The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-13

"Ill raise the limit in this gentle.
mems game Two out of three the
winncr-to quit this life and be de,
cent? Shorty nodded. Settle down
and earn Il living an get married to-
night. An go home an behave"
Again Shorty nodded. but he amended:
Tho loser to end it all. He jcrkcd
his thumb in the direction of the river.
Big Jim reached his hand, and the men
shook hands. Jusl then Il policeman
sauntered past, Importantly eying them.
The newsboys scattered. Then the two
! stopped again in the electric light and
matched pennies on the pavement. 1t
was Jim's luck again. Shorty laugh
ed, a little obviously.
You're q square sport, Jim. You'll
keep your word" Then lie turned on
his heel toward the river.
Jim stood thinking awhile till a po-
liceman passing babe him ''move on"
Then he passed slowly back toward the
main street. 1t had grown full evening.
and the crowd had thickened-the last
night before Christmas. He was push
ed to the edge of the walk, where pco-
pie had gathered thick as bees round
a fleeing queen. The drum was beat
ing-the Salvation Army again! 4 few
men were laughing, all trying to sec.
Jim shouldered his way to the front
The soldier; had surrounded an ovcr
dressed Young girl and knelt about her
Her cheeks were crimson with e&-
! element. She had not yet got to
rouge. Her curling yellow hair OK
%travagantiy drcssc! w"# Blowing in
; III" wind: tears rolled Ga:u h.: l,fby-
fish face. Sac was very pretty and
little. like :, COLL
lie knew !hr girl. 1t was Babe
shannon. ,lr caught her eye. and she
rrimscn"d deeper hue.
Come to Yourself. Come hoIie!"
pleaded lii" soldiers. Go back to
yolir mother. lir good: Nothing else
pays" She nodded assent to them,
"Ill-go hnlnc-hut let me out Of
here now" They yielded reluctantly,
!...t til" ;unng man forced himself to
her and lGuk her arm She shook Off
l.: touch like fire.
ITS yon and .our like have brought
L." here" sl, famed. i've promised
1, go lnrn", and | can't. ask YOU:
Can l: What chance would | have:
My mother But lie seized her arm
again and walked her rapidly away
from the curious crowd down a side
street, where it was quietcr.
Babe" he pleaded. I'm not much,
T o;,'+ 81 b,+ IF yoYDl MARRY mo we'll
begin square. You give me a chance
and I'll give you one" She faced him
in establishment and unbelief.
My name amt Babe; it's Molly.
What do you mean, talking about
getting married? A year ago-just a
year ago-if you'd said that it wo;!A
have saved me. Now
"Now-it will a y both of us. /!
mean it, Molly. You're Il THOUSAND
times too coed for me. But marry m~
and I'll take YOU home and I'll stick
by YOU. You can tell your mother
you've been married a year. You
ought to have been. and We'll make ii
true Her eyes searched his face,
and he pushed back his hat To help
her, to give her a chance at his eyes
kind, steady eyes. too old for so young
a man, but still clear. The girl knew
she could trust them. Suddenly she
nut he,. arm up before her face and
began to cry, but she nodded through
her tears.
Marry me tonight" he said. land
tomorrow I'll take you home. I'll wake
everybody and get a license. and IL
take care of you. We've got 5000 to
Legin on. Come to the postofficc first"
He drew her along with him. Once L.:
eide, she waited while he made o";
and sent all order for $500 and maile'?
1t to Shorty's wife. Then with a smil,
lie turned to the girl, who made shi?'
to smile back at him. He took her
hand and, holding her close to his side
again went out upon the street. Blu
this time he was no slouching loitereT
he had a license to procure, a justice
Of the peace or a preacher to find. And
then at the station they would buy.
| tickets for home: there would be tim
| to ask her where home might be.
AS they swung past the corner TIL"
| squat, velvet voiced Italian from tbs
store in his basket offered the man ~
small plaster image OF the Chris
child. Big Jim tossed the man a do
lar and put the little symbol of good.
will to men into Molly shane's WILLING
hand. Her lips murmured a silent
prayer-a prayer that they might b.
good again, that she might be good
She made silent vows Of Immaculate
wifehood. And she knew that. being
good, they would fnd their happiness
! together.