Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1902-03-29

atmosphere as log.
r,ben It was Christmas eve. That
made II worse. The poor in London
orton find it hard enough to keep up
tboir spirits in spite of cold. starvation,
and neglect. Yet even to the most mis-
oroble and desperats Of us all, the com
,,otion that hpraldB Christmastide, the
hnsv going to end fro of those with
money to buy, and the hearty display
on the part of those who have anything
at All to sell 4lll these are something to
see even if you haven't siXpence to buy
a dinner with, or a friend on earth to
erect With the Compliments of the
Season" But when King Fog blurs
and cyershadows everything, the tenn
nor ef the unfortunate classes is segSre
ly tried.
was very savage that night; savage
with myself, savage with my employ
hrs. and savage most of all with my
miserable lot in life Once on time
was a well-to-do householder, with
aourishng watch and clOckmaker's
business. But after a while things
went badly, somehow or other, and |
,uppose took more than was good for
me. At last the business broke up;
md then-but therel what's the use of
booking back? | had now joined the
ranks of the struggling and hopeless,
md it seemed hard that, hallsuffo-
nted with fog, | should be trudging the
grimy streets between Cl@rkenwell ana
st. James with a heayEish weight to
carry on such a night and at such IA
season, while the rich and fortunate
were eating and drinking and enjoying
themselves more than was good for
them. Bah! it made my blood boil to
think of it all. AD3 yet felt the jus
tice Of it all 1t wds cause and effect
As we m&SG Suv bed, so we must lie
upon it,
The tvs grew so thick as | went
along that II who have been familiar
with every square yard OF London ever
since | can remember knowing any
thing for a moment to a stand
still, and had to admit that | had lost
my way. | knew well enough how |
had come-Red Lion Square. High Hol-
born, Broad !.street and the Dials.
ought to be in Cranborne street or Lei
cester Square; but, for the life of me,
could not see two yards in front to
make sure.
Only with some difficulty did ascer-
tain that there were houses at three
PAGES distance, l resolved to push on.
however. keeping my disengaged hand
upon the walls and lintels and DOORS
In order to have something substantial
to go by, Even this was awkward. and
my progress soon became slower than
ever SO thick was the fog. that with
my hand on a lamp post | literally
could not distinguish the fame of the
gas above me. Nevertheless l STUN
Oied onward in hope of meeting some
one to direct me. But no ore came In
sight suppose | had got into a slun;
Ohc OF those places where, they say. so
NNANAoh hCN Dtt duOCS lie Ill ultl-
ing; and | was mrHing on the evil re-
pute OF some of the back streets in the
most luxurious city in the world, when
I'LL OF a sudden | was roughly seized,
ana before had time to use nv tongue
was dragged within a neighboring
doorway. The door was Immediately
Slammed, and ruthless hands hustled
me down dark passage ana into
oack room. from which Il felt sure) it
was Impossible to summon assistance,
however loudly employed my lungs.
happily was not injured in any way
only greatly alarmed; and fortunately
had retained enough presence of mind
70 mold tight the handle Of the wooden
ooA which l carried in my hand. If /
nad dropped it! Wen, | would rather
not speculate upon what would have
'aPpened If | had dropped that box.
The room into which had been
I'll thrust was lighted by single gas Jet.
1here was nothing about the apart
tleht Itself to suggest that my life was
- u"Hser' Tor 1t was an ordina.y sitting
tooil' httcd up with something like
feminine care. But was very quickly
naue to understand, by the men who
~. uau dragged me into the house, that
eneS were capable of anything in pur-
suit OF their object. There were only
'"o Scoundrels present, though it had
seemed as If n fuu scora vva,.a +oI,ino
NE prisoner
Now" began one of the DULLES, a
s'oSS-eyed, bvrly brute, standing be-
a"een me and the door.
wen | said, as he paused The
svA l carried was rather heavy. |
p ~ 1t cautiously upon the table in
sn e center of the room, and asked.
ray what is the meaning of this
treatmentJn