Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965, April 14, 1911, Image 3

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PACKER JIM'S GUARDIANSHIP
By ROY NORTON
Copyright by JT.
IIE3N a man associates with
burros for eight or ten
years ho gets tho burro
habit, and, like drinking
or smoking, so they say,
It's hard to break off. It
was pretty well fixed on
Jim Tipton when first ho
mmn to the Sierra Madrca
K-g3 along with Daldy and three
y ' or four other pack-mules;
but Baldy was his lntlmato friend, and
the others didn't count.
It was when Holcomb Valley, away
up In the tops of tho hills, was a real
camp, where every ono was busy sot
tine gold, or sure he was going to get
It, and it was nobody's business who
anybody else was or where he came
from. Curiosity starts lots of ceme
teries, bo It didn't pay to want to
know too much. All that any ono
over really cared about was whether
the other fellow was on tho square,
and Jim Tipton was all of that, So
was Baldy. When Jim gave his word
It was a certainty, whether ho was
only to bring in a sack of flour or lake
a mule-load of gold out, It would bo
done on time. And there Isn't much
of anything finer than always keeping
your word and making good,
Jim had been a civilian teamster
and packer with tho army when
things were lively along the desert, at
a time In which a man didn't make
any heavy bets, when he rolled In his
blankets, that ho would get up In tho
nomine with his scalp. When tho
noble red man, as a reward for hav
ing tortured and murdered all ho
could, was Anally pensioned Into fat
and lazy peace, Jim naturally drlftod
Into packing, and tho drifting and tho
packing brought him to Holcomb.
That's all any ono know of him, and
more than anybody cared. But be
fore long every one was glad ho was
there because packing wasn't a thing
that most men tackled, particularly
when the trail ran away oft Into tho
high-back hills, through passes, along
helves by waterfalls, and over places
where tho ledge tried to lose Itself in
the faco of the cliffs. It was no pyg
my's Job.
Even for a packer, Jim wasn't hand
some, being that kind of a man that
the dfnert mufces. or makes the des
erttall, lean, and leathery, sunburn
ed to a red, and with little wrinkles
around his eyes from much peering
over hot sands. Ho was more liberal
with everything than talk, of which
he was miserly, perhaps through lack
of practise. But tho Lord Almighty's
loo busy to measure men by words.
It's what they do. Bo sure of that!
So most men believe Jim stood pretty
well with him, and others don't mat
ter. Baldy was a wlso old chap, who had
lived with Jim a long time. In fact,
they must have bocomo acquainted
somewhere out on the desert before
they came to tho now camp. Baldy
was rather a benevolent-looking burro,
having a white faco and whiskers and
a pair of philanthropic ears much big
ger around than any of his trim Httlo
legs, which a hand could girdle. Ho
seemed to think ho had a right to go
into any cabin where Jim was welcom
ed, and, como to think of It, most
everybody else thought so. Ho was
Just llko a good-natured dog that's al
ways hanging around a table or a
camp-fire and looking so longingly for
a little attention or a scrap of some
thing to eat that no one can refuse
out of mere politeness, Baldy was
real polite, too, because he never
took anything without asking for it in
his way. Jim said Baldy got his hon
esty from a preacher who raised him,
but the boys thought It was really
from associating with Jim himself.
Life with them was Just about tho
same ono day as another. Break
camp in the morning, swing tho pack
trees on, get tho loads up and throw
tho hitches and plod away over the
trail, Baldy'B bell calling "TInk-tank;
tlnk-tank" as ho led tho way. Soft
spots In tho trail would stop tho ring
ing until Jim came front and fixed it
up. It was tho sp.rae way with a
bridge. Baldy would go up on it and
tap It with his feet before putting his
weight down until he i;ot clear across,
whllo tho wholo train would watch
him go over, feeling sure of his Judg
ment. And so every day they did the
same, life beginning and ending with
tho trail. Always the trail.
Along about tho tlmo when tho
camp had sottlod Into an evcry-day
basis and wns used to Jim and Baldy,
Bill Papo came Into the valley with
his Httlo girl. Ho wasn't strong
enough to work In the hills, so raado
one of tho first land entries in that
country. H wa3 almost the last thing
any ono else would have thought of,
but tho place was pretty enough, be
ing a little valloy through which a
stream rambled along until It came to
an edge whero It fell off Into a canon
and mado Its bed out to the sage
brush flats, many miles below. Bill
built him a cabin from tho big logs
around tho valley's edgo, and went
into a sort of farming business, sell
ing vegetables to the miners ovor at
Holcomb for camp prices. Ho never
got very well acquainted because he
didn't seem to fit the West, but ho
wasn't n bad fellow. Ho was a dreamy
kind of man, with book-learning.
