Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-07

though they would have to fast until
morning and would sadly miss their hot
coffee. avorHaa d.
Two shrleks of the whistle q tug at
the lever, and Ninety-nine started and
shot away with the long train following
behind like an immense serpent, over
airline and around curves, and through
tunnel and across bridge. Then John
Lathrop had time to more closely scru-
tinize and talk to his unpaying passen-
ger. The mystic sigh that had passed
between them told of brotherhood and
paved the way to his thinking well of
him.
"You aren't used to tramping, and
hain't been very long at it," said John,
laughing quietly at the rapid manner
in which the supper Of himself and
fireman was disappearing. 4..-.T .a
mot much, Gully" replied the
tramp, pausing, with a biscuit in one
hand and the half-picked leg of a tur-
key in the other, to answer. 81
''Cully?" repeated John, cycling him
still more sharply. "You are a show
man?"
"Was, and another few days like the
last and I could play walking skeleton
to perfection," and he glanced up at
the engineer with 8 pair Of the blacklist
possible eyes, and face marked with
resolution and bravery.
"Wnat biz?" queried John Lathrop.
Bar and trapeze." @7e' e.@a=
He did not appear to have time to
spare to make lengthy replies only ut
tered the briefest possible between
mouthfuls; and, noticing this, his ques-
toner paused until he had finished his
almost wolf-hke meal, and then resum-
ed:
81 used to kick up my heels and
strut over the sawdust once myself"
"You?" ...... ........,. ..r.
eyes, but I gave it up years ago
had little set-to with tiger, and got
nearly chawed up. And you don't look
as if you had Jared much better.
Here's pipe-smoke, and spin your
yarn"
"Well, I did the fying-trapeze and
all that sort of thing in the Grand
Trans-continental and Ever-so-many-
other things Circus. Humbug were
better name, as it turned out for us.
Yet reckon we might have got our
pay If it had been a success. But we
had devil of hard time. The pub
lie didn't appreciate-horses gave out,
wagons broke down, the 'pemiere
equestrienne' ran away with Bones of
the side-show, funds ran low, the great
Polar bear wanted his ice, became dis
gusted and turned up his toes; the
z.bra passed in his checks, and the re-
suit was we became fat broke, and had
to leave our luggage and take the tramp
in order to get home"
"Been there myself" said John
Lathrop, becoming deeply interested
"Then I needn't tell you what sort of
time I have had footing 1t, stealing
ride and begging for something to eat"
"Bad enough in summer" grOwled
John.
"But now? Talk Of the North Pole.
Whew I thought | should freeze to
death in that old tank with the water
dripping and freezing around me; and
if you hadn't taken care of me, guess
I'd thrown myself under the cars and
put an end to the thing. What's the
use of fighting hard times and bad luck
forever"
"Well, cheer up. You're all right
now-that is, to the end of my run.
Then you shall go home with me and
recruit bit, and it'll 60 hard if can't
manage to get you free ride with
some of the boys to the end of tie
road. It's against all orders, but John
Lathrop's got a heart in him and won't
see any one suffer if he can help it
not much"
His preserce attested the truth of
his words. Ii was tall, broad-shoul-
dered and deep-chested, and his face
told of goodness in every feature, and
his. manner, if bluff, was hearty. In
the physical the stranger was his oppo-
site. Yet his frame was strongly knit,
and bis muscles trained by severe and
long-continued exercise until they
stood out ss whip-cords, strictly obeyed
bis will, and were firm as steel, and
daring flashed from his black eyes,
and were revealed by every line about
the mouth. -. at" g q IL -75i4-
"I don't know" he said, looking at
the engineer, thankfully, I" how [ am
ever to pay you. Ny life you certainly
saved, and it may be can do you a
good turn some day. If the chance
comes, you can. depend upon my doing
it, for IN not one to forget favor"
az believe it. But don't think of
my giving you ride and a bite. It's
no more than any man that wasn't a
brute would have done; and who
knows but either or my boy, when he
grows up, may want lift of the same
kind" 81 b.: q~a,,fv HTs -.-,.
"Your boy % g.5s., - sss3,a r..s
eyes, the brightest, cutest little
chap you ever saw. I'll show him to
you tomorrow. Yes, and my wife,
too-just the prettiest, dearest little
woman that ever walked in two shoes. +"
No. 80 was running smoothly and
steadily along. 1t was Sunday morn
ing, and nothing was in the way-not
even an up-train to pass until John
Lathrop would uncouple his iron steed
and put him in the great round stable
to rest and be cleaned for twenty-four
hours. So while the fireman kept his
eyes ahead, John Lathrop seated him
self, and while keeping watch of the
steam-gauge and his eyes open, told OF
| H., ,o~Ixx 81 ~ no ,ouoc hio r,roooyf