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

S.1oAS SSs
worked to the store for six months!
Do you s'pose = she's dead?" The
cracked old voice was a mere whisper.
The young mans heart softened.
"IIl tell you," he answered, Il expect
she's all rjght-married and safe, like
~, being SO pretty-and good" The
mother snatched gratefully at the
words. Married an safe, I reckon"
she repeated. "An' SO happy she's for
gettin' to write-married IN safe! An
-good!
$50 you go home." he advised. You
will hear from her all right if you
wait. You'll get sick here" He left
her and at the door ran head-on into
Shorty. He was glad to see even
Shorty, although that worthy had "a
crouch on" The two went down the
street together and paused at an alley
where newsboys, with an eye out for
the police, were shooting craps.
"Their games more fun than ours
and quicker" growled Shorty, "and
matching pennies is quicker yet and
even more intelligent. I'm tired of be-
ing q fool. I've got $500 in the world
In this roll. I'll match pennies, two
out Of three for 1t. Heads! What You
got?"
1.-TWO hundred dollars. I'll go your
They stopped to the pavement and
matched. Big Jim's luck. held. Silent
ly the other handed over the roll. Jim
laughed shortly.
'Ill raise the limit in this gentle
mems game Two out Of three the
winner-to quit this life and be de.
cent?" Shorty nodded. "settle down
and earn n living an get married to-
night! An go home an behave!"
Again Shorty nodded, but he amended:
"Thc loser to end it all. He jerked
his thumb in the direction Of the river.
Big Jim reached his hand, and the men
shook hands. Just then a 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 enviously.
you're a square sport, Jim. You'll
keep your word" Then he 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 peo-
pie had gathered thick as bees round
a fleeing queen. The drum was beat
ing-the Salvation Army again! A few
men were laughing, all trying to see.
Jim shouldered his way to the front.
The soldiers had surrounded an over
dressed young girl and knelt about her.
Her cheeks We're crimson with en-
element. She had not yet got to
rouge. Her curling yellow hair ex-
travagantly dressed was blowing in
the wind; tears rolled down her baby
|. ish face. She was very pretty and
little, like a doll.
lie knew the girl. 1t was Babe
Shannon. lie caught her eye. and she
crimsoned a deeper hue.
Come to yourself! Come homer
| pleaded the soldiers. go back to
your mother! Be good!> Nothing else
pays!' She nodded assent to them.
"I'll-go .home-but let me out OF
here now" They yielded reluctantly,
but the young man forced himself to
her and took her arm. She shook off
his touch like fire.
cts you and your like have brought
me here" she famed. Give promised
to go home, and I can't. I ask you:
Can 1? What chance would I have?
| MY mother But he seized her arm
| again and walked her rapidly away
from the curious crowd down a side
| street, where it was quieter.
"Babe," he pleaded, "I'm not much,
I amt fit, but if you'll marry me 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 would
have saved me. Now
"Now-it will save both Of us. l
mean it, Molly. You're n thousand
times too coed for me. But marry me
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 1t
true" Her eyes searched his face.
and he pushed back his hat to help
her. to give her Il chance ut his eyes
kind. steady eyes. too old for so young
a man, but still clear. The girl knew
she could trust them. Suddenly she
put her 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 LII
take care Of you. We've got 5000 to
begin on. Come to the p~ostofice frst."
He drew her along with him. Once In
side, she waited while lie made out
and sent an order Tor $500 and mailed
~ IN Hhnrtv'a wife. Then with n smile