The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-01


made his way along the highway that
led In a northerly direction.
I promised to take that letter to the
young lady. ! wonder If I shall have
any eub in seeing her. Perhaps I
am altogether too sure of what / can
do, and what pressure I can bring to.
wv liberty, for that matter. Go slow,
Job, slow, or you will spoil every
thing!"
He had reached a little brook
spanned by a wooden bridge, he
stopped for a moment to wipe. the per-
%spiration from his face, for the day
was oppressively hot.
AS he leaned there for a moment,
with his hat off, resting and cooling
himself, a peculiar ringing of a bell
Teached his ears, coming from the d.
rection of the town he had just left.
Job thrust his hat on his head, and
turned to see IN old man approaching.
On4his breast he carried some sort of
a placard with an inscription, and a
bell attached by a strap around one of
his wrists. With the free hand he felt
his way with a long staff.
Seems to me the blind man is
making his way into a mighty UNI
profitable nefghborhood, If he keeps on
the way he is going. Poor devil! He
has much less to live for than I have
L guess I'll set him right and tip him
something for the mistake Of his taking
the wrong road
The patriarchal figure, in earth-col-
ored rags, drew near. He was a tall
man, and bent with years, his long,
white hair falling almost to his shoul-
ders.
Hendricks, who had taken gu a
piece of money, dropped it into the tin
cup which the blind ma wore attached
TO a leather belt about his waist. AT
the blinking sound of the coin dropping
in the tin, the old nan paused.
God bless YOU, mister, and may the
Lord and his angels watch over you
day and night"
He wore dark glasses over his eyes,
showing that he could not be wholly
blind.
Tn afraid that you're going out Of
your way, friend replied dob, gently.
"Out of my way?"
Yes; o are heading for the open
country. You have left the town-you
had better return, or something might
happen to you, off alone on a road that
contains few houses"
We'll, now, it's mighty lucky I struck
you, amt it? I generally have a boy to
go about with me, but the imp has run
away isiin' or to join in some mischief.
l thought I'd see how I could manage
for myself"
You live here, theng" and Job
pinched himself, for he fancied that he
saw "a very bright y peering at him
out of the corner of Of the glasses.
Live here?" the old man laughed.
Catch me Twin in h country. The
city is the place for pickin's, but I
makes it a rule to visit all the towns
near NV in tfn c11rnYopr nonnfhS oo%if
sort o improves my health. A mean,
measly, ongenerous lot O. folks they
are, these here country pelicans; I
can't abear 'em, I can't! Want to give
ye old clothes and cold victuals, stead
O. money. No, you don't End yer gram
dad livin' in the kentry when he has the
city streets for a lay"
He certainly has a fine pair Of eyes
back Of those gig lamps, the old fraud
muttered Job, who had been watching
the man intently and was confident
that he was a humbug.
Perhaps you will be so very i as
to turn me about in the right direction
for the town." Q%uavered the alleged
blind man.
I'D rather give you a heave into the
brook" was what ran through Jobs
mind at that moment, regrettiGg that
he had wasted his charity on such an
old fraud. He took the mar however
by the arm, ana SET ms race toward the
town.
Whether he was unnecessarily rough
in the operation, OF whether the othe,
stumbled, at least one thing happened
his great green spectacles fell off in the
road. Job stopped and restored then
to him, but, as he did SO, he looked al
the mans face and he drew away in.
s~tinctively, as if overcome with a sud.
den fear. g.
"Am 1 all right now?" asked the
other.
"AI right" murmured Hendricks
who had recovered his equaninaity.
"Gcod day"
Good day."
The blind man plodded on, tapping
the road with his ans. Job, after
watching him for a moment, turned
and almost ran from the place.
could it be?" he murmured, wher
he was forced to pause for breath
Gould he have followed me here, anc
I thought that I was saie?" Then he
raised his hands impotently toward
heaven and said: son, GOD, give me
time-time for all that I have to dol"
CONTINUED Next Week.)