Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-02-05

ant hcr small round cilln III her hand, IOOKod
thoughtfuliy in the fire. "NNhcn | say George
Leo, Il white man, it amt because | know
him. It's his general gait. Wots he eyer
done that's undermined or mean. Nothin'l
You can't show the poor man hes ever TOOK n
p~icayune from. When he's helped himself
to a pile it's been outer them banks or them
express companies, that think it mighty fine
to bust up Themselves and swindle the poor
FOLKS q their last cent, and nobody talks O
huntin' them. And does he KEEP their none,
No; he passes it round among the boys that
help him, and they put 1t in circulation. lie
don't keep it for himself; he amt got Nac
house in Frisco, he do''t keep fast horses
for show. Like c2 not the c%rittcr he did that
job with-cf it was him-nonc Of You boys
would have rid. And he takes all the risks
himself, you ken bet your life that every
man with him was safe and way afore hc
turned hi, back ON you uns.7
"IIe certainly DROPS a little Of lis money at
draw poker. Zccnic, said Clinch, laughing.
"lic lost 5000 to sheriff Kelly last week"
"Wcll, I don't hear Of the sheriff huu;in'
him to give il back. nor do I reckon Kelly
handed it over to the express it was taken
from. ] heard pou won suthin' from him "a
spell ago. ! reckon you've been huntin' him
TO find ont vhar You should return it, Tho
laugh was clearly against Clinch. He was
about to make some rallying rcioinder when
She young girl suddenly interrupted him.
"l.f yo're wantin' TO hunt somebody, why
don't You take higher game: Thar's that Jim
liarkins; go for him, and I'll JON you
"ilarkins!' exclaimed Clinch and Hale,
simultaneously.
"ios, Jim Harkins; do you know him.
She said, g~lancing from the enc to the other.
conc of my friends do said Clinch, laugh
ing; but don't let that stop YOU
".And you-oyer there continued Xenobia.
bending her head and eyes toward Hale.
The fact isl believe he was my banker"
said Hale, with a smile, Il don't know him
personality
Then you'd better hunt him before he docs
You"
"What's he done, Zeenie asked Rawlins,
kccnly enjoying the discontinue of the others.
"Wlat!" She stopped, threw her long black
braids over her shoulder, claspcd her knee
with her hands, and rocking back ward and
forward, sublimoly unconscious Of the appa-
rition of a slim ank and half dropped Of
slipper from under her shortened gown, con
tiuued: 1T miGhn't please him. she said,
slylv, noddiNg toward Hale.
Pray don't mind me, said Hale, with un-
necessary eagerness.
"Well." said Zenobia. II reckon You nil
know Ned Falkner and the Excelsior DitchE
"Yes, Falkncr's the superintendent Of it, -
said Kawlins. And a square man too. Thar
amt anything mean about him
"Shakc," said Zcnobia, extending her
hand. RawlinS shook the profTorcd hand
with eager ,pontaneousness. and the girl re-
sumed: Hes about ez good e. they make
'cm-you bet. Well. YOU know Ned has put
all his money, and all his strength, and all
his sabe, and
His good looks" added Clinch, mis-
,hicyouslv.
Into that ditch" continued 2cnohia, ig-
noring the interruption. It's his mother,
it hi, sweetheart. its his everything. When
other chaps Of his age was cavortin' round
Frisco, and hayin' high jinks, Nod wa, in lis
dit h. Wal; till the ditch is done, he used
to ,ay. wait till She begins to boom. and
then You Just stand round Moron that. he
ct all the boys to put il their last ceut-for
they loved ;ed, and love him nov, like ez cf
lie wos a woman
That's SO" said Clinch and Rawlins sim
ultancou,ly, ami he's worth it,"
"Wcll.' continued Icnobia. "the ditch
didn't boom ez soon cz they kalkilatoi. And
then the boys kept gettiu' poorer and poorer,
, - ~ . 1 - 49,.