The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-27

known to the profession" as harbor-
ing place. 1t was decided that the best
thing to do was to put up in this place
for the night. Drane fell into the line,
and after a march across some fields, he
entered the tramp's hotel with the mot
ley crew.
Counting those already in it, who
were aroused by the entrance of his
party, there were nearly dozen in all.
Through great hole high up in the
wall the moonlight streamed, and in
the circle thus marked out the strange
company sat down and prepared to ex-
change some friendly gossip before go
ing to sleep.
81 take it you're new to tho profess
sion?" said the man whose acquaint-
ance Dranc had made in the freight
yard. ''What's your name?"
Drane told him.
''Do you spell it just like any other
drain?" called out one of the men.
There was some good-natured laugh
ter at this, and then ono of them asked
Drane whore he came from. He en-
deavored to sketch briefly and ac-
curately the events which had led him
to his present situation. He thought it
might interest them. 1t did. They re-
garded him as a first-class humorist,
and liar of great natural endowments.
''Oh, yes, we've all been there" said
one. 81 was gentleman and a scholar
day before yesterday. 1t seems to me
that l met you in Mr.. Gould's office. 1
Hrnnna1 in m coll h ir,,o Of
roads; don't you remcmber?"
1t was utterly impossible for Drane to
convince them that he was telling the
truth. The more closely he stuck to
facts the louder they laughed at the ex-
tent and variety of his genius for false
hood.
He'd make a good delegate for the
convention, said Johnny. whats the
matter with sending him to Pittsburgh
when the profession assembles?"
''Ile'd represent all the liars in it,"
responded another, Sin a way that
would moro than do 'em justice"
Il can't promise to CO." said Drane,
"but the first man of you who finds
me in Kansas City and learns the truth
OF what have told you shall have hun
dred dollars and a chance togo to work. Z"
'lll sell my chance in that hundred
for pipeful of plug" said the man who
had put Drane i'll nomination for the
convention. LAS for the chance to 90
to work, don't want it. I'll give it
away"
Altogether, Drane did not find this
assemblage of the unfortunate SO inter-
esting as he had thought it might be.
He withdrew from the circle soon and
climbed high up on the hay till the raft
ers were just over his head. Then he
lay down to sleep, and dreams carried
him to othor and far different scenes.
At first there were pictures of home,
and then the familiar faces faded away
and in their place came one which had
imprinted itself On his heart more
clearly than he knew-the face of the
woman whom he had befriended and
who in turn had remembered him.
Through strange and difficult paths he
was pursuing her. There was danger
around them both. Suddenly he over
took her and tried to speak to her, but
his voice would not come. He was chok-
ing. She seemed to read the agony in
his eyes, for her face grew pitiful. He
was dying at her feet. The hot sun cast
terrible red glare upon him. 1t was
descending from the heavens to burn
him to cinder.
With struggle he threw the hideous
vision from him and awoke. The red
glare was still in his eyes, the choking
in his throat. The barn was on fire.
Already the hay below him was blazing,
cutting off his escape. The smoke was
like visible demon clutching him. He
CROPPED to the wall and put his lips to a
little space between the boards, seeking
for air, but the hot vapor from within
rushed out, and he could not breathe.
The thought of death in that strange