Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-28
CHAPTER ".
A REMARKABLE THEFT


1t is mistake to judge wholly by APP
pearances, for even Jersey mud was not
created in vain. To tho 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 1t was, the shock
was violent. He dragged himself with
some difficulty to the lee Of o rock
fence and made n hasty examination,
which convinced him that no bones
were broken. There was q 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
shudder that perhaps some poor
wretch had persisted 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.
A crowd had now collected about the
barn, and he decided to go down and
mingle with it. He did so, and the first
1r-ar5c hA ,5
blamed tramp has set this barn afire.
Every one of 'em found in the county
to-day ought to be put in jail"
Drane did not wait to discuss the
question. lie took hasty and uncere-
monious leave. For half an hour he
plodded through plowed fields, and
climbed fences, till at length he came to
factory of some sort from which sever.
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 one
unobserved. On tho top of a big box
ne stretched his weary limbs and fell
asleep.
The train was in motion when 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, he 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
it did not take him long to discover thai
it was New York. Apparently the mo
tropolis was hard place to get away
from.
The float which bore the freight cars
was pushed against pier. Drane stood
up and stretched his cramped limbs
''This isn't exactly vestibuled palace
car" he thought. "but have ut 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 throush the hole in the side of the
car and wondered whether, out of re
spect to cleanliness, he ought to jumI
into the dock. Then he noted the color
of the water and decided that he ought
not. However, he resolved to give Of
imitation of gold citizen making hi:
| toilet, so he picked up piece of broken
glass from the floor of the car, and prop
ping it against daub of black paint or
box he combed his hair with his hands
after which he decided that he was ready
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 more wandering
more hunger, more perplexity. Al
noon he found himself in a park which
looked familiar. He dropped upor 6
bench and tried to decide whether Il
was the one where no had sat with her
Then no asked himself frankly whether
he would rather see her at that minute
, or q sirloin steak with fried potatoes
and cup of coffee.