Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-01-25
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EOR THE LOVE
OF A CHILD;
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BY IA. ii CLEVELAND.

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I have mentioned before that
Gentleman Ed Of Blue Duck low
| ed or cared for no woman. King
| Of all the gamblers that infested the.
territory, immaculate il dress and
speech, Chesterfield even when
circumst ances demanded that he
should kill, he turned his eyes nei-
ther to the right nor left for wom-
ans smile. The few that entered
Blue Duck in its best days received
no more attention from him than
did Mrs. Carter when Gentleman
Ed freed her from her husband un-j
der circumstances which the code of
TIE frontier justified. Yet, with the
exception Of his profession, this
man was all that a woman could
have desired. He neither sWore nor
drank. He was scrupulous In his
financial affairs. He was familiar
with the Greek and Latin, well vers-
ed in the English classics, an ex-
quisite performer on the guitar or
flute, a born horseman and as brave
man as ever rode the range.
A child, though, could move the
heart Of 'Gentleman" Ed where wo-
men and men failed. There were
few children in Blue Duck and few
er on the ranges that surrounded
the settlement. But they all knew
the gambler king, and they loved
him with all the intensity that the
child puts into its first passion. He
was the gentleman gallant" that
never failed them in any joy OF
woe. Many blistering winter morn
ing I have looked out Of the peep
hole in the frosted windows Of the
shack I worked in and watched
"Gentleman" Ed blowing through.
the drifts to the schoolhouse, child
on each shoulder, one on his back
and others clinging to the tails OF
his long fur coat. They were shout
ing, he laughing, and the spectacle
was one for the gods of the blizzard,
themselves to ENJOY. They could not
conquer this man. @
After N. K. Hubbard established
his private bank in Blue Duck there
came to the town a man who rep
resented his financial interests. He
brought with him his wife and lit
tie daughter, child Of eight years.
The mother stayed close by the
home, for there was no Society" in
Blue Duck, the father literally lived
in the bank, and the child romped
where she pleased and became an
especial hyorite Of Gentleman"
Ed. He sought no recognition from
the father or mother. He was too
proud, too well aware of his station,
to give them single opportunity to
make him feel his moral unworthi-.
ness. They lived to themselves, con-
demning his character, ashamed Of
Blue Duck and its habits, anxious
only to profit by its financial neces-
sites, win their gain and depart. e.,
The child knew little il. anything
Of the fine distinctions drawn. It
took to "Gentleman" Ed because he
was intensely human, because he
knew its child heart and, STOPPING
down, placed himself on its baby
level. To him all its sorrows could
be told, all its triumphs recounted.
The parents did all within their
power to quietly break up the init
macy, but without absolutely shut
ting up the child they could not
prevent it, and Blue Duck was with
"Gentleman'' Ed on the PROPOSE
ton. Eventually they accepted the
situation, and the child saw her
knight whenever she chose. Once
when she was i'll and kept to her
home (no physician in the commu-
nity) the gambler rode fifty miles to
Shallow Bottoms, dragged the one
physician there out Of his bed,
mounted him and brought him back
to Blue Duck and the child. The
parents made no sign as to this, but
Blue Duck in its wicked heart re-
joiced over the deed.
The winter that Henry Ward
Beecher Red Wolf and his Indian
brothers dug tunnels and passage
ways in the streets of Blue Duck
willy nilly was especially severe on
the children. Owing to the biz
yards the school was frequently clos
ed, the youngsters could not play
outdoors and home life palled.
Their moments of freedom only
came when the sun shone, the wind
was low and they could romp over
the immense drifts. Then and then
only did Gentleman" Ed have OPP
portnnity to see the bankers little
girl and receive the rich affection
~ 4 r L 90 ~ Gba would bocr 1n;y,, r.,