The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-19

in : lonely place. with no houses near il
4 va only platform with
freight shod at one end, and more for.
iorn paace for stranger 70 - Isft on :
dark, stormy night could hardly Be Inn
aeined. Arthur and Uncle Phin were not
conscious Of the train stopping here. and
were only awakened from their troubled
slssp BY the light from Brakeman Joss
lantsrn flashing in their faces. They were
just sitting mp and gaxing ct him. in b.
wildercd way, when this energstic yOuhg
man hustled them out Of the car in his
toughest manner. e was so rough, IN
fact, that poor Uncle Phin, impelled b.
violent push. slipped on the wet platform
and fell heavily. He struck one Of his
knees such fearful blow that. for few
moments. he was unable to rise, and lay
there groanine.
Aren't you ashamed Of yourself to treat
an old man 90 I" cried Arthur 70 Brake
man Joe. as with flashing eyes and CULVER
ing lips be sprang to his companions side
and endeavCred 70 raise him to his feet.
Well. what business has the old tramp
got TO b stealing ride on my train ~ re-
piled the brakeman, sulkily, though at the
same time bending oyer Uncle Phin and
helping him up.
He was not . bad-hearted young man,
this Brakeman Joe: but only overworked
and much bothered by tramps On the
contrary, he was good-natured. and es-
pecialy kind and gentle with old people,
for be had IN old father ct home Of whom
he vas the sole support. and to whom he
was devoted. He had not noticed. in the
dim light, that Uncle Phin was old and
~ 4>A n - ~
Is tramp. who. ~ everybody knows. il
generally young and strong and well able
to perform the labor he refuses to under
take out Of sheer iaxiness. So now he
helped the PROSTATE figure TO its feet. said
he hoped the old fellow was not much hurt,
and then returned to his task of dragging
the six sacks Of meal, that we're to be left
ct Arden, from the car.
Whats the matter here, Joe Z" asked
the conductor Of the train. stepping up ct
this moment
"Only . couple Of stowaways that I
found stealing ride in this car, was the
answer.
''Tramps. chr" said the conductor.
sharply. flashing the light from his lam
tern apon the two trembling figures who
stood before him. "A dog, tool be con-
tinued, and I'll warrant they stole it. I've
. mind to take it in payment for their ride.
II this was town I'd have you fellows ar
rested and locked up in less than no time
You and all your kind ought to be killed
of for the good of the country. As it is,
III leave you here to soak in the rain for
the rest Of the night, and perhaps some Of
the worthlessness will be washed ont OF
you by morning Hellol What's thisf"
Here the conductor stopped and picked
up small object over which Brakeman
Joe had stumbled, and which he had sent
flying out on the platform.
1t was book. and the conductor picked
it up, wondering where il could have come
from. "Anderson's Fairy Tales, " he read
aloud, holding it up to his lantern. THE
very book my little Kitty was asking me to
get for her only the other dayi Well, If
this isn't . find!" Then turning to the
Hy.leaf he read aloud: ITO Prince Dusty
from"
Here he was interrupted by Arthur. who
sprang forward, and, stretching out his
hand for the book, cried: please, sir, it's
mine, and / should feel dreadful to
lose it, and We aren't tramps,
and didn't mean to steal . ride.
We got locked in BY accident, and We
have money enough to pay for everything,
and oh! please don't leave US here in this
lonely place"
The conductor stared at the boy in
amazement well, you do look like .
little dusty, sure enough. though can't
saw that YOU are exactly what / should