The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-03-22
A Dlm6-NOv6l Hero.
BY FANNIE WILLIAMS.
TT was one O'Clock in the morninl

POllCcmuu luckdTti, as ne pdtcu LIS
beat near the freight depot, pulled Ills
coat collar up around his neck with
SILVER, and mentally observed thas it
was likely to rain before daylight.
Just then, coming around the corner
of the building, his practiced eye dis
cerned, through the mist and darkness,
the figure of a boy, who was apparently
trying to force open the sliding door of
freight car.
The officer approached and laid n
hand upon his shoulder, whcreat the
boy started. with cry of terror, and
attempted to escape. But the officer
held him and dcmanded:
What are you doing here, boyY'
Nothing" fnltered the lad in
frightened voice.
Nothing" repeated the policeman,
looking him over and copprehending
his case at a glance. You're fooling
around these cars at one o'clock in the
morning for nothing are your
IL wanted to get in some place
where l could sleep and--and keep
warm" stammered the youthful cap
tive.
'Why don't you go home and sleep?"
asked the officer.
II haven't any home" replied the boy,
hanging his head and blushing guiltily
as he added: mot now, / mean"
"Ah!" said the officer, dryly. slows
that?"
The boy hesitatcd and shifted his
feet uneasily. as If he would have tried
to break away from the officers hold,
if he had dared.
He was about 10 years old, neatly
dressed. and wore one of the military
caps which had just come into favor
with the boys. His face had look of
innocence and youthful candor, which
did not help him greatly in his en-
deavor to invent a plausible explanation
of his midnight wanderings.
Finally he said:
"Im an orphan, sir lived with my
relations out in the country; but they
they got tired of me and told me to
leave, and--and SO came to the city.
thought might get chance to go out
west"
"And you were going to steal ride in
the freight carp" said the officer, with
a grim smile. II thought so. What
on earth do you expect to do out west,
IL you ever get thcre?"
The lad looked sulky, and made no
answer. He had probably been taught
by experience that he need not look to
his elders for sympathy with. his heroic
dreams of adventure in the great west.
when did you leave home ?" inquired
the officer.
Yesterday" was the brief reply.
The policeman asked few more ques-
tons, but, finding the boy not inclined
to be very communicative he took him
to the station, and handed him over TO
the lieutenant in charge.
The young adventurer was dismayed
to find himself inside police station
for the first time in his life; but the
lieutenant spoke TO him kindly, saying:
"You will be comfortable enough
here for the night, my lad, and in the
morning we will see what we can do for
you. What is your Nance"
George Burton, sir"
where do you belong?"
The boy, in confused and hesitating
manner. replied by giving the name OF
a country place some 40 miles away
The experienced officer suspected that
he was not telling the truth, but, keep
ing this opinion to himself, remarked:
''You don't look as il you had eaten
any supper, George"
az haven't" said George, with visit
full sigh; "nor any dinner. either"
swell, I'll see IL / can't find you some
thing to eat" said the lieutenant, 0
kindly man, with boys of his own.
He was successful in finding a sub
stantial lunch, which the hungry young
wanderer devourcd with avidity. When
he had satisfied his appetite, the lieu
tenant said to him:
"You had better go to bed now, but
first, If you have any little notions in
your pockets, give them to me for safe
keeping
George complied with this request 10y
pulling out of his various pockets ar
array of ''little notions" which was GER
tainly enough to impress the inspector
with awe. There were one of the old
fashioned 'pepper-box' reyolvers OF
heavy caliber, a piece of wax candle