Part 9 (1/2)

The dinner-bell rang while they were talking, and when the meal was ended Tom went out with the tboys to look at a horse that Stanley had found for hione about two hours, and when they came back, Tom told himself that he was a cowboy at last; a horse, saddle, and bridle aiting for hi over his ar that attracted Stanley's notice was a strangeto Mr Kelley The stump of his arm proclaimed who he was

”It's Black Dan,” said he ”Now, Tom, let's see how much your temperance principles will aht be, to know that he had it in his power to help a man who, in his palmy days, held an influence in Fort Haazed steadily at him a moment, then threw his poncho on the table, asked the clerk for his valise, and took froiven him, and with this in his hand he approached Black Dan, while with a delicacy of feeling that soht have envied the cowboys turned toward theHearing from the barkeeper that the man anted to see him was a ”top-notch fellow,” Dan had washed his face and brushed his hair, and made other efforts to improve himself His holster was filled this time, so it showed that he was in a situation to defend himself Mr Kelley introduced Tom, and thenhard at To to recollect where he had seen hie of me”

”I never saw you before, and I a to keep up his courage ”I want you to look at this pin and tell me if you ever saw it before”

Tom unwrapped the pin and placed it in Dan's hands The latter took it in surprise, and finally the wondering scowl his face had assuave way to an entirely different expression, and he sat for fivethe pin over in his hand, and doubtless harassed by glooave that pin to the one from whom Tom had received it, he orth half a ave you the pin?” said he

”He told a up here, he gave ive it to you”

”You haven't co into this business, have you?”

”What, gah to keep rub-stake and go into the mountains I think I can do better there”

”You are an honest boy, and I wish I could give you soo I could have sent you to the mountains with some prospects of success; but now----” Dan held up his crippled ar forever,” said Tom earnestly ”You have taken to drink, and that is just as bad”

”Well, seeing that you are going to preach, I guess I'll go Shake So long”

Before Tom could think of another word to say Dan had squeezed his hand and was on his way to the door, walking along with his hat pulled over his eyes, as if he didn't want to see anybody When he reached the street, he simply touched his forehead to some people he met, and kept on his way to the saloon Too in at the door

”Well, what success did you meet with?” said Stanley

”I didn'thelplessly out at the o He seeo into his business, but I told hih to keep me away from cards forever”

”Well, I declare!” said Mr Kelley ”It is the greatest wonder in the world he didn't knock you down He never lets anybody say anything against cards in his hearing You have had a narrow escape”

As Tom sat there with his three friends and talked over the incidents of Dan's past life he grew htened than ever, and thanked his lucky stars that he didn't know ambler Tom had told hi, and Dan had been known to floor a ht, while Too to sleep, he heard soh and loud above all the hubbub that arose on the streets ca in which one voice far outled the others It was Dan's voice, and proved that the pin had been pawned for so besides water He looked over toward Monroe, and saw that the latter ide awake and looking at hi it, aint they?” Toht, they are Poor Dan! You have done what you could for hio to sleep

The next h The drunkards had been put into the calaboose by the soldiers, and the others had gone to bed to sleep it off Tom wanted to knohat had beco about him, and from that time his name was dropped They ate their breakfast in haste, paid their bills, and in ten rub-stake

”Oh, certainly you'll get it,” said Monroe, who rode beside him ”That is the way the bosses always treat a tender-foot when they haven't anything in particular for hiot their start that way”

”I should think that some of thegood,” said Tom

”Why, bless you, they can't take their find with theot to stay and work it I did hear of a felloho found a lot of iron pyrites, and filled his pockets with the the best course he could for Denver, and when he was found, his pockets ht just as well have been filled with clay”

”Dead?” said Tom

”Yes; and he o hundred ed”