Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-10

mlnatlOn and w1ll-poWer, had descended
has stolen ride on freight train and
by chance gets off at Illica, a town well
tnown to him in his college DAYS
CHAPTER II.
ON THE BANKS OF THE MoHoN-
DAGA.
Rossiter's rest was broken the next
morning by the rattle and creak of
hand-truck on the boards above his
head. Through the open space be-
tween the ground and the floor of the
freight car just in front of him he
could see the sunlight cleaning upon
the rails, and SO knew that it was
bread day. Commonly, on awakening,
he was in no haste to be stirring,
but on this occasion he displayed an
ususual activity. Almost as soon as
he realized that the wonted round of
busy men had begun, he sat up,
shook the dirt from his bundle and
from his clothes, and crept from his
shelter, Crawling under the freight
car, so that no one about the freight
house should see him and suspect
him of mischief, he stepped off brisk
ly rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
The air was still fresh with the
cool of the dawn, but the sun was
peering blear and red through the
haze that curtained the heavens, and
there was every Indication cf an
other sweltering day. On glancing
along the street upon which the
freight house stood, Rossiter noted,
not far distant, q large sign extend
ing over the sidewalk. "Stabling"
was the word which, years previous,
had been traced upon it. AS Rossitef
drew near the sign he beheld q wide
gate which gave entrance to yard
Of considerable extent in the rear
of a SECOND or third-class hotel
Fp9n the yard a long shed opened
and likewise a capaeious barn. In
the center of the barn doorway a
hostler was leisurely grooming a
horse. Towards this man the va
grant advanced.
"Can l get job?" asked he, as he
came within speaking distance. I'D
be willing te9 work WORK. for A bit Of break
The hostler paused, currycomb in
one hand, brush in the other.
:Know anythin' about hoss2" he
demanded, surveying the applicant
with considerable doubt:
HYes," said Rossiter, ssomething."
tiles see."
The ragabond dropped his bundle,
and the man relinquished currycomb
and brush to him.
.Ypus3l aa," he said presently. #
gtss We kin earn yer brektust all
right enough" He moved away,
and Rossiter heard him cleaning
stalls. Then he climbed to the loft
and began pitching down hay. After
a little he descended and soon ap-
peared leading another horse.
''That'll do fer the bay he said.
TRY yer hand on this 'un."
For an hour or more the new
stableman continued his labors, when
the hostler announced that it was
time for grub" After a goed wash
at the barn pump, Rossiter followed
his companion into small, bare
room which was filed with the odor
of cooking. 1t was plain meal
that the two men sat down to, but
it was exceedingly palatable.
Neither spoke while eating, and the
maid who attended to their wants
evidently considered herself decided
ly above them, for she did not deign
to address them with SO much as a
single word. When they had finished
they went out together.
..'say," said the hostler, as they
| halted in the center of the stable
yard, "how'd you like my job fer
couple o. weeks? l want to go hop
pickin'."
ST think some of going myself"
replied Rossiter.
"Oh, you do, CHI? Well, if you don't
conclude to go, I'd be glad to have
| yoi come 'ere. You're pritty tidy
| hand with boss"
sThanks. What's the job worthSn
"Five week. with feed an lodgin'."
"When would you want to know"
"Any time to-day 'ud do"
"All right. I'll drop around to-
night and tell you if I'll come. If
you don't see me again, you'll have
to find another chap" and Rossiter
sought the street.
Here's luclt!" he CALCULATED "NIay
be things are going to take turn at
last" He Strengthened himself and
something of the reckless sullenness
left his face.
81 must find quiet spot and think
1t out" he unused.
| He crossed the railway tracks. and
struck into narrow street which,
he recalled, formerly led to the base
ball grounds and the broad mead
| nws bordering the river. 1t was a
saualid neighborhoca in the old days,
he remembered, and it did not appear
to have changed materially during
the years that had elapsed since he
had last viewed it. Ragged children
were rolling in the dirt by the road
1 side, slatternly women even at that
| hour-nine o'clock had net yet struck
were gossiping from window to
/ window, and two or three men as
/ nnlkempt as Rossiter himself were
squirting tobacco juice over the di-
/ lapidated board sidewalk. Both wo-
4 men and men eyed him furtively as
4 he went by, and enc of the former
flung coarse jibe after him.
He found an open field where the
| fenced baseball grounds had been,