Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-11-10

quick. His voice was strained and
dry as he said, "I-that's pretty rough,
parsOn."
~ found that in the pocket of the
tendcrfoot you shot, Mac" said the
parsOn slowly.
Mccartney WINGED and looked pitt
fully at the parsOn.
II didn't know" he said. q
my God, parson. it seems like 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.
Il can't do it, parson," he said 81
guess I've wasted all my trumps. l
don't know how to do anything but
gamble"
The parson fumblcd over a few in
efrectual words. Mccartney caught
him suddenly by the arm and said al
most savagely: THAT isn't true; you
know if isn't Look me straight in the
eyes. rurson, | look like a gambler,
don't |? I've got gamblers eyes.
haven't II"
The parson said something about the
change that would come with different
surroundings.
Mccartney gruntcd scornfully. "Dii-
fcrent surroundings" he said bitterly.
"Whcre would | get different sur
roundings? Where is there a 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 in 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
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 a girl and she was
in the sweet freshness of a summer
gown. 1t was long since Mccartney
had met a 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 God" he thought to himself.
"She doesn't know" She didn't know
they We're gamblers eyes, and she was
a good woman; 1t wasn't too late. The
tears came into his eyes and blinded
hirn 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 a crow of delight and reached
out his two chubby arms, He was
kicking his heels and wriggling like a
little eel. He wanted to so to Me-
, 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 not
care. He buried his face in that baby's
| dress and cried. The parsons wife
drew the parson silently into the house
and left the gambler with her baby.
Mccartney stayed 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 so back to
his mother just yet
In the parsons desk there are two
old faded kilograms. One is dated
year after Mccartney left the par
sons. 1t says simply that Mccartney
has struck it rich in the mines; that he
has staked out claim for the parson
and is going home. 1t is dated at
J place that the parson never heard Of:
he found out afterward it was in
: Alaska. The other telegram is from
! little town in western New York. 1t
says that he is home with his mother.
4 And" it says, "struck it rich again."