Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1890-05-07
CHAPTER v.

1t is a mistake to judge wholly by ap-
pearances, for even Jersey mud was not
created in vaiRs- To the gentle, yield
ing nature of that substance Drane
owed his preservation from serious in
jury when he came tumbling down the
side of the barn. As it was, the shock
was violent. He dragged himself with
some difficulty to the Ice of q rock
fence and made hasty examination,
which convinced him that no bones
were broken. There was soreness in
his throat and lungs which made every
breath he drew seem full of three-cor-
nered files, but on the whole he was in
fair condition and able to walk, which
was fortunate, as no other means of get
ting away were at hand.
Before him was the blazing barn,
now one mass of fire. He reflected with
shuddcr that perhaps some poor
wretch had perished there, and he be-
gan TO reproach himself for having
made no effort to rescue those who had
been his companions in misfortune.
Then the recollection of the way the
flames had leaped up over the hay as
sured him that he need not charge him
self with cowardice. He recalled the
fact that he had climbed up on the loft
and that the others had remained be-
low, where doubtless they had been
awakened while the fire smoldered, fill
ing the barn with that smoke which
had nearly been the death of him.
4 crowd had now collected about the
barn, and he decided to go down and
mingle with it. He did so, and the first
words he heard were these: "'Some
blamed tramp has set this barn afire.
Every one of 'em found in the county
to-day ought to be put III jail
prane did not wait to discuss the
question. He took hasty and uncere-
nonious leave. For half an hour he
plodded through plowed fields, and
climbed fences, till at length he came to
factory of somo sort from which sever
al little branch railroad tracks ran to
the main limo near by. Freight cars
were being loaded there; and Drane,
watching his chance, got aboard of one
unobserved. On the top of big box
ne stretched his weary limbs and fell
asleep.
The train was in Elo.ion Yhen he
awolie. 1T ran on for nearly an hour, he
thought, without stopping. Then eamc
lot of humping and switching ahGut,
followed by prolonged pause. listen
ing, he heard strange sound like the
splash of waves. He crept to the side
Of 6he car and found a crevice through
which he pecred To bis astonishmont
he found that ne was sailing GA tsoaa
river A great city Jay TO the right, and
it did not take him long toGisG9YeF that
it was New York. Apparently the Fae-
tropolis was hard place to get away
from.
Tho float which bore the freight cars
was pushed against pier. Drane stood
up and stretched his cramped limbs
''This isn't exactly vesUiSrled palace.
car he thought, but have at least
come through to New York without
change. as the timetables say" and he
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 and 6
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 the dock. Then he noted the color
Of the water and decided that he ought
not. However, he resolved TO give AT
imitation of good citizen making nj.
toilet, so he picked up piece of broker
glass from the floor OF the car, and prop
ping 1t against a danb of black paint or
box he combed his hair with his hands
after which he decided that he was readj
for breakfast. But the rolls and coffee
didn't come.
BY the exercise of discretion he es
capped from the car and from the pier
and stood again IN the streets of New
York. Then CAME m2ce wandering
moro hunger. moro perplexity. 4
noon he found himself In . park which
looked familiar. lie dropped upon
bench and tried to decide whether i
/, was the one whore he had sat with her