The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-12
!" p * r d S
By MARY TALBOT CAMPBELL

most fainting child, but knew with whom
he had to deal.
Jack, on the square. would We take
me?"
Bet yer boots, kid! But yer pa"
He slid out las week. Said he'd had
to shift for myself
Jack acted we'll the surprise he didn't
feel and offered a horny right hand to
seal the bargain. Inwardly he was Won
dering how on earth he was to get the
boy up the steep, rocky strait to his cabin.
what do you weigh, Billy?" s<.sr--'
bout eighty pounds" ..e.< 80.
'Well. would you do a Teller a favor?"
Cert
"You see, I've got bet with Bud Grow
that can tote seventy-five pounds with
out stoppin' from here to my cabin, an
so If you don't object I'll tote you, bein'
as yer legs would wrap round me an
make it easier than dead weight"
20. X, Jack! But jes' homes, maybe I
don't weigh eighty now" -.
Jack rose hurriedly. Clearing his throat
and stopping in front of Billy, he backed
close up, reaching his hands over his
shoulders, saying gayly:
"All aboard pard. or weuns ii be late
for dinner at the mine"
Two cold little hands took his and then
clasped themselves about his neck as,
with a great unlimbering, Jack arose.
catching the skinny legs about his waist.
They were in the rocky road leading to
the Eureka and Sunburst properties.
owned by ''Unlucky Jack" Billy thought
the wind must be high as the world waved
before him and the signing voice of the
pines field his ears.
AS Billy's head fell dead weight Jack
caught the slipping fingers and, stumbling
on, made all possible speed up the trail.
The boys weight seemed to grow as the
dizzy way led ever higher the slide rock
| making the footing difficult
One more steep turn, and the little cabin
came in sight. Jack staggered on to the
door, the sweat pouring from him, and
| dropped the inert boy upon his bunk.
Looking down at the child. the strangely
gray look on his face frightened him.
Shaking him, he cried: Billy! Kid! An
swer me, man.
| He seized whisky bottle and forced a
little between the boys teeth, a faint sigh
answering his effort. He. rubbed both
face and hands with the fiery stuff, and
soon had the brown eyes smiling UP into
his anxious blue ones.
"You jes' wait. pard," he cried blithey.
"till get some grub inside you!"
| Rushing to the stove, he soon had the
fire burning and water on for coffee. Bread
| and bacon were slung on the table, all
with great clatter and cheerfulness.
"Jack!' came faint cry.
Turning, the man was awed by the look
on the lads face, and with one stride he
had him In his arms. trying to lift him
into some position easier for the poor
fainting heart, over which Billy's hand
was tightly clutched. Jack urged more
whisky, but the boy refused.
mo, Jack, thank We! 1t was a short
shift with We, pard, but-a-happy one!
Hold my hand Tight
Jack held tenderly the trembling, icy
hand.
MY little ticksrs runnin' down-Jack
l-ma-uster say it was the only weak
thug about her Billy boy I alus knew
I might go suddint The doc said this
place was-too near heaven for little
sinner like ne, an pa wouldn t-couldn'i
, take me lower"
Jack, with rough shamefacedness
kissed the boy on the brow and rubbed his
hair the wrong way. The brown eyes
shone with sweet comprehension, gazing
up lovingly into the blue ones flooded with
manly tears. The voice began more
family, with many pauses:
"Pa allus said. there want no heaven
but ma-she said there was-an' I jes
want to say that eff she's right-an' eff
she's staked me out-a claim-.Tn go "
halvers. Jack. old pard: So maybe Y.
, won-more-nor yer bet-when we helped
her Billy boy-over-the-range.
Soon after the camp rang with the ricl
t strike of Jack Mccormick on the Eureka
, 1t was when he sought last resting plac,
for his ''pard" that he found the paying
lead