Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-11-20

he n0ppe1 IN Inc PAIN OI MS nhnu
dingy fve-cent piece. Now sonny, wiring
out your eyes, stop crying, make friends
with me, and the money is yours for
candy or the missionsry-box, as you
choose. Is it bargain9
The boys eyes frightened. He swal-
lowed his sobs, put out his hand, took
the money and said" Thank you'll"
His captor laughed.
That's the way of the world, Johnny,
boy. You can always buy silence for
grief. Remember that, when you come
to make your will. As I've paid you
for Eve cents worth of misery, show me
the candy storel" He had said all this
in grave way, just as if he were talking
to some who could understand him;
and the boy had looked on just as il he
did not (Which was the facy) compre-
bend what was meant. But "candy
store" were two words of ore meaning
for him, and he became guide where,
heretofore, he had not even followed.
otis at Winscom," he said.
"And where is that, my cherub?"
cover the hill there. l was going TO
it when you cotched me"
"Tutl tut! Don't say cotched! Say
caught"
Caught"
excellent. Now Pm going to Wins
com. Somebody IL it owes me big
dinner for not giving me my breakfast.
Will your royal littleness-that is to say,
Johnny, will you rider"
"Wheres your horsese" asks the boy.
"In nv boots, infant Oh, you
needn't look for them. They're sure to
be out at the toes, when you want 'em.
Don't be afraid. Pm tramp, and I'm
hungry; but / don't eat little boys.
Steady, now, sit on my shoulder"
With laugh, and whistle as sharp
as q 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 cAhirruRing like Jockey: :,
"Let me DOWN." shouts the boy, as
they arrive in the outskirts of Wins
com. l live in that house. Oh, papa!
papa!
A bare-headed man, standing with his
back to the road, looked around, and
then came hurrledly to the gate. His
boy in the possession of ragged stranger
gave him fright.
"Here you! What are you doing
with my SOM" he demanded. Rob,
get down this minute. Amt you
ashamed of YOURSELF"
"He ought to be-" answered the
tramp, as he swung the boy to the walk.
" He ought 70 be. The Lord knows Pm
ashamed of myself. But, cir, we can't
all be Vanderbilts. Pm no intention of
stealing your son. I gave him a lift
because liked him. Good-morning!"
and with downward jerk, front and
rear, to the brims of bis shabby old hat
and punching bis hsuds into shabby old
pockets, this woeful vsgabond went shut
fling away againSS the raw wind and
down the leaf-carepted street.
The respectable citizen, for half s.
minute, seemed puzzled, and leaned over
the gate, shading his eyes with bis hands,
though there was no sun. and inattentive
to the story which the urcnin at his legs
pouring out.
"Ill swear it's he" he says at last.
I" It's Jim Id know him among thou.
sand" Then, half opening the gate, he
called out:
Leftenant!"
The figure proceeded without re-
sponsive motion.
Lieutenant Jiml"
That time it was shout. 1t WAS
heard. The tramp halted, whirled half
about, touched his hat involuutarily,
shock his head angrily, called himself
an idiot, whirled about and went on his
way at more rapid pace than he had
shown during the day-and all regard
less of the recall of "Leftenantl
! Leftenantl"
"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
that recall, and yet half angry at discov-
cry. "But why can't | be left alene
and utterly lost to all who knew me
before became a--s trampT-and the
last word came out with an emphasis
that showed an agony of shame "Pd
kill myself if / dared. All, if dared
BAH Pm hungry. No breakfast, and
here it is high neon by the sun, Leften-
ant JIM il you wan something 10 eat
or drink, you must beg for it, you hero
of lunacy, you miserable vsgabond, you
on tcsst, you pauper."
He WAS not Joking with himself when
he brought out these last words. He
was somperly mad. At the same time
he WAS 80 full of shameful hesitation st
the inevitable course that he would have
to pursue in order to get meal, that
ba a han Ipppl tho N, aip strpe oy,J upu III