The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-25
Wrtnsn for The ArkansaW 7raceter. TWO MONTHS A BOHE-
 MAN.
BY ABNER G. HEIZERToN.

AL the age OL sixteen was r0- porter on the St. Joseph (Mo.) Herald, having worked up to that position from the case in 8 country printing office. One hot summer day 8 man stepped into the counting room with the dust of country roads on his shoes. He had walked across the broad state of Missouri, he said, and he looked so tired and hungry that his assertion was not contradicted. He saw the editor and applied for work, but the staff was crowded, and he got no promise of it. Not shade of discour- agement showed itself on his face, however, as he took off his coat and asked for a pencil and some paper. These being given him, he sat down and wrote 8 sketch describing his overland trip from Quincy, H., to St. Jo. He handed it to the editor and sauntered out into the composing room. After reading it, the editor asked me to call him. He was given 6 fve-dollar bill and an order for @ weeks board. He remained on the paper a month and wrote up every. thing that transpired in the city, or near it, and a great deal more.
 Towards the end of the month he grew restless, and it was apparent that he intended leaving us. During the time he had bought e new suit of clothes, 6 watch and chain, and he had plenty of money. I was captivated by his unassuming yet masterly manner. He seemed to take everything as 6 matter of course, and yet he turned every one into his way of thinking. One night, after he had purchased a ticket for some point in the west and was almost ready to take the train, he said to me, to whom he had accorded the honor of seeing him off:
 "There is nothing like 6 stroll through the country in summer. If you will go with me we'll start to- morrow, and I'll show you . phase of life you never dreamed of before"
 agreed readily. My work on the paper had seemed so insignificant since he came .s:at felt no regret in giving it up. He tore his ticket into strips and changed the course of his life on the impulse of the moment, as he had done many times before. ] begged him to keep the ticket or sell it, but he would not.
 The next morning we walked out oi town before the sun shone. l noticed that he looked haggard and pale, q though he had not slept, but gave the matter no more thought after we had reached . deep wood, where the air was damp and almost chilly, and the birds were just beginning to roust sleeping nature into activity and life We travelled 8 week in ziz-zag direc- tions, ate at farmhouses and village hotels, slept indoors and out, and rested through the heat of every day on tho grassy hank of . stream or slept in the dense shade of . forest.
 One day we walked into Missouri town of considerable size, and applied at the office of one of the daily paper for work. The proprietor, who's. name was 6eaton, was afflicted witt double strabismus, and was one of thu meanest looking men ever saw but he was gifted with an insolent starr that was simply perfect He gave u an example of his accomplishment as he asked what we could do. Itwal mEy8rst tramp, and I felt shame faced enough to sink; but my companiOr was perfectly cool and, with the ail of . gentleman, hc aid:
 "I can write np something for you in fair way, and my friend hsre esz set type; or | can set type and he cal write.1
 "Have either of you ever had any experience in reporting for . daily papor7s asked Seaton-
 We assured him we had.