The Penn's Grove record., 1896-05-29
GENTLEMAN JIM'S MASCOT.


bar and, strange to say, 1t was not 10
a drink. Old Kanuck was going to de
liver himself of a speech; but it was MI
theme rather than the speech itsel
which drew the profound attenuen o.
everyone in the saloon.
One Of Kanuck's hands for the pnr
pose, probably, of emphasizing mis- re
marks welded a beer mallet. The otn
ed hand rested upon the curly head o.
q bright-eyed youngster of 4 years VINO
sat on the bar and persisted In grinnihs
ut oklahoma Bill, a cowboy with Q
record of two right there in Dickinson
four In the Bad Lands, n HEAVIER
only knows how many during the ok
lahOma rush"
Kanuck cleared his throat impress
sively.
Ladies an gents" he began
ladies nothin'r' broke in One-eyed
Billings; none here"
81 said ladies'" went on annex
with dignity, IAN 1 say IL agin. Anyone
take exceptionsf" -,
No one spoke, and Kanuck brought
che beer mallet down or the bar VIII
force that made the youngster jump
No exceptions being taken, hahuck
proceeded: 49,,
81 reckon you all know how TINS kid
came to Dickinson-father died on inc
Blue Mountain stage-nothin TO zen
who he was-no money in his clo'es-kid
not able to spin his own yarn-consc-
kently, dumped onto this ~big-henrted
community of Dickinson an specially
Injun Sam, the haIf-breed, who took
him in and was 'lowin' to bring MN
up. That was q year ago. Now wi'htS
the condition o thingsf a hlEbt
Sam crossed the divide, done up by no
count Hank Andrews an a Colt forty
four. Judge Lynch took care o Hank
this mornin'. but here's the kid. ln)un
Sam owed the doctor In CorkerEliie,
count O. the kid. s0methin' like NIFTY
plunkers; he owed Forty-rod Fred Il
bar bill of twenty more, an odds an
ends round town to make up an even
hundrd. We don't think the kidll
bring so high a price, but the highest
bidder gets him. an If the hundr'd dol
lar mark amt reached each creditor or
Sans realizes aCc0rdin'. Now, hen
who's the first bidder? Start the ball,
gents. Nice ~kid-ucyer heard him cry
in my life. Who gets the first whnck?"
Oklahoma Hill, who wanted the
youngster aboHt as badly ms he wanted
a white elephant. counted his money
and put in n bid of $3.50.
RAISE We threean' Il half" said One
eyed Billings.
Oklahoma Bill promptly unbuckled
his pistol-helt and laid it on the bar.
Cost ME forty In Heleny." he re-
marked, deiiantly; IF tit go here mt
twenty, I'll see Billings an go him ten
better"
"Golng ut twenty" cried Kanuck,
nourishlng his beer mallet; AR you all
done? He's dirt cheap Mt that. Why,
! wouldn't play it so low down on an
1njun kid as to sell it at that figger"
"Fifty dOllnTs!'
THIS bid was made by Gentleman
Jim, the gambler.
ENtTi tif lp'bAttl at NM.
What the deuce do you want with a
Kid of that ~calibcr?" asked Forty-roj
Fred.
Pm down on my luck and l want II
mascot"
Hold on a mint" yelled Oklahoma
Bill; "I1l horny money enough ter beat
that raise"
He dashed out of the saloon. In a
few minutes he came back and bid $50.
"Seventy-ive," said Gentleman jim;
"'Ill have the boy If 1t takes n thots-
and"
THAT does me-" muttered Bill, ms he
buckled on his pistol belt.
"Goin', goin', goin'," said Kanuck,
his beer mallet poised in air; ARE We
all done? Sold to Gentleman Jim for
seventy-hve,"
The beer mallet fell and the deal was
closed.
Say" whispered Oklahoma Bill as
Gentleman Jim left the saloon with the
kid over his arm, 'can I come down
and play with the leetle duffer CASTOR.
Certainly, Bill-any time"
"'Bliged ter ye," and Bill balanced
plug of tobacco on his hose until
the ycungster got out Of sight.
As Gentleman Jim crossed the foot
spanning the stream that lay
between Dickinson and his cabin in
Blacksnaka Hollow the moonlight quiv-
cred upon the upturned edges of the
waves like an ever-shifting network Of
gold; and the stars above seemed
in the net below. The night
was still save for the chirping crickcts
and the harsher notes Of the frogs.
These sounds seemed to awaken n lone
Illness in the gamblers breast. He paus-
ed, leaned on the hand-rail, looking
into the water. Suddenly he drew
package from his pocket and dropped
into the stream. Then he turned and
continued on his way with a iirmer
stride while the words mo more"
broke from his lips In IN undertouc.
Opening the door of the cabin In the
Hollow, he found n dim light Burning
III tue tdule anu IL HihHi SHluhluEt Stl-
ing by the bed and watching the Tea
of a sleeping child.
"Bill?"
soft. ole man. the kids asleep
oklahoma TIL got up.
"Look-ee thar" he went IN, motion.
ng toward the bed; talk about yer
herubses-they amt in 1t with that
re. I've been a'settin' right thar,
Ike n lump on a log, watchin' them
leepin' features, an l swear, Jim, t
vas as good as a sermon"
Gentleman Jim caught Bilrs hand
nd led him 10 the other side of the
Dom.
Il want to talk with you, Bill. Sit
own here"
What's up, Jim? Ye're GUNNER n
ever seen ye."
I've taken that youngster to raise, |
II"
We have, Jim. Ye promised me
ant more'n a month ago, just arter We
ut up that seventy five an got him."
Yes, yes. We've taken him to raise.
he question is this; We're morally re-
ponstble for that lads w~elfare?"
'Sartin,' said BIN, refectively, as he