The Washington weekly post., 1900-03-13
LITTLE jim.
BY NJ. QUAD.

There were five men Of us and a boy in
the lar Western stage coach as IL rolled
over the rough reads of Dakota We had
been together for four days. We called
the boy Jim because his father Cid We
knew his father 10 be Col. Weston bank
er. cattleman and mine owner. He
wasn't A man-the colonel-whom a stran-
ger would take to at first glance, and
even after four days of his company
none of us could say we liked him. Most
self-made men of the West are demo-
cratic and approachabe The colonel was
naughty and reserved and evidently felt
himself made OF superior clay When you
came to study him closely you saw that
he was reyengeful and relentless. The
boy was frank, clipper and good-natured
and you took liking 10 him a soon as
you looked into his big blue eyes. His
age was about ten, and he had wit and
knowledge beyond his years. We had yet
twenty miles 10 go to reach the terminus,
and the hour was about O'Clock In the
afternoon, when the coach came to a
sudden halt as 1t toiled up hill. Next
moment the driver called to US:
"All you folks what Cont want your
heads blown off had better git down and
line up. We've bin stopped by a road
agent"
We had arms in plenty, but no one
moved TO resist. Every bullet fired by
the rosoer would bore Its way through
the coach and find target. while he had
the cover OF the horses and was safe from
our hre IL seems cowardly when you
read OF H. but TO get down and submit 10
De robbed was the wisest thing 10 do un-
der the circumstances. Little Jim was not
Dit frightened. On the contrary, he
rather enjoyed the situation. II was not
so with the colonel / saw him turn pale
and heard him cursing under his breath.
ana ne was the :ast man TO get down
The roDher had a double-barreied shot
gun In his hands. He cautioned the driver
10 hold the coach where IL was, and then
advanced upon ua He glanced careIessly
into each face until his eyes rested on the
coioneL Then he gave sudden start
Drew In his breath with a gasp. and We
realized that there was recognition. The
colonel grew white under his look and be-
gan 10 tremble. The boy had lined UP be-
side MS rather AS the road agent looked
doWn INTO MS face, the Lad cried out:
why IT'S Mr. Pelton-Mr. Peltonl Say,
M Peltoh, I'm awfully glad 10 gee you
" hereVe you been this long timer
30 IT'S you, jimmy laughed the rob
Der. as he held out his hand for d shake.
We'll. you have been growing since |
saw you last It's a wonder YOU knew
me at first sight"
''oh. / used to like you 50 well I
Couldn't forget your face" replied the
boy. Are there robbers around. Mr. Pei
ton?'
With gentle hand the man pushed the
boy BACK into line and then stepped back
a pace or two As he did so his face grew
very sober. and / saw fash in his black
eyes dId not Ike. His voice was low ana
steady "a he finally said:
I'm much obliged for your uroront,ess
IN cHmDing down and lining up. and
think ~ let you OF this time. The four
Of yOd Eiay get back into the stage ana
90 on I'm leaving your guns with you
but dor't atteript 70 play me- any tr,ck .
The colonel took his son By the hard and
attempted 70 enter the stage with us br,f
the rooeer rnotioned him back
What 90 you want OF mer' asked
the eoionei IN voice that 9uavered
III tell you later" vas the reply
AZ the crach started on We looked oui 70
see the three standing IN the road IIftIe
Jim sttA had hold Of his fathers hand bu,
hae reached out the other and caught the
Irboers sleeve When Ne had gone two
them from our view Al our d.sspfearzncs
the man turned on Col. Weston ana point
60 70 the hillside on the right and said:
''AoVe on that say Jimmy. give me
your hand and I'll heip you along"
The vhits-f1cod colonel entered tbe
pine-. and held a straight course % the
hill. Behind him came the rob1er and his
son The boy had been full Of curiosity
at first. bat presently he was awsa and
frightened by the looks cast upon his ia
,her. Two or three year, before he ana
Mr. Pelt0n had been great friends NJ
Pelion had been manager for his father
One day there had been a bitter quarrel
pistols had been frswn-the zhsriY haa
rushed IN. and Mr.. Pelton had fed 10 eE-
caH- arrest He remembered his father
calling the fugitive a thief, and or men be.
ing sent out TO hunt him down Ali this
came back 70 him az they followed the
father Up the rough way. and though. he