"Cracker Jim" [pp. 51-70]

1887.] ccCrackerjim.'
said: "Jim Snyder, in God's name hev gratulatory smile. "Capting Harjoe 0' the
yer fetched a correck noration?" Big Mounting Rifuls."
"I hev got it correck, en fetched it cor- "No, no, Jim. Jest listen at ole Bug Chitty
reck, Dick Harjoe," said Jim, with the er roarin'; I`ull nuver go back on her-I air
solemnity of an oracle. "I tell ye, tew, ez Capting 0' the Bug Chitty Boys; that air the
Jedge Barrett hev riz his riggyment, en I air name, en I tell ye, hit`ull please Hester
gwine to jine him. powerful-she air that sot on Bug Chitty."
En Tom Welsh war not lyin'! That " That air er true jedgment —that orter
air quar!" said Dick, shaking his head. be the name 0' yer comp'ny, en I haint for He war lyin' erbout one thing-ez the nent hit," said Jim eagerly.
`restercrats war not gwine ter fight. They It was some minutes before the hands thus
air`listin' Dick, every ~day, jest ez free ez grasped were parted. Jim Snyder was the
a'r, en quick ez lightnin'. The littul chil- first to break the silence, and his voice tremdun hev ter be hilt at home, fur they air ez bled with emotion as he said: "Dick Harpeert erbout gwine ter war ez thar dads. I joe, ye air my friend."
tell ye, Dick Harjoe, the hull yearth air "Jim Snyder, I air," was the quick repl~.
alive en bristlin'." "Yaas, Dick, en ye hev knowed we uns
Jim," said Dick, rising from his seat afore I war horned, en I feel ez ye air wiland walking impatiently across the floor, lin' ter stand by me, dead ur alive."
"did ye bespoke my name ter the Jedge? "En I`ull dew it, Jim-en no mistake."
fur I`low ter`list. I hain't er minute behint "Waal, Dick, in er war thar air them ez
ye, ur any man in the kentry. go en come back, en thar air them ez go en
"Set down, Dick. Don't ye be so quick don't come back. I mouten be them ez don't,
on the trigger. I air gwine with the Jedge, en ye mouten be them ez dew; en, Dick,
bekase I hev my reasons; en I said ter the thar air sumpthin' ez I want ye ter promuss
Jedge, ez I knowed Dick Harjoe wouldn' me. I`low ter fix my littul truck ez dad en
feel no begrudgin's. But ye air the man, Cherrykee ken ar it-en Cherrykee ter git it
Dick, ter git up a comp'ny, yerse'f, en I gin all arter dad air gone. Cherrykee don't
ye the word direck frum the Jedge. Says keer fur me-nothin'`tall fur me, Dick; but
he,`Tell Dick Harjoe ter be`listin' his men, I couldn't rest in my grave ef I knowed she
he ken git his commission beth out ur diffikil, war suff'rin'. I couldn't b'ar it. Jest see
-hit air ready fur him, when he air ready arter Cherrykee."
fur it.,' "Jim Snyder," answered Dick, laying
"En I`ull dew it-I`ull dew it, Jim Sny- his hand on the shoulder of his friend, ".1
der. Barrin' yer dad, thar haint no man in hev knowed you uns afore ye war horned,
this hyar settlenient ez ken git moar men ter en ye ken count on Dick Harjoe-I tell ye,
foller him ez Dick Harjoe; that air be- count on him; jest ez Dick Harjoe ken
~nownst ter ye, Jim. Gin my word back count on Jim Snyder-bekase I mouten git
ter the Jedge ez I`ull dew it." back ter Hester."
"Jest shake hands, Dick Harjoe. I hev "Fur true-fur true," answered Jim risall us knowed ye ter be the true grit, en so ing from his seat and throwiag his arm
hev the Jedge." around Dick's neck. "Dick Haijoe haint
"I air, Jim Snyder-en no mistake." nuver bruk his word to mortyal man. I`ull
And the two brawny fists met across the trust ye Dick-I' ull trust ye."
table in a solemn pledge. "I'ull trust ye, Jim," whispered Dick, his
"Capting Harjoe," said Jim, with a con- eyes filliug with tears.
VOL. X. —5.