Used to read poetry and such.
Bill's place was tho homiest any
whrro around, and somo way It ap
EDWIN BOOTH'S CIGAR CASE
Is Now In Possession of Hackett, Who
Hopes to Give It to
Players' Club.
It Is James K. Hackett who nflirms
there was onco n dishonest cab driver
In tho city of St. Louis.
In support of this statement, tho
tictov details tho story of a cigar caso
with a history, which is now In his
coseeaslon. Yoars ago a great trage-
HkV 3
31
L. Nclsou
pealed to Jim, who got Into Uie habit
of dropping over to tho cabin with
Baldy, whenever he got time, and
watching Bill and his Httlo Annie put
tering around the flower-beds and
truck patches. It seemed almost as
If Jim and Baldy had been wanting a
Httlo girl to love for a mighty long
tlmo by tho way they took up with
Annie. Both of them used to pack
her around on their backs, and sov
eral times Jim took her on tho round
trip to San Bernardino. And thoso
were great trips!
Then camo tho tlmo when sho made
all tho trips with Jim and Baldy. It,
was when Bill died, leaving no rela
tives to whom ho could send Annie.
Jim brought tho news.
Thero was a big time on at the
dancohall that night. More people
thero than usual. Tho lamps were
swinging, and the fiddles going and
tho bar glasses clinking, when some
thing came Into the door that mado
everybody stop and tako notice.
It was Jim 'Tipton, and in his arms
he held a little girl who was crying
and staring wide-eyed through her
tears at tho strangeness of a place
she had never scon boforc.
Jim, standing thero in tho doorway
with the black night bohlnd him, put
out ono hand with a gesture that was
part appeal and part cotnmnnd, and
everybody listened. He waited until
It was so still that you could almost
hear tho lights flicker.
"Boys," he said, In his slow voice,
"Old Bill Papo'a dead. Died about an
hour ago, over In his cabin. I want
somebody to help me tako caro of tho
girl tonight, and of him."
Now, death waBii't anything unusual
in that sixty-foot log dance-hall. Men
had died in It, and suddenly; but thoro
was something about Bill Papo's dy
ing, and something about that for
lorn, sobbing baby girl that made
every one feel a Httlo queer. Most
all the men volunteered to help, and
all tho women wanted to care for An
nie. Probably they weren't the kind
most men would want to tako care of
their children, but, after all, they
might do worse. Thero's mighty few
women bad enough so there isn't
something fine In them when it comes
to a helpless little glil.
They put Bill Papo away next day,
the best they know how. Thero was
no preacher In the camp, so it was
hard work to have a real ceromony,
but a fellow who had served in tho
Mexican war played a tune on a bugle.
Jim seemed to think BUI was tho kind
of fellow who didn't need any pray
ers. From the very first Jim wouldn't
allow any ono to havo any hand in
tho care of Annie, nnd it was a trifle
awkward at times. Thoro wasn't even
a "Chink" laundryman in tho camp
in those days, every man being his
own washerwoman. Jim had always
got along the way every one else did.
Used to tlo a rope around his clothes
and anchor them in the creek whdre
the swish and whirl of tho waters did
all tho work. Did It well, too, al
though it was a triflo hard on things.
That's why everybody around the
camp looked kind of bleached out, as
If everything they had was from somo
place whero colors weren't very
strong.
When Jim fell heir to Annlo, ho
took to snooping around the laundry
end of some of tho cabins, and it
didn't leak out for quite a while that
he had taken lessons in Ironing, and
brought flatlrons up to his cabin from
San Bernardino. Tho pains ho used
to tako with Annie's sunbonnets and
pinafores woro probably moro than
he had ever taken with anything else
In all his life. Got so ho was as proud
of his starching and Ironing as a wom
an could be.
