Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-06-21


al little branch railroad tracks ran TO
the main line near by, Freight, cars
were being loaded there; and Drane;
watching his chance, got aboard OF ono
unobserved. On the top OF q big box
no stretched his weary limbs and fell
asleep.
Tho train was in moUion whom he
awoke. 1t ran on for nearly an hour, he
thought, without stopping. Then came
lot OF humping and switching about,
followed by prolonged pause. Listen
ing, no heard strange sound like the
splash OF waves. He crept to the side
OF the car and found crevice through
which he peered. To his establishment
he found that he was sailing on broad
river. A great city lay to the right, and
1t did not take him long todiscovcr that
1t was New York. Apparently tho me-
tropolis was hard place to get away
from.
The float which bore tho freight cars
was pushed against pier. Drane stood
up and stretched his cramped limbs.
'This isn't exactly q vestibuled palace
car" he thought, ''but have ut least
como through to Now York without
change, as tho timetables say" and no
thrust his hands into his empty pockets.
Travel by freight-car without hand
bag has its disadvantages, and among
them is the lack OF water, soap ind
chance to brush ones hair Drane looked
out through the hole in the side OF the
car and wondered whether, out Of re-
spoct to. cleanliness, he ought to jump
into tho dock. Then he noted the color
Of tho water and decided that he ought
not. However, he resolved to give an
imitation OF o good citizen making his
toilet, so he picked up piece of broken
glass from the floor Of the car, and prop
ping it against daub Of black paint on
box he combed his hair with his hands,
aftor which he decided that he was ready
for breakfast. But the rolls and coffee
didn't come.
by tho exercise of discretion he es-
capped from the car and from the pier,
and stood again in the streets Of New
York. Then came moro wandering,
moro hunger, more perplexity. At
noon he found himself in park which
looked familiar. He dropped upon
bench and tried to decide whether it
was tho one where he had sat with her.
Then he asked himself frankly whether
he would rather sec her ut that minute
or q sirloin steak with fried potatoes
and cup OF coffee.
Il don't know" he muttercd, burying
his face in his hands. ats hard Qucs-
ton. l must be in love-"
He fixed his eyes on the ground and
wondered why he didn't find half dol
lar there. No doubt there were coins
enough buried in the dust of New York
streets to pay his way to Kansas City.
Why couldn't no find one? lie began
to accuse his guardian angel Of serious
neglect Of duty. She ought at least to
throw enough in his way to get him o
breakfast. He poked around in tho
little heaps Of rubbish ut the ends Of
the bench with the toes Of his delapi-
dated shoes; but his guardian angel APP
parently had no change to spare. Ho
u1un ina penny.
Tho only article which differed from
the general collection was piece Of
pasteboard which looked like theater
check. 1t had evidently been dropped
very recently, for it was scarcely soiled
at all. He remembered, with sudden
start, that restaurants sometimes sold
tickets that wero good for meal. With
hasty hand he snatchcd the piece Of
pastcboard from tho ground and read:
This ticket entities the bearer to ono
Turkish bath ut Hubbard's, No. 90 West
Twcnty-sevcnth street. An extra
charge for alcohol or electricity"
This is the way that Fate takes advan-
tage Of mans position to insult him. 1t
was not Drano's fault that he had not
washed his face, and it was aggravating
to have hint like this thrown out by
fate to cmbitter the results Of her own
doings. Dranc was on the point Of tear
ing the ticket in rago and disdain when
his better Judgment checked him. A
Turkish bath-houso was q nice, quiet
place to rest. 1t offers the greatest OF
Injuries on hot day. Truc, q severely
thorough bath is not q good thing to take
on an too empty stomach, but still he
was sure that it could not mako him feel
any moro hollow than he did without it
He arose and began his search for West
Twenty-seventh street. 1t was not far
away, and in less than half an hour he
stood in front CT No. 90. A handsome
building it was; perhaps little too or
nate,but cminently suggestive OF lux
ury. Drane entered and presented his
ticket at the desk. Tho attendant
stared at him.
"How tho dickens did you get this
ticket?" no asked.
Then Drano saw that he would have
to lie. He was determined to get inside
tho bath now, and q small matter Of