The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-31
STORIES OF BOY
BREAD WINNERS.
How No. G Was Held Up and the Lit
tie Old Woman Found Her Son.

passengers and to back down on a siding
TO pick up a waiting express car. which,
later. was to be dropped at Joplin.
The conductor waved his lantern vio-
lently; then the engine bell tolled re-
Spouse, and the line of ponderous cars
was presently moving slowly out of the
station. 1t was drizzling feebly, and for
a bit the engine wheels raced madly on
the slippery tracks. Then the sand-box
was opened and the great drivers gripped
hard and away they went speeding into
the black night,
The makeup of No. was rather queer
After the engine came a combination bag
gage and mail car. Then but one pas
senger coach After that half dozen
express cars (each in charge of a messen-
ger), which were to be dropped at va
rious points. They were rather short
handed this trip. Beside the conductor
and the mail clerk, there was but one
man to do double duty as brakeman and
baggage smasher.
Jim Rodney, the train boy hardly ever
dir any business in this run, but as he
started out with the "flier" from Joplin
the following morning it was necessary
for him to go down on No each even
ing.
Jim was thirteen or fourteen and a nice,
manly lad, who made a very decent liv
ing.
When hungry-eyed brakeman 'swip-
ed an apple from his basket and forgot
TO pay for 1t he only laughed good nat
uredly and charged it up to profit and
loss. And when the mail clerk borrowed
an evening paper and neglected to return
it, he was equally philosophical. Needless
to say, therefore, he was immensely
popular with the train hands, and they
were kind to him in many little ways.
For the third time that night Jim
started out with an arm full of papers.
He dropped one in every seat and
then, when he thought the people might
have had time to become absorbed in
some story, he went around collecting the
periodicals. He sold a copy Of Puck to
a cadaverous-looking old farmer and the
current number of Munseys to young
girl with dreamy eyes and a red shirt
waist stuck full of college pins.
There was only one other woman pas
senger, and she was an old lady with
white hair and a pale, tired face. Jim
started to offer her a Ladies' Home Jour
nal; then something in her face told him
that no printed page could draw out that
faraway look in her dim old eyes And,
boy that he was, he could read in that
look fear, uncertainty and infinite sorrow.
She was every inch a gentlewoman,
though her clothes were threadbare, and
and the poor. thin hands crossed in her
lap were misshapen and rough with much
hard toll
Jim paused by her seat for a moment.
The conductor, talking to a cranky pas
senger had blocked his way for a min
ute.
Jim felt something Juggling at his
sleeve, and CHANGING down. he saw that it
was the old lady, who was trying to gain
his attention.
young man." she said in thin, quay
ering voice, "hev you ever met man
named Robin-Robin Hood?'
Jim frowned thoughtfully. mo,
heard of the gentleman. except. o. course,
in books"
.'Mebbe, eff yer seen his picter. you
might kinder recollect."
"P'raps," said Jim.
From out the bosom of her dress the
woman fished a photograph and hand
ed 1t with trembling fingers to the train
boy.
Jim stared at the handsome, but rather
hard features of a man of thirty or there
abouts. Then he handed the photograph
back.
His face amt familiar TO me. ma'am."
Then he added Some .one you're tryin'
to find?'
Hes my son." said the woman; my
name is Hood. He left-he went away
from home two years ago. Said he'd send
for me as soon ez he made some money,
but he never has. Last time he wrote
me was nigh on to a year ago. He was In
Joplin then; so I'm goin' thar now to see
eff ! can't find him. He can't be dead
or anythin like that, cos thered be pa
pers and things to show folks whar he
came from. n they'd let me know"
why, to be surep' said Jim, kindly.
Hes all right. Most like he's been
down on his luck and he kinder feels he
won't let yer know nothin' bout ii till
he's on his feet again"
A faint smile flickered over the worn
features for an instant.
I'm right glad to hear you say that,
boyl she cried. 'Thets what I've been
telln' meself over an over. Only he
hadn't oughter act like that cos he can't
be no poorer than what bel" Here she
glanced down at her shabby clothes. But
my neighbors hev been sayin' sech awful
cruel things about Robin, and to my face,
jes ez If 1, his mother, didn't know ne
warnt tibet kind of a felier!" The old
lady's eyes fairly blazed for moment;
then she settled down YEARLY In her seat
"Of course. To be sure!" cried jim,
soothingly. But under his breath he
was muttering: robin, you're a bum and
loafer and low-down brute!' But he
wasn't going TO say that to this poor old
eoul-no sir!
The train came TO a stop Just then, and
the girl In the red shirt waist got out,
and several men came in.
'Scuse me. ma am" seid Jim. i've got
to git back TO baggage car"
'Will-will you come back?' asked the
old lady with childish eagerness. I'D
like to show yer Robins letter. There $
eomethin' in 1t p'raps you kin explain"
"All right" said Jim, who was unfail-
ing in his chivelry toward all women.
I'm be trottin' around with candy In a
minute, and after that I'll be with you
again"
Now, then" said Jim, when his night's
labor was done and he had seated himself
beside the woman. Now, then. let's see
the letter"
A small piece of ruled writing paper.
on which a few lines were rudely scrawl-
ed in pencil, was handed him. And Jim
read:
Dear Mother-Don't worry. I'm o. X
I've got a little business with the rail-
road and expect TO pull off a big pile
pretty quick. Then I'll see what can do
for you. Robin H."
Joplin. Mo, Nov %, 49,.
'Funny" put in the old lady. IT writ
the company and they said thar weren't
no sech a person as Robin Hood as was
worltin for EN-"
Bless yer hearth cried Jim. cheer
fully. "They wouldn't know the names
OF every soul as did Jobs fer the road