The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-01-07
SHERIFF POWELL'S DETECTION.
By Guy. Arthur Jameson.


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
we'll. Hardin took it on his knee. jog
cledit vigorously, and got il interested
in his watch chain, which the baby
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 ef il amuses you anil keep
Yer mouth shet.'
The baby frowned in frank disgust
as its mouth closed on the unsavory
morsel. but it clung TO it determinedly.
blame me. but like yer grit. an ef
it's any satisfaction. make the most of
it. We may git on better'n l expected.
I've got nine more we're. just as ripe as
that un." Hardin went on. pouring a
few drops of muddy water from an al
most empty cantecn on to his finger
and scrubbing it with soiled hand
kerchief. He then returned the digit
TO the baby and lifted it to his breast,
awkwardly attempting to settle it com-
foriably.
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 Hardins open
| shirt. the other clutched the shaggy
beard. He bent his head forward
painfully not wishing to loosen the
baby's hold. and found himself yield
| ing to a strange. tender feeling that
creDt over him at the pressure OF its
fingers and its warmth against his
| arm. 1t slowly relaxed its hold Oh his
finger. then dropped to sleep. Hardin
| remained motionless. watching the
rhythmic rise and fall Of its bosom and
the play of color on its face. 1t
| smiled
"Dreamin' of angels" he mumbled,
his face suddenly becoming sober. al
most sad, as memory leaped the gulf
Of years and he was boy again. dang
ling ut his mothers knee. teasing her
to let him hold the baby's hand. to
look into its face "Ef could Jest be-
gin over agin, er had jest aided when
IL baby" he continued in bitter
| speculation. Il know t amt like q
man to try an sniff yer faults on some
one else. but it might "a been different
| IL 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 common, rough cowboy
but guess maybe it's best fer Belle,
| after all, seem what I've been driv'
to. But somehow I feel it might "a
been different. I loved Belle, an
peered like I couldn' stan to see her
marry Armstrong. KNOWN him as 1
did; but she wouldn't believe me. an
got reckless-an'-an' 1 jest can't git
it straight how it did happen. Wells
l remember, he 'sinuated Belle wasn't
all right, an they say l killed i'm.
Maybe l did. 1 know got mixed up
in the shootin' with the others. Since
that day they've kept me on the dodge,
an 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 a feller has to
live-but blast mer he broke off
abruptly; what am goin' to do with
the kid? Can't leave it, can't take it
along, an to stop yere means to be
run in. shore. These hills'll be swarm
in with searchers soon as they miss it.
Blamed fool fer techin' it; none of my
business eff lazy Mexican nurse lets
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 a
meal often one dirty finger and no COM
| plainin'? Wonder whose he could be?'
he queried, placing it on the coat and
beginning to search its clothes for
some identifying marks. "I've mind
to take it along" he mused after lit.
tie; keeps feller from gittin' so etar-
nally lonesome, an I've got nine fresh
fingers yere vet. Eff Belle hadn't
been so tickle might "a had one of my
own bout its size. Pshaw! I'm jib-
bering fool, goin' on any sech way
we'll, yere it is Hello! s. 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 know, reckon it couldn't
be his: an jest as likely his as Arm
strongs. Well, one things shore, I'll
have to git outen this somehow" He
rose and stepped to the edge of the