Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-06-06
N unusual proceeding was going


their silver boxes, the croupiers LETT
their roulette wheels and the gamblers
broke of their games at the poker tn.
bles, Every man crowded around the
bar and, strange to say, 1t was not for
q drink. Old Kanuck was going to de-
liver himself Of speech; but 1t was ME
theme rather than the speech itseit
which drew the profound attention OF
everyone In the saloon.
One Of Kanuck's hands (for the pur-
pose, probably, Of emphasizing his re-
mnrkS welded beer mallet. The 9TH
ed hand rested upon the curly head OF
a bright.eyed yOungster Of years, VINO
ant on the bar and persisted In grinning
Mt Oklahoma Bill, cowboy with o
record Of two right there in Dickinson,
four In the Bad Lands. and heaven
only knows how many during the Ok'
lahoma "rush."
Kanuck cleared his throat impress
sively.
Ladies an gents" he began. =.
"l,adies nothin'w broke In One.cyed
Billings; none here"
~ said ladies'" went on Knnuck'
with dignity. AN I say 1t ag'in. Anyone
take exceptionsY"
No one smoke, and Kanuck brought
che beer mnllct down on the bar with
4 force that made the youngster jump.
No exceptions being taken, Kanuck
proceeded:
~ reckon you all know ROW this Kid
came to Dickinson-father died on the
Blue Mountain stagc-notlin to tel
VINO he was-no money In his clo'es-kid
not able to spin his own ynrn-conse.
kently, dumped onto this big-hearted
community Of Dickinson an specially
Injun Sam, the half.brced, who took
him In and was 'l0win' to bring him
up. That was a year ago. Now what's
the condition O. things? Las night
Sam crossed the divide. done up by no
count Hank Andrews an Colt forty
four. Judge Lynch took care o Hank
this mornin', but here's the kid. InJun
Sam owed the doctor In Corkcrville.
count O. the kid. somethin' like nifty
plunkers; he owed Forty.rod Fred q
bar bill Of twenty more. an odds an
ends round town to make up an even
hundr'd. We don't think the kidll
bring 20 high a price. but the highest
bidder gets him. an II the hundr'd dol
lar mark amt reached each creditor Of
Sans realizes accordin'. Now, then.
who's the first bidder? Start the ball,
gents. Nice kid-never heard him cry
In my life. Who gets the first whackY'
Oklahoma Bill who wanted the
youngstcr about as badly AZ lie wanted
. white elephant. counted his money
and put In bid Of $3.50.
"Raise ye three an hail." said One.
eyed Billings.
Oklahoma Bill promptly unbuckled
his pistol-belt and laid 1t on the bar.
"Cost me forty In Heleny," he re.
marked, defantly; III 1T 70 here ut
twenty. Ill see Billings an 20 him ten
better"
"Going at twenty" cried Kanuck.
fodrishing his beer mallet; ARE you all
done? He's dirt cheap ut that. Why.
wouldn't play It 80 low down on IN
Injun kid rs to sell It at that hgger"
"Fifty dollars!'
This bid was made by Gentleman
Jim, the gambler.
Every one looked at him.
What the deuce do ycM want with
kid Of that caliberY' asked Forty.rod
Fred.
"I'm down on my luck and want u
mascot"
"Hold on q minitw yelled Oklahoma
Bill; "l'll borry money enough ter bea,
that raise"
He dashed out Of the saloon. In a
few minutes he came back and bid son.
Seventy Ave-" said Gentleman jim;
'I'll have the 10y II It takes thous'
and"
''That does me-" muttered Bill, a. he
buckled on his pistol belt.
"Goin', goin', goin'," said Kanucl,
his beer mallet poised In air; ARE 80
oil done? Sold to Gentleman Jim fol
seventy.nve."
The beer mallet fell and the deal waa
closed.
"say," whispered Oklahoma Bill Al
Gentleman Jim left the saloon with the
kid over his arm, "can I come down
and play with the leetle duifer 'casiOn
ailyT"
Certainly. Bill-any time"
"'Bliged ter ye," and Bin balanced
his plug of tobacco on his nose until
the youngster got out Of sight. .
As Gentleman Jim crossed the foot
bridge spanning the stream TINT lay
between Dickinson and his cabin II
Blacksnakc Hollow the moonlight quiv
cred upon the upturned edges Of thu
waves like an ever-shifting network Of
gold; and the stars above seemed
caught In the net below. The nigh,
was still save for the chirping cricketi
and the harshcr notes of the frogs
These sounds seemed to awaken lone
illness In the gamblers breast. He paus
ed, leaned ON the hand-rail, looking
down into the water. Suddenly he drew
o package from his pocket and dropped
It into the stream. Then he turned ant
continued on his way with q firme
stride while the words "No more
broke from his lips In an undertone.
Opening the door of the cabin In lh'
Hollow, he found dim light burning
on the table and man, smoking, Sit
ting by the bed and watching the leu
lures OF sleeping child.
"Bill?"
"Soft. ole man. tho kids asleep"
Oklahoma Bill got up.
4 To-