Somo of tho boys discovered him
ono day, and with his white hat at an
anglo on tho back of his head, hlB
bluo shirtsleeves rolled tip to tho el
bows, and laboriously Ironing away on
a lot of tucking. Jim was strong on
tucks and frills for Annie. It got
around tho camp, and one day some
body who didn't know hlra vory well
undertook to got funny about it. It
look (ho big packer In a placo where
It evidently hurt Ho declared him
self. "Seems to strlko somo of you sheep
herders ns funny," ho said, "tho way
I tako caro of Annie. Maybe Its be
cause you don't llko tho way tho
work's done, and maybe It's Jest be
cause you can't mind your own lay
outs. Well, I'm hero to remark that
the next feller that butts his nose Into
mo and Annie's business Is goin' to
git hurt. I'll Interfere with his fea
tures!" Then ho walked away; but after
that he look moro caro with his laun
dry work than over, and folks got
used to It. Nobody over said any
thing more, because, as one of the
boys remarked: "Jim had a flat-iron
Instead of a chip on his shouldor,"
and wasn't a safe man to havo fun
with.
Annlo regularly Joined tho pack
train for the summer scasou. Men
on tho trail would hear tho "TInk
tank" of a bell, and then around a
sharp curvo, maybe, would como a
solemn-looking old burro, moro care
ful now than over to find sure foot
ing, and on his back would be a very
Httlo girl In a very big sunbonnet,
sometimes weaving wild-flower chains,
or, again, singing lltfle baby songs.
dlan was playing In St. Louis. He
had occasion to use a cab from tho
thoator to his hotol. After tho play
er had alighted the driver discovered
n cignr case hnd been left behind.
Tho caso was of carved black wal
nut, lined with dark bluo silk. The
actor, although nn Invetorato smoker,
used it for n purr.o. Whon tho cab
man found It thero wero several green
backs nmong tho contents. What be
came of tho money Is not recorded,
but tho caso was later traded ovor tho
bar for liquid refreshment. The bar
tender showed It to nn actor, who
Sometimes, too, naldy came trudging
along without her. That was when
sho could be found asleep In tho arms
of the big lank man, who tobcrly
rode In tho rear.
"You see," ho used to explain with
grent gravity as though ho know more
about babies than Mrs. Wlnslow,
"sho's Jest like cubs, and kittens, uud
all them other cute Httlo cusscr,. She
Jest natorally has to go to sleep about
onct every so often, so'3 to get big
and strong and purty."
Then ho would ride on nnd cntch
up with Baldy, who would look back
once In a whllo as if to make sure
whether ho could really trust tho girl
With Jim.
Again, you might como on them by
their camp-flro at night, when tho
flames were shooting up and making
tho shadows of tho trees look very
deep and dark, and on n log would bo
sitting Jim tolling stories to Httlo An
nlo, whoso eyes would bo very open
and very Interested. If you looked
hard you would probably And Baldy
loafing around somwhrn pretty close
by.
They called the placo whero Bill
Pape died "home," and although they
k"pt the flowers and things looking
near and nice, tho vegetables didn't get
much care. Jim was too busy. Be
sides, Jim didn't neoni to be much of
a vcgotnblc man.
"We'vo got to tako care of this
hero place, Annie girl," he used to
say, "becauso It's all you've got, and
I promised your dad I'd look out for
you."
Baldy gave a lot of troublo at flrst
in his blundering way. Ho wasn't
used to flowor-beds and truck patches,
CONTINUED HIS
nnd thought that being a partner en
titled him to eat most anything that
was greon nrpund tho place. Jim
threatened to sell him, though, and
maybe that was ono reason ho grow
more careful. It was a very serious
time.
"Baldy," Jim said, "you onery, no
account cuss, you've gone and eat tho
heads off four cabbages and five
patches of marigolds, and now you've
tried to swallor the roso-bush. I ortor
let you go to somo fellor bound for
tho desert whore thero ain't nothln' to
eat; but I'm goln' to glvo you one
moro chance, and a dam good club
bin'." So Baldy finally learned what not
to cat,
Fall camo along, and then thoro
wero occasional drifts of snow up In
tho high hills, and Jim was perplexed
what to do with Annlo. Ho didn't
llko tho women of the camp, and ho
hated to havo tho girl away from him.
So when ho was down In San Ber
nardino, no took tho advlco of his
warmest frlond, "Jedgo Gregg," and
put her at school In tho convent. .It
was a bitter parting and hard for her
to understand. Jim talked to her as
If sho wero almost a grown woman,
Instead of a five-year-old baby.
"Now, don't you feel bad, Annlo
girl," ho consoled, as he patted her
on the back "I jest can't keep you
with me, and I have to keep workln.
