The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-12-04


to make your will. As I've paid you
for five cents worth of misery, show me
the candy store !" He had said all this
in grave way, just as if he were talking
to some one who could understand him;
and the boy had looked on Just as if he
did not (Which was the fact) compre-
hend what was meant. But "candy
store were two words of one meaning
for him, and he became guide where,
heretofore, he had not even followed.
ITS at Winscom," he said.
"And where is that, my cherub ?"
"Over the hill there. was going to
it when you cotched me-"
"Tut tut Don't say cotched
Say caught -
"Caught ~
Excellent. Now I'm going to
Winscom. Somebody in it owes me
big dinner for not giving me my break
fast. Will your royal littleness-that
is to say, Johnny, will you ride9"
where's your horses ?" asks the
boy.
"In my boots. infant Oh, you
needn', look for them. They're cure to
be out at the toes, when you want 'em.
Don't be afraid. I'm tramp, and I'm
hungry; but / don't eat little boys.
Steady, now, sit on my shoulder |"
With a laugh, and a whistle as sharp
as a mocking- birds, he swung the child
to his shoulder, settled him firmly and
moved slowly and with labored steps
over the road to Winscom, his rider
aglow the while with boyish exultation,
and chirruping like jockey.
"Let me down |" shouts the boy, as
they arrive in the outskirts of Wins
com. live in that house. Oh, papa
papa !"
A bare e-headed man, standing with his
back to the road, looked around, and
then came hurriedly to the gate. His
boy in the possession of ragged strang-
er gave him fright.
"Here youl What are you doing
with my son ?" he demanded. Rob,
get down this minute. Amt you
ashamed of yourselfP"
He ought to be-" answered the
tramp, as he swung the boy to the walk.
" He ought to be. The Lord knows
I'm ashamed of myself. But, sir, we
can't all be Vanderbilts. I'm no inten-
ton of stealing your SOD. gave him
lift because l liked him. Good-morn-
il II and with downward jerk front
and rear to the brims of his shabby old
hat and punching his hands into shabby
old pockets, this woeful vagabond went
Shuffling away against the raw wind and
down the leaf-carpeted street.
The respectable citizen, for balf
minute, seemed puzzled, ond leaned
over the gate, shading his eyes with
his hands, though there was no sun,
and inattentive to the story which the
urchin at his legs was pouring out.
"I'll swear it's he, he says at last.
cts Jim. I'd know him among thou
sand" Then, half opening the gate, he
called out:
Leftenant i
The figure proceeded without re-
sponsive motion.
Lieutenant Jim !"
That time it was shout. It was
heard. The tramp halted, whirled
half about, touched his hat involun-
tarily, shook his head angrily, call
ed himself an idiot, whirled about
and went on his way at more rapid
pace than he had shown during the day
and all regardless of the recall of
Leftenant ! Leftenant !"
"That was the dear old call of the
dear old boys; and it is Belden, by all
that's great, he says, half pleased with
the recall, and yet half angry at disccv-
cry. "But why can't / be left alone
and utterly lost to all who knew me be-
fore { became "a tramp ?"-and the
last word came out with an emphasis
that showed an agony of shame: 9I'd
kill myself if 1 dared. All, if dared.
Bah I'm hungry. No breakfast, and
here it is high noon by Che sun, 'Lef-
tenant jim, if you want something to
eat or drink, you must beg for it, you
hero of lunacy, you miserable vagabond,
you outcast, You pauper.
He was not joking with himself when
he brought out these last words. He
was somberly mad At the same time
he was so full of shameful hesitation at
the inevitable course that he would haye
to pursue in order to get q meal, that
he abandoned the main street and
! sought the shelter of the underbrush by
the river, that he might think over the
matter.
Meantime Belden had run into the
house for his hat.
Wue, nc CIl6u ) Dis DObu OI yOus
listen ! I've just seen Leftenant Jim.
am going out to catch him, confound
him."
"Bring him to dinner, Charlie p
says both of them in one voice, for they
had heard of this friend for years. But
when Rob told his little adventure, and
described his mornings companion,
they rather hoped the lieutenant might
not be caught.
Up into the village raced Belden. He
had missed his man on the road. At the
drug store, at the tavern, at the grocery,
he demanded" Have you seen Lief
tenant Jim p" No one had seen him
but few, apparently had heard of him.
At the postoffice the crowd of loungers
were just as ignorant, just as Indifferent