The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-17

be nine men, all well armed and all
ready to fight in defense of the money.
Eight rough and ready men might am
buscade and get away with a dozen
soldiers, but there was to be no kill
ing IL 1t could be avoided. In case Of
a fight some Of the outlaws would go
down as well. They wanted the money
instead of the bullets, and Jim Finch
thought il could be got without man
being grazed. When he had given the
details Robertson extended his hand
and said:
I'm your man-shnke!"
"Goodl knew you had sapdi"
Ten minutes later when the stranger
was galloping away and old Robertson
had entered the barroom, the girl
gueried in a careless way:
what did he want, dad?"
WANTED me to help run some cattle"
"But you won't?"
Reckon not. Things are gettin'
5keery about here, and I'm thinkin' we
may pull up and leave in few duys.
The sheriff's nosin about, and the SOL
diers don't stop here any more. Drnt
'em they wouldn't let man make an
honest livin' in this country!"
The girl walked over to him, and
resting hand on either shoulder looked
him in the eyes and said:
"Oh, dad, hope you'll get out of thlsl
It's horrible place, and you don't know
how lonely am. Why do you drag me
around from one place TO another like
this? We haven't had real home since
can remember"
''Don't get started on that tack!" ho
gruffly replied, and yet there was
thread of kindness In his gruffness.
"But / can't help IL. 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
could have cut and run, as mother did,
but I'm getting tired"
"Kit, heven't / bin good dad to youc
he asked after long look at her.
Most times, yes" she replied, shut
I'm here oil alone. and I'm tired Of the
place, and I 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 yearsl" lie
sternly replied, ''and I'd like to know
what's come over We. If l amt yer
daddy what We doin' here? What am l
takin' keer of ye fur2 Who's bin talk
in to YEP"
Nobody"
"Then drop III I don't blame We fur
bein' tired of the Rancho and the folks
and the hull blamed airth fur hundred
miles around, same as am myself but
how kin we leave7 What we got to 20
on? Why don't ye wait till i make a
raise?"
"Then you are my real daddy?" she
persisted.
"Say, Kit, never laid hand on We
in my life!" he whispered, 'but don't
drive me too furl Shet up on sich talk
or sunthin'll happen! II 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 conversation last
ing for an hour. Then Jim handed over
n 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 hHnd-and there was
look of mingled resolution and anxiety
In her eyes as she said 10 herself:
81 hoped they had given IL up. but
they are going ahead. and now must
think of some plan 10 beat the game
and yet save dnddyl"
The paymaster's ambulance and es-
fort were not new sight 90 Old Rob
rftson on that road. When he first
opened up his ranch was n stopping
place for the first night out but after
ais reputation began 20 decay the es-
cort logged along TO Silver Springs a,a
made their camp In the cedars. Az
sunset Of thc second day after jim
Finch's second call Old Robertson lad q
surprise. IL was sitting on the door
step smoking hls pipe when he heard
the rattle Of wheels and the sound OF
hoofs, and next moment the paymas
ter's outfit came around the corner and
halted before him. He rose up and