Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-04-06
knlves. Then Robertson ram in and

| were set i'll kind of triSmuS; he could
not speak. But out of his mouth came
foam and out of his eyes fire. He
caught Robertson by the body and lift
ed him up. The Englishman stared
! him full in the face.
You are hurting me, you damned
tool.' he said in n quick, sharp voice.
And jeans face cleared up. He put
Jack down quite gravely and began to
dust the alkali off him. Then he smiled
and looked foolish. Jack put his arm
in jeans arm and marched him off to
the Suardroom. The others came be-
hind without word. They locked the
two friends up together, but in half an
hour Jack knocked at the heavy door of
his adobe prison.
He's all right now, and fast asleep"
said Jack as he went off.
In the morning jeans penitence was
heartbreaking to see; a child could
have whipped him. He almost cried
when the young lieutenant bullied him,
and he swore to be Il good boy for ever
after. This he kept for quite long
time-almost a month.
Jean said Robertson one day, as
they sat outside when the sun had gone
down, you are laundering thick
headed, goodhearted idiot, and one of
these days you will make me mad, and
| shall just talk to you as you deserve"
Yes" said Jean with a smile, Il
ought to be kicked"
But who's to kick you? We shall
have to hire Mexican Joes mule. He's
kicker and will knock the stufling
out of you too quick"
And the youngster laughed. 1t pleas
ed him curiously to be the only one who
could speak to Baptiste, or handle the
man when he was drunk. For he had
good grit, and it gave him a certain re
sponsiblity and duty that helped to
steady him.
How did you ever come to enlist in
this cursed army?" said Jack. You
are about as fit for cavalryman as |
am to be general"
II came into Santa Fe dead broke"
said Jean, and they asked me, and |
said Yes because it was so difficult to
get work, and l was hungry. And peo-
pie down here are so hard"
They are So" said Jack. II know
It,"
And why did you join?" asked Bap-
tiste.
"Because l was busted and fool
and hungry and disheartened." said
Jack, angrily; "and I've good mind 10
get up and get right now
mo, no. said Jean. Il would be very
lonely here, You are my only friend"
And he put his enormous fist on
lacks shoulder. The boy turned round
on him with n smile.
You're bully good chap Baptiste,
and I'll stick it out with you till our
times up. And then, Baptiste, will you
go home"
Jean got up and leant against the wall
| Of the store. They We're sitting at the
back of the building on log. He turn
I'd his face away.
"No," he said, mot yet. am afraid"
"Afraid?"
Yes. | should kill them"
He meant the woman he had loved
and her lover. Long ago he had told
Jack the story, with the tears running
down his face. For this man had cheat
ed him out of his fathers Inheritance.
and thereby Of girl, too. who had
been bought so Jean said, with his own
money.
Il should go la tx 10 do it," said Jack
somberly. For he had vindictive
mind.
Il cannot" said Jean, 'for love her
still"
"Then | would kill him." was Jacks
suggestion.
But she loves him."
Likely she has got over that by
now," said the youthful eynic of %.
Anyhow it would be good thing TO
do
You don't understand" said Jean.
IF l hurt anyone l loved l could not
live"
YOU'RE bully good sort. JEAN" said
Jack, and they relapscd into silence.
For these two in that hideous, unnatur-
al hole really loved each other.
When that long, dry, somber month
Of August was over, and the alkali dust
was thicker than ever, Baptiste started
in again at the drink, and Jack couldn't
keep him away from it. But he escort.
ed him to the guardroom three times in
the month, and thereby saved some
lives, and then Raptiste got letter
from Montreal that drove him wild.
Jack found him out on the plain roll
ing in the dust and tearing up the sage
| brush with his hands. The man looked
terrible and ludicrous. for he had been
crying bitterly, and the dust marked his
red face in patches till he looked like
circus clown who. had not touched his
paint for Il week. And when he saw
Jack he shouted to him: Keep away,
Jack, ] shall kill you, | shall kill you"
SO Robertson sat down thirty yards
off ana watched him. Baptiste kept his
face turned away, and Jack heard him
groan. Presently he rose and began
hunting for little bits of paper. He