The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-06-11
Oklahoma Bill got up.

~uefuDSeS-Iue ANT III II Will lUdI
face. I've been a'settin' right thar,
like a lump on a log, watchin' them
sleepin' features, an l swear, Jim, t
was as good as a sermon"
Gentleman Jim caught Bills hand
and led him to the other side of the
room.
L want to talk with you, Bill. Sit
down here"
What's up, jim? Ye're GUNNER n
1 ever seen ye."
I've taken that youngster to raise,
haven't II"
I'VE have, Jim. Ye promised me
that more'n a month ago, just arter We
put up that seventy-five an got him."
Yes, yes. We've taken him to raise.
The question is this: We're morally re-
sponsible for that lads welfare?"
"Sartin," said Bill, refectively, as he
toyed with his pipe.
AT his age a child receives strong
Observation-Disclosures that may en-
dure through life. Suppose he should
grow up to be a gambler, or-or-"
OR a whisky-guzzlin', n%o-'count cow
puncher, with nothin' but a murder
record ter back up his claims to re-
s~pectability, hey? Out with it, Jim. 1
don mind-it's the truth"
How would you feel to have the lad
grow up SOP"
I'D feel as 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 a hand on his
knee.
Bill, let's reform"
Bill looked into his friends face
blankly.
Mean it?"
do 1 mean it?' repeated the other.
slowly. Bill, 1 have no other profess
sion but that of gambling. l was never
taught an honest trade, and that came
easiest for me to learn myself. TO
night l dropped my cards into the river.
Perhaps l can turn cowboy or miner,
and make a living for the lad and my.
self"
Bill went to the door, drew something
from his pocket, and Jim heard a crash
of breaking glass outside.
No more whisky in NINE" said Bill,
as he came back and caught Gentleman
Jim's hand. This is another partner
ship, hey?"
Yes" replied the gambler, quietly.
y - u Il * y
"Jim, are We thar?"
Eyes"
kid asleep?"
yes"
Come out and let me swap a few
words with ye.'
Gentleman Jim got up and went out
Of the cabin.
what is it, Bill?" asked jim, as he
stepped out into the moonlight.
Did We notice my breath:'
Yes" was the low reply. you've
been drinking, Bill"
You bet l have" returned Bill. de-
family, AN I'm goin' ter keep it right
up till the jim-jams git me an choke off
my wind. Durn it, 1 amt fit ter live. 1
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 l wanted it
bad. Seemed like the devil was grip
PIN at my insides. When l felt the
worst, if I'd come up here, an go 10
funnin' with the kid I'd forget all bout
it-bless them dancin' blue eyes O. his!
But the kids got ter sleep-he cant
stay up all night jest ter fun with me
an fight off the whisky habit. Two
hours G l came here an peeked 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 er go to
boozin' at Forty-rod Fred's, an'-an-
well, l didn't want to disturb the kid,
so | rushed back to Dickinson an tossed
off a couple O. glasses of Jersey light
min, an 1 wish ter Gawd 1 was dead.
1 amt no more fit to come up here fun
min with that Kid than the kid it lit ter
fool with a rattler-not a bit. Ain'e dis,
gusted, are ye"
NO"
"The only bright spot in this rough
life O. mine has been the time l spent
with the kid. Now, l amt got no part
nership in him-I throw it up. I'm new
er goin' ter see him ag'in-only Jest
nee. The mint 1 teched likker, after
swearin' off-that settled it. Good. ly
to the kid. want him to grow up right
without bein' hampered by a worth
less sot like me. [ 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 a contract when we starred
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 afterwlri can
live it down"
Bill made no reply. After a short 81.
lence jim continued:
Il was thinking tonight. probably as
you looked through the window AID
saw me, that the boy should be taken
away
''Whar?"
Il have a 'sister-an honorable and
upright a wOman as the sun EVER shone
On. She lives in"