El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-26
Jim Bottoms Sacrifice
By Horatio Cox.

phase of a character which hap
ply only a few experience. This had
been the last day of his ticket for
the very last time had he paraded him
self before the obseryant eyes of the
plain-clothes men, usually to be found
in the chiefs room on the same day in
each month, when he had reported him
self and his doings. The chief had
smiled somewhat kindly across at him
as he blotted the final entry under the
name of James Bolton" Now don't
let's hear any more of you" he said,
clear out now and for good The
man near tbs door had quietly risen
and had walked at Jim's shoulder
down the echoing passage. You heard
what he said, Jim: don't forget it.
turn all the old way down and stick
to the straight living you're at now.
You know you've had more than a
mans share of the inside
Yest That was painfully clear in
his barking back over the past; he had
certainly spent a considerable number
OF his 81 years in the confinement en-
forced by his many judges. Two years
ago the darksome doors OF Portland
had opened for his tentative freedom,
and since then he had gone undeniably
straight No one could say he had
not earned an honest living. He had
found a home with his widowed
daughter, doing all he could TO assist
her in the little green grecer's business
left her by her late husband. and now
free mana man who had paid in
full for all his unlawful lapses-he
hreathed a sigh OF relief. The past
was dead and done with; never again
would he enter the uneven fight
against society. His remaining years
would be spent solely for the help of
Milly and her only son.
A rough. work stained hand closed
lovingly over his own. IT know you
don't like me to talk about the past,
father" Milly said. hut en- this day
of all others, I want 10 say how happy
L am now that there's an end TO it all.
Think how mother would have felt,
and would have done her best to
hearten you if she. had been alive!
Well, that's how l feel"
II know, Milly. know he re-
piled. and thank YOU Davis said this
morning I'd had more than a mans
share-not but what earned it-and
feel II stronger than ever tonight to
keep just as / am with you and Aft"
''Alf seems to have more night duty
than he used to- he said. as Milly
cleared twaV The plates and knives
and gave him his pipe from the man
telshelf
so he does" she answered. but
it's extra pay for him and you know
how he gives me more money than
many a son gives to a mother. But
do think the company shouldn't expect
him to do full work as we'll" Further
discussion was cut short by the en-
trance of Aft himself Now, then,
you two" he said breezily too late
to join you at supper. 1 see, but I'll
enjoy mine just the same I've got to
go on again at II tonight he went
on. as he reached over for the loaf.
What have you got to do particular
tonight?" asked his grandfather.
sOh. bit of extra shunting," said
Aft; Il shall be back home again
about four"
The next day was the periodical one
for bedroom cleaning" and as usual.
Jim's help was in demand for the
moving of bedsteads and the heavier
furniture. With Milly he had pulled
Alfs bed from its customary position,
and was painfully rubbing a shin
which had been damaged by unexpect-
ed contact with an obtrusive box. He
was alone for a few minutes while
his daughter had answered the door
bell. and. from his STOPPING posture
noticed that the box lid was not quite
closed down. The pain in his leg get
ting easier, he idly pulled the box to-
wards him, and, raising the lid, looked
down upon its contents.
For a full half minute he gazed with
out a movement; then a tear or two
fell silently on what he saw. Hur-
riedly rising to his feet, he slipped
silently to the door and listened. Milly
was still talking below to her custom
er, and, in a moment he was back at
the open box and feverishly trans
ferring its contents to the inner bag
pocket of his old coat-a pocket
which had held like things many times
IN the past. When Milly returned, the
box was in its usual place, but for the
remainder of the day he was noticea-
bly, silent and preoccupied.
I'm going out a bit tonight. Milly,"
he said over the tea-table. Amt
been out ali day. you know" he added
somewhat lamely in response to. her
mute look of surprise.
NO" she answered, only don't be
late in. Very likely Alf1l be in for
supper and out again. and it's lonely
without one Of you after the shops
shut"
"oh. that's all. right" he replied.
"Alf anin't any night duty tonight
he said so. you know. this morning,
but p'raps you didn't hear him. But
1 shan't be late, don't you worry"
Once in the lamp-lit street his mien
changed, the simulated cheerfulness
left him. Lord help me to get rid. of
'em somewhere and safei How is it?'
he asked viciously; how is it Alfs do
ing what I did? 1t amt my example
he knows nothing of what I've done
and gone through. Milly would never
tell him--how is it?"
With misgiyings she yainly endeav-
ored to still. Milly sat waiting at the
neglected supper table. Three times
had she gone through the shattered
shop and had looked along the lamp-lit
vista for some signs of her father or
her son. and as many times returned
to sit listening for the footballs that
should have been heard two hours ago.
As the clock gradually worked round
TO the stroke of midnight, her uneasi-
ness gave way to terror. and as she