The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-01

claim by this time. Besides, she was a
woman, and who could toticli 4 woman
He drove oil slowly two or three miles
when the imam In, the wagon thnt bore
the Inscription "Oklahony Or btist" rod.
up beside him and said =,
"They say a woman has beeli shot i'll
there's" pointing to the. left "Sopic ci,ss
was goin'' to stake her tlaiiii. There it
plenty. Of tire-eaters about this day
They he'd quite as lief plug one ez not
You had better take keer."
With this friendly advice the man
rode rapidly away. Where does the
news Of disaster obtain Its winged feet
Bub never stopped to wbndet dt The. az:
curacy Of the statement, bit turned To
the left and, with tluttering heart, urged
out and led it, running at its head. lie
thought he saw wOman's dress in Il
clump Of sage bushes about half a mile
ahead. Then he saw beyond, a man
heading for the same spot, leading a
riderless horse, Yes, it was Jerry. The
boy uttered q low moan, crying Nam,
ma, mammal He let 60 the Bride and
him, over brake and stone, until he sank
exhausted on the sod beside pale
slight woman, wounded unto death.
Bulbs heroic little soul took in the
situation as fur as it was able, with il
manly self-restraint beyond his years.
The sick child had suffered so much
himself that he knew Ivy instinct how not
did not cry out nor make fuss, nor
startlc the mangled woman with his
grief. He only put his thin check down
close to hers and patted her two or
three times.
Poor mamma" he said, "dear mani
ma; you got hurt, haven't you! Never
mind; Bulbs here. III take cnre of you.
Shall l get the quinine?" said Bub, gulp.
ing down the tears. Receiving no an.
the child suid:
Perhaps you'd rnther have the mus
the blue pills are," added Bulb; s'they re
under the seat III the wagon sbttie-
where's" But power greater than
quininc and blue mass (the main con-
stituents of the boomers materia medi-
gaunt, blue eyes regarded him solemn
ly. Death looked out of them. a WON.
an s protest against the fate of her moth
erless 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
w &c:
Here she is, marm:"'
ton as new to the desperate as the
baby's delicate kiss upon his coarse
cheeks, interrupted the piteous scene;
Grizzly Jim stood there, Jerry painting
behind him; Wee, the baby, cuddled
trustfully against his blood-stained
heart.
You" cried sharp, young voice,
suddenly. It was the girl with the vel.
low hair--the adventures, who had
abandoned the choicest claim in Oklaho-
ma for another woman's sake. She
glanced at Grizzly Jim with scorn. Il
only went to get water for her." said the
girl, in mattcr-of-fact tone, restrain
ing herself powerfully; II only left her
for minute. Here, you poor thing
Drink, if you can. I'll hold you. Come,
my little lad" gently to the little Grip.
Pied boy; LET me, help: I'm stronger
than you. She needs a woman--a WON
an does, when it comes to dying"
At this juncture the baby-girl began to
laugh and pat her pink hands, opening
and shutting her little fingers rapidly,
with delight:
Dee mummer!'
lord have mercy on me-! walled the
dying. woman, two of 'em babies-left
n x th'$ a T;fm place Why I can't die
Grizzly Jim advanced suddenly; he re-
moved the soiled sombrcro from his
shaggy head; he sank upon one muddy
knee before poor Caddy.
'Marm," he said, bluntly, Il shot at
We; own to t.. | meant to hit another
woman: | missed my dog-gone aim fol
the fnst time in twenty year
\ slight smile crossed the lips Of the
-U1ir ri,1 y,-I.> holI I1-:,,
Woman's head upon her broad, strong
breast: but she didn't look up, nor an,
swer Grizzly jim After an instant :
silence she said in a low voice:
you've got the floor, you, sir. Keen
it. Drive ahead. She won't hold out
many minutes"
"Al I've got to say, marin. is this
here pursued Jim unste;,dily; Eve
done the mischief and I'll bide the con
sequence. Yer horse an yer bebby GOT
yer claim, an / staked it fur 'eni, an
by heaven above us, marin, I'll keep it
an the young ones too The anguish
of the dying woman's face wrenchetl
this great resolve from the depth of thai
new tumult in Jims soul, which we call
repentance.
"Goody man" gurgled Wee. going over
like a kitten at play with light string
.'Goody man, div Wee drink-o-watah
Hummer! Dee, dee, nlu1nmer!''
The WOmanS stiffening lips set them
selves into ono. word only:
"Rfny-2ray!'
Grizzly Jim looked at the strong girl
The girl looked at Grizzly jim.
IL cant she faltered. ave forgot
II darsu't," he muttered. IL dun
know how
81! d." said Bub, mamma taught
me-
The boy folded his thin hands, gri,uy
with tears, and III shrilly quaverins
voice began:
NOV l lay Inc down to siccp--'
At this moment the baby laughed oiit
right, lurching over. LIN the ringinr of
that little laugh, poor Caddy's soul
Missed OH. She smiled as she die,I--on,l
IS died most quietly.
The adventures covered the dead ma
irons face; she did not speak. The baby
girl c,rled against Jim's breast, and pu1
up her fingers and began to play Dan
bury Cross" on his cheek. Jim bowed
MS barred head over Wee. so low that i
vas was impossible to see his eyes. Only
Bub cried. and he made no noise about
1t, but walled in low monotone, enough
to break ones heart.
Il forgive you for drawing a bead OF
me If you'll be q daddy to the youne
ones; You took it so powerful hard,
won't tell the soldiers on you. meant
to-" said the yellow-haired girl, softly
after few minutes pause. "My claim
is staked here. You keep your distance
and if you want the baby tended and thu
boy mended up, I'll do it for you" jim
tried to smile at the rough, generous
woman, who, after all, was so like him
self i'll better impulses.
DO yer think the boy 'ud trust me
too:' He pointed at the lad, who, Will
streaming awana az; icy eyes, was throwing wild
child looked up. He walked manfullS
to his mothers murderer.
81 dunno" said the boy, slowly, "I1
try, | hain't got anybody else" he
ssobbed.
Strange to say, Grizzly Jim kept his
word. A claim was duly filed at the
land office in the name of Jim Coster. il
trust for Wee and Bub Korall No bet
ter claim has been entered Oklahoma
respects the baby boomers rights.
Now it befell that Jim's three com
panions were shot for theft next day ir
Oklahoma by a vigilance committee, ant