The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-26

you drag me around from one place to
another like this? We haven't had q
real house since I can remember"
Don't get started on that tack!" he
gruffiy replied, and yet there was
thread of kindness in his gruffness.
"But I can't help it. Mother went
away two years ago. Why don't she
come back? The soldiers drove you
away from San Jose; the sheriff
drove you away from Quetin; they
scared you away from Bell Rose. You
are lodging about all the time; you
have bad men come here. I've stuck
to you, dad. when I could have cut
and run, as mother did, but I'm getting
tired"
Exit, haven't 7 bin good dad to
you?" he asked after a long look at
her.
Most times. yes" she replied, "but
I'm here all alone, and I'm tired of the
place, and ! sometimes wonder-won-
der
What dye mean, Kit?" he asked,
as she paused and turned her face.
Are you my real dad?" she demand
ed, as she looked into his eyes.
That's the third time you've asked
that question within two years." he
sternly replied, land I'd like to know
what's come over We. If l amt yer
l takin' keer of ye fur? Who's bin
talkin' to yep
Nobody"
"Then drop It! ! don't blame ye for
bein' tired of the Rancho and the folks
and the hull blamed airth fur hum
dred miles around same as 1 am my
self, but how kin we leave? What we
got to go on? Why don't ye wait till
/ make a raise?"
"Then you are my real daddy?" she
persisted.
Say, Kit. I never laid hand on ye
in my lfe!" he whispered, but don't
drive me too fur! Shet up on sich talk
or sunthin1l happen. 1t looks like We
wanted to disown Yer parent and cut
sticks. and sich things rile mel"
She entered the back room without
another word, and old Robertson
walked out doors just as Jim Finch
rode up. The two walked off to the
shed and sat down in the same place
as before and held a conversation last
ing for an hour. Then Jim handed over
small bottle. laughing as he did so.
and rode back over the trail he had
come. The girl Kit saw him from one
Of the windows-saw her father with
the bottle in his hand-and there was
a look of mingled resolution and anX
iety In her eyes as she said to herself:
II hoped they had given II up, but
they are going ahead. and now | must
think Of some plan to beat the game
and yet save daddy"
The paymaster's ambulance and es-
cort were not u new sight to Old Rob-
ertson on that road. When he first
opened up his ranch was II stopping
place for the first night out. but after
his reputation began to decay the es-
cort logged along To Silver Springs and
sunset Of the second day after Jim
made their camp In the cedars Al
Finch's second call Old Robertson had
Il surprise. He was sitting on the door
step smoking his pipe when he heard
the rattle of wheels ana the sound Of
hoofs. and next moment the paymas-
t-rs outfit came around the corner and
halted before him. lie rose up and
looked ut the men in Il puzzled way.
and Captain Dakin descended from the
ambulance to say:
See here, Robertson, we want to
stop here for the night. We are behind
time. and there's u storm coming IN
to make a wet night. just drive OUT
your gang and give us the house for
the night
81 don't know what you mean by
gang" replied the old man. with an in
jured look. but | shall be glad to hey
ye stop fur the night. kin give the
two of ye rooms. but the boys'll hev to
put up with the shed"
Good enough" said the sergeant I'm
nd h. r..
lifted out of the vehicle and. carried
into Il small bedroom off the barroom
winch the captain was to occupy.
The soldiers asked for neither food
nor drink off the rancho The creek
furnished them with water. and they
cooked their bacon and made their cOf-
fee AT fire in front of the shed. The
paymaster and his clerk were received
as guests. and humble but hearty
supper spread for them. just before
1t was served the old man. who had
been ofiiciously flying around and de-
claring he wanted to see everybody
comfortable. entered the kitchen and
said to the girl:
Kit, one of the soldiers wants a
bottle of whisky on the quiet Just
drop through the trap and hand II nm.
He opened the trap door in the
kitchen floor which led to a. shallow
excavation and the girl dropped
through without a look at him, She
wasn't thirty seconds out of sight. but
during this interval he lifted the cover
OF the coffee pot and poured part of the
contents of a bottle into 1t. The re-
mainder was poured into a quart bot
tie of whisky which he took from his
bosom.
For the paymaster and for the blue.
coats!" he chuckled; land in an hour
from this we'll be riding away with the
safe!"
The girl handed up the whiskey. drew
herseif out OF the cellar, and as the
man walked out OF the room she took
the coffee nnf off Tho fro au.a a.. .aiai