Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-19

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 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 who could understand him;
and the boy had looked on just as if he
did not (Which was the fact) compre-
bend what was meant. But "caDdy
store" were two words of one meaning
for him, and he became guide where,
heretofore, he had not even followed.
cts at Winscom," he said.
"And where is that, my cberub?"
"Over the hill there. / was going to
it when you cotched me-"
"Tut! TUT Don't say cotched! Say
caught"
"Caught!"
Excellent. Now Pm going to Wins
com. Somebody in it owes me big
dinner for not giving me my breakfast.
Will your royal littleness-thati is to say,
Johnny, will you rider"
| v.
elm my boots, infant! On, you
needn't look for them. They're sure to
be out at the toes, when you want 'em.
Don't be afraid. I'm a tramp, and I'm
hungry; but I don't eat little boys.
Steady, now, sit on my shoulder!"
With laugh, and whistle as sharp
as hooking 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 chirruRing like a Jockey
''Let me DOWN." shouts the boy, as
they arrive in the outskirts of Wins
com. J live in that house. Oh, papal
papal
A bare-headed man, standing with his
back to the road, looked around, and
then came hurriedly to the gate. His
boy in the possession of 8 ragged stranger
gave him fright
"Here you'll 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 20 be. The Lord knows Pm
ashamed of myself. But, sir, we can't
all be Vanderbilts. Pm no intention of
stealing your son. / gave him a lift
because liked him. Good -morningl"
and with a 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 shut
fling away against the raw wind and
down the leaf-carepted street.
The respectable citizen, for half
minute, seemed puzzled, and leaned over
the gate, shading his eyes with his hands,
to the story which the urchin at his legs
pouring out.
"pI swear it's he," he says at last.
I" It's Jim. I'd know him among thou
sand" Then, half opening the gate, he
called out:
Leftenantl"
The figure proceeded without re-
sponsive motion.
Lieutenant Jim!".
That time it was a shout. It was
heard. The tramp halted, whirled half
about, touched his hat involuntarily,
shook 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 I be left alene
and utterly lost to all who knew me
before became "a trampT-and the
last word came out with an emphasis
that showed an agony of shame: cpd
kill myself if [ dared. All, if I dared.
Bah! Pm hungry. No breakfast, and
here it is high noon by the sun, Leften-
ant Jim,' if you want something 10 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 have
to pursue in order to get meal, that
he abandoned the main street and sought
the shelter Of the underbrush by the
river, that he might think over the mat
ter.
Meantime Belden had run into the
house for his hat.
Wife," he cried; "Sis, both of you,
listen! I've just seen Leftenant Jim.
[ am going out to catch him, confound
him.
"Bring him to dinner, Charlie!" says
both of them in one voice, for they had
heard of this friend for years. But when
Rob told his little adventure, aud des.
cribed his mornings companion, they
rather b ped the lieutenant might not
be caught.
4 X 4
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 Jiml'" No one had seen him;
but few, apparently had heard of him.