Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-11-25


bis former friends coming.
Brooks shufiied rather than walked
in He did not offer to shake hands.
bur, with a subdued Hello. Jlmsy.r
seated himself on the edge Of the arm
chair that iu former days he occupied
as his own. Then he seemed to forget
where he was. sank back, shrinking
into his overcoat. and sat as though
stupehed. twisting his hat In his hands
slowly and mechanically.
Smith was shocked at the change in
his appearance His face was white
and thin. and the eyes, which were al
most expressionless. were deep sunk in
the sockets. There was stubble on his
chin; his formerly neatly plastered
hair was disheveled
boy, you're ILL.," said Jimsy with
concern. let me get a bracer for
you"
He rose and produced a decantcr OF
whisky, but his visitor declined, this
time with a wan Pickering smile Of ap-
probation.
''No. thanks. Jimsy. / don't feel like
It just now. I've been drinking too
much OF the STUFF. and l haven't eaten
since last night / think"
"For heavens sakeT exclaimed
Jimsy.
Brooks would have restrained him,
but he was out Of the door aud bound
ing downstairs three steps at a time.
Brooks sank back into the chair and
reIapsed into his condition Of hebetude.
In a little while Smith returned, a
plate heaped high with sandwiches in
one hand and a bowl of hot bouillon in
the other. Brooks refused the sand
witches, but he took the bowl, and,
holding 1t IN both hands-which trem-
bled-sipped its grateful contents.
"Jlmsy you're awfully good" he
sighed.
"Oh no-none Of that" protested
Smith. "Tell me what brought you
here. What can / do for your"
II don't know why l came. after
after the way / acted last time. r.
''Never mind that. Let's forget about
it."
mo have no right here. Jimsy,
I'm done for"
"How done for?7
81 am. and you'll kick me out, as I
deserve, when you know Jimsy. I've
done it again. I'm a thief a second
time. and again for a woman"
Smith looked grave, but he said
nothing.
WHAT You don't get up and kick
me? Well, Welt l suppose it's just
like you, but rather hoped you would.
You're the only man who wouldn't
But wait till you hear i can tell 1t to
you because you can't help me. No
body can. I'm beyond helping"
Better try a sandwich first" sug-
gested Smith There's no hurry"
Thanks: think 1 will. That beef
tea did me good"
He ate three sandwiches ravenously.
washing them down with water.
There isn't a whole lot to relate" he
said. "You can fill in the details for
yourself. l tried backing the ponies
again; then / stole from the bank.
There was an examination OF the books
at the bank four days ago. l didn't
turn up there that day. and 1 haven't
4 been there since; but, of course. the
game is up. / wandered about. drink
ing to try to forget my troubles till all
my money was gone. Then ] sobered
up, and here / am. This time there's
no one to save me. The bank couldn't
be fixed. even II had the funds to
make my stealings good. They'd get
me wherever / hid myself. that's sure.
They must be looking for me now.
And, o God. can't face itF'
Tears rained down his face-tears
that he madesno effort to hide or wipe
away.
Il knew / was going heedlong down
to hell-knew what l was doing-saw
the certain punlshment-yet couldn't
stop myself And now l have reached
the mouth OF the pit"
He shuddered and wrlthed In agony
Of torment. turning his pitiful, stream
ing eyes upon Smith
ooh, Jlmsy, II you would only kill
me and end It ALL" he moaned. ooh
II 1 only had the courage to kin my
selfr'
Smith, greatly agitated. looked at the
miserable man In perplexity.
Il wish could help you. joe" h'
said. "But this time 1 don't see how
you can be helped"
ut isn't possible. There's nothing
you could do. I'm done for It's my
own fault" he sobbed. Il brought 4
all on myself. have been weak-oh
weak-and a fool. And now it's come
to this. No; nobody's to blame but my
self-unless it's Emma"
He rose to so.
"Shake hands with me. Jlmsy," hi
begged. Its the hand Of thief,
criminals hand. but you were glad 4
take It In friendship once. when 1t wa
honest, and it's the last time I'll eve
ask you to do anything for me. You'll
never see me again"