Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-24
"DOOK."
Story OF a Little Life That Knew
Not a Mothers Care.

One summer evening Colonel Esley
got into a carriage on the rail-
way after buying a paper at the sta
ton news stall.
He was just settling down comfort
ably to it 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 whistling
on his high stool at few yards dis
lance: H.
Bring me the ST. James Gazette,
will youp"
The summons was obeyed. but not
before the departing train had consid-
.erably quickened it's pace.
The Gazette was hastily given. a
penny was flung out, fell close to the
Grain on the stone edge of the platform
and rolled little way.
The boy stopped to pick it up, and
as he did SO door, not yet shut by
the guard, struck him violently.
There was an agonized shrek, 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 CHASTITY
streak of crimson blood across the
whiteness of his face. In 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
lave a sort of affection for the lad,
and had watched him often with quiet
amusement. carrying on internecine
felds with guards and porters, con-
tilually harassing and being harassed
bythem, chatting his compeers, the
newspaper boys on the other two
platforms of the junction, with that
eyef-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 al idus Achates in the shape of a
marvel lousy ugly boy with the most
astounding faculty of grimacing ever
seen by the ColoneD. who rejoiced in
the appellation Turtle" name
arising out of wild rumor that he
had once been treated by cabby to
some mock turtle soup. for the first
and oily time in his life, an even,
whichwas likely to influence his sub.
sequent career in a decisive way.
Esley's attention had first beer
drawn 10 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 tina,
there if l was YOU" bawled Esley's
young friend. as Turtle paused to look
round in the direction with a wink o.
remarkable distinctness and force. con.
sidermg the range; lit might fly to vel
'ead."
Both boys roared with laughter
Esley was obliged to smile as he paii
for his paper.
So. that bright face was pale per
haps in death! The thought was Sc
1ncongruous 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 hs
could.
Colonel Esley had an interview with
the station master. who was able tC
tell him that the boy had been taker
In an unconscious state to a hospita
near at hand. His name was believed
to be Rogers. but the name bv which
he was always known was ..Dook. ,
the origin of which was unknown II
the kindly station master. who an
peared sincerely grieved and anxiou,
for the lad.
Going to the hospital at once, thu