Arizona republican., 1899-02-17

came forward again, and at last, tc my wonder and confusion. threw him self on his knees and held out his
 clasped hands in suppIicatioa.
 At that l CEce more stopped.
 "Who arc you?' I asked.
 Ben Gum" he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock. Tn poor Ben Gum, l am; and l haven't spoke with a Chris tian these three yeaTs.".
 I could now see that lie was q white man like myself, and that his features were even pleasing. His skin, wher- ever it was exposed, was burned by the sun; even his lips were back. and his fair eyes looked quite startling in SC Garll a face. Of all the beggar-Inen that l had seen or fancied, lie was the chief for raggeG.1css. He was clothed with tattcrs of old ships canvas and old sea cloth; and this extraordinary patch work was all held together by q system of the most various and inccngruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick and loops of tarry gasIin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckleG leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement.
 Three years!" I cried. Were you shiPwrecl,ed?'
 Nay, Iaate," said he-.marooned."
 I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punish ment common enough among the buc- cancers, in which the offender is put ashore with little powder and shot, and left behind on some Gcsolate and distant island.
 ''AIarooned three years agone," he continued, "and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wher- ever man is, says I, Q man car do for himself. But, mate, my heart is sore for Christian diet You mightn't hap pen to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese-toasted, mostly-and woke up again, and here were"
 If ever I can get aboard again. said I, you shall have cheese by the stone"
 All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my jacket, smoothing my hands, | looking at my boots, and generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a | fellow creature. But at my last words i he perked up into kind of startled sly 1 ness.
 If you ever get aboard again, says you?" he repeated. "Why, now, who's to hinder you?"
 Not you, l l,now," was my reply.
 Ard right you was" he cried "Now y0u-what do you call yourself, mate?"
 Jim told him.
 Jim, Jim,'' says he, quite pleased, ap- parently. "Neu, now, Jim, I've lived | that rough as you'd be ashamed to hear of. Now, for instance, you wouldn't tEial, I had Fious mother to look at Ipc?' he asked.
 Why, no, not in particular" I an swcrcd
 ''Ah, yvcll," said he but I had-re- rious And | was q civil, l5ious boy, and could rattle off my cate chism that fast, as you couldn't tell enc word iron another. And here's what it como to. Jim, and it begun with on tie blessed grave stones. That's what it begun with, but it wet further'n that; ard so my mother told mo. and prctlickcd the whole, she did, Inc pious wo1n2n. But it were P-ovidcrce that put T,c here. I've thought it cn out in this here lone y island, ard I'm back on piety. You ant catch me tasting rum 50 much; but Iust q thicublCfuI for luck, of ,ourse. he first chance l hare. I'm l]e gcod. and I sec the way to. And, Jim" locking all around him, and lowering his voice to q whisper Tn rich
 Tpow felt sure that tLe peer fellow