Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-08-14

ed 1t as fast as he could up the crowd
ed sidewalk. In and out the crowd
OF business men and shopping women
ne darted like an eel, then swung to
the curb as he neared the corner. Be-
yond him was the car, already cross
ing the street. Setting his teeth. Stub
again cleared the gutter with bound
and flew up the track
/ The motor and trailer were bound
Ing ahead, but an Italian. with his fruit
cart got in the way. 1t was moments
pause, and Stub did his best Painting
and gasping, he reached the trailer,
caught the rail and sprang to the
step. Then he saw the elderly gentle
man, quietly reading the paper Stub
had sold him.
Stopping at his elbow. Stub reached
out grimy little fist between the gold
eye glasses and the paper. and opened
his fingers.
please, sir, yer dropped 1t. An
an | jest ketched der car"
The elderly gentleman stared at the
locket, picked 1t up from the grimy
hand and then Stub quietly dropped
to the ground as the conductor pushed
him to one side. Making his way to
the sidewalk, Stub stood still for a mo-
ment.
| II didn't git even er dime," he said,
blankly, to wooden Indian that stood
In front Of cigar store. Not even
er dime"
He shifted his papers to the other
arm, pushed his ragged cap back from
his wet forehead, wiped his face on his
arm, then opened his mouth.
"Extry! All bout der big rail-"
A hand came down on Stubs shoul-
der, and he looked up straight into the
gold-rimmed glasses of the elderly gen
tleman
| II want to talk to you minute,
young man." said Stubs customer. AZ
suppose you eat ice cream and-such
things? Come In here. 1t Is rather
noisy on the sidewalk for converse
tion."
A little frightened and little de-
lighted, Stub walked along toward a
confectioner's near by, the firm hand
still on his shoulder. Soon he was
sitting at a small round table with a
big glass of Ice cream soda In front of
him.
| Stub set to with q will, and the
| twinkllng eyes of the old gentleman
studied his face sharply through the
| gold-rimmed glasses till the cream had
disappeared.
"And now" he said quietly, tell me
all about finding that locket."
And Stub told him. The old gentle
man listened attentively.
"Why didn't you keep the locketr
he asked.
"Why-it-it wouldn't ha' been actin
square," stammered Stub.
"Oh! And who taught you what
was acting squareT" queried the old
gentleman.
"Me mudder," replied Stub. In low
voice.
"And where does she liver
"She-she's dead" said Stub.
"Ah! And what is your name"
asked the old gentleman.
"Stub-er-I mean, me right name Is
Disbro-Stanley Disbro," said Stub,
reaching down for his ragged little
cap. But when he sat up again the cap
dropped from his fingers. He looked
at the old gentleman-who had grasped
the edge Of the table with both hands
and was staring at him-with terror.
For the old gentleman's face was white
and his mouth was working strangely.
The next moment he had taken the
locket from his pocket and had opened
1t with shaking fingers and thrust 1t
across the table toward Stub
And Stub?-Stub looked down with
wondering eyes and saw. framed In the
delicate gold, the fair, sweet mother
face that he had cherished SO long In
his boy memory. And on the other
side Of the table the old gentleman was
sitting with his head bowed In his
hands. And Stub, awed and still.
knew that he was crying.
And afterward Stub learned all about
lt-how the old gentleman's daughter
had married against his wishes and he
had disowned her. And then Stub told
his part-of his fathers DEATH and his
young mothers struggle with poverty
till she followed her husband to the
shadow land. And of her teachings
to ''act square," that he could not for
get, even though he went hungry.
And two weeks after Stub was living
in snug cottage on the lake shore,
far from the city heat and noise. And
there were bathing and boating and
games In the sand, and three square
meals a day, with lunches between,
and donkey and cart, all his own,
and happy old gentleman whom he
called affectionately "gran'dad" And
last, but not least, there was house
full Of noisy and delighted guests, who
once had been known in newspaper al
ley as der gang."-Chicago Record