The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-04-04

and Teddy were studying over the
round yellow dollar the tall man had
thrown on the table.
The two horsemen had pushed four
miles in the teeth of the storm before
they spoke Of the twins. They had
stopped under shelter of an overhang-
ing rock to tighten up gtrths and to
gather fresh strength from the TASKS
which they drew from their hip pock-
cts. The shorter man leaned YEARLY
against his faithful horse.
Seems q good many years, Jim,
sence the ole lady filled our stockin's
an told US stuff about Santa Claus.
What was 1.-THE night before Christ
masr Great stuff we thought it."
Come on" said his companion anx-
iously. You'll be Off your nut direct
ly eff you don't get some Quinine or
somethin'."
1--WE got an idee when we strike
Golden We'll buy somethln' sides qui-
nine" He groaned slightly and clutch
ed at his side.
It'll lie oox 6 by eff you don't get
move on" growled the tall man.
His companion looked up with
smile that almost TRANSPORTED his face.
Don't get grouchy. Jim. We're goin'
ter meet Santa Claus down ter Browns
store an drop his pack by that cabin
on the Fort Kane trail. It's resk, l
know"-this Us he noted the angry
light In the others eyes-"but Lord,
them two youngsters has about cried
their eyes out. an'-well. you remem-
Der when the ole lady filed our stock
iR's, jim"
The tall man threw himself into his
saddle, but he did not answer even
with an oath.
II was nearly morning In a mar
row room at the Golden hotel. A
smoky lamp gave forth a sickly beam
Of light, which In turn fell upon
CHASTITY bearded face. The short man
was breathing fast now and with an
ugly gurgle in his throat. Suddenly
he turned toward the grim watcher by
his bedside. and in his eyes was the
pathetic yearning Of child.
"It amt no use ter send fer the doc
tor, Jim. 1t only means bein' hauled
off ter jail ter die. know 1t all right.
It's pneumony. An the first marshal
as Chaps eyes on you will clap some
thin else on your wrists" A grin of
humor shone even through the dying
mans agony. Fer the sake of the ole
lady. Jim. don't forget them kids. Drop
off at that cabin. sure, an then make
tracks. fer when they fin me they'll be
on your trail. Slong. Jimmy"
The tall man Strengthened up as If
the name he had not heard in years,
Jimmy" hurt him. He picked up the
other mans coat and took from its
pockets some odd shaped. knobby bun
dies. Then he came back to the bed
side and gripped the hand that lay out
side the gray blanket.
II can't do it. George: by heavens,
can'tw
Slowly the sick man opened his eyes.
Fer Gods sake. man. it's bad enough
fer me ter die. but ter see you took by
the deputies'- A shudder ran over
the dying mans frame. go on, jim
MY. an'-an'-don't forget them kids"
The Cheyenne papers two days later
announced In glaring headlines that
the body Of Jim Cosgrove. one Of the
most notorious stage robbers Of the
Little Basin district. had been found In
Il hotol room at Golden. Deserted In
His Dying Hour by His Comrade." ran
one of the subheads.
And In the little cabin on the Fort
Kane trail two small boys were max
Ing merry with the gaudIest toys to be
purchased at Browns General Store
and eating more candy than they had
enjoyed In all the rest of their short
lives put together.