Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-23

settled and over. but 1 couldn't hold out
against the little one Say, if you ever
worked underground for a week like I
have many times, and got out some day
when the sun was shining straight down,
you know about how 1 felt. 1t seemed
TO me as If she was the first streak of
sunshine that had come my way in five
years and I couldn't let it get away from
mel wanted to hold it, and keep it. and
1t seemed SO easy after what Nellie said.
I thought quick and hard: there were a
whole lot of things to consider. I held
both bowers and the ace and l knew
could play the game any way l wanted to,
but 1 couldn't figure how 1 could turn the
trick without playing it low down on John
Cameron, and 1 didn't have any call to
do that-John never having done me dirt.
He won Nellie fair and square on my
deal. and If he had stacked the cards on
her since it wasn't any business of mine;
but he wasn't giving the kid fair deal
that was it-and right there I calculated
was where / came in.
Il let that idea simmer in my head
little while to be sure it was right, and
then l ups and says. Nellie. was that
me to take you out of this and away from
John? Do you mean it? DO l mean it?'
she says-'Do mean It? Why. Tom Ora
ham,, If a well-brought-up Chinaman was
to come in here and ask me to go with
him l wouldn't wait to get my hat. That's
how much 1 mean it.
Your hand is good Nellie I says,
but l am sorry you showed your cards.
Now all l got to say is this, and | want
you to write it down in your little book,
so you can remember that I told you be-
forehand! I amt got as much money as
you think have, but am middling strong
and healthy and can take care of you all
right. You won't ever be Nellie Francis to
really want to go. and you think you can
act straight, it will be giving the kid a
chance. so 1 guess will have to call you
Now you are talking, Tom: 1 could al
most love you for that: IN turn a trick
on John Cameron this time that will
make his head swim, see if don't. l look
like Piute squaw, do I? I wonder what
he will look like when he finds out I'm
gone? Now you run out and get the
tickets for wherever you want to go-it
don't make any difference to me. Just
you be at the stage door at ; o'clock in
the morning, and will meet you there all
right enough And the kid I says. 'be
sure you bundle her up warm. for it amt
overhot tonight The kid?' she says.
looking kinder funny. oh, that's all
right; I'll attend to her.
X
ga FTER she left went out and walk
"a ed around town awhile, trying to
square the deal with my conscience, which
was SOlIc-JOuH SdulcTOH never
having done me any dirt: but at 3 o'clock
id the difference and was at the
stage door waiting for Nellie. Lord. but
things was hot inside there-music play
ing in about six keys at once. everybody
dancing and shouting. oh. it was some
thing tough. I tell you! BY and by Nellie
came out all alone She grabbed my arm
and says. MY. but am glad to see you.
Tor, drink
and he is looking for me-
You forgot something. l says.
Where's the kid?' Never mind the kid
she says DO come on; don't you hear
him calling for me?' Yes. but / do mind
1 says; L have got to have that kid
oh, bother the kid. 1t amt mine.
What do we care? We don't want it,
''Taint yours-what do you mean? whose
is it?' 1 says. feeling mighty sick. Well.
If you amt the worst ever" she says. If
you must know, it's Liz Goddard's; she
was awful sick after it came and made
me promise like a fool that IL she died I
would take care of it, and then blamed II
she didn't die-wasn't that luck for you?
But come on: it goes with John and the
rest of this. A bad promise is better
broken Not in this case 1t amt says
L don't care whose baby 1t was-its mine
now, and If you want to 60 with me you
better skip back and get it, I won't