The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-29


strninlng herself powerfully: ~ only
left her for n minute. Here. You poor
thing! Drink, II you can. ri hold
you. Come. my little lad" gently to
the crippled boy; "let ME help; I'm
stronger than you. won't hurt her.
She needs womhn-a woman does,
when II comes 10 dying"
AZ this Jlncture the baby girl began
TO laugh and put her pink hands, open
Ing and shutting her little fingers rap
'aIaTmei" cried Wee. "Nlummer!
Dee mummer!
Lord have mercy on mel" walled
the dying woman, two OF 'em b1bles--
left In this awful place. why. can't
die. won't die!"
Grizzly Jim advanced suddenly: he
removed the soiled sotnbrerO from his
shaggy head: he sank upon one muddy
knee before MOOR c0dly.
"Marm." he said. bluntly,. II shot at
We: own TO I, meant TO hit another
woman. missed my dog-goned aim
for the fust time in twenty year"
A slight smile crossed the lips OF the
yellow -haired girl who held the dying
woman's head upon her broad, strong
breast: but she didn't look up. nor an
swer GrlZ2ly Jim. After an instnnts
silence she said In q low dice:
you've got the floor, you. SIR Keep
II. Drive ahead. She won't hold out
many Minutes
"All I've got TO say, marin. Is this
here" pursued Jim unsteady: 1--WE
done the mischief and I'll blde the COM
sequence. Yer horse nm yer bebby got
yer claim. an I'VE staked II fur 'em, an
by Heaven above us, marin. I'll keep Il
AN the young ones. too" The anguish
of the dying woman's face wrenched
this great resolve from the depth OF
that new tumult In inns soul, which
we call repentance.
"Goody mani" gurgled Wee, going
over to him with d lolllng, cnrving mo.
tion like kitten Of play with light
string. "30ody man. div Wee drink
o-watah. Mummur! Dee dee, mum
mer"
The woman's stlffenlng lips set them.
selves Into one word only
"Pray--pFayv'
Grizzly Jim looked at the strong girl.
The girl looked at Grizzly Jim.
II can't" she faltered. 1--WE forgot
ten how"
II darsnt," he muttered. 'T dun
know how
II do" said Bub. mamma taught
me-"
The boy folded his thin hands. srlmy
with tears. and In shrilly quavering
voice began:
snow / lay me down to sleep"
AT this moment the baby laughed
Ing OF that little laugh, poor Caddy'S
soul passed on. She smiled as she died
and 80 died most quietly.
The adventures covered the dead
matron's face: she did not speak. The
baby girl clrled against JlTl's breast,
and put ZIP her fingers and began to
play "Dnnbury Cross" on his cheek.
Jim bowed his barred bend over Wee.
so low that Il was impossible TO see his
eyes. Only Bub cried. and he made no
noise about Il. but walled In d low mon
otone. enough 10 break ones heart.
81 forgive you for drawing q bead on
ones. You took It so powerful hard.
won't tell the soldiers on you.
meant to-" said the yellow-haired girl.
softly, after few minutes pause. "My
claim IL stnked here. You keen your
distance. and II you want the baby
tended and the boy inended up, I'll do
It for you" Jim tried 10 smile at the
rough, generous woman, who, after all,
was so like himself In better impulses.
''DO yer think the boy 'ud trust me.
too?" He pointed at the lad. who, with
flowers on the covered body. The
feeble child looked up. He walked
manfully TO his mothers murderer.
81 dunno" said the boy, slowly. "I'll
try. I hain't got anybody else" he
sobbed.
Strange to say, Grizzly Jim kept his
word. a claim was duly flied at the
land office In the name Of Jim Coster,
In trust for Wee and Bub Korall. No
better claim has been entered. Okla.
hOmn respects the baby boomers
rights.
Now II fell that Jim's three compan-
ions were shot for theft next day In
Oklahoma by vigllence committee.
and Jim pondered much upon this fact
when he heard II. I'D hey been four"
ne muttered: "the bebby saved me-"
The dark deed he did and the shame
OF Il, proved his angels. In wild lives
like his. this sometimes happens. and
in Justice to our border life be II said
that such transformations always COM
mAnd the reverence they deserve.
1t was not past midsummer. yet a
risen In Wee Valley" A baby Girl
plays ut the door. A sad-eyed, SICILY
boy watches her as he cuts seed pota-
toes for Jim their guardian. to plant.
Both children look well fed and are
well dressed. Wee Is scrupuiously clean
and Bub Is c0nscIentiously mended.
When the new Bchoo. house opened In
the fall Bub and Wee formed the pri-
mary class. and It Is rumored that GrlZ-
civ Jim has -artially consented to be
superintendent Of the Sunday school
where the yellow -halreu girl plays the
melodeon.
"Flore," romance OF the times OF