, 1907-10-29
A BABY in The WAY
"Whar, you goln', Joe?"

ltT YOU All ptOpic Bays liz hSSpbA
his hand on his shootin' iron."
Guess he won't hurt me-. Gimme a
dime plug of tobacco"
Old Link Bell, the storekeeper az
Cow Fork, handed out the plug and
Joe Tywman, cowboy, paid for it.
whats Blake got it in fer you fer,
Joe?" asked Link.
81 was lopin' long on my pony yes
terday mornin' an see him an his
wife in front Of their sod-house out
here on the edge of town havin' some
words" replied Joe. "'Twasn't none
of my business till Blake up an smash
ed her with the butt end OF his six
shooter. 1 couldn't stand fer that, SO
II jes' hoped out of the saddle an
disarmed him. He wus half drunk.
II rode away with his gun an give 1t
to Hugus Wilson to take back to him"
you mean to tell me you disarmed
Blake an he never plugged you fore
you done it,"
81 do
"Blake's a gunman, Joe.'
Eyes, but | had a bead on him fore
he could git his arm up"
The storekeepcr's fingers tapped
the counter and he aimed a stream 81
tobacco juice at a bug over near a
barrel. We'll, look out fer him, Joe.'
he said. We'd all hate to see Blake
pop you yer Everybody round here,
likes you, 'ceptin' him"
Tywman hitched his belt a notch.
I"Don't worry. Link" The said. Il guess
he won't git me-"
The cowboy shambled towards the
door. As he reached it, he heard a
laugh. 1t came from a baby girl, posi-,
bly, 3 years old, who was rubbing the
nose of Joe's broncho.
.Dood horsey," she said. Nellie
like dood horsey."
well I'll be durned!" came from the
cowboy. Look at that kid, will you?
Never knowed that bronx had nothin'
but orneriness in him fore this. Dang.
ed if he don't like that there nose
rubin. | don't blame him. l be
lieve I'd like it too"
Joe picked the little girl up in his
arms and planted a big kiss on her
cheek. Come in here with Uncle
Joe," he said. We're goin' to git
some candy"
Both chubby arms went around the
cowboys neck. "All yight," cooed the
baby. we dom to dit some tandy.'
Joe carried her into the store
Whose kid is this, Link?" he asked
Couldn't tell you that. Don't recol
lect ever SEEM her fore this" replied
the s~torekeeper.
We'll it don't make no difference
Gimme a dimes worth of stick candy
Joe put the candy bag in the baby'i
hand and carried her out of the store
Less set down here awhile" he said
Here's a box. Well set down an yor
kin git outside Of some of hat sticl
candy"
He sat down on the box and placed
the little girl on n knee. She began
on the candy at once.
Now git to it fast" he said. EAT
it all. Gosh! l recollect the time
when a piece of stick candy looked
Digger to me than a hundred dollar
bill looks now. Eat it up Nellie. I'm
jist goin' to hug you a little, while
you make it scarce"
One arm was around her waist. His
face was close to hers. 1t was hard
to tell which was the happier.
by gosh!" murmured Link to him
self as his eyes took in the sight
mo wonder everybody likes hat Joe
He's got a heart in him bigger'n
bushel basket. Look at Kim huggin
that baby. She's as happy as a mil
lionaire. Wonder whose kid she is?'
The storekeeper stepped to the door
and leaned against the door frame
i"When you two goin' to git married
Joe?" he said to the cowpuncher.
Soon as she'll promise to have
me- came the reply.
At this point the smile or the store
keepers face suddenly vanished.
Around the corner of the building came
a low browed a He recognized
Joe, although the latter's back was
lOWdlu HlLu. Oul Cdiue al ugly Sun
from the holster. Joe was still talking
to the baby.
Look out, joel" called the store
keeper as he hurriedly stepped back
into the store.
No use to look out" came from
the man with the gun. I've got him
now an l guess it's cashin' in time
fer him."
Joe turned his head. Careful,
Blake said the c~owpuncher. you
got a grudge agir me, but you amt
got none agin this baby"
Blake Dunn hadn't seen the child.
The cowpuncher's big body was hid
ing her.
Il amt goin' to waste no time with
you, Joe Twyman,'' said the man with
the gun in a surly tone of voice. you
had it on me yesterday, but l got you
now. You're goin' to cash in"
Joe kissed the baby's cheek. "If you
mean it, wait till l set this kid one
side" he said. You wouldn't kill II
baby would your"
Baby, hell-what!" Dunn had NOV
ed around a little and caught sight
of the baby.
'Tll just put her in the store In
then you kin plug away" said Joe.
Gimme leave to do it an l promise
"