The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-12-22

osicCP' Dut lnere is tail, sturuy-loOk'
ing man in rough clothes standing near
the little side door through which the
grocer and the butcher and the fruit
dealers are accustomed to enter with
their baskets. AT his side is huge bag
that looks as If it might have been q
mattress. 1t is partially filled with
rags. At the top of the stairs, with her
face pressed against window pane,
anxiously peering through the blinds,
Is a sweet-faced little girl, clad in a
much-worn, once discarded dress. What
are these two waiting for? The hour
4 drags slowly by, but they remain as
fixed at their posts inside as does the
man in the blue blouse in the street OPP
posite.
AT last the great, deep-toned bell in
the tower tolls again. The man in the
street turns once more to the corner.
In q moment his face lights up with a
satisfied smile, and he steps leisurely
forward to meet the man who had ac-
companied st. Jean in his walk on the
| previous morning.
"Now, fatherl" exclaims the little
girl at the window. The man at the
foot of the stairs picks up his bundle,
and, quickly opening the side door,
steps into the street. With his bag over
his shoulder, he takes step or two
and then shouts in high key:
'Ra-a-gsl Ra-a-gsl" Another step, and
he repeats his cry. Then the blinds are
thrown open, the window raised and a
timid voice accosts the ragman and bids
him enter. The side door is opened
again, and the tall man disappears.
Meanwhile the night watch has greeted
the citizen of the day watch, and asks
him: "When are we to cease guarding
this enemy of the people?"
Before noon, citizen" responds the
detective, "the Irreconcilable st. Jean
will be the guest Of the republic"
Good! Pleasant dreams to him till
then"
Both cltizen-watchers glance at the
house across the way and see the rag
man enter, but make no comment, for
they see nothing but a ragman.
Presently the ragman issues forth
again, STOPPING under his big bundle,
which is considerably larger than when
he entered, as well it might after pur-
chasing rags In such great house. He
crosses directly toward the watcher,
crying his "Ra-a-gs! Ra-a-gs!" harshly.
"Your trade Is good this morning,
citizen" remarks the watch, pleasant
ly, observing the huge bundle.
"Thank goodness, citizen" mutters
the ragman, "all things have become
good under the republic"
"Aye, aye! Live the republic!"
"Yes, live the republic!" assents the
ragman, but he mutters something un-
der his breath that sounds very Like:
Down with republicans" He contin-
ues on his way unmolested. Down the
long street to the right; across pub
lie square; along-what is that?
Smothered sounds from his big bundle? :?
He hastily turns up an alley and lays
the bag upon a doorstep. He opens the
mouth carefully.
"Can you breathe?" he asks, anx-
iously.
"Yes," comes faint reply; "but I
was so afraid you would get all tired
out, and thought perhaps might get
out now"
mo, no; not yet" whispers the rag
man.
"Well, then" continues the faint
voice, ''you must not forget to shout
Rags You haven't spoken since we
left our street"
"That's So" says the astonished rag
man, 81 did forget that"
Shouldering his bulky bag, he
energies once more upon the street cry
ing: "Ra-a-gs!"
"Hi! Hi" exclams shrill voice from
fifth-story window. "Hi, there, rag
man. I've got something for you"
"Whew!' thinks the ragman. "I
don't want it,"
"Why don't you come up here?"
screams the shrill voice, impatiently;
II can't wait here all day"
Bring your rags down here" re-
spends the ragman.
"Well, what impudence! Are you
drunk that you are SO independent all
at once?" ,
"S'pose I am; what them" returns
the man with the bundle, suddenly act
ing as if he were very intoxicated.
"Humph! In that case, I won't sell
you single rag!"
"Thank heaven!" exclaims the rag
man, staggering forward under his
heavy load. 1t seems an endless jour
ney before he can reach a secluded
grove on the outskirts of the city.
There, at last, he can deposit his bun
die, and the little girl who stood at
the window creeps out of it.
"You dear, brave papa" she cries,
kissing his~beardless lips, 1--WE are safe
now, are we note"
"Not yet, Marie" answers the rag
man, and they hasten to remove several
articles OF clothing from the rags in the
bag, after which they fold it into small
bundle and proceed to railway station
In the vicinity.
$50 st. Jean and his daughter es-
capped, eh?"
GATeNN