Besides, If 1 ain't lookin' out all the
tlmo and makln' a bluff at Iivln' on
tho place your daddy loft you, some
body'll como along and Jump your
claim. Thero! Thoro! Don't cry!
I'll come nnd see you every trip,
nlld" his voice sank to a confidential
whisper "whon summer comes again,
and the brook ft arunnln' and the
birds a-slngin', you can hit tho ti nil
with mo and Baldy, Just like youVe
been doln'."
Ho walked around the room with
her a few tlmea, whllo the good sis
ter waited and concluded: "And you
must learn to read, so's when you git
back you can read to me, becauso I
ain't strong on readln'."
With this final solace, he left her,
and In tlmo she grow to "watch for
his comings, and bear with his go
ings. Tho winter came, when tho snows
fell deep, to bo followed by tho tlmo
whon tho milder air told of spring,
and tho land showed greon again.
gave up n mcerschouin pipe lu ex
chango for It.
From that tlmo tho case passed Into
tho possosslon of several persons, and
after awhile camo undor tho eye of
Hackett. He admired It so much It was
presented to htm.
Now ho declnres ho hopes to present
tho caso to tho Players' club, for the
Players' club was founded by tho dis
tinguished tragodlan who lost the caso
In tho cab. HIb nnmo wns Edwin
nooth.
ifflMKr?" few wmmti--JniitUf' .'
iSSlNsilL fa lC
Everything In the camp was the samo,
but In the city, In tho valloy far bo
low, there was great excitement nnd
stir. Capitalists had como who woro
going to build a big dam ncross the
canon below Jim's house, send their
ditches over tho valley bolow, nnd
mnko'tho land worth something. Of
course theso men figured that Jim
wouldn't give any trouble, and. If ho
did, It wouldn't amount to anything.
Ho wont ahead oblivious of all this
until, on ono of his trips, whon ho
wuh coming away from the convent, a
stranger stopped him In tho street.
"You nro Mr. James Tipton?"
"Yes."
"Well, I want to tnlk to you about
that land you're squatting on up In
the mountains. You'll huo to got
off."
Jim looked at the mnn In a daze,
then woke up.
"Havo to get off, eh? Squattin on
It, am 1? That land belongs to my
little Annie, nnd I'm her guardeon,
after a fnshlon. She's goln' to keep
It unless she gets a mighty good price
for It."
"Oh, no, sho Isn't," camo tho sneer
ing lojolncr, "We'vo staked It legal
ly, and you'll havo to get off or be
put oft."
The man might have said more, but
something cheeked his speech. It was
Jim Tipton's two hands clenched
round his thront and shaking him as
if to jerk his head off.
"You keep off Annie's ground," Jim
said between )ils teeth nnd with his
head thrust out until his eyes were
on a lovel with those of tho other man.
"And I'll tell you right now, stranger,
I'll kill nny man thnt conies on, nnd
FORWARD RUSH.
don't caro If you happon to bo tho
flrst one."
Then ho let go his hold and left tho
man sitting In tho street with a crowd
around.
"They suro can't grab Annie's land,"
ho muttered, "but it looks as if they're
goln' to give mo trouble, and L don't
know nothln' much about thorn
things." So he decided to nee his
friend, the Judge.
"Jim," the Judgo said, "I'll look
tho caso up. I think your titlo is
good; but In the meantime don't for
got that possession means much. Pos
session may mean everything."
Jim said he would remember, and It
wn8 tUQ nrSt t)mc 3nce i,e camo Illlo
the country that ho went back light
and driving his animals to the utmost,
without filling his orders. He struck
out for the puss In tho hills at top
most speed, and drovo his burros on
long after tho moon had risen. Tholr
tlmo of rest was short, and the dawn
found them hurrying on again.
Throughout tho day they went on,
and on, nnd as ho went Jim kept
thinking and worrying over tho turn
that might go against Annie and hor
property. He believed he would bo
ahead of any oihrs on ilm land, un
less they hud aheudy been sent, nnd
had waited for him to Htart the down
trip when they cpuld put up their no
tices. He felt the need of reaching,
lu the veiy shortest time, the little
cabin In tho mountain'1! hollow, and
whon darkness fell onco moro there
was small rest.
Another day of haste, and when
night came he was clob6 to his desti
tution. The Httlo cavalcade swung over tho
brow of a hill nnd around a curvo In
the moonlight, which was strong, nnd
camo to a stop. Thoy had been
Jumped and evicted In earnest, for bo
low whore tho cabin had fetood was
now a hoap of dying embers, and,
lolling nbout a camp-flro but a short
distance away, were four men In full
possession.
