The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-08

tOlloiloM' why
.Here's bubble for ST Warner, who is
blasting in the hills near Humboldt, and
if you'll take it over can get to ogder
before night"
"Well, leave it. I'll take coed keer o.
it,
"All right Jake. Good-by.
"Good-by."
| stood in the cabin door and watched
the stage rattle off Before sunrise next
morning we started. I'd ruther Of taker
anyone else but Tenderfoot, for he was
looking kinder done out. But the Others
were busy and I couldn't 90 alone. The
The ponies were fresh and the air sweet
with the perfume of the flowers. | kept
my eye on Tenderfoot, for | saw he was
dreaming again. A queer look used to
come over his face sometimes and he would
shut his teeth hard, as though he was trying
to keep something back. Soon the sun
shot up over the edge of the prairie.
Then he turned in his saddle, and said:
cake, I'm glad you took me with you,
for there's something | want to tell you.
This is my last trip. Pm going east when
we get back to the ranch"
Well, says, "you amt so well looking
lately. What's the matter? Don't the
fellers on the ranch treat you good, Tender
foot?'
cit isn't that, But somebody love is
waiting for me beyond that edge of light
yonder, and am going back to her.
''Your mother?''
"No; another woman"
getting out of the grass land into the sage
near the alkali. The glare of the sun was
awful and the water in the cans hang
ing to the saddles was getting hot. But
we pulled our hats down over our eyes and
keeping the ponies heads due north
pushed on. The bundle for Warner was
tied with lot of other stuff to Tender
foot's saddle. Pretty soon he says to me:
"Jake, what in the bundle?"
''Powder for Warner who is blasting in
the hills"
"Why didn't you tell me! It's danger
GUS work carrying it out in the open under
sun like this. Where did you get ?"
"Michals on the stage gave it to me yes
terday. I've taken it before. Give it to
me if you re scared"
"No," he says, kinder slow; "you ought
to know if you have done it before. I'll
keep it right here
Then he got to dreaming again. l was
getting tired of waiting for him to tell me
what he promised, but didn't like to speak
up and bring it about. When twilight
came over the Humboldt hills, five miles
off, we halted. built great smudge to
keep away the flies and mosquitoes, and
Tenderfoot got the supper. Then we lit
our pipes. We had to wait for the moon
to rise before we could push on. The wind
began blowing pretty hard and Tender,
foot's pony was running loose about 100
feet from him with the bundle still tied to
the saddle. Once | got up to take it off
but-there wasn't any danger. I'd taken
the stuff before. But it wouldn't take
much. spark from the smudge!
"Jake."
T9nderfoot had emptied his pipe and was
sitting on the other side of the fire, his
eyes looking into mine.
cake, | never told anybody on the
ranch about myself but it's just six years
ago tonight since l left home and Pm
going to tell you why
81 can guess 1t was that other woman,
wasn't it %
eyes. The same old story; drink and
cards. One day she says to me- Dick,
this is YOU last chance. | can stand the
liquor, but the cards won't. | promised
her I'd stop, but the next night went home
worse than ever. She met ne at the door,
her eyes all red with crying, and says; A
woman can't put up with everything, even
if she does love man. | am tired of try
ing to bring you out of the ways of dark
ness into the light, but can't. Dick, you
and had better part. But I love you,
Dick! | love you! l didn't wait for her
to finish that sentence, but rushed out of
the house and never stopped till | got to
Bryce's where | used to play. And that
night | did play. BY midnight I lost
every dollar | had. Then | staked the
home and lost that, too. Then, Jake, |
put her fathers name on piece OF paper
and it went with the rest. The fellow that
had it all says: You'd better get out of
Gainesville by morning, or they'll put you
behind the bars for this
"If ! had been all right | would have
stayed and braved it out, but | was a
coward. The worst kind, Jake, because
was afraid of myself. A freight had pulled
in at the station and had got on and rode
as far as Chicago. From there | worked
my way to this ranch But | am going
home now, with all the money to paw
those debt; going back after six years of
darkness into the light beyond the prairies
back to the woman | love-"
1t must have been hawk that fright.
ened Tenderfoot's pony. l saw him give q