The morning call., 1893-04-04
ON A SLIM STAKE.
Two Boys Start East on
Two Dollars.
CAUGHT IN SACRAMENTO.
Young Nelson and Mitchell of This
City Are Brought Home After
a Sad Experience.

Two very peutent boys Of this city re-
turned home to their respective mothers
last night after brief absence of two days.
They are sadder but wiser boys than they
were last Saturday afternoon, when they
took the overland train bound for the East
ful-hedged runaways.
Clayton Nelson, the older of the lads, 10
years of age, is son of NJ. Nelson of 1874
McAllister street, who is employed in the
United States internal revenue service.
Nugent Mitchell, II years old. is the only
son of w. j. Mitchell. who is the Pacific
Coast representative of st. Louis tobacco
house. and lives at the Livingstone Hotel,
S24 Laguna street.
AS may be inferred both boys have good
homes and have been brought up in an in
dulgent manner. They are greatly loved by
their families and had not the slightest pro-
vocation TO run away. Still they made up
their minds to take French leave and pro-
ceeded to take it last Saturday. They got
as far as Sacramento, where they were in
tercepted and brought home last evening
by Mr.. Mitchell.
The errng prodigals were tearfully vel
coined in the erstwhie deserted home circles
and given square meal eaCh-the first one
they had absorbed since they babe farewell
to the city.
If cOpIOus flow of tears and experience
ing once more the sensation of being folded
to mothers breast mean anything, 1t is
not probable these two particular youths
Will run away again in a hurry or start
other boys on S similar escapades by glowing
accounts of their adventure.
The story Of their trip, what they went
through and how they came to grief, as
showing how easily two boys of an imagin-
alive turn of mind can go astray on false
ideas of what is heroic and manly, is not
without a peculiar interest
Clayton Nelson has been a great traveller.
| His fathers duties in the Government serv-
| Ice have necesstated travelling about all over
! the country, and Clayton has gone with
him. He Is somewhat proud Of his ability
| TO get about on his own hook. lie Is
| also good shot with a rife and a shotgun,
| but he heartily resents the idea that he and
! bis friend Nugent went out to shoot Indians
| They only took Clayton's little parlOr air
! rifle with them. and Clayton says that they
| carried it just for sport in the hope that they
| could knock some ''chippy" birds over
| with it,
| The boys became companions In the John
| SWEET Grammar School. Not long ago
| Nugent became much impressed with the
! adventures OF Mark Twain's hero Huckle-
! berry Fun, and both Nugent and Clayton
| had been surreputiously devOuring litera-
| ture OF the Ragged Dick" order. The idea
of making their own way in the great
| world before them thrilled their young sus-
! cepiible souls. The Mitchells came from
| Denver and have been talking OF returning
! there before long. The original home of
! the Nelson's is in Ohio, and II has been Dir.
| Nelson's intention TO move back to the
| Buckeye State next month. The sons and
| heirs OF these two households conceived the
| idea of going on ahead by themselves as a
| sort Of advance agents to the paternal
! trOupes that would follow.
| SATURDAY. afternoon Mira Mitchell cd
| up little Nugent in his best suit, soldier cap
! and patent leather shoes, preparatory to lis
! start for O'BrPn's dancing school. When
! the lady went down to luncheon. Nugent
! appropriated 81 from the family wallet, and
| went out TO meet Clayton, who had earned
the sum of 10 cents by running an errand
| for a nelghbOT, and they forthwith jumped
! on car bound for the ferry. Clayton had
! his aiTgun over his shoulder. They are
| both blondes, dress similarly with knee
! pants, and both wear military CAPS. They
! do not look unlike, and are often taken for
| brothers. The giasping railroad taxed them
| 81 10 Tor transportation to Sacramento.
and with tickets in hand they boarded the
| train. Nugent was bound for Denver.
! Clayton was on his way TO Ohio, but they
! had sworn to stick by each other like two
| true sons of the plains, and they would fain
! make their way back East" together.
! They intended 10 find work in Sacramento.
| save some money, and then proceed on their
| journey TO the next stand, repeating the
| operation until their ultimate destination
was reached. After buying some cakes on
| the train neither had had any luncheon,
| they arrived in Sacramento at half East
P. NJ with total capital Of 80 cents.
They wandered about the depot until
! about II o'clock and then started up the
| track, when a Waterman questioned them.
| lie wanted to know who they were, where
| they were going and where they intended to
| sleep. Ihey admitted that they did not
| know where they could sleep that night,
| and so the Waterman said, Come along
with me. I'll show you a good place TO
| sleep"
He conducted them to the city Jail. where
| 1t was noticed that they were well dressed.
The sergeant on duty threatened to put
| them in the dark celP' if they did not
answer all questions truthfuly, but they
! were already thinking longingly of home
| and warm bed. They gave their right
names and addresses and were locked up in
cell over night
Sunday morning Chief Crowley received
| dispatch from the Sacramento police that
| the boys were under arrest In that town,
and he notified the almost distracted parents
that the boys had been found. Mr. Mitchell
had already caused a general police alarm
| to be sent out. The parents supposed that
| the authorities would forward the runa-
! ways on to the city Sunday. bat the police
simply held them over another night, and
| yesterday Mr.. Mitchell went up to Sacra-
| mento and brought them home.
Two nights and one day in prison has
served to dampen the boys thirst for ad-
! venture and they perceive now the value I
comfortable dOmiciIe. They say they do
not like tea and coffee without milk and
! sugar. and dry bread without butter Is not
| an especial tOothsome article of diet.
| Mr.. Mitchell tested Nugent by Offering
! him money to go on East alone, bat Nugent
! had got all over his laundering for Den
| yer. 1t is probable that tho boys will be
kept buster than they have been heretofore,
and Mr.. Mitchell says be will give his boy
some wood TO saw every day.