Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-11-27
DOCK"
Story OF Little Life That Knew
Not a Mothers Care.

One summer evening Colonel Esley
got into n carriage on the - rail-
way after buying paper at the sta
tion news stall.
He was just settling down comfort
ably to 1t and cigar when another
man got in as the train was on the
point OF moving, closed the door after
him, and then called out to the news
paper boy, who was cheerily whistliug
on his high stool at few yards dis
lance:
Bring me the ST. James Gazette,
will youp"
The summons was obeyed, but not
before the departing train had consid-
erably quickened its pace.
The Gazette was hastily given, a
penny was flung out, fell close to the
train on the stone edge of the platform
and rolled little way.
The boy stopped to pick it up, and
as he did so a door, not yet shut by
the guard, struck him violently.
There was an agonized shrek, q shout
Of many voices, and Esley. looking
out, saw with indescribable horror
that the child-he was only thirteen,
and small for his age-was lying pros
trate on the platform, with a CHASTITY
streak OF crimson blood across the
wilderness OF his face. In q moment
the darkness OF the tunnel hid the
sight from view.
In his soldiers life he had seen only
too much of pain and death, but he
was strangely moved by this accident.
The boy was well known to him by
sight. Esley had observed him with
growing interest. There was some
thing irresistibly attractive in the
bright, clear, boys face. with the i'm
pudent, frank eyes and brown curls
under the cap, on the band OF which
was inscribed the we'll known name of
his employers. Esley had grown to
have a sort OF affection for the lad,
and had watched him often with quiet
amusement, carrying on internecine
feuds with guards and porters, con-
tinually harassing and being harassed
by them, chatting" his compeers, the
newspaper boys on the other two
platforms OF the junction, with that
ever-ready and perennial fertility OF
invention which never forsakes the
true London gamin.
Esley had observed that his protege
(for he frequently gave more coppers
than the price of the papers on the
stall demanded) had among the other
boys fidus Achates in the shape of
marvellously ugly boy with the most
astounding faculty Of grimaeing ever
seen by the ColoneD, who rejoiced in
the appellation Turtle" a name
arising out of wild rumor that he
had once been treated by a cabby to
some mock turtle soup, for the first
and only time in his life, an event
which was likely to influence his sub
sequent career In decisive way.
Esley's attention had first been
drawn to Turtle by the following occur
renee: Coming up to the stall for his
usual paper one evening, he found his
young friend gazing with an express
sion OF excessive delight at the oppo-
site platform, on which was visible the
form OF Turtle seated on a three
legged stool, an enormous empty oil
can raised to his mouth, the imaginary
contents Of which the youth was ap-
parently imbibing in capacious
draughts.
IL wouldn't take too much Of that
there IL was YOU" bawled Esley's
young friend, as Turtle paused to look
round In the direction with wink of
remarkable distinctness and force. con-
sidering the range; lit might fly to yer
cad"
Both boys reared with laughter;
Esley was obliged to smile as he paid
for his paper
So, that bright face was pale per-
haps In death! The thought was 90
incongruous that the Colonel got out
at the next station. jumped into han
som, and drove back to find out what
had happened and proffer any help he
could.
Colonel Esley had an interview with
the station master. who was able to
tell him that the boy had been taken
in an unconscious state to a hospital
near at hand. His name was believed
to be Rogers, but the name by which
he was always known was Dock"
the origin Of which was unknown to
the kindly station master. who APP
peared sincerely grieved' and anxious
for the lad.
Going to the hospital at once, the
Colonel inquired fer Dbok, and learned
with shocked surprise that 1t was
feared he was suffering from concus-
sion Of the brain, the door OF rail-
way carriage having violently struck
his head.
The "sister" Of the ward TO which
Dock had been taken shoe her head.
IL am afraid for him, poor little mani
He is very thin and delicate TO begin
with, II seems. Yes. you can see him
II you like, but he is scarcely con-
scious even now"
Esley made arrangements for Dock
to have . private ward end then went