The Newtown bee., 1901-08-16
he asked in his cheery way. "Drinl of water?'

he asked in his cheery way. "Drink of water?"
 The elderly woman looked up and fmilingly shook her head.
 "All right" said the boy, "you just motion to me if there's anything you need. I'll be round somewhere"
 He moved along until he came to the quiet man, who for the moment happened to be idle. The boy perched himself on the arm of the opposite seat. The quiet man looked up at him. He was still young man, but with face that seemed to bear the impress of much experience. He knit his brows slightly as he looked the boy over.
 "Sit down, my lad," he said, as he pointed to the seat in front of him, which was turned over so as to face the quiet mans seat.
 The train boy took the seat. He looked up at the quiet man.
 Guess it's your first trip over the line, ain t it?" he asked. "What makes you think sop "YOu're so tidgety," said the boy. "You're afraid you're going to miss something. It seems little funny to me, you know, cause I've been over the road every blessed day for the last foa5 .ycs years" rn"w .,, .no,t if tnens. said the quiet man
 "Don't F" laughed the boy. "I used to make study of it, but l got tired of that. When l first came on 1 was a little scared, you know. 'Fraid we'd jump the track or trestles, or to the old clumpety -clumping it sort O. made songs for me an after while there was kind of song for every piece l of the road"
 "YOu're something of poet," said the quiet man.
 "I guess not" laughed the boy. Being a train boy will knock the poetry out of a fellow bout as quick as anything, guess"
 Perhaps you are right" said the little while."
 "You?" cried the boy. He laughed as if the idea amused him. "I don't believe you was much good at it, he said. "You haven't got enough cheek"
 "Well," said the quiet man, with a laugh that faintly echoed the boys II didn't keep the job long. 1 was rather glad, remember, when was promoted to brakeman, and still more glad when I left that job to be tele
 "Weli, say" cried the boy, "yor know more about railroading than gave you credit for.'
 "But l feel pretty sure you know a good deal more about this particular piece of railroading than I do," saic the quiet man.
 Perhaps" said the boy. "Guess can tell the poor spots along the line as well as anybody. 1 know there's sharp curve just this side O Billets burg that ought to be strengthened And there's a rough piece near Bayne vile that needs relayin.' An know we're goin' to strike the worst section of all wht n we pas Katorah. They've been talking about relaying it fol months, but they don't do it."
 "Yes," said the quiet man, as he drew a paper from his pocket and pen oiled note on the margin.
 "SO, you're a railroad man?" con tinued the boy, as he studied the strangers appearance.
 "I'm something of a railroad man, was the reply. What branch would you imagine me to be in?"
 The boy looked him over carefully.
 "Well," he said, "I guess you're 2 freight conductor goin' home to spend your vacation with your mother"
 The quiet man laughed aloud.
 "A good guess, he said, and laugh ed again. Then he added, "I suppose you are glad to spend your vacations with your mOther?"
 ''Me?" said the train boy. II don'1 remember that l ever had a mother I'm just boy out of the streets. AT aunt that turned me adrift is the Onl, relative remember. Besides, l don'1 have any vacations" "Didn't 1 hear you call one of the passengers grandma?" inquired tht quiet man.
 "YeS," said the boy. "I called he that because she looks like the kind O. } grandma boy would like to have. I'v' : had my eye on her ever since she cam' aboard at Berwick. She knows Tn ] lookin' out for her an it makes he feel more comfortable. Every triI now l look out for rsOmebody-just picl lem out, you know, an kind O keep : watchful eye on lem. It makes thu : ride little more pleasant for them : you know, an I guess it does me sOm' good, too. An besides, it helps to pas away the time.'
 The stranger looked at the boy witt , a new interest.
 : "What's your name?" he asked. ] "Jack," said the boy. "Jack Man ming" He looked out of the window as he spoke. We are just passing