Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-06-03
GENTLEMAN JIM'S MASCOT.

i
their silver boxes. the croupiers left
their roulette wheels and the gamblers
broke off their games at the poker ia
blcs. Every man crowded around the
bar and, strange to say, 1t was not TOT
q drink. Old Kanuck was going to de-
liver himself of q speech; but 1t was MS
theme rather than the speech itself
which drew the profound attention OF
everyone In the saloon.
One of Kanuck's hands Cfor the puf'
pose, probably, Of emphasizing Ms re-
marks) welded beer mallet. The eth
ed hand rested upon the curly head OF
q bright-eyed youngster Of years. who
nat on the bar and persisted In grinnins
at Oklahoma Bill, n cowboy with a
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
Ladies nothin'w broke In One-eyed
Billings; none here"
II said ladies'" went on Kanrck'
with dignity, IAN say it ag'in. Anyone
take exceptions"
No one spoke, and Kanuck brought
the beer mallet down on the bar with
4 force that made the yOungster jump.
No exceptions being taken, kanuck
proceeded:
"I reckon you all know how this Kid
came to Dickinson-father died on the
Blue Mountain stage-nothln 10 ten
VINO he was-no money In his clio es-kiu
not able to spin his own yarn-conse-
kentIy, dumped onto this big-hearted
community of Dickinson an 'specialiy
Injun Sam the half-breed, who took
him in and was 'lowin' to bring MIN
up. That was year ago. Now WHAT'S y
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. lnjun
Sam owed the doctor in Corkeryliie.
count o. the kid. sOmethin' like hity
plunkers; lie owed Forty-rod Fred n
bar bill of twenty more, an ODDS an
ends round town to make up an even
hundr'd. We don't think the kidil
bring so high price. but the highest
bidder gets him, an if the hundr'd dol
lar mark amt reached each creditor or
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 whackt"
Oklahoma Bill, who wanted the
youngster about as badly as he wanted
a white elephant, counted his money
and put in bid OF $3.50.
"Raisc ye three an n helf," said One
eyed Billings.
Oklahoma Bill promptly unbuckled
his pistol-beIt and laid it on the bar.
Cost me forty In Heleny," he re-
marked, dcfiantly; IF tit go here ut
twenty. I'll see Billings an go him ten
better"
Going at twenty" cried Kanuck,
hourishing his beer mallet; ARE you all
done? He's dirt cheap at that. Why,
] wouldn't play it so low down on an
Iniun kid as to sell it at that figger!"
Fifty d0llars!'
This bid was made by Gentleman
Jim, the gambler.
one ItNktu HILL
What the deuce do you want with n
kId Of that caliberf" asked FOrty-roj
Fred.
Pm down on my luck and I want ~
mascot"
Hold on n minitr' yelled Oklahoma
Bill; III borry money enough ter beat
that raise"
He dashed out of the saloon. In n
few minutes he came back and bid 500
"Seventy-five." said Gentleman jim:
I'll have the boy If it takes a thous-
and"
Tint does me-" muttered Bill, as he
buckled on his pistol belt.
Coin, goin', goin'," said Kanuck,
his beer mallet poised I'm air; ARE ye
all done? Sold to Gentleman Jim for
seventy five"
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 l come down
and play with the leetle duffer 'casion.
aliy?"
Certainly, Bill-any time"
obliged ter ye." and Bill 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 that lay
between Dickinson and his cabin in
Blacksnake Hollow the moonlight Quiv-
cred upon the upturned edges Of the
WIVES like an ever-shifting network of
gold; and the stars above seemed
caught in the net below. The night
was still save for the chirping crickets
and the harsher notes Of the frogs.
These sounds seemed to awaken lone
illness in the gamblers breast. He paus-
cd, leaned on the hand-rail. looking
down into the water. Suddenly he drew
n package from his pocket and dropped
II into the stream. Then he turned and
continued on his way with n hrmer
stride while the words mo mOre,"
broke from his lips In an undertone.
Opening the door of the cabin in the
Hollow, he found dim light burning
on the table and a mGn, smoking, sill
ting by the bed and watching the lea
lures of n sleeping child
"Bll?'
soft. ole man. the kids asleep"
CBranoma TIT got up.
"Look-ee thar" he went on, motion
ing toward the bed; talk about yer
rherubses-they amt in it with that
re. I've been a'settin' right thar,
IKE lamp on log, watchin' them
sleepin' features. nm l swear, Jim, t
Eas us good a n Sermon
Gentleman Jim caught Bits hand
and led him TO the other side of the
tUom.
Il want to talk with you. Bill. Sit
down here
What's up. Jim? Ye're GUNNER n
ever seen ye."
I've taken that youngster to raise.
lu