The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-07-11

boy VINO was walking DrlSkly on the
railway track looked at the blue sky
and shifted the fresh air with keen sat
isfaction. He was boy of perhaps IT.
tall ;or his age and we'll put together
He was comfortably dressed, and over
his shoulders swung canvas bag OF
the telescope variety. The track was
laid on an embankment and extended
onward in an almost straight line as
far as the eye could reach. The boy
could look across the level fields Oh
either side and note the clumps Of trees
here and there with the farm houses
nesting near, and great woods and far
off hills behind. 1t was pleasant pros
pect, and the pleasure Of viewing it
seemed reflected in the boys face.
Suddenly his attention was attracted
by figure on the track ahead 1t was
the figure of a man, and the man was
sitting on tie with his feet dangling
down the embankment The man arose
as the boy drew near He was young
man with bright face and very bright
eyes. His eyes sparkled as the boy
neared him.
"a fair morning, young sir" he said
as he arose.
Yes" assented the boy. He looked
the stranger over He was tall and
slender, his clothes We're fine though
the effects of much travel.
He fell into step with the boy as they
trudged along side l<y side.
Rather dull prospect for solitary
stroller" said the stranger.
| mot dull for me-" said the boy I'm
on my way home"
"That does make a difference" said
the stranger. He looked the boy over.
Been away long?"
six months" replied the boy Been
at work in Chicago store. It's my
first vacation.
Then I don't wonder the prospect is
alluring," said the stranger. Casually,
though, the first home coming Is at
tended with some little pomp and cere-
mony. May I ask why you travel on
the ties instead Of in the private carr"
The boy laughed.
WELL" he said, "it's partly for the
exercise and partly to save money.
You can't get much exercise, you know,
running an elevator at six week. And
a little more, and get the exercise, too,
| by walking the fifteen miles from the
| junction" .,G,-
$50 it's the coming home that makes
the walking pleasant" said the stran-
ger. And he softly sighed.
! inquired the boy. Il.
you may ask, but can't tell YOU"
replied the stranger. I'm vagabond
q wanderer, a first cousin of the tramp.
Last night I was an actor; today I'm
tie counter Tomorrow? Oh, well,
something will turn up to morrow"
And have you no homer"
None that I've any right to claim
I'm the black sheep of the family my
boy, and black sheep are not very pop
ular with the white ones. I've very
respectable brother and a very grand
| sister-in-law, and a mother whose
heart I have wrung and whose faith I
have abused. There would be no fatted
| calf for this prodigal."
| Then his bitter tone suddenly
changed.
mot a very agreeable companion for
a pleasant morning walk, am II" he
laughed.
II think you are wrong about your
home" said the boy. "It doesn't seem as
see me, no matter how came nor what
I had done. Doesn't your mother write
to you2"
She doesn't know where am" said
the stranger, little slowly. "I've
changed my name and I'm strolling
actor. At least I was. Our company
was broken UP last night, our manager
deserted us, and our baggage was
seized. All I possess is what I have
L
wore last night Rather slight cap
ital to face the world with at my age.
4 Oh, I'm a failure all right"
Its Richel1eu, isn't it," queried the
boy, who says there is no such word
as fail?"
"Eh!" cried the stranger. "But that's
only pretty sentiment in a play"
! II think It's true, though" said the
| boy, II m going to believe it's true, any
way. I went to Chicago to do great
things and I tramped the streets for
! ten days tired and hungry, looking for
work, but didn't give it up. And when
I found q Job it was only 50 week
A But stuck to 1t, and I've been climb
ing little by little ever since. And 1
i don't mean to stop" He paused. IT
1 guess one thing that kept up my cour-
age was the thought that my mother
i was praying for me, and that there
was a good home with its door always
open waiting for me IL the worst came
to the worst
/. They trudged along In silence.
TIN only a boy" said the lad, pres
" think If I were you I'd go home and
see my mother, and take a rest, and
4 talk things over, and start in fresh"
4 But the stranger did not reply.
q Then came q sudden diversion
The boy stopped. looked back and
i turned hastily.
See this!" hef cried. A rail had been
4 taken UP, and was lying on the ends of
/, the ties, the freshly drawn spikes be-
side it. The strangers face paled.
Train wreckers!" he gasped, and his
bright eyes searched the bush covered
sides OF the ernbankrnent.
Hark!" cried the boy. The express
Is coming!'' rs .3.
There was fringe Of trees along
the track where.it curved slightly two
miles or more away, and above the
farthest tree tops puff of steam sud
denly arose. i7
It must be hagged.'' cried the boy.
and looked about him wildly.
Here. shouted the stranger, as he
tore open the battered valise. .Flaunt
the cardinals red robe at himl'
The boy seized the garment.
Halt! cried q ringing voice from
n below. isi is$Ts III F5 = y
Three men had emerged from the
bushes and were climbing the en-
Dankment. Something glittered In the
Eand of the foremost. IS 81 &.
e Halt! he cried again.
RUM shrieked the stranger.
The boy started up the track at fun
q speed toward the approaching train.
rnd 1o,