The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-14

the bright blue eyes, and the tired feet
turned wcarily toward the dusty road
rs dirt-begrimed little Bob faced the
betting sun.
There was manly bearing in the
lads demeanor. though his voice
cholsed as he murmured: IF he would
only have listened! All l want is a
chance to work for my supper. And 1
have not eaten in so longr'
Now Bob was not vicious tramp,
but golaen-haired, blue-eyed boy,
who, three days before, amid the
towers and spires of Cleveland, had
left a mother and two younger brothers
to seek his fortune. For bread was
scarce in their home, and be had heard
that in the country good wages were
paid for help about the farm. Three
long days he had wandered down the
tnterminable dusty road, sleeping in
hay stacks or beneath sheds; sometimes
doing odd chores for a square meal, and
once a kind old lady gave him two
meals and bed for one nights rest;
but all laughed when he asked for en-
pioyment in the meadow, and evidently
II,
who, in answer to his query, replied:
''Why, lad, thy golden tresscs would be
white ere thou had worked one short
half hour beneath the sweltering sun
of the hay field"
So at last he reached this spot, and
bis weary eyes lighted with glad
sparkle as in front Of the big farm
gate he read:
LAWMAKERS WANTED.
Visions of cosy home among the
bverhanging trees, and the Joy of
mother as she opened the envelope and
found his first months wages, danced
before his mind. He lifted the great
brass knocker on the farmhouse door,
hnd sent summons that brought the
trascible farmer himself with the re-
bult as already told.
Once more as Bob reached the road
the sign met his eggs, and a great lump
seemed to rise in his throat.
Tired, hungry and sick at heart, he
started down the highway. The sun
was setting. A stack of newly-mown
hay attracted his attention. Here at
least he could rest for time. until that
tired, sick feeling wore off. Into the
sweet-scented grass he burrowed. and
coiling himself up SO as to conceal his
presence as much as possible, with his
weary head pillowed on his dusty arm.
he soon fell fast asleep.
II tell you. Bill, they keeps dorg.
aud the ole man hez gun as is allus
near his bed"
Say, Jacki thought ez how when
yer started out with us yer he'd plenty
of sand; but. like Jim's key, yer hev
kinder petered out"
''rll stake my sand agin yours any
day, Bill Jackson, an yer knows it,
too! But what's Their use of runnin
yer head into a trap when yer knows
its there? Didn't Their kid work pitch
in' hay for the ole duffer two weeks,
just to find Their lay of ther land? An
didn't he tell us the Gle man wuz al
ways fggerin' on burglars or SIGH
like? An now yer wants US to run our
heads right into the net. I've got lots
of sand, Bill jackson, but l tell yer
life's too short to spend many years be-
plaguey use of offering our shapes for
the old mans target practice. Now,
I've got better plan than that Two
of us will watch the house while the
other goes to the barn and gets the
horses, then touch the hay off and
skin. When the building burns the
folks will run out to see the fire, and
we can go through the house. What
Ac yer say"
"Mebbe the women won't 60 out
"Wal! the men will be out of hearin'.
md / reckon as how we can fix the
women before old Jaxon and his gang
gets-Great guns, Bill.''
whats ther matter?"
Didn't yer see the grass move?
tell yer there is something in it," and
thrusting his arm into the hay the
brawny tramp drew forth-Bob! Yes,
there was no mistake, and the find was
greeted with anything but murmurs of
approval from the plotting trio.
Say. We dirty brat, where did ye