Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-03

throat why did you run off. Joe?" he
asked.
The lad detected a note of kindness and
sympathy in the question. "Ill tell you,"
ne replied: Say. you've got good home.
AS good one as a fellow need want"
Ieddy answered, warmly
DO nau L, Joe went on, land only year
ago. You've heard about il, 1 reckon We
nnS ~, Sacksons farm as tenants--father
anu mother an me. We were happy as
anybody Twin till-till last spring. Then a
tree fell on father an killed him, and in
i Juae mother died. There wasn't anything
Ieit an mad to go to the poor house for n
spell Ihen the county bound me over to
JEFFERSON Skinner. That was in July. and
since then there amt been a day but what
wished was dead. Do you know what IL
was llkeY Most dogs are treated better I
had to wear old clothes that jeff Skinner
cast or. L had nothin to eat but broken
sSiaps from the table, and not enough OF
thein half the time. l was up at O'clock
ana worked till seven, and never n kind
Woru-onIy cursin' and scoldin' And as for
lleKln s-Joe pulled up his sleeves and show
wrist tc elbow ~
dont wonder you run off," Teddy adj
, ,re' ieeIng hopelessly at a loss for
, Moius. wish jefferson Skinner was
@ anu L was twice as big as him. 1 tell
you Id'-He clenched both fists. and looked
rock. N 'ioSer 10 the
There was silence for a moment "vbat
has been amt nothins to what r. vii, ha
When ne gets hold of me again." muttersd
inc captive. Il reckon he'll purity near skin
was me-" 'oo
Il guess / wouldn't" exclaimed Taa,v
why, mad no idea 1T was like that StiiI
you mad no other home. Joe, and YOU can't
iE sI IN ,ne mountains this time of year."
mad that all fixed" Joe answered Quick
~. do you mind Bill Martin. what runs
on the road as engineer. He used to live
this side of Rockville"
YES L remember" said Teddy ..He ,vas
an awfully nice man.
You bet he was" assented Joe well
: seen hin month ago, an he tole me
wnen l got tired standn' JEFF Skinner.
ne take me away on his freight train our
10 the farm i'll Ohio where his uarents live
ihey re lonely old folks, and want a boy
lie says they'll treat ME right an send
me 10 school, an give me coed clothes to
wear: 30 mats why 1 run off; but now''
-Joes voice broke little. He rubbed a
tear from each grimy cheek, and looked
sadly at bis ragged shoes
, say, Joe.' Teddy drew a little closer
Say, I'm real sorry for you. honest I ann
trip"
He goes through every Wednesday
night, replied Joe, his face brightenins
with sudden flush of hope, IAN that's to-
morrow His train stops for water at the
tank t other side of Rockville"
Teddy thought of the promised gold-piece
within his grasp, hesitated ruefuIly, and
then made up his mind with boyish
promptness. Il amt mean enough to take
you back to jeff Skinner, law or no law
ne said. Here's twenty cents, joe all the
money I've got. If i was yoI I'd hide in
the next valley till tomorrow evening-it's
thicker and wider there. Hurry up now,
or Nick Bolter will be comm along, and
won't promise"
"Do-do You mean itY' Joe INTERRUPTED
incredulously, taking the money with a
shaking hand Il didn't think you'd be
that kind"
hsnlr
Teddy exclaimed, half in anger. Il amt
saint. but all the same-hullo, here comes
Nick Bolter now. Run for it."
Yes, the bushes were rustllng close by.
sharp whistle trilled on the air. Hes
sure to get me-" joe whispered in a terri
fled voice. Il know Nick"
so do L." muttered Teddy, land that's
why l say rum"
But L can't" half-cried Joe, mot fast,
anyway. l sprained my ankle on a stone"
His voice was imprudentIy loud. and I'M
luckily betrayed him. "Ho, Teddy" de-
manded Nick, from short distance.
Now you've done it," whispered Teddy.
looking over his shoulder. Here comes
Nick" Then, as a sudden idea struck him.
he added excitedly: Drop behind that
rock, Joe, quick. When you hear me yen
the third time cut down into the back val
ley as fast as you can. Understandr'
Joe nodded as he rolled noiselessly into
the bushy hollow behind the rock Pur-
posely leaving his gun where IT lay. Teddy
dashed across the glade In the opposite d.
Tection from which Nick was approaching.
As he ran he took care to make plenty Of
noise, and when a violent commotion In the
bushes behind him told him that his plot
was a success he gave three lusty shouts.
After that he sped along through the trees
with great leaps, yelling loudly at intervals!
Hold on, Joe. Stop, STOP
Nearer and nearer came the rapid thresh-
ing of his pursuer, and when a slippery
stone threw Teddy into a clump of bushes
he was violently bounced upon before he
could rise.
YOU" Nick gasped, in wrathful amaze
ment. when he saw who 1t was that he had
captured. you've tricked me- Ted Kirk
wood"
AS soon as Teddy could get his breath he
made a clean breast of. everything except
Joe's future plans-concerning which he was
discreetly silent He hoped TO arouse his
companions sympathies, but Nick plainly
swearing at Teddy he started off In a pas
sion, vowing that he would find the fugitive
If it kept him all night on the mountain.
Teddy retraced his steps to get his gun
and then went home with light heart His
story won a reluctant approval from his
father, but it was otherwise regarded by
Mr.. Jefferson Skinner, who expressed de-
sire to have Teddy and a stout strap In COM
pany for half an hour, and also made threats
of legal punishment which, however, were
never fulfilled. The farmer was probably
just as well satisfied that his cruel treat.
ment Of the bound boy should not be aired
Nick Boilers search for the runaway
proved fruitless, and when Teddy heard the
rumble of Bill Martins freight train on the
following evening a great load seemed lifted
from his mind.
A month or two afterward he met the
kind-hearted engineer and learned that Joe
Hackett had safely reached the farm and
was happy and contented lad.
THEW Arm WELL. 0EIyEn.v