer sister keep 1t for
him."
..yyfll ro,, .oo -, ,v <ha v,orpin0 vvhen
we take the Blue Mountain stage"
"Yes, I'll be on hand. Goodnight
jim"
Goodnight, Bill"
A week had passed after the depar-
ture of Gentleman Jim and his protege,
and Oklahoma Bill was anxiously
watching for the Blue Mountain stage
to bring back his friend, with later It'd
ings Of 1.-The kid" One morning the
stage failed to pull into Dickinson, and
the citizens Of the town gathered in
groups to discuss the unusual occur
renee.
iii bet a dollar ag'in a dime that
thar's been a hOld-up," said One-eyed
Billings.
This was the general opinion until,
iate in the afternoon, Nat Palmer. the
lriver Of the stage, rode into Dickin-
son supporting the form of man across
he saddle in front Of him. He was in
.tantly surrounded by mob of curious
ciIIZens.
What's the matter, Nedy' asked Old
Nanuck.
Stage tipped over on Blue Mountain
an spilled me an the only passenger
[ had into Hazard Gulch. Lift him
down. boys. I reckon he's mighty near
done up"
Why" exclaimed the bystanders, as
the lucKless passenger was taken out
OF Palmer's arms; its Gentleman