The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18

Sleep and food had restored energy to the
childish frame. He drew his ragged clothes
about him and shambled on. They were
some distance ahead, but he kept them III
sight and climbed the steep hillside as they
climbed it. A long street faced him. A
street of closed shops and dimly lit by scat
tered lamp posts. They trod the worn.
brown pavements. He trod them also. The
street passed into a quiet roadway; trees
bordered it. houses grew more rare. A
baying dog, the hurry-scurry of a cat dis
turbed in midnight prowling. the sound
of some tethered creature cropping grass,
these alone broke the lonely stiffness He
smelt the sweets of autumn. the fumes of
burning weeds, of crushed dead leaves, of
damp earth and. empty stubble fields. A
few stars twinked in the wide darkness of
the sky. There was no moon. The wind
ing road wound EDWARDS, white against the
blackness of surrounding things, and the
two figures before him tramped steadily on.
And still he followed-not knowing why.
Had his wits been keener, his senses more
alert he would have noticed that the sound
of the tramping feet had ceased abruptly
but he paid no heed until a turn of the
road revealed a bare, shadowless space of
emptiness Then he stood STILL wondering
where they had gone, what to do with him
self
A mound of stones by the roadside in
vited rest. He sat down and sighed wear
lily. His eyes, used to darkness and sharp
as cats are, peered from side to side. He
saw beside him hedge backed by iron
ratings. Ratings meant a habitation; he
staggered up and went close to them and
found a gate. 1t was locked. He stood a
moment wrapped in thought Suddenly a
rough hand clutched his shoulder and a
scream of terror broke from his lips. He
looked up into savage eyes, saw a mouth
parted in brutal gibe. heard a question hur-
ried through vile words.
His father was beside him. The boy ex-
planned dreary. He had followed because
he didn't know what else to do. He thought
they were still tramping. Another voice in
terposed. He that Surly Jim had
companion. a brief colloquy ensued. The
boy could not follow its meaning, but the
rough grasp was released and he was adj
dressed by the stranger.
Look ere. kiddie. your dad an ave a
bit o. business in ere, an it's most par
tic'lar pressing. You're just in the nick o.
time to give us a 'elpin' and. to say
Come along, and do just as l tell you, an
therell be summat for you in the shape o.
reward for good conduct as you've never
set eyes on afore."
Yes. an mind you do do as yer told,'
grunted Surly Jim, for if yer don't I'll slit
that ere wizard o yourn as soon as I'd
choke a puppy that yelped. This amt no
matter O. play. let me tell you. We're "a
goin' TO pay a visit to that ere 'Ouse yon-
der. an not stand on the ceremony O. intro
duction, a-callin' up the footman to in
quire TO who's at home an who isn't
Now. you're small and wiry and can do the
creepin' in by a chance window, or that
sort. There's sure to be a place andy.
Then you've got TO open door somehow.
or a window if it's 'andier. and let us in.
Then you can take your hook. quick as you
like. an all the rest you've to do is TO keep