The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-02-23

Things have changed greatly on the
river. There are no open bars, no card
playing, no shooting; much less travel.
for that matter.
sat opposite a gray bearded man, VINO,
when he had completed his meal. close
ly scrutinized a modest appearing
young woman quietly supping at
another table. She finished n DEPART
ed. When she was gon my neighbor
leaned across inc said:
Perhaps o thought it funny |
watched that lady SO closely? But
that's Sis ! remember her 20 years
back. on this very boat. My! but what
a look at her brings to my mind!'
He leaned back, his Eyes on the
table, a grim smile broadening q kind
ly countenance, and pushed both hands
deeply into his pockets.
The man had something he wanted
to tell.
"A romance, l suppose? ia like to
hear it."
1T was 20 years ago, and on this
boat, the Hester Hale. Professional
gamblers were always aboard, looking
for victims. Non were more daring
nor more lucky than Ready Rankin.
A handsome fellow, of good family,
with a heart big and manly. if he was
a cut-throat gambler and u bad man
all around. Down at hat landing we
left before Observation-Disclosures old
man vas waiting, one night, with a
wee tot of d girl. He brought her
aboard You know how natural it is
person? The child was the old mans
granddaughter. She was to get off at
Low Water Landing, which is the next
stop We'll make, a few mute from
now. He happened to put the child
in Ready Rankin's care. He agreed to
see her safely ashore n TO deliver
her th her ma. Ready got a state
room, put the child in one of the
berths and gave her "a bag of candy
to keep her from crying. Then he
went below for a game. The play
CHANGED to be tolerable heavy that
night, with Rankin an $4,000 winner.
But it ended in a row; and Rankin,
seeing trouble ahead. rolled his pile in
a newspaper and laid it beside the
sleeping child in the stateroom. The
boat was then a half hour from the
landing. Ready got into a fight with
the man he beat the table, and was
badly shot. His last words were con
fused. He said ~omething about:
"~'Stateroom six-little one-Low
Water landing-money.'
The boat made the landing. They
woke the child up, put all the bundles
into her arms, n turned her over
to her ma.
sis mother socn discovered the
package Of money, and met the boat
at the landing m her down trip nex
night, to make inquiries of the captain,
But he knew nothing about any money
So Sis mother kept it, trying all the
time to get some knowledge of Ran
kin's family. That she could not do
They la disowned him.
About three years ago a party. OF
young men came up the river hunting
They stopped off at Low Water landing
and boarded with Sis ma. One of the
young fellows was teller in a bank
down in NatcheZ. He fell head over
ears in love with Sis. You can much
blame him, can you? She's awfully
handsome. Naturally enough, they got
to comparing notes; n h story OF
the money came out. Do you know,
sir, it turned out that the young bank
teller was Rankin's son? Fact! He
and his mother and stepfather lived to-
gether, and all they'd ever heard was
that Ready had been killed in a fight
on the river. They didn't mourn over
much, although Ready wasn't the
worst chap that ever lived.
There! We're just blowing for Low
Water now. Let's go on deck and see
Sis land. Up to visit her ma, l reckon
"Rankin's son is going to marry her,
l suppose?"
Married man. Year ago, last
Christmas. They live as coy as you
please down in Natchez. He's cashier
of that bank now"
We stood by the rail as the boat
made fast. The young lady trIpped
lightly ashore and greeted a white
haired old lady.
The Hester Hale resumed her way
step this way. I'll show you where
Ready was killed"
We strolled to the gangway. He
pointed to a title bullet hole in the
easement.
There were three shots fired. Ready
fired one and L"
/ looked up quickly into his patri-
archal face. He paled, and liked his
eyes on me.
Il didn't mean to say so much,
friend: but / believe you are a square
man. This spot has a fascination for
me. And it is 20 years ago., 20-years
ago"
His head dropped. He seemed to be
thinking of something beside what he
uttered.
II understand you," I said.
l pressed his hand, and went to bed.