The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-02-20


ment; and. indeed, as Hardin thought.
1t was a more comfortable one than
the Brownsville stagecoach.
I'm afraid you'll change yer tune,
cub. when yer feedin' time comes. an
then whatll come of me amt hard to
predict. Guess ye'd hardly take things
so easy. nO-hOw, if yes able to know
that ye're a guest of Hardin. as has a
price on his head. Well. them's the
facts, an eff | don manage to git We
often my hands. l wouldn't give a pin
fer my chances. Don't We dare yell,
young un. er I'll be tempted to choke
ye," he broke off, as the baby puck
cred up its mouth in tentative whim-
per.
There. that's all right young un.
We'll manage somehow" and he
chucked it under the chin. The baby
was not wholly reassured. and contin-
ued spasmodically sob which threat
ened at any moment to burst into a
wall. Hardin took it OH his knee, jog
gled it vigorously, and got it interested
Ill LILO W. CLdII, WulCu tuC UdUy
continued to clutch desperately till it
got hold of one of Hardin's fingers.
This it persisted in carrying toward its
mouth
I'm 'fraid ye're goin' to be disap.
pointed, young un. You'll find that
finger over strong; amt felt the tech
of water fer ten days, but jest have
yer way eff it amuses you anil keep
yer mouth shet.'
The baby. frowned in frank disgust
as its mouth closed OIL the unsavory
morsel. but it clung to it determinedly.
Blame me. but like yer grit. an ef
it's any satisfacti make the most of
it. We may git on better'n l expected
I've got nine more yere just as ripe as
that un,' Hardin went on. pouring a
few drops of muddy water from an al
most empty canteen on to his finger
and scrubbing it with a soiled hand
kerchief. He then returned the digit
to the baby and lifted it to his breast,
awkwardly attempting to settle it CON-
fOrtably.
Human nature is shore queer
thing" he muttered. looking down at
the baby. his eyes softening: seems
to enjoy it, The baby's eyes were
half closed. and its chubby hands wan
dered around caressingly. One slipped
from sight through Hardin's open
shirt. the other clutched the shaggy
beard. He bent his head forward
painfully. not wishing to loosen the
babys hold. and found himself yield
ing to strange. tender feeling that
crept over him at the pressure Of its
fingers and it's warmth against his
arm. 1t slowly relaxed its hold on his
!, finger then dropped to sleep. Hardin
remained motionless. watching the
the play of color on its face. 1t
smiled.
"Dreamin' of angels" he mumbled
his face suddenly becoming sober, al
r!ost sad. as memory leaped the gulf
Of years and he was boy again. dang,
ling at his mothers knee. teasing her
to let him hold the baby's hand, tC
look into its face. Eff could jest be.
gin over ag'in, er had jest aided when
IL a baby" he continued in bitter
speculation. II know t amt like a
man to try an shift yer faults on some
one else, but it might "a been different
if Belle hadn' throwed me over fer
that worthless Armstrong. Wimin are
strange critters-a few fine clothes, an
fine manners. an fine talk tutches the
best of 'em. Then he 'uz from the city
an IL jest a common. rough cowboy
but I guess maybe it's best fer Belle
after all, seein' what I've been driv
to. But somehow I feel it might "A
been different. l loved Belle. an
peered like I couldn' stan to see. her
marry Armstrong. knowin' him as
did: but she wouldn't believe me. an
I got reckless-an'-an' l jest can't gil
it straight how it did happen. Wells
I remember. he 'sinuated Belle wasn'i
all right, an they say killed i'm
Maybe l did. l know got mixed ur
i'm the shootin' with the others. Since
that day they've Kept me on the dodge
an a feller has to live-an' the stage
passin' every day right fore my eyes
Well. it 'uz dead easy. but it's risky
an eff I can jest slip crost the river
I'm goin' to begin over. an eff they'll
let me alone. nobody amt goin' to be
loser in the end. But feller has tt
liye-but blast me.' he broke OF
abruptly; what am gOin' to do will
the kid? Can't leave it, can't take il
along. an to stop yere means to bt
run IN. shore. These hills'll be swarm
In with searchers soon as they miss it