Jim diopped from his saddle and
stood for a moment as If planning his
campaign. He knew that ho must got
to pretty close quartors before making
his presence known. Ho started out
Into tho open, and Baldy, tired hut
faithful, would havo followed If Jim
hadn't driven him back.
"Better keep out of troublo when
you can, old man," ho muttored. "I've
I got u Httlo errand out thero, so you
Paying for Your Choice.
From a box or ornnges marked it)
cents a dozen a woman picked out
two dozen oranges and gavo n dollar
to tho fruit man. She waited a whllo
for her change, but the dealer hnd
put tho money Into tho catJi drawer
and seemed oblivious to tho principle
of chango. Presently sho asked for
It, but tho dealer said:
"Under the clrcumstnncos your two
dozen oranges came to a dollar. You
picked thom out yourself. Any cus
tomer who avails herself of the prlvl
lego of sorting out tho very bet
stick hero and grab grass whllo I go
ovor and givo a few kind words to
thorn fellers that's had a bonllro and
havo hopped Annie's ground "
Tho hen. lor grass which ran along
tho outer rm of tho valley wriggled
mystorlously for several mlnutos and
tho erlckc's stopped their creaky
songs as ho crawled nlong to got a
far forward a3 possible. Ho would
surprise thorn If ho could got close
enough, nnd If he couldn't well, then
It was up to tho best side to make
good
Ho crept on waul to whore tho grass
wns-too short for concealment, and at
the edgo of n bate spot rested for a
few minutes, with every nervo strung
to a pitch.
It's atrango how, when men know
they nro doing wrong, thoy got ac
nlert as wild animals. Jim had hardly
climbed to his feet and started warily
toward them, whon ono of tho men
sighted him nnd swung a gun Into
view, shouting, as ho did so: "Stop, or
I'll shoot'"
Jim, Bering that further caution was
useless, Went ahead. If h" hnd bo.
ltovcd there was a chnnco of his get
ting closer ho wuh mistaken. Thero
was a crash, and all four on opened
flro on hlra at once, without waiting to
sec whether his oirand wns pcnconblo
or not. Ho had served too many years
on the frontier to tako chances, nnd
their shots wont above his head, bo
cause ho had suddenly droppod Hat up
on tho ground. Without hesitation,
he fired back, nnd tho ono who had
begun tho battto pitched forward, and
wns out of tho fight.
Tho others started to got away from
tho light of tho flro which mndo thorn
too good a target, but botoro thoy
could do so Jim fired again. A sec
ond man staggered back, his gun fall-
lug from his hands, nnd did n wab
bling turn, while .11m watched.
"I'd give It to you again," Jim
thought, "but I'm a Httlo shy on cart
ridges, and will tako a chance on that
one being enough."
Tho Sinn staggered for a momont,
then diopped to tho ground, whoro ho
rolled ovor and oor, but without of
fering further fight. Jim saw his fall,
aid then sprang up and forward, on
the run. Tho boiling In his blood
caused by that flrst sight of tho
burned cabin had long ago given way
to a coolor mood, but it wns nono tho
less deadly. He knew tho chances ho
was taking In running forward, and
resorted to tho border trick of "buck
Jumping" from sldo to side as ho ran,
rendering tho aim of the enemy less
certain.
Ono of tho men stood his ground,
and fired repeatedly. Jim felt a quick,
searing shock that was followod by an
Instant's giddiness, but continued His
forward rush. Ills opponent was ap
narentlr out of ammunition, and fran
tically snnppcd his hammer on ompty
shells. It was this alono Unit Baved
his lite. Jim dropped his gun into
aim, and his flngor was convulsively
tightening on tho trigger, when ho
henrd the harmless clicking, and low
ered tho weapon.
"Drop that gun and put your hands
up," ho shouted, "and tell your pard
ner to como alongside with hip hnndB
up. Quick! or I'll got you nnd tend to
him later."
Tho Jumper had sense enougn to
recognize that this waa his only hope,
and did as ordered. Tho other man,
who had been In tho background hur
riedly reloading his pistol, came slow
ly forward with his hands in tho air,
and stopped beside his accomplice.
