White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-26
f DiDD6-NOV6l H0PO.
BY FANNIE WILLIAMS.
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Policeman Packard, as ne puced LIS
beat near the freight depot, pulled his
coat collar up around his neck with a
shivcr, and mentally observed that it
was likely to rain before daylight.
Just then, coming around the corner
of the building, his practiced eye dis
cerncd, through the mist and darkness,
the figure of boy, who was apparently
trying to force open the sliding door Of
a freight car.
The officer approached and laid a
hand upon his shoulder, whcreat the
boy started, with a cry Of terror, and
attempted to escape. But the officer
held him and demanded:
"What are you doing here, boy?"
"Nothing." faltcrtd the lad in a
frightened voice.
Nothing" repeated the policeman,
looking him over and comprchcnding
his case at q glance. "You're fooling
around these cars at one O'clock in the
morning for nothing, are your"
Il wanted to get in soIHc place
where l could sleep and-and keep
warm," stammcred the youthful cap
tive.
"Wby don't you go home and sleep?"
asked the officer
q haven't any home" replied the boy,
hanging his head and blushing guiltily
as he addcd: "Not now, I mean"
"Ah!" said the officer, dryly. Flows
that?'
The boy hesitated and shifted his
feet uncasily, as if he would have tried
to break away from the officers hold,
if he had dared
lie was about 13 years cid, neatly
dressed, and wore one of the military
caps which he'd just come into favor
with the boys. His face had a look of
innocence and youthful candor, which
did not help him greatly in his en-
deavor to inventa plausible explanation
of his midnight wanderings.
Finally he said:
"i'm an orphan. sir. lived with my
relations out in the country; but they
they g0t tired of r1c and told me tc
leave, midland SO | came to the city
thought might get a chance to go out
west"
"And YOU were going to steal a ride ir
he freight care" said the officer. with
a grim smile. 81 thought So What
on earth do you expect to do out west
If you ever get thcre?"
The lad looked aulky, and made nc
answer. He had probably been taught
by experience that he need not look tC
his elders for sympathy with his heroic
dreams of adventure in the great west
"Whtn cid you leave home?" inquired
the officer.
"Ieytcrday," was the brief reply.
The policeman asked q fcw more qucs
tions, but, finding the boy not inclined
TO he very communicative, he took hin
to the station, and handed him over tC
the lieutenant in charge.
The young adycuturer was dismayeC
to find himself inside a police statial
for the first time in his life; bnt tht
lieutenant spoke to him kindly, saying
You will be comfortable enough
i'''' ~ ''t' ".5"'' NY I"''' anu III lh'
morning we VIII see what we can 90 1o'
you, NhdJ IS your name
"Neorgc burton, sir.
wv mere 90 you belong?
Inc boy IN a confused ard hes'tatin5
manner replied by giving the name o
4 country place some 40 miles cway
he experienced ollleer suspected tha
ne vas NOT trlihg the truth, but, keep
Ih& lhiS opinion to himself, remarked
lou ooh look as II YOU had cater
any supper george
: haFen T. aaId ,,eorge' win a Wlst
l"l SlEll' nor any Hiiiiler' 'lthef'
wen l il see II can ma %ousome
u!Ihg 70 eat Saio the lieutenant
h'.,u'y f'""' WIN boys ol ms oNn H.
ne was SuCe'SSi.'i ia I,holhg sun
S''"l'"i 'oaeii' "h.ch llIe hungry youhl
"',o',er uelouFGo WIN uN!uI'y, Nle'
re '''l - a'lSI', ms "PPeu'e' 'ne Ile'
''I.""t l,. ','.'u - 'E"'
ou Ia" p''le' @ ~ 10 u, peu hoN'' ', ou !.
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