The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1903-05-30
CHAPTER !
THE NE'ER-po-wELr.

THE NEER-DO-WELI4
The powerful locomotive which
Grew The long freight-train came to a
sudden stop. Something in the ma
'ure OF spasm, so human was n
communicated itself from ear To car
anu each in turn ceased to move
Inc jar Weakened Rossiter ont,
stretched upon the top of some boxes
ana bales, from heavy sleep. and
on opening his eyes and finding him
sen emeompassed by breathless
tropical biackness he did not for an
instant realize where he was. He out
out his hand and encountered the
poards OF the car-roof just above
his head. Then he recalled HE
whereabouts. He was reeking with
sweat, for the atmosphere Of the con-
fined space was sitting.
All day the pitiless September sun
mad blazed In a coppery heaven; all
day the parehed earth had given back
to the sky the fumes OF heat; and
yet Rossiter had chung to his oven
IKE retreat, In the first place because
with every revolution of the wheels
ne was carried nearer to his destina.
ton, and in the second place because
ne could not easily descend from the
train while 1t was in motion. Half
loaf of bread and few dry cookies
had served to quiet the cravings of
hunger, while two wizened lemons
had In measure allayed the pangs
OF thirst. But now he sought in vain
for the last precious bit of fruit
which he had intended 10 keep
against this time of need. The Jolt
ing of the car had evidently caused
his treasure to roll from the spot
where he had placed 1t with such
care. Uttering an exclamation of
disappointment, he dragged himself
a few feet and placed his lips to a
crack in the side of the car. through
which he drank eagerly great
draughts of the partially cooled night
air. AS he was about to resume his
former position he inhaled a heavy
watt Of engine smoke,
"The DEVIL" he CALCULATED. "This
is more than I can stand!"
He seized his little bundle of clothes
and worked his way over the bales
and boxes to the door. For O time
he feared that he was hopelessly a
prisoner, as the obstinate barrier to
his escape would not bulge. The per-
spiration streamed from his forehead
into his eyes, and his hair was as
wet as though he had soused his
head in water. He had taken stock
of the fastenings when he had slowed
himself away at Clevalo, but he was
discovering that an easy entrance
into freight car packed with mer-
chandise that has space enough to
shift slightly does not necessarily
mean an easy exit.
At length, after several sharp
creaks Of remonstrance, the door
CAPPED sufficiently to allow him to
squeeze his body through. He cast
glance up and down the adjoining
track and then leaped down. As his
feet crunched upon the cinders some
one sprang from the next car to the
top of the one he had just quilted. 1t
was brakeman.
"You damn tramp!" he shouted,
and raised his hand as though about
to hurl missile.
Rossiter ran, lodging as he went,
but nothing save harsh guffaw fol-
loved from the car-top.
"Sold, johnny beloved the
brakeman; "but I can tell ye If I'd
had hunk of coal, ye'd have got it
blim in the back!'
Just then, with a long series OF
Jerks, the train started. An electric
light beyond the tracks threw the
pcsticulating figure on the car top
into strong outline for moment
and his pose held Rossiter's atten-
ton. but the effect was quickly
spoiled by the onward movement OF
the train. Rossiter now turned 10
survey his surroundings. The sput-
+nrinp electrics told him that he was
in a town of considerable size. Above
the rumbling cars several large build
mos doomed blackly. Behind him the
ground sloped sharply to stream.
which he could not see on account OF
q white vapor which hung over H.
A. his left was a bridge. and as |
he examined this, and the ugly frame .
structures which lined the street To-
wards which it led, sense OF IA
n,iliarity gave him a swift thrill OF
surprise.
der if 1t ISL"
He wheeled to the right and re-
carded long freight house ana a
tall pile capped by huge sign the
letters upon which he vainly strove
10 distinguish. A puzzled expression
crossed bis face, and he waltea In
patiently for the caboose OF 1ne
fra;ght train to pass. At length the
tracls were clear. A few rods away
m one side of a small square the
I;~hts of a hotel twinkled through
he branches of row OF elm trees !
directly opposite was railway ,o s'a =
ton a short distance from wnlcn a
freight and accommodation Train
was about pulling out -
.Illica, by Jove!" cried hossitel.
.raIl # this isn't curious!" and ms
lind went back dozen years 10 tne
June June, day when he had last set 1907 10 I'm IN
Ih usie ouiet city on the banks OF the
NY. .neh endaca Then he was thought
w. ,-outh fresh from college, fuil
IF a youths dreams, not without WI D,ras an,
II now-well, his present
status was not one to be &C., eon 'aa1e
~, 49, ta With pride. nor did the vista