The Washington times., 1905-12-17
81 = e
2#*## 8


OF the past. why. she's deserted him
and Lusk before she d ever laid eyes
on me. 1 needn't TO bother myself. He
wasn't never even my stepkid-' The
past, however. brought no guidance.
Lord, what's the thing TO do about
this? If L had any home This Is a
stinkin' world in some respects" said
Mr., Mclean
Once more his hand was laid on Bill
The boy glanced at HIM. and quick
Look ct me and listen"
Billy swerviugly Obeyed.
- ain't after va and never was
This here's your business: not mine.
are yu' listening goodZ-'
The boy made nod, and Lin pro-
ceeded, whispering: You've got no
call 10 believe what saw TO yu'-yu'Ve
been lied to. L guess, pretty often. So,
III not stop yu' runnin' and hidin, and
I'll never give II away. 1 saw yu'.
but yu' keep doin' what yu please. III
go now, I've saw all | want but yu'
and your friends stay with it till it
quits. II yu' happen TO wish TO speak
TO me about that pistol or hears, yu'
come around TO Smiths Palace"
Mr. Mclean entered Smiths Palace.
and, engaging a room with two beds
III it. did a little delicate lying by
means Of the truth. ITS a lost boy
"a runaway" he told the CLERK. He'll
not be extra clean, expect. If he does
and I'll have a Job cut out tomorrow
your safe
The clerk placed himself at the dIs3o-
sal Of the secret service. and Lin
walked up and down for some ten min
utes, when Master Billy peered in from
the street.
"'HeliOl" said Mr.. Mclean. casually
Billy observed him for a space and.
receiving no further attentions. came
stepping along. I'm not a-going back
to Laramie" he stated warmly.
Il wouldn't" said Lin 1T amt half
the town Denver is. Well. good night.
Sorry yu' couldn't call sooEer-I'm dead
sleepy"
oh" Billy stood blank. "I wish I'd
shook the darned old show Why can't
you put that on me tonishtZ''
Coin upstairs. This gentleman
wouldn't let yu' go upstairs"
But the earnestly peIitioned clerk
consented. and Billy stood rapturOus
scanty stomach
Did it ever XIII a rnan?" asked
Billy. touching the six-shooter.
No II amt never had 10 do that
but i expect maybe it's stopped some
killin me.
''Oh. leave me wear il Just a min
ute. Do YOU collect arrOwheads? 1
think they're bully. There's the finest
one you ever seen"
Mr. Mclean pronounced It a gem.
Father an me found a lot an thew
made mother mad lying around an
she throwed EN- out. She takes stuff
from Kelley's."
Who's Kelley2"
He keeps the drug store at Laramie
Mother gets awful funnv- That's how
she was when I came home For I
told Mr. Perkins he lied. an l ran
then An / knOwed we'll enough shed
lick me when she gOt through her spell
= an father can't stop her. an I-ah.
you woldn.t ike motbA, Riuv
continued You can keep that" He
came 10 Lin and placed the arrow
mead IN his hands. standing beside
him DO you like birds eggs? / col
lect them. got twenty-five kinds
sage hen. an blue grouse. an willow
grouse. an lots more kinds harder
Put l couldn't bring all them from
Laramie brought the maEDies
though d care 10 see a ma~0ie egg2
Well. YOU staV tomorrow. an III show
You that an some other things l got
hre that pistol Bet you don't know
what that isi''
lie brought out a small tin box
shaped Ike thimble. in which were
things that ratified.
Mr.. Mclean gave IL up.
That's kinni-kinnic seed. You can
have that. for | got some more with
tho engineman.''
Lin received this second token also
and thanked the giver for It. His first
feeling had been 10 prevent the boys
parting with his treasures. but some
thing that came not from the polish OF
manners and experience made him
know that he should take them. Billy
talked away, laying bare his little soul:
tne street boy that was not quite come
made place for the child that was NOT
quite gone. and unimpOrtant words and
condolences dropped from him disjOinted
as ne climbed to the knee of Mr. Nc
Lean. and inadvertently took that COW
puncner for some sort OF parent he had
not hitherto met. II lasted but a short
While. however. Tor he went 20 sleep in
the middle of a sentence, with his head
upon Lin'S breast