No ono spoko for an Instant, and tho
whole scene was like a picture; two
men Blnndlng thero In tho light of the
night with their hands nbovo tholr
heads, whllo In front of them, with
tho glow bringing out tho grlmness
of his luce and tho steady, cold glare
of his eyes, wasa man who leaned
slightly forward with a poised pistol
ready for instant action.
As if to add to tho seriousness of It
all, at ono sldo rostod a tragically
still shapo, and on tho ground botwoen
them was seated another man who
wovo to and fro us If unconscious of
tho others, and hnlf-dolirlous from a
wound In his breast which he clutched
with both hands.
"Who hired you to Jump my Annio's
claim?" Jim asked of tho man who
had stood his ground, nnd now them
wa3 no drawl in his voice, but a sharp
Inclslvoness.
Tho Jumper hesitated, and didn't ap
pear to want to answer. Tho packer's
gun enmo suddonly Into quick line
with tl;o man's head, and nothing but
a brisk confession saved him. After
that ho was ready to talk. Ho real
ized that tho ono before him was lu
no mood to atop at anything, least of
all bin death. He read something In
tho grim, set faco that sent a shud
dorlng question through his mind as
to whether oven tho answorlng of all
question would bring mercy. It seemed
that at that moment now It might bo
como an execution. Two examples of
rcslstanco woro nt his feet.
Theie wns another Instant's sllenco,
In which time tho man who hnd been
locking backward and forward on tho
ground gavo another twist, sagged
gently over on his side, and then
stretched out his length, qulot and
motionless. Tho man whose hands
wuro In tho air watched this convul
sive movement with Intont Interest,
hut Jim's gaze novor wavered from
thorn. He had no pity for tho othors.
"I reckon you fellers woro told to
burn my Annio's cabin and to kill me
If you could And an excuse, weren't
jou?"
"Yes," camo the sullen nnswor, and
Jim again scouted to bo studying ovor
something. Lights wero dancing be
fore his eyou, a kind of numbness was
stealing over his heart, nnd It wns
haul woik to keep fiom weaving
about oven im that mnn at his feet
had done. Ho shut his teeth togother
hard in his determination to control
hlnioolf and keep theso two men bo
oranges there aro In n box ought to
bo willing to puy for It. Ten couts a
dozen extra Is tho regular charge for
making your own solectlon."
"The Ideal" the woman exclaimed.
"Why, you ought to pay mo for saving
you the trouble,"
Hut tho dealer couldn't seo It that
way.
Kindled Fire With $535.
H. F. Pomborton, our popular L. &
N. ngent, met with a misfortune
Wednesday morning. Tuesday night
after it was too lato to make a de
toro him from the knowledge that ha
was badly wounded. It must bo done,
ho sworo to himself, becauso It wns
for Annlo, and all she had, nnd be
sides, he had promised to mako good.
But ho must do somothlng quick bo
toro his own flamo burned out,
"I ought to kill all of you," ho said,
and whatever effort ho wns making to
keep steady was not betrayed !n hi"
volco. "1 ought to kill you, but I'm
goln to glvo you a show."
Ho passod behind and searched
them for moro weapons, making suro
that his work was thorough.
"Now," ho ordorcd, "pick up your
pal at your feet, bocause maybe he'll
pull through. I guess no ono can help
tho other one. Hit It hard for the
sorgo, and If elthor of you looks back
his light goes out, occauso I've got
your rifle, nnd am a dead shot"
They picked tholr gronnlng com
rndo up and started.
"When you seo your boss," Jim
called after them, "toll him he'll pay
for Annio's cnbln or dlo tho next time
he meets me. Ho will, so help mo
God!"
They hurried off with tho limp form
between them, and Jim, boyond tho
llrollght, knolt weakly on his knees
with a rlfio shoving Its menacing muz
zle toward them. It seemed ready to
carry his thrent into Instant execu
tion. Tho moonlight gavo thom
strange, distorted shapes as they
passed away, grew smaller, more In
distinct, and were Anally taken into
the shadows whero tho watorfall fell
over Into tho blackness of tho canyon.
Neither hud dared to look back. Jim's
bluff had worked, and thoy disap
peared, bejlevlng him unhurt and In
deadly capability.
Jim sottlod down nnd ran his hnnd
inside his shirt, whero everything was
sticky nnd warm, lie looked at the
big heap of coals, up at tho hills which
divided him from Holcomb whero ho
know woro other men, nnd across tho
camp-flro to whoro a shaggy, whlto
head, with two dark spots for eyes,
looked gravoly at him.
