Iron County register., 1899-11-09

SdIlSHeQ smile, ana ne steps 1elSufely
forward to meet the man who had &C.
companied ST. Jean in his walk on the
previous morning.
'.Now, father!" 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 a step or two
and then shouts in a high key:
''Ra-a-gs! Ra-a-gs!" 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 citizen-watchers glance at the
house across the way and see the rag
they see nothing but 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!"
eyes, 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.
EYES," comes faint reply; ''but I
was so afraid you would get all tired
out, and 1 thought perhaps might get
out now"
mo, no; not yet" whispers the rag
man.
''WelI. then" continues the faint
voice, you must not forget to shout
'R-a-gs!' You haven't spoken since we
left our street."
"That's so,' says the astonished rag
man, II did forget that"
Shouldering his bulky bag, he
energies once more upon the street cry
ing: "Ra-a-gs!"
''Hi! Hii'' eXclaims shrill voice from
a fifth-story window. ''Hi, there, rag
man! I've got something for you.'
''Whew!" thinks the ragman. 81
don't want it."
screams the shriII voice. impatiently;
81 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, won't sell
you a single rag!"
"Thank heaven!" exclaims the rag
man, staggering forward under his
heavy load. 1t seems an endless jour
ney before he can reach 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 not?'' |
''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 a railway station
in the vicinity.