Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1903-08-13


tenderfoot you shot, Mac" said the
parson slowly.
Mccartney WINGED and looked pitt
fully at the parson.
IL didn't know" heN said. Il
my God, parson, it seems ike I'd shot
my mother
The parson tried to tell him it was
all for good; told him to go back to
his mother. But Mccartney shook his
head.
II can't do it, parson," he said. II
guess I've wasted all my trumps. I
don't know how to do anything but
gamble
The parson fumbled over few in
effectual words. Mccartney caught
him suddenly by the arm and said al
most savagely: THAT isn't true; you
know it isn't. Look me straight in the
eyes. Parson, l look like q gambler,
don't 1? I've got gamblers eyes,
haven't II"
The parson said something about the
change that would come with different
surroundings.
Mccartney grunted scornfully. "Dif-
ferent surroundings he said bitterly.
where would l get different sur
roundings? Where is there decent
home open to me now? I've dropped
OUT He turned away with gesture
Of utter despair
The parson hooked his arm through
the gamblers. Il know a place up
here" he said.
They looked up from the faro tables
IN surprise to see Charley Mccartney,
the widest plunger in town. walking
out arm tn arm with the parson. He
never came back.
Mccartney walked along with his
hat pulled low over his eyes. The par
son laboriously manufactured CONVEX
sation and Mccartney didn't hear a
word of it.
AS the parson turned In at his own
door he felt McCartney's arm relax in
his own, but he dragged him along.
The Mrs. Parson met them. She was
hardly more than girl and she was
in the sweet freshness of summer
gown. 1t was long since Mccartney
had met good woman. On her arm
was baby-the parsons boy.
II want to introduce my friend,
Charley Mccartney" said the parson
heartily as they came up the steps.
The girl moved the baby over on
the other arm and held out a slim,
cool hand Her fine blue eyes met Nc.
Cartney's eyes frankly.
1t went straight to his heart. "Ah
dear Cod" he thought to himself.
''She doesn't know She didn't know
they We're gamblers eyes, and she was
good woman; it wasn't too late. The
tears came into his eyes and blinded
him and he could not speak. Only his
heart was saying over and over to
him: "She doesn't know. She doesn't
know"
The baby squirmed around in his
mothers sweet young arms and looked
gravely at Mccartney. All at once
he gave crow of delight and reached
out his two chubby arms. He was
kicking his heels and wdggling like a
little eel He wanted to go to Nc
CARNEY.
MAC, you own the house," said the
parson solemnly. The parsons wife
laughed joyously. But Mccartney
did not laugh. He Rugged that baby
close to his heart and the tears
streamed down his cheeks. He did MOI
care. he buried his face IN that baby'S
dress and cried The parsons wifi
drew the parson silently into the house
and left the gambler with her baby.
Mccartney stayed q week at the par
sons house. Most of the time he play
ed with the baby. He was very silent
AT the end Of week he went away
The parson did not know where. Nc
Cartney said he would not 80 back t
his mother just yet
In the parsons desk there are twt
old faded kilograms. One Is dated
year after Mccartney left the par
sons. 1t says simply that McCartne.
has struck it rich in the mines; that b,