The Argosy, August 1914 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

94. pardner. I kin do you some. good that way. You been awful. white to me:” Jack. hardly knew how to reply. The softening effect of the situation on. Butch. Horlock. had been. increas- ingly in. evidence during the night. The spectacle of Vesta. Dawn,. her white, pain-twisted face smiling faint- ly at him, had won through his rough crust. His nearness to the: tremen- dous issues of life and death had served.to dissipate his hafdihood.. His swelled head. had. shrunk. by contrast of its true insignificance. | Before. Jack could. frame an answer the hall door swung open and the doc- tor, in shirt-sleeves,- with cuffs. rolled back,. came in., He. advanced: toward the Butcher with outstretched hand. The. other man. shrank. back,. hardly daring to trust the message he read in the physician’s. face. “What — what’s de verdict, doc?” he whispered. The doctor grasped his hand. “My congratulations, Mr. Hor- lock,” said. he. “ You are the. father of a:fine, healthy boy.” a, “And,.de kid—-Vesta—how is she?” — the Butcher asked. hoarsely. “ The mother is- doing very. well in- deed,” was the reply. ‘“ She went to sleep: happy and. comfortable. If no complications. set in—and there 1s no reason to fear any —she. will be: all right.” ; “Thank Gawd!” came from Hor- leck with a ring of sincerity, which went farther than anything else to show: Jack that in his. way he really loved the girl. ‘A. boy, you. say, doe? ”’ “Yes, a fine boy.” “‘ Say; is: he-— is he a. white. hope, dyou tink? Or is he in th’ bantam class?” “A feather-weight just now, I should say)’ laughed the doctor, who. had net lost all his college knowledge of ring terms. ‘“ But. with the right handling he’ll be a. comer —-yes, dis- tinctly a comer, I should. say.” THE ARGOSY., When he had gone Jack added his own congratulations. Horlock was just beginning. to reach a_ realizing sense of his dignities. depression his mood altered gradually to the heights.of exultation., “A boy, Jack!” he cried, pounding his companion on the back until his shoulders. ached. ‘What do you tink, hey? Wait till I teach him how to. put up his. mitts. be a hasbeen then, but- th’ kid. ’Il be just comin’. Oh, man—’ A. half-hour later, when gray dawn. had. changed to broad daylight, Jack took a.turn out in the yard. There was nothing he could do, but he stuck to his post until discharged. Round- ing the corner of the house, he found Jessica on the doorstep. She, too; had: felt the strain of the night. It was written in circles of weariness under her eyes and_ the droop. of her square, proud shoulders. Jack. mastered. with. difficulty a. great desire to take her in. his arms. “Good morning, — sentinel,” ereeted. him, with a tired smile. “I am always finding you doing night patrol.” “Tt seems to be. all I’m good. for,” he. replied. ‘“ Won't. you. catch. cold out here like this?” ‘*T hadn’t thought of it. No, I guess not.” He invited himself to a seat on the step. below her. She drew her: skirts aside to make room. ‘The position. reminded. both. of their first meeting, when he had sat with. his. wrenched arm. across her knees in.the little. Polly Ann,. and. later had slept’ with. his curly» head on her lap.. But neither voiced. the recollection: “Jess,” he said, “ there’s something I must say to you: It seems: that somehow I've’ been unfortunate enough to have offended you. I don't know. just how. Ever since that night —that night.on:the fish-house dock—” A. soft hand extended from behind closed his lips. “Let me tell. my story, Jack,” said Ts.it. cold? CORMICOOOKS Th’ old man ‘Il she. From deepest. | (C@