Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-25

above, and surrounded by sailor boardlne
houses
The place was in full blast when Jack en- IN
tered A dozen or more half-intoxicated an. ~,
ors sat by small wooden tables, at the siue'
OF the room, smoking and drinking. r;tt
Jerry himself broad -shouldered man. VII WI
a closely cropped head, stood in ms snn .
cigar and apparently seeing nothing that wax
gong on through his half closed eyes; ~,
But in truth he was "spotting,, as ne cailsu i,
1T, the movements of two or three HASTILY Ia
dressed fellows, who were hanging apou.
young man in navy rig, that had lust peeum thc
as he boastfully explained-paid OIL from sne
Powhatan, with seven hundred and hfty oof
lars
For, as Jerry often was heard to remark,
he didn't purpose that any O. his, boaraers
should be shook down by blamed land sharks. ,1s;.
not not if he knowed himself they shouidh ''
Which was very thoughtful in him.
His wife attended to taking the money be.
hind the bar, at the same time keeping sharp
lookout for George Fordyce, the BARTENDER
who, had come down, step by step, from stanu,, "a,
ing behind the marble bar of the largest hotel
in the city to his present degradation.
AS Jack was about to call Jerry one SIDE.
so eager was he to ascertain, if possible, what
he might be induced to tell-his attention was
suddenly arrested by the entrance OF new
conner.
This was a fashionably dressed young, fel-
low, about twenty-five years old, whose glossy
hat was worn very much on one side, and VINO
carried in his kid-gloved hands slender gold
headed cane.
Petroleum Jim,' by all that's lucky!" Jack
heard Mike Brennan, notorious blackleg, pc
longing in the Fifth ward, mutter in an under
ton tone to Joe !G;arrett-playfqlly known nov! as
What do you say, Joe?" whiskered Mike,
with meaning glance at the young man, who,
having called for glass of beer, stood Leaning
against the bar, slipping it rather daintily, as
he looked at the riotous revelry.
I'm agreeable was the brief reply. and the
two worthless sauntered carelessly along to-
ward the newcomer
Jack was in quandary. He knew that
Mike and Joe meant mischief. He had heard
of Petroleum JIM hundred times during
the past year; He was a young man, who,
never having had ten dollars in his pocket at
time up to his twentieth year, had fallen
heir to very large fortune from a relative
who had owned a piece of land in Pennsyl-
vania, on which valuable coal oil well had
been discovered.
And, his head well nigh turned by the pos
session of so much money, he was squandering
it right and left by the hundreds and thousands
of dollars; In year he. had gotten rid of
nearly half million in the widest extrava-
ganees. He called it Seeing life" and made
his boast that he could adapt himself to the
which perhaps was true.
Say, Jerry" whispered Jack, pulling at that
individuals sleeve, but keeping pretty sharp
watch on Mike Brennan and his companion
who were, consulting together apart, Il want
you to tell me something"
Hello, Jack!" said Jerry, looking down at
him with frown. "What business have you
got here, anyway? I don't want any boys in
here; They're bad enough as they are, with
out hanging round this crib!"
ticed Jack for the first time, "you was better
IN bed! You gets no drinks here any more.
Eordyce should not haf sold you peer before,
if | know it,"
IT don't want beer or anything else," said
Jack, Except to find out, if can, who my
about it, I'm sure"
Jerry scratched. his closely-cropped head and
"Tell him." said Mrs. Mack, briefly.
1T amt much, Jack" answered Jerry, not
knitted in the Dew Drop Inn, on Mulb'ry
be one of them that picked him up. He
couldn't only speak the leastest word. but he
said, in a kind of whisper; 'ouita stole a baby
stopped right. there. And, as they never had
no children of their own, I've always knowed
that you belonged to some one else, but Won
never asked no questions, so I didn't think II
was my place to say anything about it."
Jack drew long breath.
"I thought ,so,"" he whispered to himself
'Much obliged, Jerryii" he said, aloud. "T
he added, suddenly turning to Jerry's wife
mike and Joe are laying for that youne
chap. wouldn't let 'em go through him, Il
| were you. It'll give the house a bad name.''
"Never you frets, Jack!" Mrs. Mack re-
Piled, placidly, unmindful of Jacks uncon-
scicus irony IT has gots mine eye on them"