The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-02-05


Blamed fool fer techln' it; none Of my
business ef a lazy Mexican nurse let's
somebody's baby drap outen the stage.
But, darn me, I'm most glad fetched
it along-gritty little cuss. Who'd "a
| thought he'd behave so well, maxim
meal often one dirty finger and no COM
plaiHin'? Wonder whose he could be-"
he queried, placing it. on the coat and
! beginning to search it's clothes for
some identifying marks. eve a mind
to take it along" he unused after lit
! tie; 'keeps q Teller from gittin' so etar-
nally lonesome, an I've got nine fresh
| fingers yere yet. Eff Belle hadn't
been so tickle might "a had one of my
own bout it's size. Pshaw! I'm a iib-
! boring fool, goin on any sech way
well, yere it is. Hello! IS. A. I Won
der what that can stan fer. Never
| knowed nobody's name that begin
with A but Jim Andrews an that
ornery Armstrong, an Jim amt never
married fer's l know, reckon it couldn't
be his; an jest as likely his as Arm
strong's. Well, one things shore, I'll
| have to git outen this somehow" He
rose and stepped to the edge OF the
rocks.
Hands up. Sam Hardin" said 10
Powell, the Duval County Sheriff. He
stood less than ten yards off, his Win
chester leveled at the outlaw.
81 reckon I'll have to, Powell" re-
turned Hardin, coolly, "sein' as we've
got the drop on me; but 1 calkerlate
We ought to divide up with this young
un yere, SEM eff it hadn't been fer it
ye'd never tuck me alive"
81 amt carin' fer the reward, Har-
din an I'm sorry have to take YOU"
returned the sheriff, amicably. "Hadn'
been fer yer hold-up, ye might "a gone
free; amt no proofs yer killed Arm
strong 1t 'uz a free-fer-all fight; the
witnesses weren't shore bout nothin',
an ye'd likely "a come clear. Tried
to git word to you, but We kept yerself
so scarce, n a Teller had no manner of
chance. I'll have to hold you; hate to,
but it's my duty, We know"
"Whose baby is it?" asked Hardin
irrelevantly, as the Sheriff relieved him
of his pistols.
Belongs to a young widow name
Armstrong. Her husband got killed a
few weeks ago in a gamblin' place at
Brownsville; she's goin' back to her
folks. She's most crazy bout her
boy" returned Powell, scanning the
outlaws face searchingly.
Folks live at San Diego?" asked the
other, his countenance inscrutable.
eyes"
81 knowed EN- said Hardin, and
turning his back slowly to the Sheriff.
he gazed across the yellow plain to-
ward the distant peaks.
81 knowed yer did" returned Powell,
sympathetically Then, after 81
lence, he added: 81 wislN there was
some way could help you, Hardin"
"Much oblige', Powell, but We can't
unless-you couldn't manage fer me to
see Miz Armstrong, I reckin?" he
asked, turning.
The Sheriff glanced at his prisoner
questioningly. "Tll bring her to you,
ef-ef yell wait yere with the baby"
He did not wait for a reply, but, turn
ing. vanished in the brush.
Hardin dropped his chin 10 the palm
of his hand and sat motionless, star
ing abstractedly into the hot glare. The
baby at his feet slept soundly, occa
sionally giving vent to a contented
sigh. A drowsy beetle droned by,
knocking against the wilted foliage.
Over the plain and the white glisten-
ing spaces brooded & death-like still
ness. Five minutes, ten minutes. half
an hour passed, and Hardin still sat
motionless, staring fiXedly before him.
At last a rustling near at hand caused
him to start up and spring to his feet
with the old-time alertness.
Belle" he cried, stepping toward
the woman that stood before him.
She offered her hand hesita tingly. 81
want to thank you, Sam, fer takin'
care of the boy-the Sheriff told me
how We got caught on account of him,
an"
"That's all right, Belle: likely I
would. anyhow, sooner er later, an
an'-hadn' been fer the boy wouldn't
never seen you ag'in. It's pas dead"
he said, as he stopped and lifted the
baby to her arms.
eyes" she said, quietly, her eyes on
the ground.
An hour slipped away in friendly
talk. Then, suddenly, Hardin began to
appear i'll at ease; he pushed aside the
foliage and peered out toward the high
way.
81 wonder why Powell don't Gomez"
"He amt comin'," returned the wo-
man.