The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-11-29
THE STRANGE STORY OF A
SMALL BOY.


Thompson gave methe key when
he was leaving last term. don't
know how he came by it, or what
good it was to him, as heneyer saw a
train except when he went home for
the holidays; but he was always talk.
ing of the convenience ofhaying such
thing when you were traysling,and
hinted at the mysterioas penalties
the Company might inaict if they
caught you using it,
lie gave it to me in exchange for a
bit of Letty's hair (shs's my sister,
and Thompson was dreaafulIy in love
with herr apdasefSp Of hs1 bannai
trimming she wore in church. I stole
that, but had to ask her for ihe hair,
and she brought out whole bundle
and said | might trade away the lot
if chose.
"Hair wasn't worn much them"
Music was another thing altogeth.
er. Herr Otto Finke was an old
friend of my fathers, and lived at
Luckboro', our market-town.
He took fancy to me-bother him
and actually persuaded my father
and mother to let tie come over tc
Lackboro' every market day, with
my father, for a lesson in German
and music. ! didn't mind dining
with him first (uncommonly queer
messes we had, and lots of jam with
hem)-btt the music was simply
disgusting.-(in the holidays, tooD-
and the lessons generally ended by
Finke getting to the piano himself
and warbling songs of his Vsterland
by the hour. He did so once too Of.
ten though-and nov l have got tc
my story.
We used to come ard go between
Mosslands and Luckboro' by onnil d
There was Mosslands station on the
line between Luckboro' and london.
but my father never went by it if he
could help it. When he did, though
l had the key with me 1 never dare
use it, and began to think l had made
a bad bargain with Thompson
One Tuesday, however, last winter,
Finke got SO carrid away by his own
sweet singing that he kept on long
after | ought to have started 10 meet
my father, and then got 50 remorse,
full that thought he was going to
cry; or perhaps want to keep me all
night.
Look here" said, sit doesn't mat,
ter. There's train thatgets in as
soon as the bus. | can catch it if l
run-Good.bye!" And cd i scudded,
one in and one arm out of my
tap coat, for | was sure he'd object, or
want to see me of. had money, and
there was train, which came up
long before had seen all l wanted
about the station.
| made dash at q carriage. 1t
wasn't locked, as L half hoped il
might be, and in l scrambled, but
was nearly blown out again by d
volley Of the strongest language lev
er did hear. The train started and
jerked me down into a seat before
had time to get my breath. | was mol
used to bad expressions, and my fel
low travellers remarks made my bluot
run cold.
There were ladies in the carriage
but he didn't seem to mind that. HI
had a red, scowling face, with heavy
red eyeb brows and bloodshot eyes
All the rest of him was mass Of rail
way rugs and wraps. had tumbleC
over his toes into the middle seat op
posite, where l sat scared and speech
less, till | caught the eyes of the lad!
next to him fixed on me.
Ugh! such bad old face! A tight
cruel mouth, with all sorts Of coil line
about it, and wicked, sharp gray eye
that screwed into one like gimlets.-
didn't care much for redface by thi
time. didn't believe he woulc
twist my neck and chuck me out 0
the window" as he suggested; but
hated her all over at once, from. he
sausage.curls-grizzly gray, two OIL
each side-to her hooked claws Q
fingers that were twitching away a
her knitting-needles, in an out of
big, gray stocking.
"Hush, Sammy" she said, quit
! Swpatlv. HtLo ,,ro, oL;lI pannc N