The National tribune., 1904-06-23
THE CONVERSION OF BLAKE.
The Story of Bad Man Who Came, Who Saw, and Was
Conquered
By PORTER EMERSON Brown.

came from the next room tnln, Walllus
cry. almost like that of coyote.
Blake lowered his muzzle. "Wot's thatT
he asked.
Kid" responded Rube laconically.
"Whos?" inquired Blake.
Mime" stated Rube briefly.
''An' you batchelder," exclaimed Blake
in drunken reDroach. "Ain't yer ashamed
"oh, 'dopted it," explained Rube
"twuz my sisters"
How old?" persisted Blake
Eighteen mont's," replied Rubes And
then, IVY dom yer shoot?"
Shoot hell" exclaimed Blake. "Wot
kind of Injun would be to go a-shootin
up the on'y support of a orphan-a hep
gun in its holster.
The constable heaved long sigh of re-
lief, for he had been nearer to death than
most men may go and returned unharmed ;
and though you may often look into Death 5
face, his smile never grows attractive nor
his frown without fear.
At length Blake spoke, hesitatingly, al
most diffidently. Say. Rube," he said, Il
hate ter ask a favor of a man wot | come
hyar ter wipe out, but would yer mind let
tim me have a squint at the kid?'
''Shore not" replied the constable. He
Blake into the little room where Emeline
Loretta lay dreaming child dreams on her
rough bed.
Blake stood at the foot of the bed and
gazed at the tiny sleeping form. His eyes
ate hungrily of the tangled yellow hair
the coarse pillow, the pink cheeks. the
white teeth showing between parted lips,
curved and red. And he stood there gazing
and gazing. and still gazing while the con-
stable waited patiently; for he himself
knew how it was, did the constable.
Fine, amt it," said Blake at length,
and his voice held a culver that whisky
never brings.
.Betcher life," assented Rube cordially.
"Wisht had one," muttered Blake. Il
never had none. Dam tough.'
1T shore is" again agreed Rube, and
there could be no doubt of his sincerity.
At length Blake turned from the bed and
walked out into the living-room. Going to
the table, he took the Colts from its hOl-
ster and laid it upon the unplaned boards !;
then, turning to the constable, he said !:
We'll, I'm ready"
Ready fer wot?" queried the constable
wonderingly.
Wy. ter be corralled. 1t shore is a
arrestin' offense ter piroot up hyar ter wipe
out the constable, amt it?'
Rube thought moment. "But yer didn't
do it. did ye:" he remarked at length.
NO" assented Blake, ''but"-
''Then it's all right" was the rejoinder
of the constable. Les likker"
They drank solemnly.
Il amt a-goin' ter lay out ter git roped
no MORE" said Blake, as he wiped the lin
gering drops from his mustache
Rube expressed a suitable gratitude for
the prospective forbearance of his erstwhile
would-be murderer
AN say. Rube," persisted Blake. eff it
wOuldn' be too much ter ask of a sport,
might | come amblin' up hyar oncet vile
ter look over the kid? Yer see," he con-
tinued. almost apologetically, Il amt got
none myself, an it sort o. chirks a gent
up"
"Lope along an welcome" invited the
constable. But On'y wen ye're sober; an
mind now. no cussin'. This hyar lady amt
none o them we used ter behold in Three
Fingered Derry's joint down in the Sweet
water. We know"
Blake bridled bit. 'Do yer think I'm
so low down an or'nary as ter come
piroOtin' aroun' full o firewater an emit
tin o profane langwidge wen | aims ter
pay social visit on a reel lady?" he asked
L low L amt no sech dam greaser as
thet."
Then" returned the constable. "sence
ye onderstan' the roofs an reggylashuns
appertainin' ter visitors, come an be well
come"
"Thankee," said Blake cordially. and
they shook hands. And he who had come
with murder in his heart went out into the
starlight filled with emotions that had been
to him strangers for many years-before
the range became a pasture-before, even,
there was road across the mountains