Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-03-10


as he mentally reviewed his many
business failures, while the swift train.
which was bearing him away from the
scene of them all, TO fresh fields and
pastures new, went laundering on
through the darkness toward Boston.
Boston! As Tad's thoughts reverted
from the past, the name repeated itself
over in his mind. "Seems as though
heard mother say once that | had an
Aunt Rhoda who lived in Boston. or
Bangor, or-anyway, it was place
that began with b. somewhere down
East, " unused Tad. Not that he
hoped. expected or even desired to meet
this, the only relative he knew of in
the world. 1t was enough to remember
that she had never held communication
with Mrs. Thorne since her marriage to
some one whom her older sister Rhoda
did not like. And slight offered to
his mother was in Tad's eyes an un-
pardonable offense.
But so much thinking, together with
the warmth of the steam-heating pipes
at his back and the even, on-rushing
movement of the train. began to make
Tad drowsy. Peeping out of his hiding
place. he could see that many of the
passengers were disposing themselves
for uneasy slumber, and. Judging by
certain sounds from the chair in front of
him, Tad's lady was already in dream
land. So, leaning his head back against
the fur-lined cloak which had already
served him such a good turn. and,
being used TO sleeping in all sorts of
postures and places, Tad fell fast asleep
in no time. Rousing himself at inter-
walls long enough to silently change his
cramped position, Tad passed the long
night in comparative comfort, until
with the dawn of morning all began to
shake off their drowsiness, and to
struggle into more comfortable posi-
tions, as they grumbled about not hav-
ing slept wink during the night.
Tad's lady was not exactly cross, but
Tad noticed that she called her hus-
band Mr.. Mason, instead of John,
dear" as on the evening before, when
she asked him how he had rested. And
he also noticed that Mr.. Mason's voice
was rather sharp as he replied that the
confounded chair had given him three
distinct kinks in his backbone, and
while economy was well enough in its
place, by George! another time he'd
have his own way, and take section
in sleeper" as sure as his name
was John Masonl
80, my lady is Mrs. John Mason"
Tad thought to himself. trying in his
imagination to picture her face from
the sound of her voice, and failing en-
tirely. But without well knowing why,
he resolved not to forget the name of
the lady who-as he mentally ex-
pressed it-'belonged to the fur-lined
cloak. " Other and less pleasant thoughts
began to obtrude themselves, as the
morning wore on. Now that he was
so near his destination, Tad's growing
anxiety as to his future movements
contrasted rather strongly with his
philosophy of the previous evening.
"I'll get something to eat, first of
all, finally decided Tad, resolving not
to lay any plans till this important duty
had been performed. He had cash
capital of ten cents, together with two
boxes of matches as balance of stock
in trade. so that he felt sure of a
breakfast-not a luxurious one, it is
true-but, like stale bun, very filling
for the price.
Besides. there was the sachel-he
could readily raise something on it at
the pawnbroker's. But that don't
seem to be doing the square thing by
the high-toned old party, after all"
mused Tad, thoughtfully; ''for even if
don't ever run across him again
which the Observation-Disclosures busi-
ness isn't circumstance to the chances
of doing-the bag isn't mine, after ALL
wonder what's inside" he continued,
curiously, as he lifted it to his lap-''a
box Of paper collars, and toothbrush,
or lot of thousan' dollar bondsp" But
his newly-awakened curiosity remained
ungratified. The sachel was securely
locked, and its peculiarly-shaped key
was probably at that moment in the
tall gentleman's pocket, wherever the
individual himself might be.
Must be something valu'ble in
there, else it would't be fas'ned up so
close; and, if that's so, the owner ii
advertise it. Anyway, I'll hang on to
it till l find out" was Tad's final de-
cision. He would no more have
thought of forcing the lock to satisfy
curiosity than of breaking open q
A general stir among the passengers,
with certain fragments of con-
versation which reached Tad's ear.
warned him that the end of his jour
ney was at hand. Mrs. John Mason
was among those who began getting
in readiness for departure. As, de-
taching the cloak from the hook, she
its rich folds from behind
her chair, Tad lightly touched the soft
fur of the lining by way of mute
after doing which he began
his own preparations for leav-
ing. That is. he buttoned his thread
palt JdShtb iehtiy stuouI HAiiis ldA MS
fingers through his mop of curly hair
and pulled shabby cloth cap well
over his forehead. Then, with n fast
beating heart, Tad awaited the finale.
CHAPTER II.
The end was not long in coming. As
the city clocks announced the hour Of
eight a. m. the train slowly rumbled
into the depot, at the foot of Summer
street, and came to full stop with the
customary jolt which bumps together
the passengers who stand expectant in
the aisle.
Then followed the usual rush for the
doors, during which Tad crept from his
unnotieed in the general
confusion. Carrying the sachel in his
hand, he boldly elbowed his way
through the crowd, and, with a great
sigh of relief. found himself standing
NN',| - St St ssA
H. "a IN /.