The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

at his ma wavin' from the window.
When we goin home Hank?' said
he, putin his little paw in mine.
Now. Come on fellers, let's dig
out said to the boys that was stand
in by lookin' foolish Only Goody hung
back. said he want drunk enough fer
Sunday, said Il would make him lone
some to go home half full.
THE little chap eyed him with his
black look -through-you eyes, then he
walked up in front of Goody.
That's what killed pa and put me
and ma on the tramp. Let's go home,'
he said, coaxing like, and held out his
little paw.
"Goody looked silly fer mint. Then
he grabbed the ycungster and put him
on his shoulder.
"'Come on, boys, was only fooling.
Git your hosses and see who gifts home
fust.'
I'VE sure kept that kid from being
lonesome, gittin' home. One would grab
him and ride him awhile, then another
one; so all Of us had turn at holdin'
the gritty little feller. Time we got
home there want one OF us men that
wasn't a willin' slave TO that boy. Why!
we couldn't eat much supper cuz he
Couldn't !.
Little feller's got to go to bed. Res
beat out, / said, and stood firm that he
had to bunk with me.
After he got to sleep we set up and
talked about how we'd make him
comfy and chirky.
Amt we got a cow critter we can
break to milk? heer coffee amt good
fer little folks Cracky growled as he
chawed hard on his pipe.
I seed one yesterday that I'll intro
duce myself TO-. said Goody. spittin'
vigorous. I know how to make good
molasses candy chimes in Jiggers-
he's the kid there, cum from the East
to get ,teached the ranchin' trade same
as you The cowman's face looked at
me with kindly humor an instant, then
he went on:
We had to plan to have one stay at
home and see that nothing happened to
the little kid. It was mostly Jiggers.
He kicked, sed he cum out to ride an
not to tend kindergarten. 1 asked him
what he was going to do.
might fan the breeze seZ he.
What about that saddle you owe
me fer?' And Jiggers stayed
''One night we cum home hungry as
coyotes and / slammed in an opened
the oven door TO see if biscuit was done.
/ see only lot of round brown things.
What the h-H,' sez 1.
oh, Hank sez the little feller.
'them's marbles that Jiggers made me
II L
mad. be you?'
Il laughed stead O. cussin', and went
out to tell the boys the joke, an we all
waited good -natured till Jiggers got
supper ready.
''Our boss heerd of our new family
member and he cum out from town red
eyed an foamin'. Sed he want runnin'
no baby farm. How could the men
ride and play nurse too. Anyhow the
Humane Society wouldn't stand fer it.
Furthermore, he used to think there
was bigger fools than cowboys, but he
was mistook.'
Il held myself in, but itched to kick
the old man. l only asked him to git
into the rig, as the horse was Uneasy,
and we'd best dust He looked at me
with eyes wide and mouth open, struck
dumb. Finally he cum to his breath:
I'll be blasted. Here it's Sunday
and you amt drunk nor actin like you
wanted to be- Then he says short,
looking round. Where's the rest of the
boys? don't see any Of my horses
tied up at the saloon
Home sez l, laughin' inside.
I'll be teetotally chawed up and
spit out again' he sez, and clumb into
the cart, never even sayin' howdy to
Jink's place.
HE didn't say nothin' more bout the
boy until we got most home. then he
turns quick like and sez: What are
you going to do with him?'
Keep him. sed 1.
What If / say you shan't?'
Then you kin get new men to work
you d-d old RANCH sez I, and whipped
up Buttons.
The boy was ready fer us and open
ed the gate. Good evening, Mr.. Boss
sed he as he come up manly like, want
a new hand?'
The boss looked him all over and I
see the twinkle come into his eye.
don't know if it was us old stagers
quitting fer a mite of a baby you might
say, or if ii was the funny flgger he
looked with his pleading eyes and soft,
round face with black curls Tapping a
little in the wind tor of my old shirt
and overalls I'd cut down best
could; any way the boss laughed.
Then he sez. Want a job bad?'
THE kid busts out joyful. oh, you're
going to let me stayl' and he ran up
and grabbed Boss hand, shook II and
sez, IN work good
What's your name?' sez Boss, all
gentle. .
Roy, SIR
'Royl Why that means king! That's
what you are, and here's your prime
minister and there's your cabinet,
pointing to the other three that were
coming out of the shack, all grins when
they see the little man run up to Boss.