The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-12-11

| yer way of IL amuses you anil keep
yer mouth shet."
The baby frowned in frank disgust
| as its mouth closed on the unsavOry
mOrsel, but it clung 10 il detcrmincdly
Blame me, but like yer grit, an ef
| IT'S any satisfaction, make the most Of
! it. We may git on better'n expected
I've got nine more yerc, just as ripe as
| that un," Hardin went on, pouring a
| few drops OF muddy water from an al
| most empty cantccn on 10 his finger
| and scrubbing il with n sOiled hand
kerchicf He then returned the digit
to the baby ana lifted il TO his breast.
awkwardly attempting to settle IL com
fOrtably.
Human nature is shore queer
thing be muitered, looking down at
the baby his eyes sOftcning; "secns
to enjoy it," The baby's eyes were
half closed ana its chubby hands wan
dered around caressingly One slipped
from sight through IIardn's open
shirt, the other clutched the shaggy
beard. lie bent his head forward
painfully, not wishing to loosen the
baby's hold, and found himself yield
ing 10 a strange, tender feeling that
crept over him at the pressure OF its
fingers and its warmth against his
arm. II slowly relaxed it's hold on his
finger. then dropped TO sleep. Hardin
remained mOtiOnlcss, watching the
rhythmic rise and fan Of It's bosom and
the play OF color on its face. II
smiled
"Dreamin' Of angels" he mumbled,
his face suddenly becoming sober, al
lost sad, as memory lcapcd the gulf
Of years aud he was n boy again. dang
ling Mt his mothers knee, teasing her
TO let him hold the baby's hand. 90
look into its face. "Ef | could Jest be-
gin over agin, or had jest aided when
IL n baby" he continued In bitter
speculation. 81 know I amt like n
man TO try an shif' yer faults on some
one else, but II might IA been different
il Belle hadn' throwcd me over fer
that worthless Armstrong. Wimin are
strange crittcrs-a few fine clothes. an
fine manners, an fine talk tutches the
best Of 'cm. Then he 'uz from the city
an IL jest common. rough cowboy
but ! guess maybe it's best fer Belle
after all, seem what I've been driv'
to- But somehow | feel IL might "A
been different. ! loved Belle, an
neered like / couldn' stan to see her
marry Armstrong, KNOWN him as |
did; but she wouldn't believe me. an
| got reckless s-an'-an' jest can't git
IL straight how IL did happen. Wells
! remember. he 'siuuatcd Belle wasn't
all right. an they say | killed i'm.
Maybe | did. | know / got mixed UP
in the shootin' with the others. Since
that day they've kept me on the dodge,
an fellCr has To livc-an' the stage
paSsin' every day right fore my eyes.
Well, il 'uz dead easy. hut it's risky.
an &c ! can jest slip crost the river,
I'm goiu' TO begin over, an Of shey'll
let me alone. nobody amt goin' 60 be
loser in the end. But n fCller has to
live-hut blast mcr' he broke on
abruptly; what am roin' to do with
the kid? Can't leave IT, can't take II
along an TO stop we're means TO he
in With scarchcrs soon rs they miss il.
Blamed fool fer techin' it, none of my
business cf lazy Mexican nurse lets
somebody's baby drap outen the stage.
But, darn me. I'm most glad | fetched
il along gritty little Cuss. Who'd n
thought he'd behave so well, maxim
meal often one dirty finger and no com
-, l,G, 4 4 4
he Quericd, placing II ON the coat and
beginning 10 search its clothes for
some identifying marks. "Ivc mind
60 take il along" he muscd after lit.
tie; keeps fellcr from gittin' SO ctar-
nally lonesome an I've got nine fresh
fingers we're yet Ef Belle hadn't
been so tickle might a had one OF my
own bout it's size. Pshaw! Tm n jih-
bcring fool goin' on any sech way
well. yCrc il is. Hello! -. A. won
der what that can stan fer. Never
knowed nohody's name that begin
with a but Jim Andrews an that
orncry Armstrong. an Jim ain't never
married fer's | know. reckon il couldn't
he his; an jest as likely his ms Arm-
strongs. Wen, one things shore. I'll
have 10 git outen this somehow" He
rose and stepped 10 the edge of the
rocks
Hands up, Sam Hardin" said 10
Powell, the Duval County Sheriff lie
stood less than ten yards off. his Win
chester leveled at the outlaw.
II reckon I'll have to. Powell" re-
turned Hardin. coolly. "sein' as ye'vc
Cot the drop on me: but | calkorlatc
ye ought 10 divide UP with this young
un ycrc. sein' ef IL hadn't been fer il
ye'd never tuck me alive"
II amt carin' fer the reward. Har-
din. an I'm sorry | have to take you"
returned the sheriff. Gmicably "Hadn'
been fer yer hold-up. ye might a gone
free. ain't no proofs yer killed Arm
strong. IL 'uz n free-fCr.all fight: the
witnesses weren't shore bout nothin.
nm ye'd likely IA come clear Tried
10 Git word 20 you, but We kept yerselt
so scarce N feller had no manner Of
chance. III have TO hold you; hate to.
but it's my duty. ye know"
Whose baby is III" asked Hardin
irrelevantiy. ms the Sheriff relieved him
of his pistols.
Belongs 10 a young widow name
Armstrong. Her husband got killed a
few weeks ago In a gamblin' place at
Brownsville: she's goin' back to her
folks. She's most crazy bout her
hoy" returned Powell. scanning the