The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-06-29

never looking up. Notnlng reported
/ here, except three handkerchiefs, q
glove and two boys coats brought in
from that train. That's ALL"
"Those are our coats" said I.
"Then identify 'em," said the man.
looked at Billy and he looked at me;
then we both looked at the conductor,
who laughed again.
Describe your coats, boys" said he.
"Oh!" says we. And then we told
him, and he brought out two coats,
which, sure 'nough, were ours.
Mine was over her and Billy's was
rolled up under her head" said.
"Who?" asked the man.
Tod" 1 said.
"Was that your brothers name?"
"No, sir; it's my sisters, and should
think you might act S if you cared
little, cause she's lost"
| "Oh, she'll turn up all right" said
that hard-hearted, mean man, and went
on writing.
All this time the conductor had been
standing in the doorway, with his fore
head all puckered up, like fathers when
he's thinking.
Come, boys" says he; "we1l go and
telegraph to your father"
'I'll bet my kite you'll never see her
again, Jimmy" Billy said, and then he
began to tell me a story bout little
girl who got lost and was never found.
don't b'lieve ever liked Billy Crock
er so little as then, but tried to make
'lowances for him, cause Tod wasn't
his sister, you see. Besides, if I'd spoken
sharp to him, as / felt half a mind to,
1 was sure I'd break out crying.
After the conductor had tel'graphed
to father, we got in the car again. He
gave Billy and me each two sandwiches.
He said he thought we must be hungry.
| And he was right, and ever since that I
don't think conductors can be beat for
being good to little boys.
He made the train stop at every sta
ton on the way back, but every time
he'd come in he'd say: "No news yet"
and wished he wouldn't say it quite SO
often.
Billy tried to 'cheer me" by telling all
kinds of stories. He said he was certain
Tod had either been stolen for a ransom
or else she'd been carried off SOS to sell
her hair for wigs, like story he'd read,
or she might have been sold somewhere
for slave.
anyhow, she's goner, Jimmy" said
he at the last station before Harristown,
"and I'm sorry for you, cause you're
most sure to get licking"
That's bout the way 1 looked at it,
but somehow l felt the worst about Tod.
When we got to Harristown we saw
mother and father standing on the sta
ton platform. The next minute the
train had stopped, and Billy said: "I'm
glad I'm not in your shoes, Jimmy"
And then he sneaked out Of the rear
door and was gone quicker'n you could
| wink.
Well, when get out, 1 just rushed up
to mother and put both arms around
her, and said:
"Oh, mother! what shall we do?"
She Rugged me just as tight and
kissed me.
MY poor, dear, careless boy!" said
| she.
ooh, Jimmy, we was so scared bout
| you'll" said somebody else.
And 1 looked up in hurry, and there
would you b'lieve it stood Tod!
| "Why-why, mother!" was all could
manage to say.
Then father asked me some questions
and seemed as glad to see me as if I'd
been lost stead of Tod.
Then we went over home. / felt so
tired and sleepy 1 could hardly walk,
and as soon as we got there 1 laid down
OIL the lounge and was made much of by
everyone, stead of being in disgrace, as
1 supposed I'd be.
| Tod sat in her little chair close to me
and held my hand in one of hers and her
doll in the other one, and l never saw
her look so pretty, and she explained
the whole thing.
"Why, Jimmie" said she, 81 woke up
in just little while and climbed out of
the car. And Norah was at the back
door and went right in. So wasn't
lost at ALL"
Nobody scolded me the least bit.
Mother said she thought I'd be punished
enough, and she hoped I'd profit by it.
| Then she kissed me.
! After Jerry came home heard her
say one day to father:
81 b'lieve you're right bout James. I
really see signs of improvement in him
at last"
And 1 think that's the most remark
able part of my story, don't you?-Chel-
sea G. Fraser, in Detroit Free Press.
| Wise Precaution.
"And what is that esnecia1lv LARGO