The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-01

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DEAR N \ y I;M,,r r2 2H,, GOT HURT,
in the saddle, and one might ulmos,
swear that tiny hands clutched the maine
from time to time.
And now from behind large stump
appeared head It had on it broad
brimmed, mouse-colored sombrero, ehi
broidered about the edge; with silk cords
dangling from the sides. n fierce, scowl
ing face peercd down into that quiet val
on the peaceful horse. One hand merry
ously twirled coarse, black mustache
| while the other played with the trigger
of a gun. Wonder was expressed in
! every feature from the arch above the
eyebrows to the mouth which puckered
itself into q silent whistle. The mouth
did not look cruel now. 1t is strange
| cross each other, and how in some faces
there is implac cable feud between the two
lymph. If any sojer or gov'nment
| cusS hez got ahead o me, I'll have the
drop on him ez sure as he's born crit
ter Presently the look of wonder in
| creased to curious astonishment:
I'll. it hain't the bebby! No use TO,
| this he tapped modern repeating
rifle, Ito git the land, you bet"
Grlzzly Jim stood face to face with
| Wee, the baby boomer. The child's biz
violet; eyes looked contidingly upon thai
reprobate.
"Dr me dink-o-watah." The tiny face
croSra as 4sd it were S to theI
| mummer?'
For the first time the, thought of tina,
dastardly shot crossed Grizzly Jim's
| mind. He was SO used to deeds of vic.
lehce that they did not easily prick his
leather conscience. What could he dc
before a .baby7 Bravado was useless
He looked into the trusting face of the
thing he could. He took from hi his G hof(
ster Il tin canteeil, went to the brook and
, returned.
F., ''rank Co.," cooed the baby. Then
after short pause. during which hun.
; dred expressions Indicating indecision
/ passed and repassed the mans dark
face. the child went on:
Takc me down, Use tired"
! The strong hand tenderly unstrapped
the baby girl and he took her in his arms
to set her on the ground; but she chung
to his neck
.1ou'sc a goody man; tiss me-"
why was it that Grizzly Jim uncon-
| ss:iously elected the cud Of tobacco from
his mouth and wiped his stained lips
! upon his sleeve and blushed-yes, blushed
before he touched Wees peach-likc
! cheek:
Use so tired-Jerrv iipolod ~.
| Where's hummer? l tink do to sleep. y
And there and then Wee laid her curly
head upon the rough corduroy shoulder
and went to sleep as if upon her mothers
breast
WALL Jim. you're euchered this trip,
an ", no mlsta ke-l wonder whar the boys
be: muttered the man as he carefully
sat down upon stone. He looked Mt
the sleeping child in his arms. In his
belt were two pistols and bowie-knife.
At his feet was Il rifle. Yet never had
he been so disarmed since--sincc a baby
! of his own had nestled thcre--oh, SO
many years ago: What wild night
wife Senseless, for throwing the whisky
'out OF the window; had given his baby
girl one last hasty kiss and had ridden
| away. never to return. Afterwards he
read III a paper that the baby died in !;
week. 1t was twenty years since he had
held baby. and all that time he had
mover received from any creature a touch
of confidence or love-
Il couldn't hey killed this critters
nanny: ! never aimed on her. He
cOnSoled himself with that thought. Al
this moment hoofs wcrc heard in the dis
! lance.
THE bobby shall hev her claim if !
| hoy to stake it with my lfe." whispered
Grizzly Jim. lie laid the child down
! t cav upon the grass. lie ran for
the spade and dug into the rich soil with
quick energy: Shouts were now heard
"lahoo! Iahoo:" They came nearer.
PART RI
r., IF it amt Grizzly jim! Beat by
| Grizzly Jim again, boys! Pony ur; Jim
Wen let you off cheap.'
There were three Of these despera.
does who looked with pride upon the
man holding the. spade. Was he not
their leader in the lnaraudng exuctli-
ton! Had he not outdone them in law
llessllcss. and proved his superiority? Had
he not violently staked his claim in the
richest soil in Oklahoma!
Hush! Keep quiet, you galoots! You'll
wake the bebby!" said jim, sterniy.
pointing to the sleeping child.
Il thought you killed him." said one
of the three, indicating in disappointed
tone Jerry's empty saddle.
This is the bebby's claim, an don't
you forgit it, and the first Teller that
tries to jump it, I'll jump on him like a
too
SO said Grizzly Jim, patting his belt
with the security of one who could split
bullet with knife blade fifty yards.
The three retired to consult. Presently
err warning gesture from jim:
He'an you a-going to stay here?'
You bet"
How long?''
It'll the bebby hez her claim fer sure
-p,raps aluz."
Dye mean it,, Grizzly jim? An yer
pockets could bulge in three days wild
You fellers kin go Oman go to bust
II shall stay her with the bebby, SO
| help me- Jim's face turned toward
the baby. and then, for the first time
since he could remember, he pronounced
with reverence the awful name of God.
firmly beside the child. His rifle was
in his hand: His word was as good as
his aim. Everybody knew that. The
| baff1ed men murmured and made a
scanty show of disrespect Their old
| leaders strange freak and stern face
Disconnected them, and soon enough they
grumblingly rode out of the valley to
Jim heaved a mighty sigh; his mouth
| twitched; he leaned low over his charge.
Fur yer mammys sake-an' my own
bebby's sake--so help me God" Then lie
reverent]y kissed the child.
-
True to his mothers directions, Bub
kept straight for the river. The child
had not gone four miles before he saw a
sight which was not infrequent in that
lawless territory where over 10000
boomers were struggling for less than
! 1000 homesteads. Among this throng
were those who were some of the old
| original boomers, who knew Oklahoma
as we'll as you do your garden. When
these find any "tenderfoot'' or newcomer
ahead Of them, they treat him as a
tresspasser upon their own property.
One of this class, who considered any
part of the opened territory as his owl,
original inheritance, had come across a
young fellow of 20, occupying a fine bit
of prairie which he had rightfully pre-.
cmpted. He had dug his dirt, and now