Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-17
home to Ter if | can help il "

| iadShed " man near the front Put
ef she bankers after i'm. an Buckley
wants i'm TO live on. I'll withdraw my
claim. This is the sort Of rabbit hunt
don't much like nohow."
A laugh rose and went round. It WAS
favorable sign. George lowered his
/ revolver. Go home boys" he said
YEARLY. m sorry | spoke as did
! Just now You are all my friends:
can see that Good night"
They st"od for an jnstant us if pn.
certain what step to take. buf 2uckiey.,
last words had completely Gjsarmet
them Slowly they djsi,anded ar..
struggled away When they were al,
lost in tie darkness George closed tl..
door ami locked it Just then JET
Trutt emerged from the darkness i,
the interior Of the building and. wit.
hanging head and dUwucast eyes. drev
near
"Ol, George he faltered u wi
they had killed me. I'm Il coward
WAS afea I'd of 'em--afcard Of en-"
1T wasn't that, my 10y; don't you he
heve 1t. said George consolingly You
We're simply stalupcdcd. The best sol
diers are ti.st way when they see
Overwhelming ts!H bcrs approaching.
You've got grit. Lut they tell me you
have to fill up with whisky to float it,"
But you wasn't afeard of EN-" wall
ed the boy
YES. ] wHs--at first" said Buckley
Il s,too:> ;:li oyr!, add then ! got drunk
with rage, just like you do Oh whisky.
It's the same thing just as wide as
it's long Don't you bother: youll
fight, JEFF. If Id thought you We're a
coward Id never been the friend to
you ] am. Ny Lord don't remember,
away back at the log schoolhouse, how
Press Tiffton bu!lied you all day, pinch
ing you, calling you names, and finally,
when he began to bump your bead
against the wall, you turned in and
gave him the worst licking he ever
had! He had black eyes and puffy
jaws for week. Some men are that
way Just don't like trouble and stay
away from it till it's showed on them.
How did they happen TO come here for
you!''
'"They went home after me, ] reckon
said the boy, AN when they found out
was here they come on to get liquor
an settle with me. Eff you was me.
George. what would you Go-go home
tonight: You know the folks will be
worryin''
No; you stay here and sleep with
me-" said s.eorg". I'm not going to
risk YOU ;lii where else tonight
They went back to the bedroom.
R;:.,:ity c;It'Ei:ig the light. AS they
,s.t>:sed tie Zig firerroof vault in the
Office Jeff said. Looks like it would
he resky 10 eave jest one man here
with Whole lot o money in a safe
like that, George"
1t has combination lock-" Buck
.ey told him. 1t would take an eX-
,.ert burglar several hours to open it,
and the nois>. would wake me. That's
why | sleep here. Nearly all the poor
people in The mountains and here in
town deposit their savings with us.
It's big responsibility but the safe
and va!it are the best in the state.
They are better than those at the bank
uptown, an that's why the people
want to deposit with us. It's lot of
trouble, but Mr.. Hillyer likes to accom-
modate them
And thar's always lots o money
in the safe. l reckon" said jeff.
y. l.ny
piled Buckley: but it's tireproof. and
the risk is very little, as told you.
am in this room every night, and when
go away kenner sleeps here"
But thar's another thing you hain't
thought Of said jeff. Robbers sa:::e-
times Slip up on a man, git i'm Wei
covered an then force i'm to open n
safe What would you do in c,i:'
like that. George?
Buckley laughed. II haven't thought
Of that. Ill admit" he answered: but.
with the responsibility on me like it is,
believe I'd die fighting rather than
voluntarily give in."
THAT I'D be foolishness." said jeff
Whats nloney-even u fortune-to a
mans life:'
IFS different with me, my boy
George placed the lamp on the lite
table -. ~ could give in and maay
others c3.,ld and nothing would be SAID
nbort it, but if did it they would say
it w.;s-my fathers weakness cropping
out in another generation. That wousd
be the general verdict, Jeff. Folks are
that way"
"Ijo yon reckon so, Georges"
Yes. that's the way of the world.
Now git in bed, jeff
Truitt hesitated and flushed jest
le' ne lie on pile O sacks on the
floor be said. Il don't want to crowd
you, George"
"You think I'd be above sleepin&
with YOU my boy" Buckley laid BIS
hand on his shoulder and turned III
forcil4!y to him. you've heard al
that talk out home about my Beng
stuck up, but it is a lie out of who.e
cloth. Jeff. JET - Buckley's breast
rose high and fell-'Td give all | have
to feel as good in the eyes of the World
as you are. There's stain on me that