The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1903-06-13

JACK STAGGERED on TO THE DOOR, THE
SWEAT POURING FROM HIM.
lonesome | can't hardly eat nur sleep!
Don't suppose you know of body
that would come an batch with an
unlucky cuss like me, do you?"
Jack felt the start the boy gave, but
didn't look up.
81 could pay jes' little for his help
cookln' the grub an SIGH"
The mountains reeled before the eyes
of the boy, dizzy from hunger, and
wild hope caught at his heart. With
assumed carelessness he said, "Some
man, We mean, O. course?"
"Oh, no; not necessarily. I'd like
bully well to have somethin' young
about to hearten me up bit"
a gasp, Immediately followed by
cough. caused Jack to glance quickly
at Billy, and he saw a CHASTITY face
in which the freckles appeared darker
than ever. He longed to put his arm
about the almost 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 'nough O. women cattle an kids
an | was to shift for myself"
Jack acted well the surprise he didn't
feel and offered a horny right hand to
seal the bargain. Inwardly he was
wondering how on earth he was to
get the boy up the steep. rocky trail
to his cabin.
"What do you weigh, Billy?"
Bout eighty pounds"
well. would you do a Teller a ia
vor?"
"Cert."
"You see, I've got a bet with Bud
Grow that can tote seventy-five
pounds without 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"
so. X, Jack! But jes' homes, maybe
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 we uns II be
late for dinner at the mine!
Two cold little hands took his and
then claspe9 themselves about his Ma, K
as, with great Numbering, 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 sigh
ing voice of the pines filled 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 foot
ing difficult.
one more steep turn. aud 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 fright
ened him. Shaking him, he cried ::
BILLY! Kid! Answer me, mani"
He seized whisky bottle and forced
little between the boys teeth. faint
sigh answering his effort. He rubbed
both face and hands with the fiery
stun and soon had the brown ewes
smiling up into his anxious blue ones
You Jes' wait, pard," he cried blithe-
~, "till l get some grub inside your
Rushing to the stove, he soon had fine
fire burning and water on for coffee
bread and bacon We're slung on the
table all with great clatter and
cheerfulness.
jack! came a faint CRY.
turning, the man was awed by the
look on the lads face and with one
strlde he had him in his arms irving
to lift him into some position easier fo,
the poor fainting heart, over which Bill.
ly's hand was tightly clutched. lack
urged more whisky, but. the bow 70.
fused
NO Jack, thank ye! 1t was short
shift with ye,. pard, but-a-bannv ono,
Hold my hand Tight
Jack held tenderly the trembling low
hand NY
My little ticker's runnin' down
Jack-ma-uster say it was the only
weak thing about her Billy boy I