"Bnldy," ho sold, "I'm about all In.
Baldy, I guess" Ho leaned upon his
rlflo and slowly gained his foot, after
which ho tried to tako a step. Ho
Btaggcred toward the burro, deter
mined that ho would nt least attempt
to reach aid, then weakly pitched for
ward, muttorlng as ho foil: "Jedgo
said thero was much In possession,
nnd I'm hero yet, Annie, I'm hero
yot!"
Tho lights of tho night now shone
down on a world of stillness, a grass
strewn valloy, bordored by great ano
solemn pines, nnd on a mail who lay
quiet, while and motionless, whllo a
Httlo burro slrovo to bring an answer
from sllont lips.
Now, Haldy didn't havo a musical
volco. but lt-wno strong. There wore
two men riding nlong on tho trail
nbovo who woro friends of Jim's and
his. uud heard him calling for help.
Thoy stopped, saw tho embers, and
camo down into tho valley. Thoy
picked Jim up, drovo tho spurs deop
Into their tired horses, and struck
ovor for Holcomb, nnd bohlnd them,
worried nnd kooplng vory close nt
their heels, camo Baldy, pat-patting
with his Httlo feet and wondering in
his way what It was all about. And
whllo a doctor worked over Jim In
tho danco-hnll, Baldy gazed solemnly
through tho open door, and no ono
disturbed him.
It was a good many mouths boforo
Jim took to tho trail again, and when
ho made h! flidl Ulp hu wuh pi city
whlto and wan. Ho camo to camp
whero tho trees wero thick nud whoro
he hnd so often stopped before, nnd,
llko many other tlmos, a little girl
huddled down between his knees and
a big solomn head was at his shoul
der. "Annlo," he said, "you'ro goln' to
bo rich somo tlmo, because somo men
havo agrcod to pay you for ovory gal
lon of water that runs over their
dam; but thero ain't goln' to bo no
homo thoro nny moro for nono of us.
Somo men nro butldin' a luko to save
water with."
Tho sllenco of tho night was un
broken savo for tho lulllug song of
tho brook and tho lonesomo yelp of
a coyote, weird and mournful, in the
dlstanco.
"And wo'vo got to And a new home
whero wo can tako good caro of Bal
dy. Ho's really glttin' n Httlo old and
bent."
There came no answer. Ho stooped
over and In tho glow saw that she waa
fast asleep. Vory gently ha picked
hor up In his arms, hor baby hand
Bwlnglng listlessly down, and carried
her toward tha tent, saying softly:
"Sho! She's gone to sleep in her
clean pinny, and durn It all! she
forgot to say hor prayers I"
Dogs and the Eearthquake.
Tho recent earthquake was most
distinctly felt in Cairo, numbers of
residents bolng awnkened by the sway
ing of tho houses and tho rattling of
tho windows and doors. The seis
mograph at tho Telouan observatory
recorded tho shock at 3: CO a. m., and
it lasted ten Beconds. This Is tho
worst shock actually felt In Cairo of
recent years.
Strange to rolnte tho numerous
pariah dogs who Infest tho city nnd
Its surroundings woro greatly per
turbed at tho unusual condition ot
things and scampered off toward tho
desort howling plteously all tho way,
returning thence only toward night'
fall.
London's Hours of Crime.
Nearly two-thirds of tho crime in
London Is porpctratod betweon 2 p. m.
on Satuidays nnd' 9 a. m. on Mon
days. Germany, Holland, Franco. Belgium
nnd Aup.rin-Hungnry, in tho order
named, follow next after tho United
States In coffoo consumption.
posit In bank ha camo Into possession
of G3D, and fearing that ho might
be robbed during tho night placed the
monoy In n coal bucket at tho depot
and put coal on It that It might bo
safo. The passenger train leaves here
at C o'clock In tho morning and this
necessitates Mr. Peraberton's early
rising and ho is kept very busy until
tho train dopartB. In tho rush ha
made a liro In tho stovo and dumped
In tho coal and money. After the rush
was over he thought ot his money,
but it was too late. Morganfleld Post
FREE
EEsa
f(
TRADCi
rMAMf
A trial package of Munyon's Taw Paw
Pills will bo sent frco to anyone on t
quest. Address Professor Miinynn, Kid &
Jefferson Sts., Philadelphia, Pa. If you are
In need of medical advice, do not fail to
write Professor Munyon. Your communi
cation will bo treated in strict confidence,
nnd your caso will bo diagnosed as care
fully as though you had a pergonal Inter
view. Munydn'a Vnvr Taw Tills .aro unlike
all other laxatives or cathartics. Thoy
coax the liver into activity by gentle
methods. They do not scour, they do
not gripe, they do not weaken, but they
do start all tho secretions of tho liver
and stomach in a way that soon puts
theso organs in a healthy conditIon and
corrects constipation. In my opinion
constipation is responsible for most ail
ments. Thero aro 20 feet of human
bowels, which is really a sewer pipe.
