Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-06-12

where the station age9t, telegraph
| operator and baggage master. all in
one. had his offices. Dust and sand
lay all around. The long road twisted
| it's way into town and contrasted I'M
| favorably with the straight. smooth,
shining rails that led up and down
from the platform. as true as an ar
row, until they met in a tiny point,
one where the sun rose every morn
ing. and the other Just where it
dropped beyond the horizon in a ball
/ of fire each night.
Once in a while the telegraph instru-
ment, half hidden behind the desk
and a strong wire screen. clicked hesi-
tatingly, and then ran on in q chatter
ing sort of way that was friendly, even
if one did not understand what it
| meant.
Seated on the settee near the open
door were two persons. One was a
youth of perhaps 18 summers. tall for
his age. and his face. neck and arms
tanned to Indian hue. He was as strong
as an OK in build. His head was
crowned with a shock of sandy red
hair, and his clothes were old and
ragged. His face wore a placid ex-
preston except when he spoke; then
his eyes frightened. and they grew as
keen as a squirrels. He sat watching
the ticker behind the wire screen,
chewing a straw, while his companion,
girl of 16, looked from the open win
dow up the track, expectantly.
Soon there came to their ears the
familiar sound that creeps along the
rails, growing louder and louder until
it beats n rhythm. 1t was the signal
of the approaching train. and both
arose and went out on the platform.
The girl was well formed. but poorly
clad; her face told a tale of hardships
and suffering. yet the features were
good.
The engine passed with steam es-
Gaping and brakes grinding, and at
last stopped short Just beyond the
roadway, putting as though exhausted
with It's long run. 1t was a good sized
train. composed of freight and passen-
ger coaches. Toward the latter the
youth and girl made their way.
"Do yer see him." asked the girl,
and the hand that held her brothers
trembled.
mo, l don't an l won't believe in
him till do. either" he replied.
There were but few that allghted
from the train. One was a stranger,
it was easy to discern by his eastern
appearance. Three or four were citi-
zens returning from trip to the next
town 40 miles up the line. There was
another, and on one at first seemed to
notice him. He was not exactly a
stranger, if appearances counted for
anything. His manner was peculiar.
His whole makeup was shifty. His
eyes were restless and his gait was
halting. He glanced from left to right,
shifting his gaze quickly from one to
another, as though trying to fathom
just how far he might walk down that
platform without being stopped 1t
was plain to see that he was anxious
to get away from the crowd.
The girl saw him first. and broke
from her companion with glad cry
She went straight up to the stranger,
and placed her hand gently on his
arm.
'Is this dad?" she said.
He started like frightened animal
His grizzled face turned pale for a mo-
ment then he found his voice.
Reckon it's. Is this sis?"
The voice was not unkindly. and for
answer the girl slipped her hand into
his. and turned to find her brother
He was standing Just behind. silent
and steady watching the pair.
"Dork." she exclaimed. this is dad.
Why don't yer shaker"
Dork or Dorsie. showed big brown
paw toward his father. 1t went out
frankly, but his keen eye was search
ing the other through and through
The elder mans eyes took on that Pc
culiar look again, and his hand was
offered hesitatingly. This seemed to
nettle Dork. for he blurted out
"Why don't yer grip it? What yer
'fraid uf?"
The new comer's face flushed scar
let, but he made no reply to the ques-
tion.
The girl led the way to the rear of
the station, where pony was attached
to a dilapifated wagon. The drive
home was dninteresting. 1t was pret-
ty straight until you came to the
river. then it wound around. and made
for the town in zigzag fashion; be-
yond the town were the foot hills of
the towering range which seemed so
near, yet were miles and miles away.
They stopped before a rude shack.
Not many of the houses in the vicinity
were what one would call comfortable,
but this was perhaps the least so of
any. The girl sprang lightly to the
ground. Dorsie was already unhitch-
ing the mare. Just as the elder man
was about to alight there came a pat
ter of hoofs. and around the bend in
the road came horseman. He would
have gone by without stopping had
not the girl, who was truly happy in
the return of her father. called out
as she pointed to the wagon.-