The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

enot on the car and hurried down
the street toward my Office Hear
ing a man remark as he passed,
Queer looking customer; looks
like a real Westerner," 1 glanced
UP. Walking ahead of me was a figure
that brought to my mind joyful recoi
lections Of the past.
The peculiar walk induced from con-
stant wearing of heavy leather chaps,
the rounded shoulders designated as
the cowboy hump" and the wide
white hat all bespoke the plains. I
overlook the man and grabbed a big
arm
- lis It really you, Hank?" I cried.
''How did you get so far away from
homer"
A big. weathered. humorous face in
which anxiety struggled looked down
on me.
IF it amt that cussed little would
be cowboy Jim growed TO a mani
Who'd although he'd made such a
good one?" he remarked as he nearly
wrung my hand off in his recognizing
shake.
Come up to my office, It's right
here. and we will talk"
Il was just huntin' you. I've got a
hull corral full of trouble on hand"
Seated in my private Office. 1 sent the
boy for whisky and told him that was
engaged on important business and to
allow no one to disturb me.
Now, Hank" said 1 TO my silent
old-time comrade Of vacation days,
tell me what's up. Killed a man and
want a lawyer"
''Naw." and a contemptuous look
overspread his worried face. I'm
on kidnapping trip and I want you to
help me-"
A girl?" I ventured. He looked more
Disguised than ever.
Nav. It's the king Of the Crooked
II I'm after Ever heered of him."
shook my head, puzzled, and, pour
ing out a big drink Of whisky. offered
il 10 him. His eye frightened, but he
shock his head slowly.
Nav. If we don't find the king you
owe il 10 me. While we max. find him
I'll play fair 1t amt allowed at court
and I'm his prime minister: leastWays
that's what my boss says.
1 was debating whether Hank. had a
screw loose or was playing some intri-
cate practical joke, when L caught the
sound Of a sob as he cleared his throat.
? kid, FIl spit the hull thing out right
now, SOS you kin get TO work on the
lraiL
Two years ago was down at Jink's S
place. ] an Goody Two Shoes was
each aiming TO win a bet as TO which
could drink the most and Eot show il
before. the eaStbOund train cum in. We
augered and augered till the train slides
IN before we lnOwed it, and only had
six drinks in me.
i seed from the door a woman and
two kios git put or. The train went or
and left 'em standing lookin' all over
for q town that wasn't there.
They hadn't no luggage, and she and
the kids hadn't enough hull clothes or
10 flag a handcar. She had a purity
face, tho. So when I seed her maxim
for the. section house that was full oi
Russians that chewed up Uncle Sans
language SHE'D over. / says: Madam
kin I do anything fer you?'
She began to cry, then the little kiC
in her arms begun to sQualL The little
feller bout six at her side grabs it and
gets it quiet.
Then the woman says: I'm cryin
because there amt more people here.
thought this was a bigger place. Ny
old man got killed up in Cripple, an
me an the children are tryin' to beat
our way home TO Indianapolis, where
ma lives. When we git put off we gil
q collection took UP to go a ways fur
ther.' Then she bust out cryin' harder
ClO0 KNOW Wnat 10 90, Dut con-
sidered US cowboys as kings of that
place an we couldn't do no wrong, cuz
besides US there was only the Russians
and the Grabbed old station agent thai
didn't count either. SO I just asked
the woman over to the saloon porch
and brought her some crackers, cheese
and beer.
She was mighty grateful and we al
got quite friendly and began amusin
the kids The little girl was cross, but
the little boy was the manifest little
feler you could see in a ten days ride
'-Goody put the idee int my noggin
by sayin' 10 the little feIler: Howe
you like to go TO a ranch and live and
grow up TO be a cowboy?'
. =" I'd like IL mighty well, mister, but
4 I can't leave ma an" Sissy; they need
me-
There was a heap more to that little
youngster than TO his ma-a young
silly, helpless kind Of being. After q
while I got chal.ce TO speak to hel
alone. I asked her if she would let ms
take the kid and raise it fer her, if II
give her fifty dollars and her ticket
She Jumped at the offer.
"'I never seed such look in any ones
face. big or small as there was on tha
boys when she told him. He looked a.
II his heart would come clean outn his