When this pipe becomes clogged tho
wholo system becomes poisoned, caus
ing biliousness, Indigestion and impuro
blood, which often produce rheumatism
and kidney ailments. No woman who
suffers with constipation or any liver
ailment can expect to havo a clear
complexion or enjoy good health. If
I had my way I would prohibit tho sale)
of "nine-tenths of tho cathartics that are
now being sold for tho reason that they
soon destroy tho lining of the stomach,
setting up serious forms of indigestion,
and so paralyze the bowela that they re
fuse to Ret unless forced by strong;
purgatives.
Munyon's Paw Paw Pills aro a tenia
to tho stomach, liver and nerves. They
Invigorate instead of weaken; they en
rich tho blood Instead of Impoverish
It; they cnablo tho stomach to get all
tho nourishment from food that is put
into it.
Theso pills contain no calomel, no
dope; they are soothing, healing and
stimulating. They school the bowels
to act without physic.
Ttcgular slro bottle, containing 45 pill,
25 cents. Munyon's Laboratory, 63d fc
Jefferson Sts., Philadelphia.
"JUST FERNINST THE HILL"
Little Pointer for Thoso Who Feel
Desire to Seek the State' of
Matrimony.
Tho state of Matrimony is ono ot
tho United States. It is boundod by
kissing and hugging on one sldo and
cradlcB and babies on tho othel. I to
chief products nro population, Uroom-
sticks and staying cut at sight. It
waa discovered by Adam and Evo
whllo trying to find a Northwest pas
cago out of Paradise. Tho climate Is
sultry until you pass the tropica or
housokooplng, whon squally weather
commonly sots in with such power as
to kcop nil hands as cool as cucum
bors. For tho principal roads leading
to this Interesting state, consult tho
flrst pair of bluo oyes you boo. Ex
change
Classification.
"Sir," said a Httlo blustoring man
to a religious opponent: "I say, elr,
do you know to what sect I belong?"
"Well, I don't exactly know," vra
tho answer; "but to Judge by your
mako, shape, and size, I should say;
you belonged to a cIbbb called the in
ect."
Important to Mothers
Examine carefully every bottle of
CASTOHIA, a oaf o and sure remedy for
Infants and children, and seo that It
Ttnnrvl th
Slgnaturo of CaLT&U. '
In Ubo For Ovor 30 Yean.
Childron Cry for Fletcher's Castoria
Not Responsible.
Teacher You aro lato ovory morn
lng.
Pupil Well, it Isn't my fault that
you didn't build your blamed old
school houso noaror my home.
LAU11M CAN WEAK SHOES
one lo mllr after astng Allen Foot-Ban, th
AntltepUo powdsr to ba shaken into tho shoos. II
makes tight or now shoes tee I oar. Qlres rest nnl
umfort. llefuit tuMltulti, Vot FllKH trial
package aaareas Allen B. Olmsted, Lo Boy, N, Y,
Sure.
"What Is a co-worker?"
"Ono who helps you work
body, ot course."
some
Dr. Pierce's Tleasant Pellets regulate
and invigorate stomach, liver and bowels.
Sugar-coated, tiny granules, easy to taka
qb candy.
Wo always like thoso who admire
us; wo do not always llko those whom
wo adralro. Francis Duo do Roche
faucauld. Tako Garfield Tea to overcomo constipa
tion, cleanse system and maintain health.
A woman who has a uoso for news
usually has a chin for tolling It
Sickly Smile
Wipe it off your otherwise
good looking -face put on that
good health smile that CAS
CARETS will give you as
a result from the aire o
Constipation or a torpid liver
It's so easy doit you'll see.
CASCARETS 10a a. box for a week's
treatment, ail drueeists. Blnrest seller
io tho world. Million boxea a naootk.
u.lolThiMfstiiUEyWatMr
M
"j I
151
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