The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-12

fer. so to speak. have answered every
purpose satisfactorily up 10 today; eh.
DardneF?'
Eyes, sir
''And today-say, son. do you know
Terry Cox. the milleT's nephew
Kid Cox, the bruissr? Yes, sir"
And Little Dams admiration was such
Z he forgot to be surprised at the
taken in the conversation.
n You do. Well, You are going
now him better--Or worse You are
,1ing TO be pupil Of his. He is to in
struct you in the manly art You are
to learn how to bust, paste and am
haste with scientific precision. Mind
you, while you are learning. if you do
across nay knee as In the bitter past,
but, after you have learned. We'll fight
out our differences If opinion, you and
L. with gloves. OF course, you'll get
the worst of it for quite many a year,
as is right you should. bur. at any rate
it will give you chance to defend
yourself a little, which is something,
and to hit back. which is much. Does
this suit you?"
Little Dan gasped with joy. He had
never hoped for such richness of gener-
osity His face was ablaZe with rap
ture.
"Oh, father" was all he could say,
but IL was enough.
IAN right, SON.
By stretching out arms the Ransonis
managed to touch hands and to shake
them Something that was. more rap
ture to Little Dan. No kissing and
babying, if you please, but manly
hand clasp. His swelling chest was fun
of ambition.
81 want TO be a man and gentle
man, and do everything, and learn ev-
erything a man and gentleman
should he said
ION, you do. do you?" said his father
rather wistfully. Then il would please
/ you to go away to school, eh?"
Little Dan dropped despairipgly- Had
all the foregoing cajolements but pre-
pared the way fer this blow
Just as you like, father" he NUT
tered suIlenly, his resentment. Jealousy
and heartache rushing back
Nothing of the sort. Just as you
like said Dan Ransom. himself sulky.
Il wouldn't like at all I'd be lonely
You lonely? You'd miss me-" asked
Little Dan, honest incredulity sticking
out all over him.
why, good lord, pardner, how could
1 help it?" asked Big Dan, opening his
eyes very wide. You can't guess what
you are to me, can you? Well. why
should you? You don't have. to-" He
took his cane in both his hands and
sketched queer lines in the dust as he
talked quietly on. while Little Dan lis
tened in an agony of lamazement and
/ alteration which threatened to suffocate
him. Haven't we been together night
and day for ali of twelve years? ]
kind of took to you when You were a
baby. / know it's queer. but I did.
Just at that time I was $3.50 alone.
you see. So. SO suddenly alone And
you rather comfoFted me. There was
so much to do for you. I used to get
comfort out of you, even while walking
you around when you sgualled. Not
that you did much of it. And at night,
when you were asleep the whole big
I house would shrink to one tiny spot
/ the crib where you lay Dan. Your
room was kind of sanctuary old chap.
Often I've gone in there at midnight
and knelt down beside your bed and
! and covered you UP, Dan Such a baby
for bruiting the blankets. Used to find
them all of a bunch at your feet.
Where was /? Oh, yes. At your baby
days. Then, when you grew older, the
fun grew, too. We've been pretty good
friends, Ell, pardner? We've read and
wrangled together and walked and
talked and thought together for many a
year now, haven't We? And I guess
you have nursed me just as much as
phoid and you stood by like brick
I I've never forgotten. Don't want to-
Aren't you all the boy I have in the
wide world? What would the old house
be without your bang-and clatter-and
clutter and-your laughter? Eth, old
{ chap? Would l miss you? Would 1!
Why. I'd miss you-more than life
"Then don't let me CO." cried Little
Dan, jumping up and finging himself
into his fathers arms, clinging to his
neck and pressing his cheek to the one
bent down to him. Don't let me CO."
His words meant nothing at all and
were not in the least what he wanted to
say. He wanted to pour out his fren-
zied gratitude at finding that he was
Iloved as much as he himself did love
But it was too sacred to talk about He
found that he was weeping and stified
his sobs.
each other father. So glad, it makes
me cry with joy"
ME. too" threw In Big Dan enthusi-
astically. And Little Dan stranglel
him with hug.
"And when we have our fisticuffs
father, promise me you'll hit me hard
won't you. father? You'll knock the
daylights out of me, won't you father?'
/ eyes. indeed" assented Big Dan fer
II NeIlIlNs returning Tie mug ii khOCf
the very daylights out, But you'll ham
mer for dear life, too, Ell? else it's Nc
fun"
"Yop can depend upon me-" promiseS
Little Dan proudly. III play fair il
everything"
''Then alTs settled said Big Dan
starting up gayly. Come, let's g
5 home"
Eyes, siFi" sang out Little Dan.
| hi
honorable obligations, and right herr
one of them intruded itself upon Littl.
Dams sensitized conscience. He neve
: wavered.
I'VE could go home, but Miss Aime'
a is in the woods--a little piece. | guess
? and If we try we can meet her and al
walk back together"
: The Dan Ransoms stared meaningl,
|. at each other. 1t was not situation
| - l.. H. IL